Morning Glory and the Young Professional
The motley crew of Daybreak
Warning: This blog post contains spoilers.
Recently, I saw the film Morning Glory in theatres. I was rather excited to see it as Diane Keaton is one of my absolute favorite actresses, and I adore Rachel McAdams.
If you’re not familiar with the film, it’s the story of this hard working twentysomething woman named Becky who is fired from her small-time producing job on a small local morning show in New Jersey. It’s her dream to work on The Today Show, but it’s a goal that seems completely out of reach. After a great deal of hounding, she finally lands an executive producing gig on a struggling morning talk show, Daybreak, on the fictional network IBS. It’s in fourth place, so it doesn’t attract the best talent, crew or guest stars, but Becky hits the ground running regardless.
After a lackluster start, even when she manages to bring on a broadcast news legend, Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) as co-anchor, she is warned that if the ratings don’t go up, they will cancel the show. So Becky tries everything, including setting the weatherman through outrageous stunts. Ratings do go up, but it’s just not good enough for the network.
Part of the problem is Pomeroy. He considers himself to be a serious newscaster, and finds most of the topics covered on Daybreak are frivolous at best, and he has a tenuous relationship with his co-anchor, Colleen Peck (played beautifully by the amazing Diane Keaton).
Eventually, Pomeroy breaks a huge news story, and Daybreak is first on the scene. The show gains great notoriety, and finally gets over its final ratings hurdle. Becky is brought in to interview for a producing job at the The Today Show, her dream job. And she’s under 30!
I’ll spare you the last details of how it resolves (although, fair warning, it’s rather cheesy), but as a fellow young professional, I felt the film did a great job of portraying people in different stages of their careers.
Working with, or is it on?, her anchors
I rather identified with Becky – she is an incredibly hard-working woman and absolutely dedicated to her job. Her job is her passion and her life, so much so that it consumes her. While I admittedly do not carry quite the equivalent level of passion for my profession, I understand what it is like to be consumed by responsibilities. She finds it difficult to balance her personal life, and often has trouble with dating because she’s married to her Blackberry and holds odd hours. Even when she meets a great man, working on a financial show at IBS, she continues to struggle with making enough time for him.
Becky is also incredibly driven. After being laid off from her job at the local news show, she wastes little time to lament. After her mother assures her that her dreams of The Today Show are too unrealistic now that she’s quickly approaching 30, and she should settle down, she launches an attack with her resume. (I hated her mother in the film, because what mother would console her daughter after being laid off by telling her that she cannot achieve her biggest dream in life? Just horrible. Even if she was approaching 30, she should have continued to support her daughter, no matter what.) But regardless, Becky pushes on, secures an apartment with a newspaper and a cell phone while traveling on the Staten Island Ferry, and gets a new job quickly. You have to admire her tenacity about getting a new job. While I don’t necessary agree with bombarding one person with your resume until they agree to meet with you, she had the courage and, well, the balls to go get what she wanted. And I commend that.
Once in the work place, she showed wisdom beyond her years. As her new employees threw questions at her, she made sound decisions without breaking a sweat. She promptly fired the creepy co-host and brought on a rather unwilling Mike Pomeroy. She saved the show from cancellation, and made herself and her career successful in the process.
Mike Pomeroy, on the other hand, is an interesting character. He joins Daybreak because of his contract with IBS – it’s worth millions and will be forfeited if he doesn’t appear on television. He is in it for the money, and acts superior and curmudgeonly throughout a majority of the film. His huge contrast to the young Becky did have me thinking about generational divides – can our seasoned career veterans take their duties less seriously because they’ve paid their dues? Especially if they’re only doing it for the money? Becky would not have gotten anywhere if she carried the same attitude. While Becky’s drive is likely ingrained into her personality and less a symptom of her generation, we up-and-comers do need to show this sort of attitude in order to move up. While there will always be people who move up because of their connections, hard work is still absolutely important.
For once, we get to see a successful woman who earns her success through talent, hard work and drive, instead of getting ahead with the wrong criteria. She crosses generations, and even moves Pomeroy into doing his job well. Becky is a game changer on Daybreak, and I applaud the film for showing a strong female character who grows her own power without being too sexy or bitchy, but just an average incredibly hard-working twentysomething with dreams and aspirations.
