As I reflect back over the past decade, and New Year’s Eve of 1999 and look ahead to this New Year’s Eve, 2009, I can’t help but reflect on the many changes that have taken place over the past decade.  For those of you who know me, know I am not big on change, at all.  But, really, I think I struggle with the changes to every day routine and schedule and not the big changes in life.

Ten years ago, I was living in NYC (upper east side), working in high-tech PR, and not a care in the world with the exception of which party to go to on New Year’s Eve.  Fast forward ten years…..I am living in NH, working in high-tech PR, but a lot more on my mind than where to be on New Year’s Eve.  In reality, I haven’t even thought about it since I know I will be home.

In the past decade a lot has happened – personally, in my field of work and in the world.  Anyone who reads a newspaper once in awhile does not need a recap of what has happened in the world in the past ten years.   Most notable, we have a President who promises “change”.  I am waiting for that.  Enough said.

In the word  of high-tech PR, so much has changed.  This industry is changing so rapidly and so drastically, it’s hard to keep up.  I have worked for a few high-tech PR firms over the last ten years and I must say, that where I am now is the best.  We are aware of the changes and working towards what makes sense for our firm and clients.

For perspective’s-sake….a decade ago PR was filled with faxing press releases, making hard copy press kits and actually mailing them (or messenger in the City), and in my own case, the dictaphone….my boss didn’t know how to type.  Fast forward a decade and we ask ourselves, what is a press kit?  You mean, you got clips in the MAIL from Luce?  You had to wait until the issue of the magazine was on the stands – there was no online.

Personally, it’s been quite a decade.  Again, some perspective.  In 2000 I turned 25, a whole quarter of a century old and I thought it was perfectly acceptable to throw myself a party.  It was great – it was awesome (place is now closed – Mo’s Carribean was the best).  However, in a few months when I turn 35, I can assure you I will not be at a reggae place or ANY place for that matter unless they have high chairs and crayons.

Throughout the past years, there was a stint with a reggae artist, career advancements, the move back to NH, a short career switch and attempt to get my Masters.   That attempt turned out to be the best  move of the decade – it’s how I met Steve.  By far, the best occurence within the past ten years.

That was before the half way point of the decade.  And since, life has done a complete 360 or 180, or however you call it.    He is the most wonderful, intelligent, caring, thoughtful, honest, and maybe most importantly, funniest person I know.  And it only got better from there.  After getting married in 2005, we welcomed Jake in November of 2006 and then Abby in March of 2008.  Oh,and I forgot to mention along the way, Dakota, our awesome Shiba Inu, also came along.

So, here I sit, reviewing the past decade, and although turbulent at times, I truly have no regrets at all.  Sure, there were times when I could have had better judgement, but I learned a lot.  So, now I wonder what does the next decade bring?  If I had to guess, I would imagine that life will be filled with kid activities – sports, music, etc., as well as the never-ending house repairs and hopefully some fun vacations.

That’s it, pretty simple.  It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years ince the “millenium” and that havoc the IT departments thought it would bring.

Happy New Year Everyone.

This weekend, I explained to Jake that we were going to go through his toy boxes and pick out toys for those children who don’t have any.  I wasn’t sure how this would go…he is quite attached to many of his toys.  Well, yesterday afternoon, we went downstairs and went through each box and he carefully put some toys aside.  I was so proud of him.  He even put some of  his “tools” and “trains” in the pile!  And the best part – he was so proud of himself – as soon as his Dad came home last night he told him that “we are giving toys to our friends who don’t have any”.  I hope he never changes!

It’s been over two months, almost three actually since I have blogged.  Not good.  And not recommended.  It has been a busy few months for sure, both professionally and personally.    The PR industry is changing rapidly and I find it exciting and daunting all at the same time.

It makes me think back to when I started my career almost 13 years ago (yes, I am getting old).  I started as an administrative assistant to an EVP at a top ten PR agency in NYC.  The agency as I knew it no longer exists, but some of the same people are there.  During my short stint as an admin, I learned more about business in general, and about PR, then I think I ever did in school.  I worked for a very demanding EVP who at the time ran the “Tech Practice” as well as the New Business Department.   My sole responsibilities were typing memos (via dictaphone), binding presentations and making sure his kids were signed up for Kids Camp (ski) at Stowe.  There were many other tasks of course, but I soon mastered them and moved on to be a Junior Account Executive, Account Executive, then Senior Account Executive.

So, media was my game.  First it was doing clips.  I have tried explaining this to some of the younger staff I work with, but yes, we would get clips in the MAIL that we would need to find mastheads for and work magic on the copy machine to make them look “good”.  There was no scanning or PDF.  Then as an Account Executive, my media relations turned into event manangement in some cases  and also pitching the media – via FAX and MAIL.    Again, not comprehensable to anyone starting out in PR today.  And press kits?  Yes, we stayed at work until the wee hours of the morning putting them together and yes, we did MAIL them.  Labels and all.

