Monday, March 29, 2010

First Focus Group

The Career & Education Focus Group took place this weekend and provided me with a great deal of insight relating to the project as well as personally.  We all agreed that this is a topic we would like to learn more about from women with more life experience than us.  Some women expressed interest in making a career change, while others are considering going back to school, and so on.  We came up with an extensive list of questions that will help me guide the interviews.

I was grateful to receive constructive feedback for future groups, and was pleased that all who participated found it beneficial.  There was a general agreement that it was nice to have a time and place to share thoughts and experiences, and to meet others that have similar situations or questions relating to their career and education. 

Thank you to those who participated!  The next group will focus on Family & Children.  For more information be sure to check out the project website.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Not A Crisis

As I mentioned in a previous post I have started reading Midlife Crisis at 30.  The book very interesting, and in someways very similar to the work I am hoping to do.  However unlike this book I do not have the perspective that I, or other young women like me, are at a place of crisis.  Quite the contrary really.  To me this is a time when I have much behind me that has positioned me in a place to boldly and thoughtfully approach the years ahead.  Sure with opportunity and options there can be pressure which is can be coupled with stress, but by no means do I personally consider this to be a crisis. 

The first 30/30 Project Focus Group is taking place tomorrow and will be focusing on Careers & Education.  I will be interested to hear the perspective of other young women on these topics, as well as their perspective on the idea of a midlife crisis at 30. 

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Almost There

This image may be a bit dramatic, but least I'm beginning to find some humour in my social network struggles.  It's also partially a shout out to one of my good friends back home who coached me through my Facebook woes this evening.  She is officially my number one fan!  I'm one step closer to launching the page although I'm not entirely sure it's set up the best way to attract fans yet.  I had some additional offers of assistance so hopefully I'll be at the top of the mountain soon.

Facebook Frustration

Those of you that know me well know that I have had a resistance to jumping on board with Facebook and similar networks.  Personally I still do not wish to join, but after great consideration I have humbly accepted that it is indeed amongst the best ways to spread word about the project.  However last night I was up way too late trying to get it done.

Over the weekend my 22 year old cousin patiently showed me the ropes of this popular site.  I thought I would easily be able to come back home and cross the project over to the social network world.  Wrong.  I tirelessly activated and deactivated the account out of fear that I hadn't done it right.  Clearly I realized I still needed some help, and felt as though I was the only person in my generation who was clueless to such things. In total frustration I called my boyfriend to vent.  He is very positive and great for seeking the good in bad situations. Our conversation was helpful in this way, and I had to laugh inside when he offered, "Isn't there some help number you can call?"  The irony that in a world that boasts the glories of virtual communication, sometimes we still need the human connection and that voice to really help us get what we want. With that being said, it is my goal today to get a tutorial from someone or to find that number!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

New Support

Last night I attended a kick off dinner for the Women's Leadership Mentoring Program (WLMP).  I was recently accepted to this collaborative program, of Chicago Women in Philathropy (CWIP) and the Chicago Chapter of the Younger Women's Leadership Task Force (YWTF), designed to provide mentoring relationships between emerging and established professionals. It was a wonderfully invigorating evening and my mentor and I are great match.  We had no problem talking nonstop!  I am excited and honored for the opportunity to grow professionally while learning from her over the next year through this competitive program.  An added benefit is also becoming a part of a new phenominal network of professional women!

The evening also led to gaining a great deal of support for the 30/30 Project!  My mentor is very intrguied to learn more about the project, as were board members of the YWTF.  They discussed with me various ways that we may be able to collaborate and expand the reach of the project to people beyond my current network.  Their shared enthusiasm for the potential of the 30/30 Project was thrilling.  Especially considering YWTF is a national network of women!

Stay tuned I hope to have more to share on this soon.  In the meantime visit the Chicago Chapter YWTF website to see some of the clear connections between their work and the 30/30 Project.

Monday, March 22, 2010

You Don't Have To Take My Word For It

I don't plan to come with a full technicolor animated review like the all time favorite Reading Rainbow, but I have created a Related Readings slide show!  As a part of the 30/30 Project I am doing some reading, and I thought I would share some of the books on the blog so others can join me.   Those currently featured are about turning 30.  Simply click on the books featured to order them through Amazon.

 If anyone reads any of the books with me please post your reflections on the blog, and if you have suggestions of other books to explore let me know.    One might say it can serve as a virtual book club of sorts.  If anyone has an interest in partnering with me to create local 30/30 Project Book Clubs I would love to see this happen!

Unfortunately I cannot reasonably take on book clubs alone at the moment. As I'm sure many women will share in the interviews, for many women have already told me before, we must learn the limits of what we can reasonably take on and manage in our lives.  With that said, until I hear from someone I will have to see if a virtual one will do!   

I'm currently reading Midlife Crisis at 30 by Lia Macko and Kerry Rubin so take a look.....

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Inspiring Weekend

This weekend has provided inspiration in many ways but for the moment I will focus on it being a lesson in just doing something.  With a bit of guilt about leaving laundry and a desk piled with papers at home I decided to quit mulling over it and just take a weekend and go visit my family.  As my aunt spoke of my younger cousin this afternoon she talked about how they shared the blessing, and potential curse, of getting an idea about something and wanting to do it right away.  An email from one of my mentors, received today, cautioned me to not to spend so much time talking about what I'm going to do that you don't actually do it. Now if all this isn't enough, in reflecting on this idea of just doing something for a blog post, I recalled that the pastor referenced Nike in his sermon this morning.  My aunt and mentor I get, but from the pulpit.....for real?!  Now that's funny, and clearly I get the message about just doing something.

All of this is speaking to me and I'm going to try my best to listen.  I grew up in a home that valued process, thinking, talking.  I am thankful for this, and in many of areas of my life I think it creates a proper balance to my relatively driven personality.  However I think when it comes to this project I needed the message of just doing something that I heard and observed this weekend.  There are enough ideas floating in my head and support relating to the 30/30 Project that I cannot let time slip by due to a lot of thinking, talking, and processing rather than just doing.  Don't get me wrong I still value and recognize the importance of processing.  However I think in general this project has already pushed me in a lot of ways to launch myself into the idea of just doing, and I need to keep that momentum.

This weekend gave me a clearer sense that even within the process there is always room for immediate and constant action.  For the 30/30 Project this blog is an avenue where such action can take place.  Now, for all the subtle and clear messages I was given this weekend I am honoring them by not thinking too hard about it and I'm just posting this message. Perhaps as you read it you may consider that thing in your life that you should just do.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Focus Groups

In holding fast to my social work roots I have decided to hold a series of focus groups prior to conducting the interviews with the women.  It is my hope that this will do a few things:
  1. Provide me with valuable insight into what others hope to learn from the interviews and whatever potential publication the 30/30 Project should produce.
  2. Allow for a greater sense of connection to the 30/30 Project for those who are following.
  3. Create more structure to the entire process.
For those of you that know me well you know that I function best on a schedule.  By incorporating various focus groups throughout the project there will be dates in place that will naturally help guide the long term goal.  At least that's the plan, clearly this is all a work in progress! I am also realizing that I need to have an organized way to get input on what not only I, but others, want to know about life at 30 and beyond.

My target audience for the 2010 Spring Focus Groups is women ages 27 to 33, although exceptions can clearly be made.  If you are interested in participating please visit the 30/30 Project website for more information.