Kid Icarus

According to Greek legend, Icarus, the son of master craftsman Daedalus, tries to escape the island of Crete by using wings that his father has fastened out of wax and feathers.  The story doesn’t end so well for the Greek youth, but for Toronto-based screen-printing boutique Kid Icarus, handmade creations are the only way to get off the ground.

The husband and wife team of Michael Viglione and Bianca Bickmore, crafts original designs for band posters, fine art posters, greeting cards, wrapping paper, invitations, and much, much more.  I was lucky enough to visit them in their Kensington Market studio to find out what goes into creating and maintaining their screen printing specialty shop.

However, before we get into why Mike and Bianca do what they do, it’s important to first understand what screen printing is.

Very basically, an artist imprints a stenciled design on a piece of porous mesh that is stretched on a wooden or aluminum frame.  With the stencil blocking areas the artist doesn’t want printed, the screen is placed on top of the material (paper, fabric, etc) receiving the design.  Ink is placed at the top of the screen, and using a squeegee, the artist drags it across the screen.  The paint travels through the mesh exposed by the stencil and is transferred to the material underneath.  Voila!

www.kidicarus.ca

Now, on to Michael and Bianca:

I Am:

Mike: Master Printer, Store Owner

Bianca: Graphic Designer, Project Manager, Store Owner.

Together we are creators of Kid Icarus, a store in Toronto, Ontario that specializes in screen-printed goods, and husband and wife.

I have been working towards this since:

Mike: In 1994 I was enrolled in the Ontario College of Art and Design when I realized I wasn’t really into the drawing and design aspect of the program.   What I did discover, however, was how much I loved the screen printing process and the value in the handmade prints. In 2004 I began printing full time and Kid Icarus opened in 2007.

Bianca: In high school, my parents pushed me to excel in the math and science programs, even though my marks were significantly stronger in my visual art classes.  After high school my folks wanted me to apply to University instead of college, but I applied anyway, and took design.  It upset them at first, but when they see how happy I am now, it was worth it.

After college I worked in corporate design for five years.  I knew I wasn’t going to be doing it forever, but that job gave me the discipline and skills to apply them to what I am doing now.  When the company announced that it was moving to a new location, I knew right then that this was my chance to follow my dreams and leave the corporate world.  My boss actually told me to do something I was passionate about, because she knew I needed to move on.

My responsibilities include:

Bianca: I correspond with the clients and work with them directly on their project.  I deal with the files and help them with anything that needs to be changed.  I am also the in-house graphic designer and store keeper.

Mike: I take over from Bianca after the pre-production work has been done, and work on the technical aspects of printing. I separate the colours involved in each design (as each colour needs to be on a screen of its own), and do the colour mixing to create the shade the client wants.  I prep the screens, and physically do all the printing by hand.

What I love about it:

Bianca: I love that every day is different!  People come in to the shop and see how much work and value there is in a piece, and easily fall in love with the store.  I enjoy developing new ideas into projects, but what I value and love the most, is that almost all of the products in our store are local, that’s really important to us.

Mike: I love teaching people what kind of work goes into a print.  The shop is open-concept, so I’m often printing and explaining what I’m doing to people at the same time.  I also love being able to be selective with the work we do.  We have gotten to the point where we are fortunate to choose what we work on, and I really enjoy the challenge and the excitement of seeing something amazing come in.

Something else I really love is when I see clients come back, or when they have spread the word about us to someone else. They’re happy with the work we’ve done, and that is an amazing feeling.

What I hate about it:

Bianca: Accounting and inventory.

Mike: Sometimes things don’t go right, and we have to cancel our evening plans and work until the job’s done.  But in the end, we’re not letting anything leave the shop that we don’t believe is a quality product.

In our job there is no such thing as ‘same day service.’  Multi-colour prints are expensive due to the number of screens and time involved, which some customers don’t realize.  Also, photography doesn’t always translate well onto the screen, but we’ll show samples to our clients to see if it’s the style they are looking for.

Is there a special moment that stands out in your career?

Mike: A year after we opened the shop, there was such a buzz around the city about us!  I remember a couple girls who walked into the shop and were looking around, and before they left I overheard them say: “I thought this place was [going to be] a lot bigger.”  It was funny; our reputation was obviously working for us.

Bianca: I remember the day I stood inside this shop, before it had opened, and decided to quit my corporate design job. Working full time with Mike (my fiance and husband to be) was a crazy idea, but I knew that this was the beginning of something I would be proud to be involved with.

Advice to those interested in a career like ours:

Mike: Whatever you’re doing, if you’re passionate about it, you’ll find a way to make money off of it.  Not to become rich, but to live.  People pick up on your passion and feed off of it.

Bianca: Don’t listen to your parents or anyone else; listen to yourself.  Talk to people; business owners, go to the places you’re inspired by and learn from them.  Don’t be close-minded; leave your computer at home, and do the footwork.

