Outside the Vase

By Danielle Doyle | @ddolye09

Nothing is more elegant than fresh flowers and there are many creative florists that can help you create a beautiful statement… at a price that is.  If you have ever purchased an arrangement from a florist, you know how expensive it is to put a substantial centerpiece on the table. As an event planner, I am constantly challenged with creating a beautiful design on a low budget—and you’d be amazed at some of the things we come up with.

We recently managed an event surrounding the Dale Chihuly sculpture exhibition at the Dallas Arboretum that called for a creative solution. How do you compliment a beautiful garden filled with stunning Chihuly glass sculptures on a tight budget? Small floral arrangements would have looked silly in such an impressive garden so we had to think outside the vase. Our solution was to fill the tables with brightly colored paper lantern “sculptures” highlighted by strategic LED lighting. They looked impressive, gave a nod to Chihuly and came in at under $20.00 per table for the materials. Add hip menus, a Spanish guitarist, colorful uplighting and a huge projection of a Dale Chihuly glass blowing DVD on the wall and this low budget event turned in to a real WOW. 

Here are a few of my favorite low cost centerpiece ideas and how you can make them at home for a lot of bang and very little buck.

Branch Out

Branches are naturally decorative, fill a lot of space and act as the perfect platform for your creative genius.  You can purchase substantial branches at your local craft store or a local wholesaler such as Save on Crafts for as little as $5.00 each. Ghostwood, manzanita and grapewood are especially interesting and look beautiful in spring and summer while birch and pine (yes, needles on!) are gorgeous in the fall and winter.  Add a few candles, a colorful table runner and a few well placed flowers and you have a stylish tablescape to be proud of.

Photo credit: http://blog.koyalwholesale.com/tag/driftwood-centerpieces/

Farmstand Fresh

Fill’er up! Adding fruits, vegetables and other farm fresh items to your centerpieces is a great way to add color and seasonality to any event. These items add a lot of color and substance to a small floral or candle arrangement or can stand alone in a beautiful vase or bowl. Try citrus fruits, artichokes, apples, cabbage, pinecones and nuts for a reusable and seasonal twist. Filling up on these low-cost items means you spend less on flowers!

Photo Credit: http://www.bollea.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/bubble-bowl-c.jpg#

Break Bread

You were going to feed your guests anyway, right? Why not create a centerpiece that will double as the first course! Fill a vessel with breads mixed with stems of fresh herbs or create a beautiful cheese board with all the trimmings. Surround with small dishes of accompaniments: dipping oils, olives, nuts, honey, fig jam, pesto and white bean hummus all work well. Take care to use different heights, shapes and varieties to add visual interest and incorporate colorful containers or plants so there is still color on the table once the food is gone—potted herbs are perfect and can be used over and over. Not only do these centerpieces look beautiful, they are a surefire conversation starter.

Photo Credit: http://hellomoye.com/2009/03/12/edible-centerpieces/

Paper Flowers

Crepe paper is not just for leis anymore! This is one of my favorite centerpiece ideas. The styles, colors and designs are endless—think runners, branch toppers, hanging flowers, bouquets, etc. These take a bit more patience but it is a fun project and you will have the finished product for years. Check out Martha Stewart Crafts for tons of ideas and instructions on how to make your own beautiful bunch. 

Photo Credit: http://www.eclecticmom.com/home/2012/4/3/paper-flowers.html

Sometimes being forced to dig deep can yield fabulous results! Check out our Pinterest board on Low Cost Centerpieces for additional ways you can use these ideas to create your own masterpiece.

Optimizing Opportunities- 4 tips to make the most of any situation

By Gwen Fernau

It is impossible to avoid challenges and difficult situations. In fact, these can often present the best opportunities for us to grow if we learn to positively spin them. Here are four tips for turning any situation into a golden opportunity:

1. Don’t get tunnel vision

In life you are constantly being told to slow down and take a look around; and this also applies to the professional environment. It can be easy to fall into a pattern when you are doing the same thing for a long time. Fight that urge! Be constantly looking for new methods, new venues, new platforms, new anything. If you stick to only what you know, your end results will be similarly predictable.

