No…I’m not giving away an iPad 2. But Erin Loechner, founder of Design for Mankind is.

This is a real giveaway too, not like when you tweet “Where in the world can I get an iPad” and you get 30 responses along the lines of  click here to win an iPad..just kidding now your computer is loaded with spyware. Ha!  That’s not going to happen if you click here.

I’m not one to ever promote things like this on my blog. Honestly! Look back over the last 2 years of this little blog and you won’t find me promoting other people’s giveaways, but I love Erin’s blog and I would love it if you or I won.  And even if we don’t win, at least I’ve introduced you to this fabulous blog.

Some rights reserved by lululemon athletica

My yoga instructor is always reminding us to practice with intention.

She also reminds us to practice yoga on and off the mat.

Today I’m making my first application of the principles of yoga to real life. More specifically, to careers, job satisfaction and generally being in a good place.

I just finished reading Job Jenny’s new ebook, To Whom it May Concern or how to stop sucking at your job search. In her book Jenny asks, “What do you want your life to look like?” and “What are you aiming for with your next career move?”

In my mind these questions immediately translated to “What is your intention?”

Intention (n.)
1. a determination to act in a certain way
2. what one intends* to do or bring about (source)

What I want my life to look like: Fulfilling career in marketing; large, supportive professional and personal networks; health insurance; higher education; comfortable, yet modest living and twice yearly vacations.

What I am aiming for in my next career move Challenging projects; an experienced (and talented) team that I can learn from; a healthy, supportive work environment. Inspiration.

There are the changes that I intend to bring about. In order to make my intentions a reality, I need to be determined to learn more; to step outside my comfort zone, to have a great attitude and to hold out for the right job.

The best part of intention is that as long as you’re trying, it counts.  Maybe you only lift one toe today (yoga metaphor),  you can still reap the benefits of lifting that one toe and with each practice, you’ll get a little further into the pose process.

What is your intention?

*I love it when a word is used to define itself. Actually, no I don’t. Not at all.

I just finished reading Scott Straten’s book, Unmarketing. While I have a lot of fantastic things to say about this book, I got on new perspective on one particular aspect of my career as a marketer that I know I need to improve upon.

I hate networking events. While I haven’t had to do any of that (yet) in my current job, my brief stint as a wedding coordinator was all about making those connections. You know, getting those referrals! Before that, I networked in the fun-filled world of conferences and conventions with the most interesting laser engineers in the world. I’m sure you can imagine how thrilling it was for a 20something year old female with a passion for social media to find a common ground with a 55 year old male engineer from Montana.

Lately, I’ve come to realize the importance of networking to build my personal-professional network. I need to know more people who know about things I would like to learn. After all, I am in the market for a mentor. On the more philanthropic side, I need to share my knowledge and my existing network with those who want to learn from me.

But I digress…

In Scott Straten’s book, Unmarketing, he writes about using social networking to connect with people prior to a networking event. It takes the awkwardness out of the event if you already know who you are going there to meet. Additional benefits include that people are more likely to introduce you to their network if they already know a little something about you. And so I tweet with new purpose and I actually check LinkedIn. As soon as I have the opportunity for some real-life networking I will report back and let you know how it works out for me. I can already smell the sweet sweet success!

I must say that Scott does a much better job of explaining the benefits of leveraging social media in when you are attending an “in real life” networking event. His version is a bit much more inspirational than my takeaways.

Whether you’re a social media marketing maven or new to social media the book is a great read just to gain some perspective. It’s written in such a way that you feel like you’re having a conversation, rather than sitting in on a lecture. I can’t say enough wonderful things about it so just do yourself a favor and get your copy!

When I titled this blog Chasing Education I never imagined it would turn into an outlet for me to write about the things I’ve learned and the things I want to learn. I wanted to go to graduate school. I thought I would be writing about getting to graduate school and what I would learn in graduate school. And while I have learned a lot in the three semesters that I have been at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, I have learned more from the people I go to school with, the businesses I do business with and the community in which I live.

My definition of education continues to evolve and when I saw this great video from SkillShare on Amber Rae’s blog, it changed my view just a little bit more. Check out the awesome work SkillShare will be doing in your community and sign up to help them do it!