If you saw Morning Glory, how did you feel it portrayed young (and old) professionals in the workplace?
Getting My Life on Track, Part 1
I admit it. It’s been far too long since I’ve updated. I don’t really have any excuse besides that I haven’t gotten around to it. But I’ve committed myself to remedying that, and to actually writing this blog!
Since the Spring, a great deal has changed in my life, literally altering how I approach each and every day.
I got a new job.
I started as a volunteer organizer with Oxfam.
I started a relationship with an amazing man.
All of these things, occurring within a month of each other, have vastly improved my life as a young professional.
First: the new job.
It’s no mystery that I was deeply unhappy in my former position. I had no opportunity for growth, and the management largely ignored my offers for help outside of my prescribed position. Employee relations were toxic; I was being poisoned each day, until my body ached and I had to force myself out of bed in the morning.
An opportunity presented itself and I jumped on it. It was a bit more lateral than I ideally wanted for my next position, but it’s placement within the institution would provide myriad educational opportunities and would set me up nicely for my master’s in public policy. I interviewed and jumped on it as soon I received my offer.
Now I’m nearly two months in and shining. I wake up happily each day, and have no problem sliding out of bed; sometimes even early enough to get a good work out in before leaving for the bus. My colleagues look out for one another, and stop by for friendly chats and ensure that I am still feeling welcomed in the office. While my job is largely administrative (or as I like to call it, “Charlie work”), I’m absorbing much about public policy, economics and government.
Second: Oxfam.
I received an e-mail in March for a new program coming to Boston: Oxfam Action Corps. Citizen volunteers would join together to organize on behalf of the organization for climate change and poverty worldwide. I applied, interviewed, and was picked to participate in a national training for Action Corps. leaders in Washington DC.
The training was eye opening. I spent days working closely with amazing and energetic people who held passion at their core. It gave me a safe space; one I felt comfortable being myself, expressing my love for the environment and policy, and creating change. I left DC with a renewed lease on life: new priorities, new vigor and momentum, and a new commitment to my career path.
It has continued to be a welcome challenge: learning to work with others, passing forward a certain message and work its demands into my already packed schedule. But its unintended lessons on time and volunteer management are vital additions to my ever expanding palette of skills.
Just a few months ago, in April, I felt my life derailing. I was reaching the edge of my ability to handle the amount of unhappiness amounting. But I held strong, pushed myself to find the sunlight in a dark tunnel, and have made through to surpass any held expectation. Although I had help, and plenty of emotional support, it was something I had to do my own. The worst thing you can do is give up, and then try to rely on others to fix your unhealthy situations.
My life is back on track – and I welcome what is still to come.
I’m still out there world, kicking and exploring what it means to be a young professional.
Valuable Cliched Wisdom
I have never been quite a fan of the cliched wisdom of “Everything happens for a reason” or “When one door closes, another door opens.” Yet I believe there are solid truths behind those statements. I don’t believe in fate, but I do believe that bad things in life are balanced out by good things. We just have to keep sight of these great moments as they don’t always appear as obviously as the bad ones do.
Today, I was forced to focus on a silver lining; a light spot within the dark: I was officially passed over for a promotion. While disappointed, I decided to make it a positive experience:
- I got some more interview experience under my belt, and was able to make suggestions and throw out ideas for possible improvements in office efficiency;
- My intention to take on increasing responsibilities (and the breadth of said responsibilities) is known to the right people;
- I’m more motivated than ever to find new opportunities.
Why not take this time to propel myself forward professionally, and develop my own goals and responsibilities? Why not seek out (or write) a job description that will fulfill me personally?
Many unfortunate series of events are inevitable in life, but spinning them into a situation to take advantage of is what can make or break a person. I felt many yearnings to wallow in self-pity, to be angry and to assign words of blame. Yet adapting this disappointment and loss into productive energy, motivation and growth will send me further in life than this promotion ever could have.
Perhaps I’m better off.
Resolutions for a New Me in the New Year
It’s that time of year again, where the major media outlets recount the best and worst and Top 10 of everything; where people look backward and forward in their lives; and everyone drafts resolutions.