Favorite Quote:

“Small businesses make neighborhoods.”

- An anonymous friend of Kid Icarus

www.kidicarus.ca

One Week Job is proud to announce the winners of the Movember ‘Show Us Your ‘Stache’ Contest – put on by Doc Op.

A HUGE congratulations to Andie Saunders and Terry Easlick, for their amazing Mo’s!

Doc Op describes themselves as: “a global community of activists, NGOs, documentary film makers and enthusiasts built with the intention of turning global ideas and films into local action.”

The winners of the Movember contest won their very own copy of the One Week Job Documentary, and should receive their prize in the mail very soon.

Thanks for everyone who participated – we look forward to a fresh crop of Mo’s next Movember!

Amy Toensing has been a professional photographer since 1994. She has provided content for The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and National Geographic.  She has traveled around the world, shooting stories across Australia, India, Africa, Puerto Rico, the island of Tonga, and at home in the United States.  Amy looks into the lives of ordinary people, and with her camera, finds something special.  She is currently working on her 13th story for National Geographic in Australia.

In spite of her demanding schedule, Amy (very graciously) sat down with me for a couple hours, and shared her journey.  This celebrated photographer speaks about the realities of an often glorified industry, and how photography is the art that makes her feel ‘connected to the world.’

Amy Toensing

I Am: a Freelance Photo Journalist, as well as a National Geographic Contributing Photographer.

I have been working towards this since: 1994.

Originally, I received a degree in Human Ecology, where my main focus was Anthropology and Sociology.  Towards the end of my degree, I took a photography class and attended a storytelling program called Salt, in Maine.  I shot a story on ‘migrant broccoli pickers’ that actually won an award for College Photographer of the Year for documentary work.  I was 24 years old.

After graduation, I worked as a waitress and shot part-time for the local newspaper.  Then, because of the broccoli pickers story I did, I was picked for the Eddie Adams Workshop. This is a prestigious 4-day intense photography experience, where top photographers from around the U.S, mentor 100 up-and-coming photographers.  We teamed up with professionals from the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and National Geographic.  My team leader was Nancy Lee, the Director of Photography for the New York Times. For those four days, we lived and breathed photography.

During one of our frantic shooting assignments, our car battery died on the way to the shoot!  Luckily, we were parked on a hill and I knew how to push-start.  It didn’t take long, and we were on our way again; after that, my NYT editor definitely remembered me!

After the workshop, Nancy Lee gave me a few assignments and also asked me to do some work in their Washington DC bureau while I was there visiting my family. Once there, they asked me to stay for a month and help out managing the office.  It was tough, as I had been offered a full time shooting job at my local paper, but in the end I decided to move to Washington.  I covered the White House and Capitol Hill for 4 years before heading back to school, this time on scholarship to receive my master’s degree at Ohio University.  It was here that I had a photography internship at National Geographic.

While interning at Nat Geo, I was encouraged by Susan Smith, the Deputy Director of Photography to submit a story idea for a shoot.  I was one of the lucky interns who actually got the green light, and not only did they let me shoot it, they published it!

I have been full-on freelance since 1999, and am now on my 13^th story for National Geographic.  I have also shot for publications such as Time Magazine, Newsweek, the Boston Globe and the New York Times, and do some commercial work.

My responsibilities include:

As a freelancer, I run a business.  This includes accounting, organizing, and marketing myself in order to get more jobs.  Once I have a job, I research the story, map it, and organize the logistics of the shoot; transportation, accommodation, budget and most importantly – I decide where and how to tell my story.  After the shoot, comes all the post-production: ingesting, editing, model releases, and archiving.  I keep 3 copies of each file as backup.

What I love about it:

Photography is the thing that drives me; it’s the art that makes me feel connected to the world.  The act of taking pictures makes me feel centered and good.  Also, something that I love about National Geographic is that hire photographers based on their own personal style; they hire you to be you.

What I hate about it:

I hate the stress that comes with the job.  It’s a battle to keep both the business side and the art side of photography balanced.  As a freelancer, you’re always thinking about where and when your next job is going to come.  Plus, if you’re not in the shooting ‘zone,’ it’s hard to force creativity.  But it’s essential that I find ways to establish a creative environment for myself on every assignment.

Common misconceptions about my work:

I have one of the most misunderstood jobs in the world!  People think that photography is amazing, glorious, and romantic, and that all I do is travel around the world and take pretty pictures – but there’s nothing easy about it!  Photography is not a job – it’s a lifestyle and a huge commitment.  It’s hard work, extremely competitive and not very well paid.  But it’s amazing, fulfilling, and incredibly rewarding.

Is there a special moment that stands out in your career?

There is honestly a special moment on every assignment, and that’s why I’m a photographer.  I get to be in people’s home and share some of their most special moments. I get to witness humanity from the front row. It’s such a wonderfully rewarding career.

