– Jeffrey Immelt

Navigating the business world is brutal. I’ve found this out multiple times, the most recent of which cost me financially. Let me tell you, business blunders hurt even worse when they hit your wallet.

Due to that, I’ve developed a list of rules to make navigating the business world a little easier. This way, I can cover my bases and protect myself against any potential problems. These tips are applicable for job-seekers and entrepreneurs alike.

Here are 6 ways to make sure you’re not stuck in a tough business situation that could cost you later on down the road:

1. Don’t Devalue Your Worth – I recently attended the PRSA Western District Conference and had the pleasure of hearing Cyndee Woolley speak about personal branding. One point that stuck with me was when she said not to lower your hourly rate just to get a client to say, “yes.” It devalues your brand as well as the profession as a whole. Understanding your relative “worth” can be hard when you’re starting out in an industry. Do your research and understand what the services you’re providing normally go for, adjust accordingly, and don’t negotiate way below your worth just to sign a client. You will eventually find someone who is willing to pay for your services, and from my experience, those clients are the best ones to work with!
   
2. Have an Airtight Agreement – These agreements (sometimes call statements of work) can include deliverable expectations, hour expectations, payment information, late fee details and any other aspect of your business agreement. Trying to implement late fees and other touchy subjects half-way into a business agreement can be difficult (which I’m currently trying to work through) so avoid the problem by being prepared. Set your standards at the beginning of any deal to safeguard against a potentially uncomfortable situation later on.
3. Trust Your Gut – I’ll be honest, I’ve been on a phone call for fifteen minutes with a potential client and decided it wouldn’t be a good fit. No matter what amount of money went along with the deal, it wasn’t going to happen. Why? Because my gut told me I would be miserable if I did. If you can tell that a potential client/job will make your life a living hell, listen to it. Nine times out of ten it’s right. Plus, if you go into a new job with the attitude that it’s not going to work, it won’t work. So, it’s a catch-22, and I suggest avoiding it at all costs.
4. Secure Payments – As much as we like to think that everyone has consciences made of gold, that’s just not realistic. There will come a time when you’ll get shafted on payment, the number of hours recorded, not getting overtime or something like that. The list goes on. That’s why it’s important to take precautions to prevent this happening. For contractors, get paid up-front. Otherwise, you’re rolling the dice on if you’ll actually get paid. For employees, make sure you understand the payment terms you’re signing up for. This includes overtime, time tracking and what happens if you decide to quit/get fired.
5. Set Realistic Client Expectations – I’ve been on calls with potential clients where people over-promise and set unrealistic expectations with clients just to get them to say “yes” and sign a deal. This is not the way to start a successful business relationship. Be honest with your clients and if it’s not a good fit, say so. They’ll respect you for being up-front rather than trying to force something that isn’t meant to be. With social media, I see this problem a lot due to the never-ending debate about its ROI (return on investment). That’s why it’s better to be honest and upfront so that expectations and deliverables are clear from the get-go.
6. Know When to Walk Away – To me, this is the band-aid theory. You can slowly peel it off and be slightly in pain for an extended period of time, or you can just rip it off and get it over with. If you know you and a client or a job aren’t a good fit, address the situation. First, try to fix the problems, but if that doesn’t work, it might be best to walk away from the deal. I’ve worked with clients before that I would wake up dreading working with. We took the slowly-peeling-off-the-band-aid approach, which didn’t work out well for either of us. There will always be another job or another client, so don’t try to force something that you won’t be happy with.

For me, finding happiness and enjoying my work is key to a happy life. We spend 8+ hours (and usually much more) a day working, so we might as well make it the best experience we can. Hopefully these words of advice will help you make that a reality for your work/client life too!

~ Miss Soucie

- Carol Burnett

First off: I can’t believe its been a year and a half since I graduated. I was recently talking with a friend of mine who I went to Spain with three years ago, and she said, “time has literally flown by, it seems like we were just there last year!”

My response? I couldn’t agree more. That’s why it’s nostalgic for me when I start to see graduation pictures crowding my Facebook feed. I start to think about all the graduates who will inevitably ask, “oh my god, what do I do now?” just like I did.

For those lucky few who don’t experience the moment of panic that life will no longer consist of sleeping in, Thirsty Thursdays and studying: I envy you. Realistically speaking, the majority of graduates are not ready or mentally prepared to just dive into the real world.

