Greg’s posterous

The Interview(ee?)

One thing I notice is the vast amount of articles coming around that are talking about interviews, their processes and their tips. I want to give a different perspective; try doing the same thing everyone else is from a different country. It actually makes it a lot tougher, even though you might not think so.

My Problem

If you follow my blog you realize, I'm currently studying in Alicante, Spain, my 3rd year of my international business major. As much as I am loving it, it makes apartment hunting and job hunting for the upcoming summer and school year much more difficult.

As much as I would love to send in a snail mail copy of my resumé or give a quick ring to the HR department of wherever I would like to apply, it financially isn't that feasable. Doable, just not reasonably. The benefits of using some direct contact methods that help by being stateside:

• You usually get to talk to someone, and if you're anything like me thats much more reasurring than sending your resumé into the black hole of the online database.
• The advantage of the company receiving a physical copy of your resumé shows not only your persistence but your will to succeed and advance in the working world

The Realization

The first step is realizing you have a problem. When you get stuck in a difficult situation, you probably already know it. So understanding that you are in this pickle is naturally the first thing you need to do. Then after that you can begin focusing on ways to rectify, and make the problem one that is almost non existent.

The Solution

Anticipation. The simple fact that you can anticipate these problems make the solution much easier. My Suggestions:

• Skype: If you haven't found the many many benefits of Skype yet, I suggest giving it a try. Should you be called for an interview you have an economical and practical way to conduct a phone interview on the cheap, especially if YOU have to call.
• Google Voice: 2 benefits here: Recorded transcriptions and a proper phone number where you can receive a transcribed voicemail in case you get a call back.
• LinkedIn: The online resume: get connected, get out there, and get known.

Naturally, I'm still going through my application process for this summer, but as more develops and more comes my way, I'll be more than happy to clue you in on my tips. If you have any please leave them in the comments.

Image by Ben Heine

BenHeine.com

The New Age of Business

Apologies

I'd like to make my apologies for not realizing that I haven't posted in close to a month. I have gotten caught up with classes, and the many new people I am meeting every day here at the residency in Alicante.

On the up-side it has given me a lot of time to look into the new wave of economics, marketing, and the whole entourage of business coming into view for me.

Market the hell out of it

If you're not reading Seth Godin and you're a marketer, even a professional with an amazing track record I highly recommend just taking a peek even if once a week.

His posts are never too lenghty and my favorite is that they are never strictly to-the-point. He makes you think! Take the example of The unclicking 84%; Seth's genius in marketing takes you from concrete data, to making you think of what the next step should be for you, your venture/business/etc., and most importantly for your market.  My ideas and questions for you:

• New ideas. Even if they're recycled ideas with a new twist, or a new focus, that makes it become new.
• Can you change or increase your market focus without losing the original base?
• How can you take your brand to a level of incredible trust and promotion?

Social Media Economics

Yes; not marketing, media nor optimization...but Economics.

Many have put themselves in roles of Personal Branding consultants, Social Media Marketers and Optimizers, but you may be asking what does any of this have to do with economics?!

Actually, quite a lot. This new age of entrepreneurs has unleashed the venture capitalists, the big businesses and the small businesses to look into a new realm of enterprises. From an economical point of view, unemployment (9.8% Wolfram|Alpha) in America is still worsening, but with many more entrepreneurs emerging daily and new ideas coming fresh from those unemployed new businesses are starting up daily with the goal of giving a good or service to the people.

Now, here's where social media comes in. The main social media hotspots are, San Fancisco, NYC, Boston, Washington DC, and the Raleigh-Durham (RDU/Triangle) area of North Carolina.

I point you to the NY Times Unemployment map (interactive) here. Accounting for the size difference of population between these metropolitan areas and other rural areas, the unemployment rate in the social media hotspots is relatively less than the other main areas due to their success with entrepreneurship.

Just some thoughs, what do you think? Leave comments.

Image by billadler

BlaireAshley Jewelry For A Cause

A new startup by Appalachian State International Business student Blaire Jesseph is based around some very impresssive ideas and wicked smart plans.

Like Musibility Blaire is also taking a great approach to her startup by focusing her marketing first locally and establishing a base before launching a fully functioning site for orders and blog updates on the BlaireAshley line of jewelry.

A little about Blaire

Blaire's mother Bonnie also runs a succesful business called W.I.N.O.S. (Women In Need of Sanity) where Blaire works as Assistant Marketing Director and runs the blog for W.I.N.O.S. Blaire's work with her mother led her to start BlaireAshley.

Fashion & Philanthropy

From the Facebook Page: Blaire Ashley is an emerging jewelry company sharing an opportunity with you to help others with each and every purchase. Through each purchase, Blaire Ashley will donate a portion of the proceeds to a philanthropic project focused on improving the standard of young lives around the world.