This blog post is no different.
I have decided that 2009 was an awful year for everyone: the economy, major celebrity deaths, personal/professional/health/financial/relationship issues, struggle, strife, the loss of Ted Kennedy and a viable public option, etc. etc. I must make 2010 a decidedly better year not only for myself but my loved ones and those around me.
I am constantly striving to be a better person/family member/friend/colleague/grad and law school candidate and if I can accomplish half of my resolutions, I will be satisfied.
In 2010, I resolve:
1. I will lose weight.
I say this every year and mean it until a good-looking cookie comes around and it’s all down hill from there. Ideally, I want to lose 30 pounds, but am not married to any number. I just want to be healthy. This partners with exercising more, eating less, writing down each thing I eat and staying far away from cookies.
2. I will floss regularly.
I was admonished yesterday by the hygienist that I was not flossing enough and she threatened a visit to the gum specialist for my partially inflamed gums. Point taken.
3. I will reconnect with old friends.
Despite the ease and transparency of Facebook and Twitter, I still don’t keep with up nearly enough friends. I was close with so many people during my Emerson days, and I have not done my part (at least not enough) to continue to keep these people in my life. Caitlin Wilson, Kelly Allen, Jay MacFadgen and Andy Eisenberg: you’re first.
4. I will use my time more wisely.
Taking on a part-time job has given me few days off and countless 11-12 hour work days. I often get home, collapse on my bed, sometimes make dinner and then end up watching reruns of 90210 on my computer. I need to be spending more time reading, socializing, catching up on the news and subscribed feeds, writing, exercising, prepping for the LSATs, cleaning and so on. I’ve been a slave to Sidereel and Hulu, and instead I need to be a slave to Kaplan and Microsoft Word.
5. I will spend less and save more.
This old adage has taken on a new importance to members of my generation. We were taught to spend and shop, and I need to overcome that. I plan on opening a 401(k) this year – IRA’s are a bit too pricey for me right now – and will try to not touch my savings. I will also try to think through each of my purchases so I can decrease the amount of impulse buying, which means fewer trips to Target for me! 2009 was the year of bank fees and I vow to make sure 2010 is different.
6. I will show and share my gratitude.
It is scientifically proven that expressing your gratitude improves your physical and mental health, and I need the extra credit. I want to tell the people in my life of how much they mean to me and how they make my life better and remind it of them often. I even am planning on writing a parallel blog through Grateful Nation (a community of grateful patients with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston) called Grateful 365. That’s right: a whole year of sharing my gratitude with the world. No repeats. No missed days. Which brings me to my next resolution…
7. I will blog more.
Aside from Grateful 365, I will write in here more. I am usually simultaneously mentally drafting three or four posts at any one time and need to get them posted. I mean, you dear reader are clearly desperate to read my most probing insights to the life of a young professional, right? If I can increase my regular readership and the amount of posts per week, I’ll be happy.
One more…
8. I will create, promote and strengthen my brand.
I blogged a few months ago about becoming my own advocate and creating my own personal brand yet have not done nearly enough to promote it to the world-at–large. I blame my serial tiredness for not getting past a cursory research phase but hope to have something official launched by March. Please feel free to keep tabs on me and help me stay on with this deadline. Please.
So that’s it. I know eight goals seem like a lofty ideal, but if you don’t strive for greatness, what will you achieve?
I welcome feedback, words of encouragement or suggestions. I especially welcome reminders and badgering in keeping deadlines and tracking progress.
Happy New Year to all of you and may 2010 be your best year yet.
The Honeymoon is Over
It has been a week since I returned from the Middle East, and my vacation “honeymoon” glow has since faded. I knew it was inevitable, but it is still unfortunate to see it dwindle. Despite recent violence within the Old City of Jerusalem (see the Boston Globe story here), I still am nostalgic for my time Israel and Palestine.
The feeling that my life lying at my fingertips is starting to slip as reality sets in. Law school is still a few years away, as is expertise in public policy and international affairs. More schooling, more knowledge, more experience needed. It’s entirely frustrating to know so strongly where my next steps are, but have no immediate means of making it there.