In the last year and a half since I graduated, I’ve come to learn and accept some important life lessons that make the transition from college to real life just a little bit easier and more enjoyable. Here are some of those tips:

1. Never Stop Learning – This is by far one of the most important things to remember after graduation. The minute we stop learning, we stop growing, and then what’s the point of all of this? Take a look at my blog post, “7 Ways to Continue Learning After Graduation,” for fun and easy ways to continue to challenge yourself after school’s out.
2. Be Ready for Detours – All through college I had my classes and life planned out. Each semester and even after graduation. My plan was to work for Teach for America and then go to law school. But, after they rejected me a month after graduation, I had to improvise. If you can accept now that your “life plan” will definitely have some detours, you’ll be a lot more able to adjust accordingly.
3. Don’t Stop Having Fun – More than any other annoying 20-something, those who take themselves too seriously for the sake of “acting grown-up,” bother me the most. Who said after you graduate you can’t have fun anymore? Life is stressful, so you might as well make the most of it and have fun while it’s happening.
4. Meet, Greet & Follow-Up – My boyfriend is my idol when it comes to networking and connecting with people. You never know who you might meet or who might be able to help you later on. Take a look at my blog post, “The 20-Something Stigma.” It addresses some great points when it comes to developing your professional career after college.
5. Don’t Settle – I recently wrote the post, “The Choice: Freedom or Security,” where I addressed the concept of “settling.” I got a lot of feedback (good and bad) about my post, but still stand by my main point which is this: know what you want, and don’t settle for anything less. Granted, right after graduation you might not be able to walk into the job or lifestyle you had hoped for, but it’s important to make sure you’re at least moving in the direction of what you want.
6. Keep It In Perspective – When it seems like the world is on your shoulders and you just want to crawl under a rock (which will happen, often) remember everything’s okay. Whatever the problem, you can handle it. Everything happens for a reason (or so I like to think) so stay positive and deal with the problem head on.
7. Live Within Your Means – Racking up a bunch of debt isn’t the best way to start off your life as an independent individual. Personally, maintaining financial stability and knowing how to handle my finances is something I still personally struggle with. Find people who know how to manage money (friends, family or a financial advisor) who can help you get on the right track and stay there so you won’t be drowning in debt later on.
8. Stay True to Yourself - After publishing this post, I felt that I had left out one of the most crucial life lessons: always stay true to yourself. No matter what else, understand what’s important to you and make sure that you’re living by those standards.

Thankfully, life after graduation isn’t as scary as most people make it out to be. It’s all about enjoying the ride, working hard and making the most of the experience. Happy Graduation, Grads!

~ Miss Soucie

- Carlton Fisk

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Laureen Ong at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism Must See Monday event. Ong is currently the president of the Travel Channel and has had an impressive career in the media world.

Ong spoke with the many soon-to-be graduates and other attendees about the challenges we’ll face in the professional world and how she overcame them and used them to grow her career.

Here is some of the great advice and words of wisdom she shared with the audience last night: 

• Make the most out of every opportunity. You never know who you might meet, what experiences you might come across or things you might learn.
• Travel or take an international assignment if you can. The experience will broaden your outlook on the world and society in ways you can’t imagine.
• Everyone will work for someone they don’t like at one time or another. What’s important is that you handle yourself appropriately and learn to work effectively with people you might not see eye to eye with.
• Have your elevator pitch down, you never know when you’ll meet someone who could change your career.
• The more difficult the task, the greater the reward. This is a great motto to remember on tough days when it seems like things aren’t working the way they should.
• Spend 2+ years in professional positions. You need to have enough time to make a difference and become part of the team within the company.
• Embrace mentors and build your network. Fostering these relationships are crucial to your career and could help you get a job later on down the road.
• Figure out what makes you happy and and find a way to do it everyday. It’s true that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.

It’s always great to take the time to learn from veteran professionals who have gone through the ups and downs of career development. Everyone has a different experience, and the more you learn from their experiences the better.

~ Miss Soucie

- Paul Theroux

By definition, a tourist is, “one that makes a tour for pleasure or culture.” Whereas, a traveler is, “one that goes on a trip or a journey.”

So, when you travel, do you want to tour and watch things happen? Or do you want to go on a journey and experience things as they happen? To me, watching versus experiencing is the difference between a tourist and a traveler.