Today of course, things are 100% different – tactically at least.  There is still a need to reach the influencers for our clients, but no longer is it just the media.  And no longer is it a one-way communication strategy – it shouldn’t be anyway.  Engagement is a word that is frequently overused, but it must become standard.

So, today, I reflect on the industry I have spent my “working life” in.  And, it’s pretty neat.

Thursday, September 24 marks the fifth anniversary of the night my husband and I got engaged at Michael Timothy’s.  I simply can not believe everything that has transpired over the past 5 years.  We have moved a few times, got a dog, had one kid, bought a house and had another kid…oh and we are still fixing the “new” house.  All of these things are good.  We love our life.  However, next year I will be entering the “latter half” of my 30’s and it’s a bit scary.  We have so much we want to see and do, and we will, but I am starting to feel REALLY old.

Those that know me, know I take housework pretty seriously, or at least attempt to make it a priority.  Sometimes this is difficult when you work full-time and have two toddlers.  However, I came across this blog post on Full Time, All The Time (lives on Work It! Mom) that has some great tips.   To date, I do most of them and would also like to add a few tips of my own, that help save time and be more efficient:

1. Pack lunches the night before (when cleaning the supper table, put left overs directly into lunch containers).

2. Take the trash out every night, no matter what.

3. Make the beds every morning – even if the house isn’t completely picked up, it seems that way.

4. Always have newspapers on hand – makes for a great “drop cloth” for the impromptu paint sessions

I will admit – I have been ignoring my blog.   And I don’t mean to, really, I don’t.  Life has just gotten so incredibly busy lately that I have not had the proper time to draft a post -and I don’t now either as I am rushing through my lunch break.  But, I do have a few things I want to say.

First, the state of our country is SCARING me.  That is all I will say about that.

Secondly, I am very thankful for my husband and children.

Thirdly, I am lucky enough to really like what I do for a living.

Lastly,  for fun, I just read this blog entry on Business Week’s Working Parent’s Blog and it made me smile.  While I will never be a CEO of anything – household or company (since I straddle both), I like this idea.

I like this definition from Wikipedia:

“Integrity may be seen as the quality of having a sense of honesty and truthfulness in regard to the motivations for one’s actions.”

Does this sound difficult to live by?  Didn’t think so.  I wish more people would start living this way.

No, not literally. But check this out.  This post talks about a Q&A with Elizabeth Ford and Daniela Drake, M.D., authors of the book, “Smart Girls Marry Money“.   And if you clicked these links, you would see that it’s not really about marrying for money, but more about having that open dialogue with your potential partner.

I have only been married for a few years, but I will say that I am so grateful we went through Pre-Cana.  Some of our friends laughed at us, but truly, it was a great exercise.  it forced is to think about financial issues we may not have thought about – what percentage to dump in 401k, mortgage rate, health insurance costs – and how all of these (and other) line items affect our bottom line – and our household.

I  mean, now that we pay out thousands to daycare, it’s not that relevant, but still…every penny counts!

And, I mean this literally.  The WSJ’s The Juggle posted about a recent study on bi-racial teens, found here.  About halfway through the article I realized that they just surveyed/studied black and white kids.    So, like you are only considered bi-racial if you are a mix of black and white?  I have posted about this issue before.  Because my kids ARE  bi-racial and they are not the typical black and white combination, they are, gee, how do I say it?  Well, I can’t put it in colors because there aren’t any to describe how beautiful my children are.  They don’t have a color per se.

My point is, when people think “bi-racial” they often think of it in black and white terms, and it’s not.  Believe me, anyone who knows me,  knows I tend to think in black and white, but I certainly don’t live it.  Obviously.

So,  I wonder what behaviors my kids will exhibit in their teens….I guess I will just wait and find out.  And to anyone who reads through the post or the survey, note the data is from the 1990’s…when I, my bi-racial husband and a lot of you, were in your teens.  And I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t posting graffiti or stealing. …

Yes, I know, it’s been awhile.  But rest assured, it’s not because I am “taking it easy”.  Check out this article on Forbes.  This article about recent graduates is completely disturbing for a number of different reasons.  This not the time to take it easy, rather this is the time to get your act together and do everything you possibly can to ensure you gain employment.  Are they not thinking clearly?  Obviously!

What about health insurance?  Or are they convinced that the government will institute national healthcare and all will be solved?

Good quote here: “As a generation, this age group doesn’t have a lot of resiliency and resistance,” says Philip Gardner, director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University. “This is a generation that has had a lot of enablers making sure things get done for them. They haven’t had to deal with adversity, and they think that when times get tough, someone is going to help them. If you have never been held accountable, you have a tendency to just withdraw. It’s an entitlement thing.”

Long story short, get off your duff.