I am still motivated to create change, particularly for the Palestinians. I plan on developing a presentation that I hope to present to area colleges to mobilize grassroots advocates of peace and justice. I plan on authoring white papers on the subjects of peace, diplomacy and the media in the region.
I have to create and carve my own way, so I might as well, as they say, go big or go home.
“The time has come, the walrus said…”
Well, this is it. In less than two hours I’ll be heading back to the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv to start my trek back to Boston, back to real life and my regular routine. While I’m happy to be heading back into my own space and known world, I know that I will deeply miss my experiences here.
I haven’t posted in a few days despite having things to say. While some of what I’ve seen has been new, relevant and interesting, part of it seems like I’d be rehashing my words. So why not have one grand summary post, shall we?
I left Boston ten days ago with a mixture of fear, excitement and adventure. I was worried about my personal safety (I mean, you hear what they say on the news…), excited about what I’d see and hear, and knowing that each day would hold a completely new experience. While my fears turned out to be unfounded, my other emotions were filled in spades. I am returning to Boston now wiser, wearier and worldlier and a completely new person.
This trip has provided so much information (almost to the saturation point) about the conflict and occupation. I now better understand the political situation, as well as some of the viewpoints of the Israelis and the Palestinians. I now understand that this is not really a war based on religion but on politics, land and economic opportunity. I always knew that both the Israeli and Palestinian people have a right to share the land and a right to happiness and equality. I now know that the largest perpetrators of the violations of human rights and international law is the Israeli military and government. Not the people. I have a better understanding of the sufferance of the Palestinian people and the daily hardships they have come to know.
This trip has armed me with stories. In America, we hear statistics and stories portraying Palestinians as the terrorists. We hear only about the good works that Israel is doing (which they are, but it’s not the whole story). Now I have seen the human face of the conflict; know stories of settlers, refugees, displaced persons and villagers. I have heard from Palestinians rich and poor, Israelis to the left and to the right and know where they stand and know the variances of their positions.
Most of all, I am reinvigorated. My purpose has been reborn. I’ve always known that I have wanted to create change, but this trip has revealed to me that my purpose in life is to give a voice to the voiceless; to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. I want to be able to change the way of life for the Palestinian and Israeli people to one of peace and community. I want to be able to help the Palestinians and Israelis tear down the apartheid wall. I want to enable those who cannot help themselves.
This leads me down only a slightly different path than I was planning on before. I’ve known that I want to seek higher degrees in International Affairs and Public Policy, and I believe those will still be helpful in my quest. However, what my meetings over the past few days have shown me is that working with the laws and policy can really help bring the greatest results.
So what does that mean? Law school.
I’ve been pondering this idea for the past two years or so; running the gamut from determined to downright iffy. Yet meeting today at the Eshan Center for Human Rights in Bethlehem had me make up my mind. The law can directly help people, giving their voices a structure and a background. The International Affairs will give a breadth of a background in the Middle East and the developing countries that my heart aches for and the Public Policy will inform on the how and the what of change.
I know a great deal of work is ahead. Work in school and work to build my method and plan to inform the world of injustice. But I’m ready to take this on. I’m ready to start making a tangible difference in this world and I’m ready to improve the lives of others. I’m ready to sacrifice time and ready to improve myself through education and through doing.
I’m ready.
Human Rights, Holocaust and Refuseniks
**Note: It was pointed out to me that I have been using the term “Jewish” interchangeably with “Israeli” and similarly with “Muslim” and “Palestinian.” Please note that many of these observations about current behaviors are not based on religious differences but on cultural. I do not wish to label each Israeli as Jewish nor Palestinian as Muslim as I would not label every American as Christian. Please keep this in mind while reading my accounts and I will try to correct my language.**
I am blogging to you now from my hotel room, listening to the melodic call to worship for the city’s Muslims. It occurs throughout the day, but I have only been around an area with mosques in the evening times. Hearing the calls, although in Arabic, is simultaneously soothing and exciting, as I feel privileged to hear and witness such a religious and sacred ritual.
