Lex and Learn

In addition to my semi-unhealthy iPhone addiction, I just cannot get enough of the new social media tools and resources available to us online “nerds” in the virtual world that better enable us to connect and share information. I may not be the earliest of adopters among my professional and virtual peers, but I am certainly “way out there” according to my personal circle of friends and family.

However, tonight I learned about a tool I hope even my Facebook-hating fiance can understand. It’s called CauseWorld, and it’s an app that encourages you to check in to surrounding locations based on your phone’s GPS signal (think Foursquare). What’s different though is that CauseWorld awards you “karmas” for checking into locations, which can in turn be donated to a cause of your choice that the app supports. As of tonight, causes include cancer prevention, planting trees, carbon offsets, meal donation, and many more. The New York Times included a great overview of the app, and the future opportunities it creates for marketers, earlier this month.

Whether you agree or disagree about how “my industry” capitalizes on technologies such as this to better target, influence, and connect with consumers, I personally believe CauseWorld represents the next big shift in online communication and sharing.

Social media and networking sites are opening each of us up to a larger world, and when you see that world you realize that you want to help it thrive, especially if you consider yourself to be fortunate. Yet so many of us don’t know where to start, or more honestly, aren’t willing to make the time–our 24/7 obsession with being connected makes life quite hectic. But if I can continue with my somewhat selfish fascination of social media while doing something positive, AND call attention to the causes I am passionate about along the way…well, I call that a win win.

What about you? Have you tried, or do you plan to try CauseWorld? Why or why not?

Since arriving in Colorado I have been pounding the pavement to find a job in PR. I have met with some amazing PR professionals here in town and have been amazed by the generous nature of everyone–so willing to help out a “stranger.” After two months of endless interviews and countless networking meetings, I was thrilled to receive and accept a Social Media & PR Manager position at GroundFloor Media. The agency is extremely successful and I feel so lucky to have found this opportunity. I start Monday, March 29, so only one more week of watching both the Today Show and Ellen!

But last week didn’t just bring me a dream job…

On Thursday night Mike and I drove up to Breckenridge to ski, clean my parent’s condo and celebrate my new job. The weekend also marked the one year anniversary of my grandma’s passing, so it was especially important for me to be in one of her favorite places. Nothing about the weekend was out of the ordinary, especially because I was NOT expecting to get engaged anytime soon.

We woke up on Friday morning and enjoyed a super lazy start to the day. We didn’t even make it onto the mountain until 11 a.m. As we rode up the chair Mike chatted with the skier next to him and I didn’t really have a thought in my mind, besides being freezing cold. As we got off the lift Mike told me he had to use the restroom, which was in a lodge about 200 feet away.

I skied ahead of Mike and didn’t even notice how much he was lagging behind. When he finally caught up he was talking to a professional mountain photographer, so at first I thought he just ran into an old friend. Mike then reminded me of how in Vail a few weekends prior I said I wanted professional mountain pictures, so I was happy that he “listened” to my request and was super impressed.

Mike used the restroom and then the photographer walked us over to a cluster of trees away from all the people. What happened next is a a bit of a blur. We started taking a series of pictures, a few of them in some very cheesy poses (evidence below).

Then after making us jump in the air (tougher than it looks in ski boots) he told Mike to kneel down in the snow and for me to turn towards him.

Mike suddenly said, “I lied to you, we aren’t here just to take pictures.  I have a question…will you marry me?” As he said this he proceeded to pull out the most incredible ring I have ever seen. Apparently my first verbal reaction was something along the lines of, “shut up! What are you doing?” Notice my open-jawed reaction before starting to cry and cover my face!

I finally got the words “yes” out and we hugged and kissed for what felt like an eternity. Then he asked if I wanted to put the ring on and I took my gloves off so we could VERY CAREFULLY transfer it from the box to my hand. It was snowing and so cold, so it was a slow transfer to say the least. Then, we were officially engaged! We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying a bottle of champagne and calling our family and friends.

To say I was surprised/stunned is an understatement…which is how I always hoped it would be. Mike is my best friend and my perfect partner. I cannot imagine my life if we hadn’t found each other one fateful evening in Boulder, next to a keg of Keystone Light no less (he let me fill my red cup first)!

Even though I am so excited to enjoy the engagement and wedding planning process with my family and closest friends, I never want to lose sight of the bigger journey we’re embarking on together. I am truly blessed to have Mike and to be marrying into such an incredible family.

Thanks for all the well wishes over the past few days. Save the date for spring/summer 2011!!

If you know me well, you might have never realized that I have a shy side–a very shy side at that. This secret part of me is usually well disguised, masked by my career (I talk to people for a living) and a general outgoing/outspoken nature around my good friends and family. Hell–I learned not long ago that as a small child, my mom used to look forward to mowing the lawn because it was the only time she could get away from my constant babbling.

However, when faced with new and unknown social situations, I tend to get extremely nervous beforehand. The key word here is social–throw me into the lions den at any new business meeting and I love the thrill of the chase. But when I arrive early to a dinner party and don’t know a soul…the sensation in my stomach makes me sympathize with people who are truly terrified of public speaking of any kind.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” is my mantra in these situations, and a motto I firmly believe in now that I have uprooted my life and started fresh in Denver. Tonight, based on a Twitter DM invitation from @ElaineEllis, I arrived at the Wynkoop Brewery in LoDo alone. I’ve never met or corresponded with Elaine outside of Twitter, and had no clue who else would be in attendance. Even more out of my “safe zone” was the fact that I needed to walk up to the table of women and ask if they were part of the PR mixer group (it wasn’t a roped off event)–I had to take a moment and a deep breath (or four).

But guess what?! I met some really smart and successful women, learned more about the local PR community I want to be a part of, and surprised myself at how easy it can be to meet new people socially.

Yes it’s scary sometimes, but I am a PR pro and I’ve got to push through this social “introduction” fear if I am going to forge strong connections, and hopefully, make new CO friends! I am already looking forward to the next meetup invitation…whatcha got?