Advice to those interested in a career like mine:

It’s a tough time for the freelance photography industry, but I would never steer someone away because of that. If you have a connection with photography, follow your heart.  However, I would tell people to be realistic; it’s going to be hard work, and you have to realize that photography is more of a lifestyle than a job.

Lessons to Learn

These days with digital photography, anyone can pick up a camera and shoot, but in order to be a successful photojournalist you still have to be skilled at telling a story with your images. That’s entirely different than simply taking good pictures. You also have to be good at thinking on your feet, working with people, traveling in difficult places and most important, you need to have a unique way of seeing the world which shows in your images.

To see more of Amy Toensing’s images, visit www.amytoensing.com

The origins of mentoring can be traced back to ancient Greek mythology.  When Odysseus went to fight in the Trojan War, he put his trusted friend, Mentor, in charge of his son, Telemachus.

Ever since, the term ‘mentor’ has generally come to define someone with more experience, imparting their wisdom and values on someone with less experience.  This relationship can be personal, spiritual, and educational.

Perhaps you’re a baby boomer who has considered taking on a mentee, but can’t decide if it’s worth your time and energy.  Look no further!  Here are 8 (great) Reasons to Become a Mentor.

1. Being a mentor bridges the generation gap.

Generally speaking, most mentor/mentoree relationships happen between someone in an older generation, coaching someone in a younger generation.  If you’re mentoring someone younger than you, realize that it can be a productive experience for both sides, as each generation can come to understand the other’s motivations, career goals, and attitudes.  Soon, it won’t feel like there’s any gap at all.

2. Being a mentor can help you redefine your own career path and goals.

By looking at your job through a mentee’s eyes, you gain outside perspective that could help you answer some tough questions about your career.

3. It’s a wise business strategy to mentor others.

By becoming a mentor, you can keep on top of new trends, issues, and emerging technologies through your mentee. The partnership can also keep your mind sharp, since a good mentee will challenge you with great questions and creativity.

4. You build long lasting relationships in your industry.

If you and your mentee continue working in the same industry, you gain a valuable ally and sounding board for years to come.  Eventually you may even find yourself at different companies, but your professional relationship can last to benefit you both.

5. By acting as a mentor, you set the tone of your industry to those just entering it.

What better way is there to ensure continued success or instigate change in the workforce? Help others grow into the types of employees you would like to see.

6. Pay it forward.

Remember how confused and stressed out YOU were when you started working?  By acting as a mentor, you can help make the transition easier on someone else.  Having a mentor is also associated with improved job satisfaction, positive career plans, quicker promotions, and a greater probability that the mentee will eventually become a mentor themselves.  Don’t be afraid to share your failures as well as your success; some of the best lessons come from the worst mistakes.

7. Think about the impact you can make on someone else’s life!

Chances are, as their first point of contact within an industry, your mentee will look up to you and your experience.  Whether you realize it or not, mentors have a huge influence on a mentee’s career (and life) outlook.  Mentors have the opportunity to build up someone’s skill set and confidence – and that’s a relationship not easily forgotten.  Not to mention, the idea of enlightening another person’s life will always add additional happiness to yours.

8. You have the chance to share your passion with others.

By coaching someone just entering the work force, you’re in the position to get them just as excited about the job as you are!  Share your tips for making entertaining power point presentations, effective web sites, or even the best spot for lunchtime appetizers.  You love your job – why not encourage someone else to feel the same?

In Conclusion

Ultimately, the success of your mentee is up to them; as a mentor you can only provide so much guidance, but the effect you can have on that person’s life is priceless. We have something to learn from everyone, and we also have something to teach everyone.

Treat your position with respect, and there’s no doubting that both the mentor and the mentee will benefit from the relationship for years to come.

Share your stories of being a mentor in the comments!

What is your idea of a perfect world?

It’s a simple question, it’s a question worth asking, and it’s a question Gen Why wants YOU to answer.

The Gen Why Media Project is a movement towards hope.  Their mission is to bring the Generation Y population (ie: the tech-savvy generation born after Generation X that currently includes teenagers to those in their thirties) together, and work to make the world a better place.  The Project is working on a ‘crowd-sourced story of future’ – and wants you to add your two-cents.

Visit the Gen Why website: genwhymediaproject.com and start asking, and answering, some questions of your own.

Also, be sure to check out Gen Why’s newest video that accompanied the Gen Why TEDx Vancouver talk in November 2010.  The poem is written by Jonathan Reed, and the video features our own Sean Aiken!

At the recent screening of the One Week Job film in Surrey, Canada, Sean and Ian had the pleasure of meeting Ernie Kasper.

Ernie Kasper was, by all accounts, a healthy, happy, and energetic young man.  He had a loving wife, an animated daughter, and a precious, newborn son. However, shortly after the birth of his second child, Ernie suffered what doctors thought impossible; he had a stroke.

