Someone asked me the other
day about my goals and plans for 2012 and I told her being recently finished
with college, and knee surgery (causing me to have to be super low-key for the
last 5 months) I am straight up to the definition of BRIGHT EYED & BUSHY TAILED. All I want out of 2012 is
when I see opportunity-take it. When I see a chance to
network- go for it. I hope to have a positive
year, full of new things, friends, places and (yes mom) EVEN new lessons.
But anyways, to get to
what you all have come for...
Here are some 2012 highlights thus far:
1. McDonald’s
Quarter pounder-we can't always be trying new things can we?
2. Witnessed the largest
& oldest Kauri tree in New Zealand- I have much love for trees, as most of
you know. This one was over 2,000 years old & was over 51 meters 13 meters
in circumference. Its was a big a** tree to say the least.
3. Started reading the book "The Millionaire Next Door." (Although Hunger Games is currently taking the lead in page reads, not to mention, my interest) As I am 23 now my self-entrepreneurship begins here. Say it with me people, Adventure.
4. Kissed my love, Scott, on
New Years Eve! We brought in the New Year in a small town bar in Maunaguni.
(the only one in town, yeah. we are taking UP NORTH) The night included
dancing, a mixed crowd of randoms, and shots named things too dirty for most of
my family to read.
5. Scott and I went sailing on a yacht with 13 other strangers: couple of Canadians, a Poland couple with a really funny & interesting laugh, an Aussie clan and our captain Glen, an avid sailor, & super nice dude. He had a special interest in us, most likely because we were the youngest peeps there. Kayaked in the clearest water while coming across some stingrays! I promised Scott I'd just breathe and keep paddling.
6. On this same sail trip
Scott and I hiked a giant mountain with my bum knee and all, taking breaks to
hydrate with our bottle of chardonnay of course… (Hey! were on vacation! The
Poland couple paid a special interest in our hydration idea as we passed them
climbing up the hill) We made it to the top, & just take my word on this
one-it was probably the prettiest sight I've ever seen. An American RJ
Reynolds, in fact owns this island we sailed out too. (Us Americans really are
everywhere) Reynolds wanted to turn it into a resort but never got the building
rights so now it stays as an excellent day trip for boat trips out there. It’s
about an hour and a half sail over to this particular island, which is part of
The Bay of Islands in which we were staying.
7. Worked as a bartender at a private party
for a Kiwi named Marc Ellis, he used to be on the All Blacks Rugby Team. He
then created his own naturally made juice products called, Charlie's. He sold
it for around 17 million and now owns a beautiful house where I got to work for
his wife’s birthday party. The bar was about up to my neck but I still managed
to mix drinks & keep both types of alcohol-filled punch full and iced. I
probably took off 300 caps of beer that night; Chico really is the best
university, trained me well in all kinds of ways. Definitely plan to do more
side events like that, good for meeting people, networking, & not to
mention C A S H.
8. Got a job! I was hired
recently to be the Marketing & Events Coordinator for a company called
Tuatara Pictures. It is a video production company who creates videos of all
types. Google the company and check out some of their products on their
website! A couple owns the company whom I adore; they contract out a lot of
work based on what they need done, but as for the team it’s just us three.
Being that this position is new to them it gives me the opportunity to do
things my way creatively. There is a lot of open communication and ideas going
around throughout the day and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of the work
they do!
Over the course of 2010 it
was networking mania for me through email, websites, LinkedIn, Twitter,
anything I could get my hands on with the main goal in mind: GET ME AN
INTERNSHIP IN NZ. Throughout that time some days it was hard and frustrating
because either I wasn’t getting responses at all, or companies just didn’t have
the need for an intern. Now, being here in New Zealand, I have gone back
through all the connections I made and contacted them. I then ask them if
they’d like to meet for coffee in order to get to know their business, and what
they do. I am beginning to see where everyone falls into the
hospitality/customer service industry. Most people I have in my contacts know
each other and are either in the same networking group, or friends, or even
have done work together on some sort of project. WHAT A RELIEF. It’s been
amazing to see how everyone fits together and I finally feel out of those
hundreds of emails (I’m not kidding) I sent out it made a difference and helped
me. It’s been such a great feeling knowing that everything you do makes a
difference, no matter how little AKA sending an email.
IT COUNTS so in the
words of Journey, “Don’t stop believin!”
