Now Boarding Flight 9-5: How to interact efficiently at your new job

The transition from college to the working world is comparable to flying in an airplane. It can either be smooth with yummy peanuts and refreshments, or it can have turbulence and crying babies while you're crammed in the middle seat.

The upside to this transition however, is that you get to pick which plane you board.

I was fortunate to have an easy progression into the working world, a success I attribute to my teachers, mentors and disciplinarians while attending Auburn University.

After several months at my first "real world" job, or non-internship position, I have picked up a few savvy "street skills" that may help those who sense turbulence in the near future.

First things first: No two people are the same.

• Dealing with college professors is different than dealing with bosses. Remember they have a business to keep afloat and for as much as you have going on, they have five times more on their plate. Something to keep in mind is that everyone operates differently, and it will behoove you to adapt as best you can to the way your employer operates. 

Second of all: Taking notes does not end in college.

• Take a notepad with you wherever you go. You will be hit with more information than your brain can remember, and that's ok! The more you write down, the better employee you will make- which is obviously the ultimate goal. Which brings me to my next point. 

Often you will find yourself in a chair in your employers office receiving directions for your next project. In conjunction with jotting down instructions on your notepad, I suggest that upon returning to your desk you send a quick email to your boss.

In the email you should state the directions you received as you heard them. This will ensure you understood them correctly.

Tell your employer that if there are any additions or corrections necessary, to please send them. You should also include the time you plan on starting the project so your employer has an appropriate time to respond with any changes.

If you have a boss who is excellent about overlooking your emails, because unfortunately that does happen, I suggest enabling the option of the "Read/Receipt" alert on your emails. Not only will you be alerted when your message is delivered, but when it has been read.

Poor communication and direction delivery are a vicious cycle. Following these simple tips will allow you to avoid turbulence so you can enjoy those tasty peanuts we love so much.

The Hush Sound: Not the band, but my next 6 weeks.

I always knew my old college ways would catch up to me.

Throughout my four-year stint at Auburn I acquired a few scars and permanent marks that, though bother my mother to no end, will always remind me that I used to be fun and energetic...

This is the part where my sister rolls her eyes because I make it sound like I graduated ages ago, when really it just happened this May. I'm dramatic and nostalgic ok?? Leave me be!! 

In between my healthy lifestyle of loud music, liquor and late-night meals I figured my nights-turned-mornings would come back to haunt me in the future, but who knew the future would be such a short 2 months later!

Flash forward to now where I received the news that I have vocal nodules. For those of you who aren't singers or stalkers of John Mayer and Adele, vocal nodules, commonly referred to as "nodes," are little benign tumors on your vocal cords.

Nodes are caused by several different things, all circulating back to using your voice improperly. Be it yelling, screaming, whispering, singing without warming up... these little growths appear and it effects the way your vocal cords vibrate back and forth. If it goes untreated the nodes turn into polyps which have to be surgically removed.

Fortunately I caught mine early.

So what does this mean for me? Well I'm glad you asked. And I'm also glad you're reading this instead of literally asking me because I wouldn't be able to tell you...

If your deductive reasoning skills led you to assume that 1. This is what happened to the girl in Pitch Perfect and 2. That I can't talk, give yourself a pat on the back! Because you are indeed correct.

I have been put on vocal rest for 6 weeks. No singing, screaming, yelling, whispering, taking of shots or excessive talking for 6 weeks.

And if you know me, the prohibited actions listed above have at one point (or forever) been my life. So that's cute.

I plan on doing a lot of reading, movie watching and getting back to teaching myself to play the piano.

However, I am now accepting lists of silent activities I can do for the next 6 weeks, as well as resume's of friends who will hang out with me in silence... Must love dogs, RomCom's and shopping.

Anyhow, expect some funny updates. Maybe this is the push I needed to get back to you, dear readers.

Signing off (which as I type this I realize now has a dual meaning...you know because I can't talk...),

Xx,
Lo.

Over the Love.

Well hello there. It's been more than a minute since I had a minute to sit down and write one of these.

Since my last post I: built a website, graduated college and cried... A LOT. But we'll get back to all of these great achievements later.

Considering my pregnant pause from this blog that I love so much, I thought I would return with a post about my first and true love of music.

This was really a long time coming considering my Elle magazine's May issue was dedicated to women of music and had none other than the great Adele gracing its cover:

But what has truly inspired this post is a song I heard while watching The Great Gatsby. I know everyone is on the Gatsby kick and if you haven't seen it I'm sure you're wondering what the big deal is... and all I can say to you is go. Go to the nearest movie theater, pay the $10.75 for a ticket, sneak in some of your favorite candy and watch as one of my favorite pieces of literature is magnificently portrayed before your eyes. 

A lot of reviews have been more than critical of this film but it was honestly everything I wanted it to be. So go. 

That being said, I wasn't 100% thrilled with the music in the movie for the most part...however there was one song that really got to me. 

I have always been a Florence + the Machine advocate but I can't remember the last time a song in a movie made my jaw drop while giving goose bumps a home all over my body. Until this one.  

Florence has what I refer to as the "Adele factor." The stop-in-your-tracks and don't move, blink, think or breathe until the song is over kind of thing. It's a talent that puts what society calls the "it" factor to shame. 

Her voice accompanied by the most beautiful of instrumental arrangements is haunting and awe inspiring and frankly I just can't get enough. 

When I hear songs like this I can't help but wonder what artists like Selena Gomez or Ke$ha think when they hear it-especially in comparison to their own music. Not that I don't appreciate a good party jam that you can crank up and pretend you're in a music video... but artists like Florence and Adele  have the Selena's of the world cowering in the corner wondering when their 15 minutes of fame is up. 

When you hear their songs you can't help but think, "Now that... that is music." 

And everything else is simply nonsense. 

Enjoy. 

-Lo. 

Homeward Bound.

I'm

      Comin'
   

                   Home...

Comin' home. Tell the world that I'm comin' home... if you can finish that lyric we are probably friends, if not we should be.

Yes people. I am returning to the Big D and I don't mean Detroit (an answer I got from someone last weekend when I said the Big D...what? Do I look like I'm from...whatever.)

I have been incredibly busy trying to keep up with school, work, finding a job and being a 22-year-old college girl who's graduating in 5 weeks. *GASPS* literally

So busy that I just screened my sister's phone call to try and get a quick post in before my next class. Sorry Katie... you can complain to me about it in person tomorrow over margs :)

Things I'm looking forward to in a nutshell:

1. Seeing my family for the first time since January. Wow that's been a minute!
2. Mexican food. Nom nom nom...margaritas.
3. Throwing Beau a birthday party
4. Long walks and talks with my main gal pals that will be in town (shout out to Savannah and Erin).
5. DALLAS FASHION!!

I love packing when I go home because I feel like my wardrobe has a chance to truly shine and be appreciated for what it is. Although packing in one duffle bag proves tricky for a girl who thinks knows every day is a fashion show...

I also love to get inspiration while I'm there. Ah the perks of being in a big city.

Also y'all...I'm FINALLY GETTING A HAIRCUT. (My last cut was in August. I will deny this fact if you ever try to use it against me).

I have a few fun posts about work coming your way too when I get a chance to breathe. But I advise you to not hold your breath on that one...it could be a while...


Xx,

Lo.