Ernie lost the ability to speak and his walking became awkward and disjointed.  Doctors refused to believe that someone so young and fit could endure such a diagnosis, but there was no denying the trauma that Ernie’s body was going through.

Even though his days were filled with hurt and confusion as to why this had happened to him, Ernie realized that the best way to deal with his condition was to not let it stop him from living.  

Day by day, through intense physical and mental anguish, he taught himself to walk. And not only has Ernie learned to limp, skip, and walk again since his stroke –  but he has actually ran. 37 km in fact, and he’s not stopping there.

Ernie’s attitude is incredible. Everyday he consciously chooses to set an example for other stroke victims, by refusing to believe that something wrong with his body can stop his spirit.  As he puts it, ‘When life hands you lemons – make apple juice.  That will always make people wonder!’

Check out Ernie’s thoughts after seeing One Week Job.

Watch Ernie’s Journey

With Christmas just around the corner and purchasing at a year-end high, do we ever stop to ask ourselves: “Why am I running through this department store, sweating through my festive wool sweater, searching for the perfect 302-piece wrench set and brand-name socks?”

It’s 2010.  Some parts of the world still don’t have access to clean water.  And we’re buying brand-name socks.

When Sean Aiken set out to work 52 jobs in 52 weeks, instead of accepting wages, he asked his employers to donate money to the ONE/Make Poverty History campaign.  In the end,  $20,140.60 was raised to help eliminate poverty. What if we decided to do Christmas a little bit differently this year?  What if we put down our wrench sets, our video games, and our celebrity-endorsed perfumes in exchange for something a little more meaningful?

UEnd: Poverty is a charitable organization that encourages people to ‘Gift Different’ this holiday season. When users purchase a gift card online, they can either donate to a project in someone else’s name, or let the recipient choose the project.  With each purchase, an email is sent to the recipient with a personal message from the giver, and (if it applies) instructions on how to choose a project.

Projects are categorized by cause, country, and partnering organization – with 100% of donations going directly to the organization in charge of that project (UEnd’s website states that it has larger sponsors to specifically take care of their operating costs).

There are various causes to donate to, including projects in Education, Gender Equality, Community Development, and Infrastructure – and over a dozen countries in need of support, such as Guatemala, Liberia, and Bangladesh.

Specific projects include: installing a satellite phone in Chipursan, Pakistan to connect the secluded rural community to the outside world, funding schools in Sierra Leone to pay for health programs and teacher training, and providing a potable water system for the Miskito indigenous community of Pamkawas, Nicaragua.

Each project also features a running tally that displays the total budget goal, along with the current funds raised.  This way, anyone can see where a particular cause stands.

Rejoice!  This year we can get rid of our sweaty wool sweaters, and spend our time and money giving to a cause we really believe in – and helping to make a difference in world poverty at the same time.

Gift Different.

Visit www.uend.org/dt/

I met Andrew Tylosky in 2003, at the start of our college careers.  We were both enrolled in the television production program at The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), and right from the beginning everyone in our class knew he was going to make it big.  Andrew understood the technical world of broadcasting like the rest of us knew how to cross the street – it was second nature.  During lectures he soon became known for his in-depth and technically complex queries, where he would interrupt our professors with one of his infamous ‘unrelated questions.’

Now, five years after graduation and only 25 years old, Tylosky is the Founder and Media Director of Motion Media, a one-stop media-shop based in Fort St. John, British Columbia.  With a team of eight employees and major Canadian broadcasters knocking down his door, the company has grown from simple video production to include web design, corporate video production, printing services, and documentary work.

‘I never planned to start a business,’ says Tylosky, ‘I’ve been doing media ‘stuff’ since I was 12 years old.  I took every opportunity along the road. As circumstance worked out, the opportunity fell in front of me and I had to take it or leave it. I took it.’

Tylosky is a hard worker who expects the same from his employees, but doesn’t get offended when something doesn’t work out, ‘It’s always been hard work. There have been times when I get discouraged, but I always find opportunity in those discouraging moments.  I say, “Okay, that’s a lesson on how not to do it next time.” Or, “If I was in control of the situation, I would do it this way.”’

Read more »

Have you ever found yourself wrapped up in the fetal position, sucking your thumb, while a loved one desperately tries to pull on your suit jacket so you don’t miss your carpool? 

Have you become so bored with work that you’ve started keeping sandwich crusts under your keyboard, just to see how many ants you can attract?  Have you started thinking about work as simply…work?

Everyone needs a little career inspiration from time to time. 

Whether it’s to reframe your workplace goals, or to give serious thought as to why you’re working a specific job in the first place.  It’s nice to know that others have been there before, questioning, suffering, and wondering just as much as the rest of us sandwich-hoarding, ant-counting, schmucks.

So take a moment to read the “words about work” of those who have gone before, with grace and hilarity.  Perhaps then we can take a step back, pull our thumbs out of our mouths, put on our suit jackets, and get into that carpool with pride.

