Lemonade: Movie Review

After Eric Prolux, a 37 year-old copywriter, is laid off from a large ad-agency in 2008, he starts a blog for other unemployed ad professionals. Once the site launched, he decided to create a promotional video featuring the faces and stories of other laid-off execs.  Lemonade is NOT a film of people complaining about being laid off.  The movie is also a film for unemployed professionals in ALL industries.

Lemonade reminded me of when I was laid off in 2002.  At that time, I decided to make the best of it and pursue my interest of knowing what goes on behind the camera and entered the film industry.  It was one of the best experiences I ever had as it was freeing to be doing something that I wanted to do.  My time working at a small production company in TriBeCa made me realize that previous work experiences weren't as fulfilling as I had thought.  An element had been missing - my personal interests...my personality...ME.  It took a while before I completely jumped ship and dived into the world of advertising by attending the VCU Brandcenter.  The two year swim (i.e., grad school) was one of the most challenging events of my life and I enjoyed almost (let's be real about it) every moment of it.  Now it's 2010 and fast approaching a year after graduating from the Brandcenter and I have yet to secure full-time employment.

Am I bitter? A little. 

Am I scared. You're darn right I am. 

Am I doing something about? I was slow at the start, but picking up speed.

Lemonade is yet another confirmation that establishing a business was the right thing for me to do.  Here's how you can watch the film and get inspired too:
1.  Click to find a screening near you
2. Go to Lemonademovie.com and buy the DVD
3. Buy the DVD from Amazon
4. For those without a steady stream of income, watch it on Hulu below

A must watch film (less than 40 min):

The Person I Secretly Admire (or use too)

This post is written to recognize a person online who has positively influenced me.  Since it is difficult for me to select one, I decided to pick the person who has inspired me most recently - Ms. Lauren Hornes, Owner of BeSpoken Spaces.  

I first "met" Lauren via email in 2004 while she was attending our alma mater the University of Michigan (Go Blue) and after her initiation into Nu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a public service organization I am still active in today.  Our communications would be sporadic at best the next few years.  Then in 2009 Lauren began sending out emails to reconnect, letting me and others know of her ambitions.  Last year she launched her professional organizing business - BeSpoken Spaces.  This is her SECOND business since graduating from U of M almost 3 years ago. 

It's amazing to me as to how much she has accomplished in such a short period of time.  Not only is her sincerity in thought, positive outlook, and constant enthusiasm for her business refreshing, it is also my own personal reminder to take more risks and demand more of myself. 

Although Lauren isn't the only person who motivated me into action, she is the person who got me to thinking long & hard "why the heck not?" and "what's stopping me?" As a result, I made it official and founded One Epiphany, a brand marketing company.  I'm still in the beginning stages of organization, but I have gotten over the first hurdle and for that I am thankful.

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This is a post for the contest Win A Free SOBCon Weekend #SOBCon2010. You can enter too. “Write a blog post about a person (or people) online who has (or have) made a difference in your life. Celebrate how they have made your life easier, better, smarter, more productive, more meaningful.”

We Are The World 25 for Haiti

The song gives me chills as did the original in 1985 and will effect so many lives with the donations.

Olympic Coverage: Do you value story more than sport?

On Facebook today Redscout asked the following question:

NBC’s Winter Olympic coverage will no doubt be engineered to deliver emotion in spades. Do you value story more than sport?

As a fan of both the Summer and Winter Olympics, I was immediately inspired to answer with the following:

When it comes to the Olympics....yes. Most of the athletes are not front of mind for even the biggest sport enthusiast. By offering a story it allows sport enthusiasts, Olympic lovers, or channel hoppers alike to become connected with an athlete and cheer them on as if they knew them all their lives.

What are your thoughts? Do you value the story more than the sport?

It's a New Year!

After spending time with my family over the holidays, I am looking forward to the many blessings 2010 has to offer.

What are you looking forward to in 2010?

World AIDS Day 2009

Find a Testing Center Near YouFind a Testing Center Near You

Find a Testing Center Near You

Find a Testing Center Near You

Blog Makeover

~Before~

~After~

Today I finished giving my blog a visual makeover.

Tell me what you think.
Offer suggestions on how I can make the layout even better.
I really want to know your thoughts.

In fact if someone can tell me how to widen the body or content portion of my blog so it extends more to the left....I'll love ya forever!


P.S., I'm not the best at html, but I am a quick study.

The Gratitude Campaign

The campaign is absolutely right. I haven't agreed with many of the wars the U.S. has entered, but I definitely support the people who serve us with their lives. Much love to my military family (active duty, retired, and deceased). You are always in my prayers and I so respect what you do for me and our country.

THANK YOU!

How To Look Good Naked | myLifetime.com

While surfing the Internet for something to watch during a sleepless night, I decided to check out Army Wives a TV show my sister recommended, but while scrolling the list of all full episodes available online How To Look Good Naked | myLifetime.com won my attention. I watched the first episode from the first season (see below) and was amazed at how engaged I had become. "How To Look Good Naked" made me think of the Dove 'Real Beauty' campaign and how this TV program has simply taken that idea several steps further.

"How To Look Good Naked" selects women of all shapes and sizes not just those some may be perceived as overweight. This is GREAT for me as a person who could be perceived as underweight by societal standards. It brings home the fact that women of any size can have issues with their image by seeing things others don't.

No matter your size, shape or skin color it is important for you to learn to love yourself from the inside out. It is not the easiest thing to do. However when you do, it will illuminate through each and everything you wear....even if the only thing "on" is your skin.

