BET Finally Gets it Right With "The Game"

This is a great article. I'm happy to see that BET is giving "The Game" another chance. Hopefully this will be the spark of a new direction with that channel. Keep up the great posts.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Living in the Color of Spring

Spring has sprung! This is the season for new birth, rebirth and renewal. As I look over the past weekend and think about this time of year, it is refreshing to know that your life is what you make it. 

Now is the time to assess, rethink your strategy and make plans to progress. Change is constant. You never see the same river twice as the water is always moving. I welcome the newness – new scenes, new friends, new adventures and most of all new knowledge.

My current To-Do list for Spring 2010 includes:

1. Tennis Lessons. I’ve always wanted to learn, but never made an effort to seek out lessons. This year that will change. Know of any good tennis instructors in the Little Rock area?
2. Golf Lessons. Okay, I took golf class in college and learned enough to be dangerous! Looking to learn enough to play this time.
3. Piano Lessons. I long for my youth when I was learning to play the piano. If I could go back, I would take it more seriously and pay closer attention. I’m looking to start over again and do it right this time.
4. Home Decorating. Starting with my bedroom, I plan to make it look like a magazine. I see a few purchases from I.O. Metro in my future. Love that place!

What will the new season bring to your life? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

*photo courtesy of Klearchos Kapoutsis & Creative Commons

Making the Social Net...Work!

 As many of you know, for the last 10 months I’ve been navigating the choppy waters of finding a job. During this time my motto has been “…I will land on with both feet on the ground…in Chanel Boots!” Well, friends, it’s time to start shopping! Last week, I landed as the newest member of the Online Marketing & Media team at Aristotle, Inc. My primary focus will be social networking and Online PR. It seems only fitting that I got this job as a result of a real-life connection initiated through Twitter.com.

I am a witness that online/social networking during the job search can and will pay off. It was after attending a presentation at the Arkansas Hospitality Association Trade Show that I realized the power of social media – personally and professionally. The presentation opened my eyes to the possibilities with social networking. It was then that I began to pursue social media as a career option.

Through research, webinars, and connecting with professionals at Tweetups; I learned as much as I could about the subject. After months of tenacious efforts, I landed an opportunity in online marketing using my new interest and knowledge in social media.

For those who are still job searching, don’t give up! Keep the faith. Be strategic; and most of all, stay positive. If I can be of any assistance, I am only an e-mail, a tweet or a comment away! I would love to hear your story. How have you used social networks to find job opportunities?


Last, but not least, I would like to thank @CateyLeo everything she did to lead me to my new opportunity. You rock!

Find me on LinkedIn.

Conan O'Brien: Burned a Bridge or Good Comedy

It’s finally over. Conan O’Brien has exited Stage Left. Last Friday was his final day as host of “The Tonight Show” on NBC. The decision to leave was the culmination of a very public battle that involved O’Brien, NBC Executives and Jay Leno, former Tonight Show host. In the end, O’Brien chose to leave and he did it his way.

My question is after the many punches thrown at NBC during his nightly monologue, did Conan burn a bridge or was it all in the name of good comedy? I’ve heard justification for both sides of the answer. I’ve heard everything from “he should have settled the contract, given his side of the story and let it be” to “Conan had every right to ‘stick’ it to NBC for how they treated him;” but who’s right?

I agree that NBC took a big gamble on The Jay Leno Show; and when it failed in their eyes, Conan got the short end of the equation. Conan chose not to take the offer on the table [moving The Tonight Show to 12:05AM] and walk away. His letter to the “People of Earth” was heartfelt and genuine. He explained his feelings and allowed ‘earthlings’ to empathize with him and the situation. Fans – old and new – united via social media and eventually staged #TeamCoCo rallies outside NBC studios.

During the last two weeks of The Tonight Show, NBC and “situation” were the subject of many monologues by O’Brien and several guest discussions. Each time the verbal jabs were more heated and direct. The audience LOVED it. Ratings soared. The Tonight Show finally had more viewers than Late Night with David Letterman. I guess losing your job in a public manner can be good for business…I mean advertisers, i.e. ratings.  

Looking back on how Conan spent his last two weeks at NBC, did he burn a bridge or was it all in the name of good comedy? How would you leave a job you if you were relieved of your duties? 


Connect me on Twitter: Mona's Poetic Wax 

Everyone Has a Story!

As the New Year begins, it is customary to reflect on the year that was. On New Year’s Eve, I found myself sitting alone on a pew in a southern Baptist church. As the service progressed the elderly minister asked the congregation for those who wanted to share a testimony of how God has blessed them in 2009. A few members shared their thoughts and blessings. As the stories of increase, healing and prosperity flowed, I could not block the memories of 2009 from flooding my mind. So, in the spirit of the elderly minister, here is my testimony:

The year begin in nice, cozy apartment in Flushing (Queens), NY, watching Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper command the celebration in Times Square. After that, the rest is (as they say) history.

·         In February, I became a world traveler with an 11-hour direct flight to Istanbul for a career event/presentation to Turkish students. During this trip, I fell in love with the world and my cherished passport.

·         March came in like a lion and went out like a…LION. I became a statistic as I joined the other 15 million unemployed/laid off Americans, who one day had a job and the next day, they didn’t. After almost seven years with the organization, I was given my walking papers right after a hearty lunch in the conference room.

·         In April, I spent time re-assessing my professional skills and planning my next career move.

·         In May, I moved out of my apartment. It felt good to provide my furniture (all my furniture) to those that needed it. Thanks to Facebook and friends I GAVE everything away for FREE. Can you imagine how it feels to have all your worldly possessions in the back of a SUV? That was me.