By purchasing jewelry at wholesale prices, the high profit margin, allows the amount of donations that Blaire makes to be a great portion of her income!

Be sure to also follow her on Twitter (@BlaireAshley)

Image by BlaireAshley

BrightKite Meet Monopoly - Foursquare

I just recently hopped on the great fun network of Foursquare. As many of you know I am currently in Alicante, Spain doing my study abroad requirements for my International Business Major. This causes a lot of downsides for many US based social media apps. The reason for this taking Foursquare as an example; is that Foursquare focuses on what I belive are the main social media cities of the US, leaving out not only those who are out of those areas with no fun, but also those around the world. At the same time, I know that if I were in the US I would thoroughly enjoy the benefits this new site has to offer.

BrightKite meets Monopoly

Here's my take - Foursquare turns BrightKite into an interesting competitive game, almost like Monopoly, just without all the banker stuff.

The more you check into different places, outside of work (bars, pubs, comedy clubs, etc.) the more "points" you get allowing you to become the mayor of an area, or to give you badges (achievements).

This is an addictive way to get people going on their competitive nature as Jeff Cohen(@dgtlpapercuts) mentioned to me earlier today - "Competitive nature makes it addictive." Which is phenomenal it will get people moving and FAST on this new network!

Caught at Work?

Just a quick blurb on this: People WILL use this at work, lose producitvity, and will most likely feel the repercussions of this sooner or later down the road.

Image by willandbeyond

What do you think of Foursquare? - Comment Below!

Foursquare - The Game of Brightkite

Is Free Really That Bad?

Being in Spain, I tend to get some of my favorite magazines a little late. Thanks to my Mom she's sweet enough to send me them! But I got the October issue of Entrepreneur and in a short article titled Radicals & Visionaries by Joe Robinson (Can be found here) there are two very different and two very acceptable debates to the Free ideals of today's entrepreneurs and Social Media visionaries.

This article actually makes me question the idea of offering 100% of your service for free. I surely understand the point offer a service that will give something to your target market; but what's in it for you, personally, egotistically, monetarily, and importantly as a business.

Take Facebook and Twitter for example. Great websites, great popular services, but besides ads, they aren't retuning a profit on their ever expanding investments. Let's face it from an accounting and financial standpoint, they have little going for it.

Free...but the good stuff isn't

As many companies have found this out and I believe it to be the optimal way to run an online business, or to market your company. Is by offering a service/product that is 100% as effective as the competition, but continue to offer a paid service that adds many many bonuses that cannot be offered by the competition for a cost of free-99. Why? Because if they can get free from anywhere else, why should they have to pay for yours?

Take E-Books for example; Offer a very well elaborated E-Book for everyone, entirely free no matter what. But at the same time why not offer a $.99 ebook with an extra features including say worksheets (for a financial E-Book)?

That's just my take on the free debate. It's not entirely bull if you know how to fnagle it for your benefit!

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Gustavo Dudamel - He Knows What's Up

Just take the time to watch these two videos really quick, one is of the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela and the other of Gustavo Dudamel Conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra.

When you're watching these, I want you to notice the following.

1. Attitude
2. Emotion
3. Effort
4. Knowledge

Ok now that you have watched the videos. I personally think Gustavo Dudamel is a Genius...he know's what's up in the music world. But what I want to do is actually show that what you can learn from Mr. Dudamel is that you can apply his techinques to your specific field; be it marketing, PR, advertising, customer service, CEO, whatever.

Passion

Gustavo Dudamel's passion for his music, his musicians and the arts is impressive. The way he conducts, the way he describes the music to his musicians and his interpretation is always filled with the passion for what he loves doing. Now, if you're not working in a field where you can have a passion for your job...you need a new job where you can have a passion and be able to express it every day in your creativity.

Have a little bit of fun!

Notice every time Dudamel is conducting he's having fun. He's enjoying himself, he doesn't over stress himself, and he doesn't put undue pressure on himself or his musicians. In music when you have a conductor who is having fun, when the music is lively and fun, your interpretation is the same as his. I personally see no reason why a good workspace should be loaded with stress and negativity. Sure deadlines are important and they should be made. However, that is a separate matter. While you're working have fun, how you do it, is up to you.

Know what you're doing

Fair enough, Gustavo Dudamel is practically a Musical Genius. Conductor of the LA Philharmonic, and not even in his 30's Thats impressive. So before you go over doing the passion, and having too much fun at work. Know what you're doing and be sure that you do everything you do to a spectaular level to blow your audience away with your skill and knowledge. Give them something to remember you by.

Study Abroad Needs for Spain

Disclaimer: What follows in this post has been experience for me, it is no reflection of the opinions nor is it a bashing of Appalachian State University or the University of Alicante.