2. Challenge yourself

Even if a project seems too difficult or is unfamiliar, go for it. In an industry where you are under pressure to perform (and what industry isn’t), failure is a daunting concept. But if you still think being afraid to fail is an excuse for inaction, you obviously haven’t been spending enough time on inspirational Pinterest boards.

3. Step outside of your comfort zone

Stepping out of your comfort zone is also essential. Don’t just stick to projects that you’re already great at, take on work that you don’t normally do and put your own unique spin on it. Even better: get involved in an interdepartmental project where you will need to utilize skills that you don’t normally use or haven't acquired yet. Not only will you be learning something new, but you will also be increasing your value as a flexible and well-rounded employee. In today’s society, having a holistic skill set is increasingly important.

4. Network, network, network!

The people you meet, whether colleagues or acquaintances, are one of your greatest resources. The importance of good connections cannot be over-emphasized. Having incredible individual talent won’t help you go all the way if you aren’t able to find an environment and a group of people who will help foster that talent and allow it to bloom. It’s not always about making the “best” connections, it’s about allowing others who are more experienced help you find your way and succeed. Most people are perfectly willing to pass along a resume or make an introduction, so don’t miss out by being too shy to ask.

3 Reasons Why An Internship Pays Off

By Jacqueline Kanasz  

Summertime: While revered throughout those K-12 years as a time to relax and enjoy a fun-filled break from the educational daily grind, the entrance into college certainly changes that cycle for most.  

Since my entry into the University of Massachusetts Amherst two years ago, the word “internship” has become a part of my regular vocabulary, inducing a number of emotions ranging from excitement to anxiety. While returning to the familiar summer jobs we’ve had in high school is tempting, I’ve realized that internships are becoming a truly vital tool for students to break into the working world and secure a place for their futures – making summer the prime time to find them.    

After my experiences here thus far, below are 3 main reasons that you should take an internship:  

1. Networking, networking, networking. I can’t say it enough, but when people say “It’s who you know,” they definitely mean it. Working for any company supplies you with an unlimited source of contacts and references. You never know who your supervisor or fellow interns may know – someone you meet could help land you the job that provides a lifetime of income. TIP: Connect with your coworkers on LinkedIn after your internship is completed to maintain contact and make sure they remember you.

2. Experience. Nothing can replace the skills, confidence, and communicative abilities one gains from engaging regularly in the working environment, especially if within the field you desire to be a part of in the future. TIP: Refer to the internship’s position requirements at the end of the summer (or semester) to make adding the new experience to your resume easier.

3. It displays initiative. Potential employers will see your resume and you’ll stand out throughout the interview process for having taken the initiative to remain active during a time when most people just want to go to the beach. When interviewers ask “So what did you do all summer?” you’ll have a great professional experience to share.

Internships are a long-term investment – the time and effort you invest now will pay off later. The rewards, both personal and professional, are immense.

Is technology debasing or enhancing music’s lasting tradition?

By Samantha Rosenberg

With the new doors technology has opened for our generation, it comes as no surprise that the music industry has significantly evolved.  Once the millennium occurred, the music industry was filled with new artists trying to find an identity. A mixture of new sounds and creativity filled the musical world. Technology began to flood the industry, providing listeners with an entirely new experience in regards to sound. But after 2010, electronic dance music swept the US, and that’s where we stand today. There is no denying that for the last few years, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has claimed the short attention spans of the millennium generation; for better or for worse.

Music has an interesting way of advancing with technology and the trends of the time.  The Beatles are a phenomenal example of this occurrence when they pioneered technological sampling and multitrack recording in the studio.  Since then, the music industry has taken a giant leap forward, continuing to produce original, technologically influenced creations which finally lead up to EDM.  This type of music has added its own unique definition to the music scene in groundbreaking ways, so much so that some will argue that it’s changing the music industry forever.