Today was both full and fulfilling. We began the day meeting with B’Tselem, a human rights organization working within the occupied territories. They work within the scope of international and human rights law to make sure that both Israelis and Palestinians are staying within legal confines. Hearing a presentation by researcher Eyal Haleveni, we learned a great deal about current human rights violations. Primarily we spoke about Israeli attempts to annex more land in the West Bank (the West Bank of the Jordan River) with their building of a wall. This new area is nearly twice as long as the borders defined by the “Green Line” or the 
borders agreed upon after the 1948 war. Apparently it’s largely for real estate reasons (and economic incentives for Israelis to move into settlements on this new land) and not exactly for security reasons as officially cited.
Largely, when they learn about human rights violations, they report it. Most recently, they were able to capture two violations on video and shared them with the Israeli military and the international media, which forced official investigations into these amoral behaviors, causing results.
The first of these are Israeli settlers beating an elderly Palestinian couple and the second was an Israeli army personnel shooting a Palestinian man at point blank range with a rubber bullet. Both of these incidents were for little reason besides the others were Palestinian. Because of B’Tselem’s work, these are now treated as criminal actions by the army instead of minor misdemeanors.
Again, please note that B’Tselem is concerned with Palestinian human rights violations too, we just discussed Israeli ones at our brief meeting today.
Next we went to Yad Vashem, the most important Holocaust memorial in Israel. This well-plotted museum was beyond moving and presented material and personal experiences I have not been able to understand in 
all my past study of the subject and visits to other memorial museums. It chronicles antisemitism from its start as a religious prejudice, which of course became more social in the early 20th century. It also follows the plight of the Jews and other persecuted peoples from the ghettos and pogroms until liberation near the end of WWII.
New things I learned:
- Poland, not Germany, had the highest population of Jews (and number of murders) by the start of WWII
- The Soviet Union had the second highest population of Jews but also the highest number of survivors
- The number of Jews in Germany was a surprisingly low number: less than 1% of the total population (they had more time to leave the country with the slow onslaught of antisemitic laws and regulations)
- Many Jews were not allowed to leave their homelands in search of peace as many countries did not want to take them on (including Switzerland, Britain, Cuba and the US)
- Hitler and the Nazi leaders planned to exterminate 11 million Jews, including in countries that weren’t occupied by Germany such as the Scandinavian and Iberian countries and Britain. Of course the Allies’ strength in Western Europe prevented this from happening
- There was an uprising of the people left in the Warsaw ghetto; people who fought for their freedom
- Only 3.5 million of the 6 million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust have been identified by name. Yad Vashem is working to find as many more identities that they can.
- 1.5 million children were killed in the Holocaust, and are memorialized beautifully at the museum
Next was a quick stop off at Deir Wassin, an old Palestinian village that was largely destroyed (save for a few old houses that still stand) and has been repurposed as the site of an Israeli Mental Health hospital. Many of the original residents of this village were massacred by terrorists in April 1948, right before the creation of the state of Israel. It was also the motivation for many other Palestinians to leave once they heard about the violence being committed in order to build settlements.
We next headed into the En Kerem village, an artsy little village down the mountain from Jerusalem. It was originally a home for Palestinians and Christians, and now houses many Israeli artists. It has biblical significance as it is where Elizabeth lived while she was pregnant with John (the Baptist – his birthplace is also a church to visit) and where Mary visited. There we had an incredible lunch and then met with a refusenik, Peretz Kidron in his beautiful garden (decked out for the end of Sukkot). He spoke on behalf of the organization Yesh Gvul. His picture is below.
The movement today is being reinvigorated by high school age refuseniks who refuse to enter the army at all, citing that all jobs in the army serve the occupation in some way. Although their refusal changes the course of their future drastically, I admire the chutzpah and strong sense of morality and belief that these Israelis hold and their refusal to take part in such an awful form of discrimination. It reminds me of how powerful people can be once they all unite under one powerful idea. I left the meeting feeling inspired.
I am feeling overall completely lucky to be here and to experiencing all of this first hand. And I’m learning that this is what I want to do with the rest of my life.
Blood of the Same Color
I am inspired, motivated and moved.