First, I would like to begin by saying that although my home institution (Appalachian State University) has so far done an excellent job as far as my study abroad has been. However, there are many things that they left out when it came to long term study abroad and the needs of the Embassy and Spanish government.

Requirements for Student Visa - Consulate General of Spain, Washington DC

1. Must come in person to solicit the Visa. If under the age of 18 Must have and authorization letter from Parents (Notarized)
2. Schengen Visa Application (PDF)
3. Passport (Original and 1 Copy)  - Should be valid for whole term of stay, with at least one open page for the affixation of the Visa.
4. 1 Recent Passport Size Photo - On white background
5. Acceptance letter (Original & 1 copy) from receiving institution. - This letter should be addressed to the Consulate General, also should include proof of medical insurance in Spain.
6. Method of Sustinence ($$$) - A University declared letter of Financial Aid, Proof of Scholarship, or a notarized letter from the parents guaranteeing proper monetary sustinance.
7. "Express Mail" Envelope - for delivery of Visa once Arrived
8. Payment - Cash or Money order in the amount of $100USD for US Citizens.

              For More than 6 Months the following is needed

1. Police Record- May be obtained at your local PD. (Original & 1 Copy)
2. Statement of Health - (Original & 1 Copy) - On letterhead from your doctor certifying you are in sufficient medical health to travel.

The previous two documents I highly recommend you getting apostilled. This can be done by researching your local Secretary of State.

Secondly

If you are staying in Spain for more than one semester, you will be required to obtain a type of student residency card. The following is what I did for my region, you can easily find how to do this in your region by going to the Ayuntamiento of your local town/city (this can be easily Googled). What you need for your residency are:

1. Epadronamiento - What is done at the ayuntamiento; a sort of proof of address. For this you need: Proof of address, copy of passport, and copy of the Visa.
2. Application for the residency card - I found this through my university's visa help. Your unique university may have this service also, if not check at the Local Police Department of your town/city and they may help you.
3. Finger Prints
4. 15€ Payment

With that, you wil go to the Police Department follow their steps with the Application Form, and deposit the 15€ in the bank account they indicate. This card will arrive after one month.

My university told me none of these things and the research for me was hard to come by without getting it first hand from the Bureaucrats. I hope that what I have told you helps you with the government part.

Studying Abroad 101

Firstly I would like to apologize for not having posted in such a long time. That comes with the fault of trying to find a place to live, and settling bureaucratic stuff with the University here in Alicante, Spain.

Now for the fun stuff, moving here to Alicante has been a great ordeal. My friend told me she had found a flat for us and when I arrived I went to go see it... it was a total dump, disgusting, old, moldy, and I think mouse poop everywhere. The landlady had also overbooked the flat so I had to stay with her for about 4 days. This will make me seem like a horrible person, but I did what I had to. I found a place to live at the Villas Universitarias, right across the street from the University. Trouble came when I had to leave, because how do you stay with your landlady for 4 nights and tell her you're not gonna live in her flat anymore? So conveniently she wasn't home when I had to leave so I just walked out, and told her son I would send them money as soon as I could to compensate for their hospitality and kindness. From what I heard, she was rather pissed off that day...

At this point in time, I have my course registration tomorrow and a meeting with the Business Dept. Adviser to plan out the semester. The have to go get MORE passport size photos for my residency card that prolongs my visa (per se) until June 2010 when I plan to return to the US.

Besides the deal with the landlady things have been great! Please check out the photos of Alicante so far on Facebook.

Also, check back for a post on studying abroad in Spain details, like things to have at the embassy, and how to make sure everything is squared away with your Universities.

Musibility's Doing It Right

My good friend Michael(@thatroperdude) just began a new startup by the name Musibility, "A Musician's Mentor". Now, since he told me he has upped his number of twitter followers, but more importantly the number of twitter "interactors"; not just people who follow him or he follows, but people he is interacting with on a daily basis who are taking what he says and putting it into action.

First let me explain Musibility to you.

Musibility is a consulting type company. A company that mentors/teaches musicians about how to run themselves, or their band as a company. By teaching the band managers how to properly take themselves or their band to the fullest extent. A small time gig for now, he goes engaging musicians and their groups how to go about with finding gigs, how to operate them, and operating a tour schedule with success and most importantly money management.

But here's what I think he's doing right:

1. Musibility is not completely up and running yet.
2. He's gathering the crowd to gain interest before even designing a web page for launch.
3. Once the page IS up, he will have the inflow from twitter, and other blogs to have a customer base, and word of mouth marketing.
4. Interactivity! Like Dan Schwabel says in his 5 P's of Marketing the last one is Participation. Michael's participation in his venture and his willingness to always be around for the betterment of his startup is one of the keys to having a successful project.'

Best of Luck Roper!

Image by rhapsodienbleu