- Amanda Lowe, One Week Job Blogger

1.  To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work.
 – Sister Mary Lauretta

2.  Trust not what inspires other members of society to choose a career. Trust what inspires you. – The Lazy Person’s Guide to Success

3.  You are what you do. If you do boring, stupid, monotonous work, chances 
are you’ll end up boring, stupid, and monotonous.
 – Bob Black

4.  I believe you are your work. Don’t trade the stuff of your life, time, for nothing more than dollars. That’s a rotten bargain. – Rita Mae Brown

5.  Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood . . . Make big plans; aim high in hope and work. – Daniel Burnham, American architect (1846 – 1912)

6.  You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. 
- Mark Twain

7.  A career is wonderful, but you can’t curl up with it on a cold night. – Marilyn Monroe

Read more »

*Continued from Amanda’s One Week Job Summary – Part 2 of 3*

Amanda’s Summary of Realizations

1. At the end of it all, I came to realize my love of small business.  With the exception of the Science Centre, every job I chose to shadow was either a personal or family venture.  I can legitimately see myself as my own boss – creating and being responsible for my own day-to-day.

2. I want to do something creative.  Whether it’s video production, photography, or latte art – I need to create.  I am passionate about this, no contest.

3. I want a job that means something.  I want to make a positive impact on others through my job. This could simply be bringing someone a perfectly poured cup of coffee, taking their wedding photos, or planning a favorite event.

4. I want to work as part of a TEAM.

5. It’s OK to not know!  Try different jobs.  Get out of your comfort zone.  Just be sure to enjoy whatever it is you’re doing, otherwise you’re wasting your time.

6. I like writing.  Hopefully you enjoyed some of what I had to say!

So…what now?

This is the million dollar question!  Everyone’s been asking me what the plan is now that I’m finished the program, as I’m sure they did like crazy when Sean Aiken finished his 52 weeks!  To be honest – I’m excited.  There are opportunities out there, and I know that I’m in charge of navigating them.

But then again, it’s kind of scary out here.  I’ve narrowed things down a bit in my head, but I’m still technically jobless!  As much as I can preach the ‘love your job’ mantra, humans have created the world to be a consumer haven – and I still have to play by those rules.  I still need money, and I still need to find a job to earn that money.  Some friends have asked if I’ve become even MORE confused now that I’ve done this program!  I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m confused – but perhaps more picky.

Read more »

— Continued from Amanda’s One Week Job Summary – Part 1 of 3 —–

Week 5 – Event Planning: Vancouver, BC

Whoa boy!  Week 5 took me by storm.  After a week of my yogic stretching and breathing, Event Planning caught me a bit off-guard.

Gut Reaction: Always been interested in Event Planning, but didn’t really know what to expect.  Kind of worried…

Lessons Learned: It’s a lot of work!  Karen at Reframe Marketing helped me out as much as she could, but in the end, the success/failure of the event was up to me.  It was confusing at first, as I didn’t really know what kind of an event I was going to do, and who I was going to do it for.  I was given freedom, but had no idea what to do with that freedom!

I learned the importance of delegation and trusting in your team – all of whom showed up on time and rarin’ to go the day of our Pop-Up Event in Vancouver!  I also learned to take responsibilities on one at a time.  Easier said than done, but it does keep you from losing track of your original goal.

Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: I need WAAAY more experience in this field!  I was completely overwhelmed and panicked most of the time (although I hid this pretty well apparently) even though we created an insanely simple event.  I’m a quick learner, but not as quick as I needed to be in this case.

Future Projections: This week tired me out – and made me rethink being an Event Planner in ‘real-life’.  It’s a lot of stress, and I’m not sure I want to place myself in a high-stress environment at this point in my life.

Week 6 – Helicopter Pilot: Squamish, BC

Squamish is one of the most beautiful towns I have ever had the privilege of visiting.  The mountains, the ocean, the sky – hiking, mountain biking, kite-surfing…wowzah.

Gut Reaction: Flying is awesome.  Therefore, being a helicopter pilot must be one of the coolest jobs in the world!  Hello Britannia Beach Heli Tours!

Lessons Learned: Patience is a virtue, right Stu?!  With a few mechanical tune-ups and some 400 forest fires working to slow us down, a good chunk of Week 6 was spent waiting and crossing our fingers.  Marketing was also a big focus during this week, as the company is still fairly small.  A good sign, I suppose, is that I got a huge kick out of brainstorming new and groovy ways to improve the exposure of the business.  Maybe there is hope for me to be involved in event planning/marketing after all…?

As for the flying part – it was amazing.  This job, by far, has THE BEST COMMUTE out of any job I experienced.  1500 feet in the air.  Over the mountains.  Over the ocean.  Whew.  To be a pilot you have to be adaptable, and in the case of this business, know how to deal with the mechanics of the machine, understand weather patterns, have customer service skills, and some marketing know-how.

Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: Waiting was hard.  It’s all part of the tourism-industry game, but it was hard.  I do admit though, that it was pretty exciting to see customers get ready for their first ever helicopter ride!  They were happy, which made me happy.  Especially when we hosted a summer camp of 3-4 year olds…cutest lil’ pilots ever.

Future Projections: Probably won’t be a pilot.  But I would LOVE to work for a company like this – one just starting out, that I could help grow.  Perhaps even work as a photographer from 1500 feet up?!  GET ME TO ZEE CHOPPER!

*AUTHOR’S NOTE*

After Week 6, I’m going to completely honest with you: I got the point.  I figured out what I like to call my ‘Moral-Of-The-Story,’ which is simply this:  Don’t stay in a job you don’t like. Ground-breaking, hey?  Yeah…I know.

By this point in the summer I was completely exhausted from traveling, changing lives every week, all the new, and all my internal discussion.  I understood what had brought me to this point: my previous job hadn’t been fulfilling and I was curious about other careers.  Why hadn’t I explored other options on my own already?  Why was I so lazy?  Why was I looking to impress others, when I really just needed to satisfy myself?

I spoke to a few friends about their take on the OWJ Project, and got some very honest answers.  Most people were quick to shout out their praise and encouragement, but a few others were a bit more scrutinizing with their assessments.  Who was actually reading my blog?  Who actually cared what happened?  No employer was ever going to pay me to ‘find myself’… True story.

I could have stopped the program right here and felt like I’d done enough.  I’d read Sean’s book, and felt that the next couple weeks would just be more of the same.  I would figure out the basic ideas and motions of whatever job I was doing, and then be done.  Not enough time to dig in and actually get dirty.  A part of me thinks that to truly benefit, one needs a solid two weeks or even up to a month in a job before you can even start to understand the depth of it.  One week is enough to taste, and maybe smell – but nowhere near enough time to fully see or touch the real inner-workings of how a job can become a career.

But don’t caste me as being ungrateful in any sense, as that couldn’t be farther from the truth.  It was life working itself out, and questioning it is part of the experience.  I still had two weeks left, and they were going to be great…

Week 7 – Painter: Calgary, AB

Gut Reaction: I was looking forward to getting dirty, and making ART!

Lessons Learned: Dean Stanton teaches that art doesn’t have to be learned, individual, or high-brow.  Art can be teamwork, collaboration, and silly.  Art should be accessible!

Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: I had a great time – painting, helping out with a kids camp, priming, tracing, etc.  The trick with art is (taa-daa): marketing.  I guess my Event Planning week is going to come in handy more than I realized…;)

Future Projections: Painting isn’t really my strong point, but the lessons learned regarding the business side will come in handy if I get into any sort of small business myself.  Photography lends itself to a similar model, and I could see myself doing something like this with that kind of art.  As far as Dean’s artwork goes, this guy obviously loves what he does, and really enjoys making art accessible to a larger community.  If memory serves, I think he mentioned that he was booked up until spring of 2011…awesome.

Week 8 – PR/Communications: Calgary, AB

Gut Reaction: That it would be great to see Cassandra from the TELUS World of Science, and learn what the heck to do with my Communications Degree!

Lessons Learned: Internal Communication is just as important as External Communication.  Brainstorming exercises are not only fun, but can help to build both professional and personal relationships.  Everyone who works for a company, works on the same TEAM.  Having an end goal helps productivity.  If you don’t know what you’re working for, what are you doing?  In the end I also realized that if you believe what you’re doing makes a difference, your job becomes that much more meaningful.

Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: I saw so many parts of the Science Centre that I couldn’t help but be amazed.  I felt very involved in the brainstorming sessions, was active as a Discovery Team Leader, and saw how insanely busy Cassandra was as she filled her role on the Communications team.  Definitely satisfied.

Future Projections: Talking to Cassandra made me more aware of what a Communications career entails, and she gave me resources to further educate myself in the industry.  I really enjoyed the social networking aspect, and the networking opportunities.  It’s fun to be around other people and work together.  With a little more education I could see myself in this role for sure.

*CLICK HERE for Part 3 of 3 – Amanda’s Realizations or: What am I going to do now?!*

Well.  Here it is.  The end of my One Week Job adventure across Canada.

So much has happened over the last 8 weeks!  So many people, so many cities, so many jobs!  I’d like to take this opportunity to THANK EVERYONE who helped me along the way.  Whether you were a voter, an employer, a co-worker, a family-member, a friend, or even a stranger who read my blog – it’s because of YOU that I’m here, and it’s because of YOU that I had this crazy opportunity.

To Sean and Ian - you guys are hilarious, and it was so great to meet you during my time in Vancouver.  Thank you for welcoming me into this adventure and being brave enough to create such a project in the first place.  I’ve learned so much – about myself, and the work force in general.