If you want to be a traveler and truly experience life abroad, here are some ways to do it:

1. Do Intercambios – In Spanish, intercambio means “exchange.” When I was in Spain, we had intercambios with locals where we would speak half the time in Spanish and half the time in English. This is something you can usually schedule through a local school. If you’re going to be in a city for a while, an intercambio partner is a great way to learn the language, make a new friend and learn about the city from a different perspective.
2. Go Where the Locals Go – Skip the chain restaurants and find local bars and hot spots. Not only will they provide more culture, they tend to be cheaper and have better food, too!
3. Stay in Hostels - Big hotels might be more comfortable, but hostels let you get to know other travelers in the area and usually host pub crawls and events. Hostels are usually run by young locals or transplants who know all the best places to go.
4. Learn the Language - I’m not saying you need to be fluent in order to be a “traveler,” but it’s a sign of respect to at least attempt to learn the native language. It might feel embarrassing at first, but speaking with locals is without fail the best way to learn a foreign language.
5. Wander – One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to just walk. I usually have a map or track key landmarks so I can make my way back, but just wandering through a foreign city is, for me, one of the most liberating and enjoyable experiences. It’s time to ditch the beaten trail and pave your own!
6. Shop Local – Find local farmers markets and stores where you can get fresh food native to the area. There’s a good chance you might not recognize some of the things they have, but hey, you only live once! Ask someone who works at the store how to cook and eat the different foods and try it out.
7. Avoid Tourist Traps – There are always some big “must-see” landmarks when you travel abroad, but past that, avoid big touristy spots. There are so many amazing things that every country has to offer, so take the time to explore and find them!

Are you an avid traveler? What tips do you have for living like a local while you’re traveling abroad?

~ Miss Soucie

- Sergey Brin

As many people in the technology world have seen over the last couple months/weeks, Google has been slowly rolling out their newest product, Glass.

The glasses boast internet connection and {what seems like} seamless integration between taking photos, shooting video, getting directions, video chatting and every other mobile app possibility – hands-free. They also have a nice, sleek {and somewhat nerdy} look to them, making them practically unnoticeable as something other than glasses.

Google ran an #ifihadglass campaign last month to pick a select group of 8,000 people to have early access to the awesome new gadget. Applicants had to tweet or post on Google+ what they would do with this new technology in under 50 characters.

I saw the campaign and figured, “What the heck. Why not?” My entry was:

#ifihadglass I would hang glide in Punta Cana and live stream it!

The idea was inspired by my spring break trip to the Dominican Republic a couple of weeks ago. I tweeted my response and didn’t expect much beyond that. I saw this article the other day announcing that Google was contacting the winners of the campaign this week, so was expecting quite a bit of social media activity around who won and when to expect the first Google Glass product.

What I didn’t expect was to get a tweet from Project Glass saying that I had been selected for the Glass Explorers Program! Yes, I, Paige Soucie, won something! 

The glasses are not set to release until late this year or early 2014 and will cost around $1500 to those who have been selected. Winners will also have to go to LA, San Francisco or New York in order to pick up their new gadget. This Time Tech article goes into more details about what to expect in the coming months regarding the project.

So, looks like this girl is getting a technology-boost, and I have to say, my boyfriend and all his tech-loving friends are quite excited about it!

~ Miss Soucie

- Astrid Alauda

My week in the Dominican Republic was absolutely amazing. The perfect relaxation and getaway that my boyfriend and I both needed. The beaches were absolutely pristine and and the food was delicious. The latter being slightly detrimental to my diet.

When I started my vacation, I told myself I would follow the following diet and fitness guidelines for my trip:

• No Bread Bowls - Unnecessary carbs are the fastest way to widen your waistline on top of making you feel bloated while you’re lounging on the beach.
• No Lunch Dessert – Again, unnecessary sweets will definitely impact your waistline while making you feel bloated and uncomfortable on the beach.
• Limit Alcohol Intake – Empty calories are the worst type of calories, especially the extra sugary type.
• Stay Active - There are simple ways to do this like taking walks or just using the stairs. I also researched my hotel to make sure there was a gym that I could go run and lift some weights with while I was on vacation.

In reality, I had probably about 1-2 bread rolls with dinner (almost every night) and lunch desserts (almost every day). I did end up working out four out of the seven days that we were there and I limited my sugary drink intake to 1-2 a day. So, all in all, I scored about 50% on the effectiveness scale.

Clearly my initial plan did not pan out like I had hoped. This means for my next trip, and for you, I have some suggestions on how to manage your food and alcohol intake so it doesn’t ruin all the work you do getting in shape!