American Mania: When More Is Not Enough

If you have about 25 minutes to spare, I recommend you watch/listen to the video below. The speaker shed some interesting facts on human behavior in a way that is easy to understand. One thing for certain is now I know WHY visualization is encouraged before doing something and I now know WHY I feel like I'm getting a cold many mornings when I wake up. Watch the video. You will probably learn something too.

Caption: Leading neuropsychiatrist Peter Whybrow, author of "American Mania: When More Is Not Enough," takes a neurobiological look at the instinctual and social behaviors that drive decision making.

Found at: www.The FrontierProject.com
Original Source: Unknown

Overwhelmed with Joy

Horns are honking in Virginia (it's estimated that 80% voted today) and I wish I had one to blow too!

I am so surprised at how emotional I have become with the realization of this amazing moment. I am literally crying with happiness of being able to witness history in the making...election of the first African American President.

Let's pray for President-elect Obama and give him the graces he needs to guide America forward and return her to her former greatness.

On January 20, 2009 I will be in Washington, D.C.. I hope you will join me.

Go Obama!

History in the Making

On August 28, 2008 history was made similar to the history made on the exact same day in 1963 45 years ago when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech.

On August 28, 2008 history has been made and I was lucky enough to be alive to have experienced it first hand. Once again August 28th will go down in not only Black History books, but ALL history books...every single one of them. However this time I was able to witness it, remember it and savor it so one day it could be shared with my children.

If you don't already know or haven't a clue as to what I am talking about, I'd like to introduce the 1st African American accepting the presidential nomination...Barack Obama!

Michelle Obama - 25 August 2008

Amazing speech....there should be no critics. It is extremely rare in this day and age for the love a family has for one another and the sincere conviction a person or group of people have for a cause to come through so well. I doubt anyone will see or more importantly feel anything remotely similar at the other convention next week. This is why the Obama brand is so strong & inspirational.

How little bit of info can go a long way....

"I'm so excited and I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
I'm so excited and I just can't hide it
And I know I know I know I know I know I want you"
- Pointer Sisters, 1982

This is the song singing in my head right this moment. Why? I learned what account I will be working on while an account manager at a big agency this summer. Now I have the right motivation to finish all my "other stuff" so I can make time to research my account. Wow! I swear I feel like a kid again.

Road Rage

I came across this video today. It gave me a much needed chuckle especially since I've wanted to do the same thing - especially in NYC.

Celebrating 14 years and counting

On March 27th, I celebrated my 14th anniversary as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I remember first learning of DST shortly during high school after a sibling received a scholarship to help pay for college. I wondered who are these women who give money? Who are these women who commit themselves to a lifetime of public service?

Laughably by time I was a senior in high school, I had scribbles of DST on all my notebooks as my imagination lived out the college experience. I am one of the fortunate. My daydreams were realized. I have 16 educated, funny, family-oriented, successful line sisters I affectionately call "Sands". I have been able to travel the country and the world knowing that a Soror was only an Oo-oop away if I was ever in need. I have remained active in DST since initiation and that shall never change.

ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ∗ΔΣΘ

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. A sisterhood of more than 200,000 predominately Black college educated women, the Sorority currently has over 900 chapters located in the United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea. The major programs of the sorority are based upon the organization's Five Point Thrust of:

• Economic Development
• Educational Development
• International Awareness and Involvement
• Physical and Mental Health
• Political Awareness and Involvement

The Sorority was founded in 1913 by 22 students at Howard University. These young women wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships; to provide support to the underserved; educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in their communities.

Randy Pausch - Amazing

I just saw an inspirational video lecture given by Professor Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon. He is coming to notoriety because of a recent segment on the Oprah Show, but I think his words will continue well beyond his recent fame.

If you don’t have time to listen to the full lecture, these are some of the comments that struck home with me. Unless indicated all quotes are from Mr. Pausch.

1. Brickwalls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things
2. Have something you bring to the table because that will make you more welcomed
3. Got to get the fundamentals down otherwise the fancy stuff isn’t going to work
4. When you’re screwing up and no one is saying anything to you anymore that means they gave up.
5. Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you want
6. Wait long enough and people will surprise and impress you – Jon Snoddy
7. Decide if you are a Tigger or a Eeyore
8. Never lose the child-like wonder
9. Help Others
10. Never Give Up
11. Don’t bail; the best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap
12. Get a feedback loop; and listen to it
13. Show Gratitude
14. Don’t complain; just work harder
15. Be good at something; it makes you valuable
16. Find the best in everybody; no matter how long you have to wait for them to show it
17. Be prepared: “luck” is where preparation meets opportunity
18. You can’t get there alone, believe in karma
19. Tell the truth
20. Be earnest, not hip
21. Apologize when you screw up
22. Focus on others, not yourself

Full lecture from September 2007 can be found on You Tube. (Searched for “randy pausch” posted by “thduynguyen”. It is an 11 part series starting with zero.)

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Watch a 10 minute version of Randy's famous "Last Lecture.”

Randy Pausch is a married father of three, a very popular professor at Carnegie Mellon University—and he is dying. He is suffering from pancreatic cancer, which he says has returned after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Doctors say he has only a few months to live.

In September 2007, Randy gave a final lecture to his students at Carnegie Mellon that has since been downloaded more than a million times on the Internet. Despite the lecture's wide popularity, Randy says he really only intended his words for his three small children. "I think it's great that so many people have benefited from this lecture, but the truth of the matter is that I didn't really even give it to the 400 people at Carnegie Mellon who came. I only wrote this lecture for three people, and when they're older, they'll watch it," he says. (Oprah Show)