This blog is my attempt to take all the lessons I’ve learned, and bring them together into some sort of cohesive lesson-plan.  I will include my gut-reactions, job satisfactions, and any sort of future projections that I happened to see in my job-choice-o-the-week

Week 1 – Photographer: Toronto, ON

My first week was spent doing something I have legitimately cared about for a long, long time.  Anyone who knows me, knows I love to take photographs.

Gut Reaction: I was gonna LOVE this week.  But the challenge was: How could I translate my love of pictures into an actual career?

Lessons Learned: Enter Henrietta Haniskova and her constant hilarity!  To work in this industry, you not only have to have the creativity – but you have to possess the technical knowledge necessary to produce a quality project.  The lesson I learned most from Henrietta though, was that of persistence. If you recall, when she was first starting out in the ‘biz, she heard the word NO fairly often: “No, you’re a girl.” “No, you don’t have enough experience.” etc, etc.  She took all those NO’s and kept pushing through them.  Then, there we were: a hot day in June 2010, I was shadowing Henrietta as she shot photos for a national drug store chain’s website!  I have no doubt that this woman will become one of the heavy-hitters in the photography industry.

Job Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: It was great seeing the ins and outs of the pre-production involved in a shoot, but sometimes I worry if I would be able to bend so much for an advertising client.  Of course, that’s where the money is – but I wonder if I’d get frustrated by having someone else tell me how and what to shoot.  The freelance world is a tricky one, but it does allow for some freedoms.  In the end, I was satisfied.

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Hey Guys!

Well, it’s been a couple weeks since my last blog, but this is a note to let you know that I’m not done just yet!!  I have a summary blog in the works, but this note is to tide you over until I get that finished.

At the beginning of my 8-week journey, a filmmaker friend of mine asked me to write a guest blog on the topic of ‘Advice to Those Who Hate Their Jobs.’  Her name is Punam, and she has dealt with her fair share of career struggles.  Her recent film Young Masters actually deals with the subject of the skilled-trades and the students who master them.

“Although destined for the podium as masters in their respective trades of autobody repair, painting, and IT, these young people reveal how they are often treated like second-class citizens because of their vocation.  In a society that values the head over the hands, university over college, and white collar over blue, can these young people also prove to be masters of their own futures?”

- Quote from the synopsis of Young Masters

Visit the Young Masters Website

Punam and I spoke about our individual experiences and struggles, and realized that there’s a lot more to this whole movement than we first thought.  This is the blog I wrote for her.

Stuck

The Break-Up

I have to be honest with you.

It’s been over a year. A year of trying to convince myself, a year of minor meltdowns, a year of disappointment, disagreement, and gut rot.

I swear I’ve tried!  I’ve worked hard, committed myself, and opened up to some new and wonderful things.  I have nodded my head, stepped up, and paid my dues.

The thing is, no matter how good you think we work together, this just isn’t working…

Quite simply: it’s not me – it’s you.

Have you ever felt this way?  Not just about romantic relationships, but about your job?  I’m willing to bet that a good number of people out there aren’t being fulfilled by what they do to earn a living.  Maybe you fell into this job because of financial reasons – you had loans to pay off, a mortgage to worry about, or children to raise.  Perhaps you were expected to take over the family business, or felt society bully you down a certain path.  Maybe you just got used to a certain routine and can’t even remember what it was that got you into this job in the first place.

Whatever it was that got you into this position, however, the reality is that you want out.  Some days you may even go so far as to say that you hate your job.

Denial

You catch yourself daydreaming about what it’s like to be that crazy cat lady you see collecting bottles through your office window.  You start raving to the receptionist about strange tickles in your throat, and begin blowing your nose excessively in hopes that your boss will notice and send you home.  Or even worse, as you catch your bus to work you start to realize that it’s not unusual to feel the familiar sting of tears welling up in your eyes.

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Well my week with the PR/Media Relations expert at the TELUS World of Science came to a close…and I would have to say that it was one of my favorite weeks!

Cassandra brought me along to EVERY meeting she had, and introduced me to so many different parts of the Science Centre.  We talked about media plans and marketing strategies, internal relations and external support.  It’s a big job, but she manages to do it all, and to do it calmly at that.

Out of all the jobs I did this summer, I would have to say that this is one that makes some of the most sense to me.  As I mentioned before, the goal of the Centre is to support education and community involvement.  The Communications and Marketing Team also seemed to work together really well.  The regularly scheduled meetings definitely helped communicate what everyone was working on, and what was happening next.

Some tid-bits I learned over the week:

- Know your audience. Something really interesting that the Communications Team did in advance of the Body Worlds exhibit, was invite the city’s religious leaders to preview the show.  Body Worlds has been a bit controversial, as they use dead bodies to teach people about anatomy.  Obviously this doesn’t sit well with some, but it was part of the Communication Team’s job to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible.  The preview allowed the religious groups to ask questions of the exhibit, and to give them a point of reference that they could then take to their congregations.  ALL of the groups expressed appreciation for being included in such an event, and the preview night is something the Team plans on using in the future for any controversial shows.