·         During the summer, I moved in with a friend (and her husband & 2 cats) and learned the meaning of true friends. Friends are those who work to build you up in times of sorrow. Friends are people who provide a listening ear when you need to say a few things out loud. And lastly, friends are those folks who graciously open their hearts, minds and souls to enrich your life for the better.

·         In August, was the “Homecoming,” also know as relocating back to my home state of Arkansas. I am thankful for the meaning of family and being able to ‘always come home.’

·         The fall months lead to more professional education opportunities and interviews. I took the time to renew, review and re-dedicate my efforts to furthering my career.  I also learned to slow down. The pace in Little Rock is much slower than NYC.

·         In December, I ended the year with new friends from Twitter, new connections with Arkansas Alumni and professional organizations, and SEVERAL Holiday parties.

As we transition to a new year, I enter 2010 with new self-awareness and determination to make this year the best ever! Although there were many ups and downs in 2009, I am thankful for where I am and excited about where I’m going. In the end, I was right where I needed to be on New Year’s Eve – alone on a pew in a church with familiar faces, sounds and thoughts.

That is my testimony. What is yours? Everyone has a story. 

My New Relationship

Yes, folks, I’m in a new relationship. His name is Fitness Boot Camp. I call it a relationship because going to fitness boot camp is a lot like dating. It started in much the same fashion as a blind date. I arrived at the first date (first day of class) with a bit of information and the memory of the voice I spoke with on the phone earlier that day. I had the normal “blind date” jitters – nervous, anxious, curious, a bit excited and enthusiastic. I greeted the instructor (let’s call him Sarg) with a hearty handshake, just as I would any potential suitor. I quickly learned that this ‘date’ would not be an easy, talkative session. After being teased with a light warm of simple stretches, the exercises became intense QUICKLY. As with any blind date, my heart rate fluctuated, sometimes HIGH (barley breathing) and sometimes LOW (savoring each breath). At the end of the session, Sarg and I parted on good terms and agreed to see each other again. The mission: a better, stronger me…should I choose to accept it. MISSION ACCEPTED.

Now that the first week of this relationship has come to an end, I look back and realize the following things:

1.       I only CRIED twice (Day 2 & 4). However, they were significant cries. I mean, tear up your face-cover your mouth kind of wails. The Sarg was not affected. I’m not even sure he realized those were big alligator tears streaming down my face. He HAD to see them. He never acknowledged my emotional outbursts. I think it’s better that way – I cry; you look me in my eyes and keep talking.

2.       The mind is a powerful thing. Exercising is 75% mental and 25% physical. You can talk yourself IN and OUT of any movement/task. I must continue to talk myself into things on a daily basis.

3.       The biggest accomplishment sometimes is simply SHOWING UP. I made a choice each day. Arriving on time and ready to work is half the battle.

4.       Using your body weight as resistance can be good (if you weigh 125) and bad if you weigh (more than…). Weighing more than the average can be a disadvantage, if you let it become an issue. Yea, I’m still learning to find the advantages of above average weight when it comes to resistance training.

5.       Counting to 8 is hard to do when trying to run 1.5 miles along the water. I count to 8 and back down to 1 to pace myself. That tends to work for me. Run for 16 counts. Walk for 16 counts. Intervals, baby!

I like my relationship with fitness boot camp a little more each day. On Day 3, I said HELL-O to new muscles I never knew I had. Each night I flirt with a long, hot shower. Tomorrow, I plan to have a LOVE AFFAIR with Epsom Salt and a hot bath. Next week, the ‘dating’ continues – 1 week down and 4 more to go.

As with any relationship, ‘dating’ is a process…I will keep you posted.

Slowly but Surely...99 Days to a Better Person Continues

Day 32 – The good news keeps coming this week! I was chosen to interview for a position with a local college. This position is outside of the marketing industry, but still a great opportunity. It will be a panel interview. Panel interviews are always a challenge. I’ve done them before. So, there will be more researching and preparing for the meeting next week. In other news, two family members passed this week and a separate cousin was involved in a bad car accident. Both memorial services are on the same day – in two different states. With God’s help the family will manage.

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Day 31 - Still on my list for this week: sending networking emails. These are always so hard, but maybe I’m putting too much thought into the process. I plan to identify 15 people and touch base with them before Sunday night. Recently, I acquired the audiobook, “Brag: How to Toot Your Own Horn Without Blowing It.” Today, I began listening and taking notes (as usual). Patty Klaus provides some good information. I need to work on my Brag-a-logue and Brag Bag. I also caught the tailend of a webinar from the Road Show (LA Office) on partnership opportunities with Disney/ABC Television Distribution.

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Day 30 – Still working to change my life. Good news!! I got a call back for a second round interview. Super excited!! It’s a job that I’m definitely interested in and look forward to speaking with the hiring manager. I spent the reading and researching on social media. I am energized after the great webinar yesterday. I also attended the Little Rock Arkansas Alumni Board meeting for volunteer training, and left as the newly elected 2010 Chapter Secretary. I can put my stellar note-taking skills to good use.  I was able to meet new people and be active. Love it!

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Day 29 – The day started off fine. I attended a webinar on social media by the International Social Media Association. Great information was shared and I got a shout out from the facilitator! I also joined the association today. Added that to my resume! However, things took an unexpected turn when I got in a screaming match with my father. Too deep to detail here, but we argued about my younger brother, a heated topic in our household. I spent the rest of the afternoon in my room – researching. I made dinner and things are better now.