At an EDM show, people of all types gather to listen to a DJ as he/she takes a journey through electrical devices, laptops and wires, while at the same time demonstrating their musical creativity.  Shows rarely incorporate live vocals or instruments and typically use digital devices and complicated programs to craft the artist’s unique sound.  Just like the 60s embodied tie-dye and peace, our present day scene is filled with beaded bracelets, bright neon wardrobes and captivating lights.  The trend of Woodstock-style extravaganzas is re-emerging in the form of shows and festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival and Ultra Music Festival.  Here, hundreds of thousands of people join together to enjoy the music and be a part of something bigger than themselves.

It’s a fascinating concept, this new idea of sound and music. It certainly defies music’s epic past.  Older generations (like our parents’) seem to have a difficult time accepting this new style.  To them, concerts were about instrumental and vocal talents, exceptional lyrics and the culmination of these three key musical ingredients.  While these types of artists are still emerging, the EDM is undoubtedly taking over.

Though there are many critics of EDM, there are also millions of supporters who believe this is the beginning of a new chapter in music’s history.  With the lightning speed of modern day technology, who knows what the next ten years will bring?  While I do miss classic concerts at times, (yes, they still exist but the popularity has greatly diminished) I certainly cannot wait to see what the future holds.  Will music make another drastic change?  Or will it backtrack in time and cycle like fashion?  Only time will tell.

There’s an App for that

By Erika Kuzmicz | @erika_k  

In one of our recent posts, “Dress the Part; Be the Part,” we stressed the importance of dressing ‘the part’. Throughout the years, you have probably been advised to ‘Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.’ However, this can often be a challenge. Clothes can be expensive and buying full outfits adds up quickly.   

As a young professional breaking into the working world, I often struggle putting together my work attire from the limited supply of professional clothing in my closet. But, Alas! There’s an App for that. (Or a few, rather.)   

With these wardrobe apps, you can create your dream closet (Hello Pinterest) and later look at it for inspiration. The apps also let you upload photos of existing items in your closet to your virtual closet (where they can be categorized). You are then able to piece together clothing items, plan future outfits and assign these to certain days. The app will hold on to this history so that you are able to see what you have already worn – great for people, like me, with limited professional wardrobes.  

What about that sweater in the back of your closet you always forget that you own? Many of the wardrobe apps also keep track of your least worn or most worn pieces so that you can be sure to make use of everything in your closet. Talk about making it easy to get dressed in the mornings!  

Here are five of the many wardrobe apps available on the market:  

• StyleBook

• Cloth

• Touch Closet

• Vogue Stylist

• Gap StyleMixer

Who says the summer is quiet?

By Sandy Lish | @slishcastle

Here are the reasons it is absolutely NOT quiet:

• Even though people take vacations, people are more plugged in than ever before.  For good, and for bad, it’s entirely possible to keep efforts moving forward even when a key team decision-maker is away.

• You take the good with the bad.  At Castle, we have summer Fridays, which means that we divide the firm into two teams, to ensure ample coverage of all client teams, and each team has every other Friday off, workload permitting.  The “workload permitting” part is elemental here—people accomplish a lot during the rest of the week to compensate for a Friday off.  And there is always that “plugged in” factor (see first bullet!).

• Social media does not get a summer vacation.  In fact, we’re finding that some contacts have more time to tweet, blog, and beef up their online presence, and we’re helping them do that year round.

• The news cycle is 24/7. It doesn’t stop.  Long leads still exist, and we need to plan for fall and winter coverage, even when we’re sweating out a heat wave.  On a daily basis, crises break, clients and their competitors have announcements, IPOs and M&A activity continues, the political landscape creates numerous opportunities, and event planning is a year-round process.  PR and events never stop.