Here are some guidelines to help you (me!) stay in shape on our next trips:

1. Water, Water, Water – Have a bottle of water with you at all times. This will prevent you from snacking, keep you hydrated and cleanse your system.
2. Color Your Plate - The more colorful your plate, the more healthy it tends to be. As you can see from this fruit and veggie display on the left, fresh food tends to be a variety of colors while fried food, bread and other less healthy options tend to have less color.
3. Eat Slowly – When you’re having buffets after buffets of food options, it’s important to eat slowly so your stomach has a chance to catch up to your eyes.
4. Use Small Plates for Dessert - For me, trying a variety of different types of food is fun and exciting, especially in other countries. The solution to this, is to take small (like super-tiny) portions of a couple different desserts. They usually have small salad/dessert plates, which give you less space to stock pile the desserts before going back to your table.
5. Pick Non-Sugary Drinks – This is a great guide for recipes for healthier drinks that wont set you way back with your diet. A couple of my favorites are Captain with Diet Coke & Lime and Vodka Soda with a Splash of Cranberry and Lime.
6. Stay Active – Go for a walk down the beach, go swimming, play volleyball or find other ways to stay active that are appropriate for your vacation.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you’re on vacation, and that you do deserve to indulge yourself a little bit. For me, that meant a little bit more dessert on special nights and less drinks to account for that.

But, don’t let your obsession with staying inside the lines prevent you from enjoying the wonderful experience! Good luck!

~ Miss Soucie

- Carnie Wilson

I’m excited to say that my boyfriend and I will be jetting off this Sunday for a week in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic! I’ve never been before, so I’m quite excited to be exploring a brand new country!

Not only is this trip an amazing traveling experience, but it’s also a much-needed sabbatical for both my boyfriend and me. Everyone needs time to relax and recharge their physical and mental batteries!

It’s important to unplug every once in a while from the world of constant emails, tweets, text messages and communication.

So, this is good bye for the next week, and when I get back I’ll be writing about the Dominican Republic and my {what I’m assuming will be} amazing experience there!

P.S. Take a look at my Instagram account for picture updates during my trip! (Ironic, I know, but I’m obsessed with taking pictures. I can’t help it!)

~ Miss Soucie

- Astrid Alauda

Over the last couple months I’ve been experimenting with different ways to get my daily nutrition, and morning smoothies are a delicious & easy way to do that.

One of the best ways to stay healthy and eat better is by cooking and making your meals at home. Smoothies serve as a quick way to do that. You can measure and baggie the smoothie ingredients the night before for easy preparation in the morning!

Here are some great guidelines on how to put together the perfect nutrient-rich smoothie!

• Yogurt: Great source protein
• Milk: Almond, Soy or otherwise are all great options to add liquid and nutrients to your smoothie
• Whey Protein: Very filling and full of protein
• Healthy Fats: Peanut butter, nuts and avocados are all great examples of foods that contain healthy fat the body needs to be in prime condition
• Bananas: Rich in potassium and lots of other nutrients and provide an extra creaminess to your smoothie when frozen
• Berries: They’re an antioxidant powerhouse, blue berries are especially full of great nutrients
• Supplements: Hemp seeds, chia seeds & flax seeds are just a few of the natural seeds/supplements that provide an extra boost for your smoothie

Now for the recipes! These are a few of my favorite recipes that I’ve put together so far.

Banana & Whey Smoothie (340 calories & 43 g. of protein)

• 1 scoop chocolate Whey protein powder
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 2/3 cup light greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds.

Mango & Chia Seed Smoothie (224 calories)

• 1 cup mango
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1/2 apple
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds

Yogurt & Berry Smoothie (214 calories)

• 6 oz. greek yogurt
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 tbsp. hemp seeds
• 1/2 cup frozen berries

Apple & Hemp Seed Smoothie (176 calories)

• 1/2 apple
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 cup spinach
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup pineapple
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 tbsp. hemp seeds

I continually try different smoothie recipes and share them on my Instagram account if you’d like to get some more ideas! I also share a number of dessert, breakfast and other healthy recipes as well!

These are some other great resources for healthy smoothie recipes:

• 20 Super-Healthy Smoothies by Prevention
• 25 Delectable Detox Smoothies by Prevention
• Smoothie Recipes for Everything [Infographic] by Super Skinny Me
• 3-Day Detox by Dr. Oz

What are some of your favorite health-conscious smoothie and other recipes?

~ Miss Soucie

- T.S. Eliot

It’s officially been a year since I filed the papers for Soucie Holdings, LLC. I decided I was going to take my future into my own hands and not settle for one of the monotonous 9 – 5 jobs I applied for but did little to inspire or excite me.