- Know what kind of publications and media outlets (magazine, local news shows, etc…) fit into your demographic.  Obviously, your organization should only put money into advertising where it will make the most ROI – Return On Investment. The media strategy meetings I attended talked a lot about where advertising dollars should go…it’s like a big investment game…only with real money…;)

- Knowing what just happened is just as important as knowing what’s coming up AKA: Learn From Your Mistakes. The meetings I attended also talked a lot about this one…important!

- Awareness, Awareness, Awareness.  The Coms Team did a survey of their members, and 88% of them were aware of the Body Worlds show!  That’s huge!  The goal was 60%, so they have definitely gone above and beyond all expectations.

With so many meetings during the week, it did get a little intense.  It almost felt like there was no time to actually work on what was decided on, because there always seemed to be another meeting to go to!  But with so many changes going on at the TELUS World of Science (the new Science Centre opening next year, new exhibits going up, budget, hours, staff, etc), communication is paramount.

I think I could handle this kind of job…I enjoy planning and acting as a liason of sorts… With the Coms Degree I have though, I would probably have to go back to school and take a few other courses just to get up-to-speed on the nitty-gritty of the profession.  Cassandra told me about the International Association of Business Communicators as well as the Canadian Public Relations Society that have workshops and courses to help further my education.

Between all the Bodies, the critters, brainstorming sessions and Team Meetings, I really enjoyed my time with the TELUS World of Science!  Cassandra, thank you so much for being so welcoming, and allowing me to pick your brain!  Perhaps one day, I’ll be working WITH you, as opposed to just shadowing.

Best!

Amanda

I’m exhausted.

The last 8 weeks have been wonderful, exciting, stressful, and tiring.  I’ve learned things I would never have had the opportunity to experience otherwise – and have definitely grown because of it.  The thing is…I’m tired!  Constantly moving around takes it’s toll on a person…I have no idea how Sean did this for 52 weeks!!!

BUT. Enough whining.  I’m here to tell you about my latest, greatest, and FINAL – One Week Job.

I’m spending my last week of the OWJ program in Calgary, Alberta, working at the TELUS World of Science.  I’m shadowing Cassandra McAuley, the Centre’s Media Relations Manager.   During her 5 years at the Centre, her duties have included that of Media Relations (both proactive and reactive), strategic-planning, member and internal relations, and execution on all planning.  Suffice it to say, Cassandra has A LOT on her plate

We first met while I was freelancing in Calgary as a news shooter and interviewed her for some local news stories.  She was extremely helpful and knowledgeable when it came to the specific needs of dealing with the media, and made the crew feel right at home.  Since I have my Bachelor of Communication Studies Degree, but have never used it, I’ve been really curious to see how things operate on the other side of the media-scene.

The TELUS World of Science is a massive centre in Calgary, and according to their website:

Our goal is to present science in a hands-on, fun and dynamic environment. Our programs and exhibits are designed to spark the imagination, satisfy the most curious of minds and inspire a spirit of life-long learning.

Right off the bat, I love the goal of the centre.  To work with an organization that strives to better people’s lives through education, is a goal to be proud of.

Monday morning we hit the ground running.  Cassandra had actually just returned from a week off, and while she was gone her entire office had moved!  This could be a little frustrating, but she took it all in stride, and we headed to the first meeting of the week.

The current exhibition at the Centre is that of Body Worlds – a showcase of human anatomy that uses the bodies of those who have donated them to science.  Basically, real bodies are put through a process called ‘plastination’, where they are preserved and showcased.  It’s an amazing exhibit if you haven’t seen it already – not gross like some may think, but definitely interesting.

The TELUS World of Science is winding down to their final 3 weeks with the Body Worlds exhibit, so our first meeting was with the Body Worlds crew and their plans for the last 21 days.  We talked about the possibility of extended hours, a 24 hour exhibit, photo shoots with local sports celebrities, banners, coupons for reduced ticket prices, digital signage, and even a guerilla-style ‘Mr. and Mrs. Anatomy’ event – where 2 models are painted up with anatomically-correct muscle structure and paraded around night-clubs and pubs to drum up interest!

It was interesting to hear about their plans; media contacts, event successes, attendance numbers, and other logistics.  The team was excited about what they had done, and what they had yet to do.

After the meeting and some personal exploring of the Body Worlds exhibit, I met up with the Discovery Team and learned what it was like to work on the exhibition floor dealing with the public.  I met Joseph, a 4th year University Zoology major, who showed me the ropes.  We took out a cart of fake hip replacements, knee replacements, and even breast implants.  The public is encouraged to touch and talk about what they see, while the employee explains how everything works.  It was great to feel part of the exhibit and to show off things that most people never actually get to see up-close, let alone touch.

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