• It’s a great time to catch up.  Some of my most productive meetings so far this summer have been with new and old contacts that I have difficulty connecting with during the ostensibly busier seasons.  We can accomplish a lot by taking advantage of people’s open calendars to get and share information.

• It’s a fantastic time to take a step back, look ahead and strategize. Before calendars fill and overfill in September, we can be proactive and thoughtful about our clients’ businesses, and our own, and attend to efforts we’ve been “meaning to get to.”

• Events happen. Organizations realize that although some folks definitely clear out of the city, if you’re around, there aren’t as many events competing for your attention.  That’s why, for the third year, we’re thrilled to partner with the Boston Business Journal on Boston’s end of summer networking bash.  We’ve already marked our calendars.  Are you coming?

  

What is social media really doing to our generation?

By Matt Nollman

When you want to talk to a friend, what do you do? Do you pick up the phone and dial their number, or do you send them some sort of message via text or social media? Every generation has their preferred mode of communication. Baby boomers would much rather pick up the phone and call someone than send a virtual message. On the other hand, my generation prefers to send the virtual message. While members of generation Y are natives to the social media world, we have become undeniably dependant on these platforms as main forms of communication. But with this drastic change comes a very important question: what is social media really doing to our generation?

It’s a thought provoking (and sometimes disturbing) question. Virtual communications are irrefutably changing the world through innovation and rapid technological advances. Some say social media is the best tool for marketing professionals since the invention of email. I do believe that social media is accomplishing something incredibly significant; something negative. I believe that it is crippling the communication skills of the millennium generation in such a way that if it is sustained, may be irreparable.

As we all know, it’s easy to hide behind a computer screen. From Steeler’s running back Rashard Mendenhall questioning the September 11^th attacks to Amanda Bynes tweeting the President about her DUI, young people will say anything and everything that comes to their mind without much thought. They rattle off vulgar words and phrases that our parents would not have dreamed of saying out loud 30 years ago (and we would not dream of saying out loud today), without appropriate repercussions. The ever-so-important conversation filter is becoming obsolete. One can only imagine how the absence of a filter in personal conversations will translate as young adults move into the professional world.

Simply put, the baby boomers have been doing it right for decades. Growing up without the internet and mobile phones forced them to develop the social skills needed to be successful. So to all the young professionals reading this post, consider how you communicate. Next time you have to talk to a friend, pick up the phone and call them. Think about what you’re going to say before you say it. And if something pops into your mind that you think may be inappropriate in any way, then don’t say it. Practice talking with a person rather than typing to them. Practice expressing yourself vocally rather than virtually. If perfected, this ability can change your life. So give it a try. You will be rewarded. 

Do you have enough Klout?

By Keri McIntosh | @kl_mcintosh

Let’s talk about Klout – the service that tracks your social media influence on a scale from one to 100 (i.e. the higher your score, the more influence you have). I must admit, even though it was officially launched in 2008 with a single tweet, I just recently heard about Klout – which I suppose reflects on my score, or lack thereof. 

But I was intrigued when I started to find out more.  Marketers are always looking for ways to stratify their audiences in order to determine where best to direct their dollars.  In this world of “who you know,” or perhaps more aptly, “who follows you,” I can see why this has taken off.  Although people with the highest Klout scores are not necessarily those with the most friends or followers, they are the people whose posts/tweets/comments are rebroadcast the most often.  For businesses, it makes sense to pay attention to these folks since they can be directly responsible for driving business (i.e. Fred with 600,000 followers on Twitter “just had the best meal of my life at Restaurant X!”).  Not to mention that Klout gives users perks such as access to hip events, laptops and plane tickets for achieving and maintaining high scores.  Why wouldn’t brands want to give freebies to this set of influencers?!

