2 posts tagged “work”
Last night was two hours well spent. I attended a pizza party event to meet the members of DC Web Women, a phenomenal group that has been in existence in the Washington DC area for over a decade -- 12 years, with their anniversary coming up April 19. I found out about the group, which boasts over 2,000 members so far (locally, nationally and internationally), through Marilyn, a lady business owner I met at a Social Media Club event in the DC area I'd attended a couple of months ago.
In my opinion, DC Web Women is an amazing resource for collaborating, learning, socializing and networking, both personally and professionally. Its members were so incredibly friendly and helpful that I found myself among friends.
I had been a member of the group through one of its two LISTSERV mailing lists for two months before the meeting. But having the opportunity to meet face to face, share ideas and learn more about the organization was worth its weight in gold to me.
The meeting was held to introduce DC Web Women's online membership profiles directory, which is now accessible to members signed up under the site's LISTSERV accounts (signup for this LISTSERV is free under the "Join" link located at the left-hand side of the site.)
Matrix Group International, Inc., currently the third top firm in this industry in the Washington DC Metro area, donated the directory to DC Web Women. Their CEO in the Washington area was in attendance and gave us brief information on the directory and how it was created. It allows its members to better market themselves via the skills they possess or immediately find a good fit from within the membership in accordance with certain needs they may have as business owners, mentors or mentees, or even those wishing to learn more about a certain topic or get a good recommendation for a restaurant in town.
I am glad I joined and followed my colleague's advice, because I feel that being a part of this group comprised of a variety of career women, such as marketers, writers, programmers, editors, designers, and even librarians -- prolific, intelligent, trendsetting women -- will truly be a boon to me in continuing to grow further in my career and personal life through networking, staying abreast of technology and finding opportunities to take me further through my freelance writing, public relations, marketing and research ventures.
Plus, it was just a refreshing change to find and connect with people with like interests.
$7.35 for a chicken fajita omelet and a drink containing the juices of oranges, lemons and grapefruits this morning! When I paid, the lady at the register stated the obvious: "You could have made that yourself for much cheaper."
"Yeah, if only I had that kind of time," I replied, smiling as I signed my umpteenth credit card receipt this month, following many days of holiday shopping, travel and the occasional indulgences of self-pampering. I'd like to see someone who feels they have time to get up and make an entire breakfast for themselves every morning. That must be a great feeling.
The last time I was at my favorite hangout in D.C., Kramerbooks (http://kramers.com), I met a wonderfully interesting teacher who told me he gets up around 4 a.m. every morning, apparently the best time of day for him to tap into his creativity; and he writes for an hour or so. It amazes me that there are these people out there who find this humanly possible and can live on this type of schedule every day without just keeling over in mid-stride. However, I admire anyone who has that kind of dedication. I guess it's so hard to imagine because I've been a night owl practically since I was born. A friend of mine recently told me his dad always got him up by 8 a.m. every day and wouldn't let the family sleep any later than that. So when I told him that I slept until noon just about every day I had off as a teen, it was something of which he could not even conceive.
I pine for having more time in my day and a boost to my own creativity and productivity, but the thought of rising at 4 a.m. gives me hives. My mind is buzzing like a beehive until usually midnight each night. And I wonder since my own schedule is so ingrained in me, would it even benefit me to try to change it now? Maybe my own makeup is to be someone who finds her creative spark ignited at night, and I shouldn't screw with what works. I have always done most of my writing late into the night. That would be fine if I didn't have to maintain a day job to meet the financial needs of life. I am usually tired until the end of the workdays, and it seems I get my second wind in the evenings. But I know of no professional, well paying jobs where you can work nights -- except the medical field. Usually, there is so much that's been brewing in my head all day -- so many things I wanted to write, odds-and-end ideas that came to mind while I was sitting in my cubicle, when I was unable to write them down -- an overwhelming influx of thought and curiosity. It's at those times that it seems I just cannot ignore any of this and sleep until I deal with it all by creating -- whether a blog entry, posts on my photoblog or reading and research on topics I came across earlier that day. I must heed my Muse.
Were I to scrap doing all of that and wait until the weekends when I do have time, those fragile artistic moments that arise regardless of my schedule would be lost or at least badly faded.
