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Funny Story

It all started at 6 am when I had a great idea for a blog post. And then I went back to sleep. When I woke up, I couldn’t remember it.

I worked all day and hoped it would come back to me at some point, but it never did. It was a good idea too. At least I remember that.

Then, I read today’s prompt which was to write about something fun. So, I started to something called “Top Ten Fun Facts About Me.” But, I could only come up with four things to put on the list. And three of them were not all that fun. The best was that I can touch my tongue to my nose. But my dog can do that too, so it didn’t seem all that impressive anymore.

Speaking of my dog, I went looking for her all over the house today. She has been hiding in strange places lately. After spending a good 10 minutes searching under beds with a flashlight, I went back downstairs to my office and found her on the couch. Right behind my desk.

She licked her nose again just to mock me.

That’s all I’ve got. See you tomorrow!

XO,
Elisa

 

Why and How to Update Your LinkedIn Profile

Person typing on laptopSome moms nag their adult children about their relationship status, their living situation, or simply calling home more often.

Not me!

Well, maybe I do (sigh).  But they would tell you the biggest thing I’ve bugged them about lately is updating their LinkedIn profiles.

I strongly believe that they should start early and post often. While they are just getting started in their careers, I encourage them to share their volunteer experiences, part-time jobs, or coursework. I want them to talk about the projects they are working on. Share their expertise about a topic so others can learn from them.

LinkedIn is the place to toot your own horn! 🎺

And this advice isn’t just for my kids. It’s for you too. Here are three things you can do today to update your LinkedIn profile

  • Comment on other people’s posts. And please don’t just write, “great post!” Add some value to the conversation. It’s one of the best ways for current and future connections to learn more about you.
  • Update your headshot if it is more than 5 years old. And don’t use a photo that was taken at a wedding when you were all dressed up. Use a professional photo that can be taken with your iPhone or, even better, by a professional photographer. And for the love of G-d, don’t pose with your pets. I’ve seen that too many times.
  • Make sure your most recent job is listed. LinkedIn will publicly ask people to congratulate you on the anniversary of a job you left 10 years ago if your profile is not up to date. This happened to a friend of mine who left her marketing job and became a nurse. LinkedIn still thinks she works at the PR agency.

I’ve always been active on LinkedIn. (Connect with me!). Now that I have my own business, it’s an essential part of my networking strategy. I try to position myself as an expert in my field (MarComm) by posting at least 2-3 times a week. I make it a point to comment on other people’s posts regularly. I have a monthly post highlighting all of my in-person networking adventures and giving kudos to the independent businesses I support.

Best of all, I meet some of the best and brightest people on the platform and learn from them every day.

Have I convinced you yet? When was the last time you looked at your LinkedIn page? What will you do to update it today?

(And to my kids who read my blog, have you posted today? Mommy is checking.)

XO,

Elisa

No Concept of Time

A few weeks ago, the freezer in our kitchen stopped working. Costco-size packets of chicken breasts and ground turkey were defrosting. My favorite Trader Joe’s frozen meals turned to mush, and the carton of Moose Tracks frozen yogurt melted.

This was not the best start to my week. The repairman told us the cause was likely a faulty compressor. He recommended adding Freon to see if it solved the issue, but he also suggested we check the warranty first.

“When did you buy this refrigerator?” he asked.

“Three or four years ago when we redid the kitchen,” I replied quickly, not factoring in the pre/post COVID-era formula.

Turns out, it was seven years ago. 2018 was seven years ago!

How did that happen? Where did the time go?  I’m beginning to consider other milestones in my life and how long ago they took place.

For instance, my husband and I are celebrating 28 years of marriage this September. I still remember that wonderful day as if it were yesterday. My junior bridesmaid is married. Today is her birthday. The flower girl is currently pursuing an acting career in California, and the ring bearer now works for the federal government. 🤯

My daughter graduated from college two years ago (five years after the kitchen was remodeled). My son is in his third year at Drexel University. And nine years ago this month, we rescued our fur baby, Chloe.

Side note: I remembered all of the above without checking my Facebook Memories. By the way, this is an excellent tool for seeing how much time has passed me by. I look at it for the photos. I don’t pay much attention to the years.

I don’t want to think about these things too hard. It’s why I never do the math to answer the question, “How old will I be when…” It’s too depressing.

I have great sense of timing when it comes to arriving promptly (even early) for appointments. My calendar is up to date, and I check it regularly. But I must be using a different part of my brain for these tasks.

Because, I could swear we had that kitchen redone three years ago. 😉

XO,
Elisa

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