So how is this being used in the event world? Here are a few examples: Companies are targeting invitees with high Klout to attend their product launches and trade shows. Cathay Pacific recently opened a lounge at San Francisco International for people with a Klout score of 40 or more. The Palms Casino in Las Vegas tracks customers Klout scores.  Those with high scores are given upgrades or at least preferential treatment.

This blog offered a humorous anecdote about the future of conference name badges.  Perhaps our title or company will someday be replaced with our Klout score? 

True, it can all seem very shallow. But here’s a bit of reassuring information (yes, I am being cynical) on Klout’s website about “Understanding Klout”: You are never penalized for connecting or engaging with someone with a low Klout score.

I think I will rest easier tonight.

Tell us what you think about Klout.  How have you seen it being used?

Summer BBQ Yummy Delights

By Stacy Wilbur | @swilbur24

 

It is officially BBQ season and I have been pinning away on Pinterest some yummy, easy recipes to make any BBQ a culinary success. The following recipes will taste delicious with traditional BBQ fare of hotdogs and hamburgers. Don’t forget, no BBQ is complete without S’Mores! So check out the S’mores on a stick recipe for a fire-free alternative to the traditional ones.  

 

1. Healthy Spinach Dip

2. Cold Tomato Zucchini Pasta Salad with Sherry Shallot Vinaigrette

3. No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake

4. S’Mores on a Stick

  Credits: The Cooking Photographer; So, How’s it Taste?; Babble.com

Dress the Part; Be the Part

By Samantha Rosenberg

“Dressing the part” - we hear it every day but what does it really mean?  If you dress the part can you really become the part?  My answer is yes and here’s why…  

Growing up living a fashion-filled lifestyle, I have always valued the importance of dressing my best. Six years ago, my mom opened up a New York style boutique in our home town.  Being the face of the store, she and I have always been under a watchful eye from others about how we present ourselves. Whether it’s a day working in the shop or a night out on the town, we are constantly running into customers. You can never predict who you’ll run into or who you’ll potentially meet, so it’s important to be prepared. Here are some of my tips on dressing the part:  

Interview: Interviews can potentially be the most important moment in your life. You want to look perfected and polished and feel your absolute best

• Always be overdressed. No matter the position you’re interviewing for, it’s always best to be overdressed. Wear a suit if you have one. If not, a jacket/blazer with dress pants is acceptable.

• Add a splash of color. It’s important that the company can remember you after you leave. If you wear a suit, wear a bright colored solid top underneath to stay memorable.

• Keep it simple. Simple jewelry and hair and tastefully manicured nails.

Business day:  Dressing for work every day can be tricky.  Companies’ dress codes vary widely but we’ll stick to a business casual example.

• Keep it appropriate: Self explanatory.

• Don’t be afraid to be trendy.  Just because you’re in a business setting doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun! Opt away from dull colors.

• Switch it up: If your work allows, have fun alternating between dressy and more casual. Friday is always great for jeans and a cute top, while as Monday you might want to start the week looking professional and ready for clients.

After hours: As previously stated, you never know who you’ll run into out on the town…clients, co-workers, or even your boss!

• This is your time to be unique; have fun and be yourself. 

• Throw on some heels and always keep it classy.

• Never wear anything too revealing that would make you feel uncomfortable. You want to represent your company with grace and style as well as sell yourself to potential clients and networking opportunities.

  When you dress the part, it makes you feel good about yourself.  It spikes your confidence, and ultimately you become the part. What you wear goes far beyond what’s hot and what’s not. It is about representing yourself, showing respect for others, and expressing your sense of individuality. It’s also about representing your company with pride and admiration. So dress to impress. It can make all the difference. 

When the PR Industry Turns on Itself

By Hilary Allard | @hallard

I was horrified last week when I watched a video produced by a PR agency which was featured in the prestigious “PR Dummies” column on Gawker. (Yes, our industry is interesting enough to have its own column of shame.) 