When I decided to jump into the unknown of starting my own business, a friend of mine said, “You know, at some point you’re going to just have to suck it up and work for someone. You can’t always just do what you want.”

You want to know what I told her?

“Yes, yes I can.”

Despite the ups and downs of finding clients and dealing with the stressors of running my own business, I have been able to do what I want.

I travel (for pleasure) multiple times a month. I take naps. I go on afternoon runs. I sleep in. It’s not a bad deal!

But, here I am; a year later and still trying to figure out what {exactly} I want to do with my life.

I’ve seen a lot of friends and colleagues find comfortable jobs and settle down and they seem happy! Engagement rings and babies are popping up all over Facebook, and for some people, that’s exactly what they want.

Personally, the idea of settling down in a comfortable job with a happy family at age 22 scares the living daylights out of me. 

What about traveling? Or just picking up and moving? Or trying out a different profession just because?

A lot of people say money is a big factor in that, but it’s all about priorities. Financially, I’m getting by. I’d be happier if I had a little bit more of a cushion, but wouldn’t we all? When it comes down to it, if you want to make it happen, you can.

The question I’ve been contemplating lately though is at what point, if ever, should you throw in your cards, find a comfortable job and settle down?

Hypothetically, you could bounce around until you find something you enjoy, but what if you never find that one thing that truly inspires you? What happens when you’ve spent 5+ years “bouncing around,” while everyone else has been working their way up the proverbial food chain of the workforce?

It’s a scary thought for someone like myself who had life all planned out (literally, in a Word Doc) since the beginning of college.

I know I have a tendency to over-think things (or so my boyfriend tells me!) but I can’t be the only 20-something who’s facing these decisions.

Ultimately, I see it as the choice between freedom and security, and I don’t think I’m quite ready to settle for the latter.

~ Miss Soucie

- Colin Powell

Writing is a crucial skill in practically every profession. If not for a job, the ability to write well is something that everyone should be able to do, and blogging is a great way to practice.

I started blogging about a year ago. When I started, it seemed impossible to come up with ideas and keep up the habit. It seriously felt like pulling teeth.

It took a little while, but now I love blogging. It’s an outlet for me to share what I learn and my experiences, all while working on my writing.

Life happens though, and sometimes we get distracted by our other priorities. What happens when you get out of the habit and can’t seem to get back into it?

Here are 9 easy tips to get back into the blogging habit: 

1. Make it a Habit: Set a goal for yourself. For me, I aim to blog at least once a week. I usually brainstorm ideas Monday and Tuesday and write Wednesday and Thursday. Afterwards, I {almost} always have someone else read over it before I publish and do a couple read-throughs on my own. Once you get into the habit, it practically becomes second nature.
2. Get Inspired: Look for a blog in everything you do. This blog was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend of mine who wants to try to get back into blogging. He asked me how I keep up my blogging consistency, so here I am; writing a blog about how to get back into blogging and keeping it up!
3. Love What You Write: There’s nothing harder than trying to write about something you’re not passionate about. This is even more true when you’re trying to get back into the groove of things. To make the transition easier, pick a topic you’re interested in and that you can relate to on a daily basis.
4. Hindsight 20/20: There’s nothing wrong with back-blogging. As they say, hindsight’s 20/20, which provides a lot of raw content for a blog. The important thing about back-blogging is that you’re able to tie it to what you’re involved with and doing now. 
5. Get a Blogging Buddy: Just like working out, it’s easier to keep up a habit when you have someone who supports you. That way, when you’re feeling down, you have someone to help you get back on the horse and vice-versa.
6. Share Your Work: There’s no better feeling than having friends and family read your work and give you feedback. I actually had a friend quote a line in my blog to me the other day. Talk about making my week! While in the beginning it was hard to share my work with others, it’s the most rewarding feeling once you do!
7. Maximize Your Mood: Do the words just seem to flow sometimes? Then keep writing! Maximize your productivity and keep writing when your creativity is at its highest.
8. Change Your Venue: Sometimes sitting in the same spot for 8 hours every day can stifle our writing abilities. Try going to the park, a coffee shop or just going for a walk. A change in scenery can ignite creativity and give you a different perspective on life.

Need some more help getting back into the swing of blogging or how to maximize your blog once you do? Here some helpful resources:

• 10 Tips To Get Back Into Blogging by Ashley “Ashe” Robison
• 10 Social Media Tips for Bloggers by Liz Borod Wright
• 26 Tips for Writing Great Blog Posts by Debbie Hemley

Good luck!

~ Miss Soucie