The video features dancing, lipsyncing and even underwater photography. It has high production values – professional makeup, strong editing, choreography. They certainly spent a great deal of time, effort and money on it. 

Here’s why I had such a strong reaction to it: 

Everything in PR should have a strategy behind it. What, exactly, was the strategy behind this video?  Yes, they did get the aforementioned publicity.  But does this show them to be the type of savvy, professional marketers clients would want to hire?  Hardly.  Fine to do a video – but what is the desired outcome?  Surely not to end up in “PR Dummies.” 

It’s all about the clients.  Clients are the reason we have agencies. They pay us to work for them. If I were a client, I’d have a lot of questions about an agency that expended so many resources – including the time of the entire staff – in producing such a ridiculous throw-away video when they should be working for me. Will you be recommending such frivolous expenditures to me? How about spending your time in getting me coverage instead? 

There are enough negative stereotypes of PR people – no need to add fuel to the fire.  Countless movies and tv shows (for example, “Sex & The City”) have perpetuated stereotypes of PR practitioners. Why, as a practicing professional, would you choose to reinforce these caricatures by creating such a video? 

If I sound slightly bitter, that’s because I spent half of my twenties explaining to people that I didn’t spend my time “going to parties” (and the other half explaining to my parents that I didn’t write the articles about my clients that appeared in the newspaper.) 

There are other examples of pitches in “PR Dummies” that are just as egregious – poorly written, ill-timed, or just in bad taste.  As embarrassing as these are for our industry, they can also be assigned to one of several categories: “We didn’t know what we didn’t know” (sad); “Lack of common sense” (something that just can’t be taught); or “Shameless” (they just don’t care). 

What I hate about this is that it was deliberate. It’s hard to believe that at no point during the days – or weeks – it took to produce this that no one had the sense to put the brakes on it. 

I’ve worked with dozens of professionals over the years who take their work and their commitment to their clients seriously, who develop sound strategies and creative campaigns, who value their client relationships, use spell check and good taste, and support their families with their PR careers. It really saddens me to see this. 

Other PR practitioners – what are other ways in which our industry sabotages itself?

 

Celebrate The Fourth Like A True Bostonian

By Liana Eramo | @lianaeramo

After a year studying abroad in Italy, working as an intern for The Castle Group in Boston has flipped the switch on my world perspective. For nine months I played the role of ‘the tourist’. However, for the past month I am no longer a character that comes fleetingly onto the city stage. Rather, I am part of the set.   

Giving up the role of tourist came with a few shocks. I began to realize how locals must have felt when I was the traveler. Instead of asking the questions, I was the one being asked where places, such as the North End, were located and tourists were surprised by the way that I talked. 

Still, I appreciate the desire to navigate a new city. Having grown up on the North Shore and attended Boston College for the past three years, I consider myself privy to the secrets of New England, especially for a week such as this one! That’s why I’m going to share with you 5 must-sees in the Boston area for the Fourth of July festivities. From an ex-tourist to current tourists, I hope you enjoy!  

1. Fenway. What’s more patriotic than America’s favorite pastime? Enjoy a baseball game among rivals at Fenway; this weekend the Red Sox are taking on the Yankees.

2. Ice Cream on the North Shore. There are numerous options for a quick treat with the family along the north shore. Captain Dusty’s has a ‘wicked’ Witch’s Brew, Cherry Farm’s Purple Cow is to die for or you can head to Richardson’s for some mini-golf and batting practice at the cages.

3. Fireworks. On the 3^rd, I recommend Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. The show starts at 8:30, so lounge on the grassy slope that leads down to the water and see the fireworks explode directly overhead. On the 4^th, head to the Charles River for festivities on the esplanade.  Jennifer Hudson and Michael Chiklis kick off the time honored Boston Pops tradition ending with an awesome fireworks display. Watch from the bank, the bridge, or even better, from a boat in the harbor.

4. Beaches. There’s nothing like a sunny day at the beach to make your holiday complete. My top three: Good Harbor has the biggest waves in town, Wingaersheek, where you can dock your motorboat on the shore, and Singing Beach, where the sand speaks to you!

5. The Charlestown Navy Yard. Live a little bit of history with a view of the tall ships during fleet week, tour the U.S.S. Constitution and, of course, visit us at the Castle offices!

 So there you have it; my biggest New-England-in-July secrets revealed. But before you venture out, let’s keep one thing in mind; no one looks good in a duck hat. Happy 4^th of July week everyone!

 

2 Quick Tips to Fuel Your Productivity

By Nicole Gonzalez | @ngandia

Summer is a great time to get through the “housekeeping” section of your to-do list in preparation for the Fall. If, like many of us, you are having a particularly busy summer, you must be thinking that there is no way these “housekeeping” tasks will get “checked off” your list. However, I think you can still get to them. Being busy has little to do with how productive you can be and it can often help your level of productivity (think adrenaline!). Yet, at the heart of the problem is that even the most successful people struggle with productivity. Many elements need to fall into place and not all of them are under your control. Interruptions, lack of sleep and conflicts can certainly hinder productivity. Yet, forethought and a high level of organization – which you can plan and account for – can help you achieve your desired level of productivity. 

Here are my 2 cents on how to boost your productivity – any day: 

(1) Set a daily agenda – A daily agenda is essentially a to-do list that incorporates times for your deliverables. A daily list is so much better than a long one. It is less daunting, it saves you the time you may waste thinking about what to do next and it can help you stick to the times that you allot for each project. This same logic applies to any meeting you may have; no matter how small, create an agenda to keep the meeting on track and avoid needless tangents. The daily list will take you a few minutes to come up with but it will ultimately save you time. Use “unproductive” transition times (i.e. showering, driving, walking, waiting for the elevator) to brainstorm what will go on that day’s agenda and write it down right after you get to work. Here are three tips to avoid being discouraged by falling off track and to get some of the “housekeeping minutia” off your main to-do list:

• Add an additional 20 minutes to how long you think a task will take to account for interruptions/distractions. This said, “schedule” the distractions that are under your control (i.e. checking email, social media accounts and the news).

• Don’t “over-multitask.” You waste time when you shift your focus from one task to another.

• Select 1-2 non-essential tasks and add them to your daily agenda. Regardless of how many other essential tasks you have, if you don’t do this, you may never find the time to get to them, and real deadlines will always get done. Remember, adrenaline is your friend and when you start getting to the little things, not only do you really move forward but you also feel productive and this motivation is pivotal.

(2) Don’t reinvent the wheel and leverage existing programs – Create and use templates and models. It’s simple. Sometimes you may need to recreate the wheel but this is generally not the case and you can cut the time a task may take to accomplish by using a starting point that has worked for you in the past. For this to work, though, you need to organize and then organize some more. Have notes and folders on your e-mail that you can easily reference. Have a reliable filing system on your computer so that you know exactly where to find information. Always save shared files where your colleagues can access them. This will be a huge time saver for all parties involved. Organizing your emails/files/documents as you create/receive them should be your go-to approach because even though it may take you some time to get used to organizing in this fashion, it will ultimately take longer to undo a messy conglomerate of information. To share and file efficiently, leverage existing programs and applications. These are my favorites:   

• Dropbox – Allows you to share files with multiple users and to access them from any of your devices.

• Evernote – Allows you to take notes that you can share and access from all your devices.

• Skype – Allows you to have free video calls when traveling is not necessary (it’s more personal and it saves time).

• Tungle.me or Doodle – Helps you find a time to meet, instead of going back and forth with everyone involved to find a mutually agreeable time.

• Hootsuite – Allows you to schedule your social media updates in bulk to keep you from “over-multitasking”.

 Don’t forget to get the right amount of sleep, to breathe when you are feeling overwhelmed, and to reward yourself after a very productive day!