Tonight we received two representatives from the Parent’s Circle, a large organization of bereaved Palestinian and Israeli families. They come together to share their stories with the world, and talk about how they have all found common ground in working together to find a way towards peace.
An Israeli Jew and Palestinian Muslim man shared their stories of loss, each heartbreaking in its own way. Yet what was incredible is that both of these men said that instead of growing angry and finding vengeance upon their “enemy,” they chose to find understanding. While they could grow angry each day, they instead work to educate the world about the issues surrounding the conflict and occupation.
What was most remarkable to me was the presentation. Framing it with the human experience is something that literally everyone can relate to. While the problems of the Middle East might not matter to many of those across the world (particularly in America), hearing about the blatant human rights violations these people have experienced first hand is appalling. Hearing them both realize that Palestinians and Israelis are “human beings, with blood the same color, pain the same pain and tears just as bitter” plucked my heartstrings. What was best for me, though, was the diplomacy of the whole experience.
Since college I have been a huge proponent of public diplomacy via cultural understanding: bringing experiences to those of other cultures to garner more knowledge and compassion. These personal stories do just that. I was inspired by what this organization is doing; finding a common ground approach towards humanizing peace.
What more is that I found reassurance (so early! I know!) that this truly is what I want to do with my life: creating international change organically through advocacy. Their approach invigorated me and pushed me towards a new level of nirvana of learning on this trip.
I head to bed tonight eager for the historical menu of tomorrow’s agenda, but ready to put all this knowledge into constructive and peaceful action.
Gaining A Voice
A top piece of advice I’ve received lately is to be my own advocate.
Makes sense right? Who will speak for you when you don’t speak for yourself?
However, the trick is how to find your own voice and the correct (and appropriate) vehicle to convey your wants, needs and goals to the greater world.
At work, how do you tell your boss that you feel like your talents aren’t being fully optimized? How do you ask to be placed on projects outside of your direct job description? How do you use your advocacy prowess to develop your career?
In job searches, how do you express these needs and wants within the confines of the interview? How do you make your potential boss aware of your true ambitions and skills, even outside of the job you are interviewing for?
Advocating for yourself is obviously a fine art; one that must be learned and honed through time, practice and counsel. Without seeming too pushy or aggressive, you need to make your intentions well known. I believe this is where emotional intelligence comes into play: being able to read and understand the nonverbal cues of people around you. Strategically introducing yourself to the world and placing your goals at the forefront requires planning.
A way to plan is to write down your goals. Life goals, career goals; any goals you wish to share. This way you are best prepared to advocate your dreams.
Another way is to create your own image and brand. Wording and formatting your resume to best reflect this image is key, as well as the development of personal messaging. Think of how corporate branding works and mimic it for yourself.
Becoming your own brand and your own advocate will give you confidence, assurance and drive and, if done correctly, will get you to where you need and want to be in life.
So what am I doing?
I’m taking the idea of “making your own brand” quite literally. Designing a logo to be used on revamped business cards and stationery, I will be known as “kerplunker communications.” This will easily fit in with this blog, another kerplunker website I plan to create to showcase my communications work and interests, and my Twitter account. (Once these are finalized, I’ll post them.)
In this hyper-competitive economy and city, this is what will set me apart. Networking with these custom-made cards, a strong handshake, sincere smile and polished message will get me the responsibilities and experience I desire.
Out of School Blues
The fall semester began at my alma mater, Emerson College, this past Monday. This marks the second September that I haven’t returned to school, textbooks and syllabi. It leaves me with this odd sense that I am forgetting something; 16 years of the back-to-school mentality is a hard habit to break. I find myself jealous of the undergrad students I see walking around Boston and grow nostalgic for a time that seems one life ago.
As a person addicted to learning, this lack of consistent classroom time is making me question my purpose. I left school knowing that I would return in a few years looking for higher education in the fields of public policy and international affairs. However, the reality of this so-called “real life” is showing me that I need more experience outside of academia to get to where I need to be.
Yet all the jobs I find that will allow me to garner just the right background all require at least two years of direct experience. Thus begins the eternal circle of career development; a catch-22 that I have yet to crack.
Many people find loopholes in this contradiction and prosper. Some find new life paths. Which will I be? How can I become this anomaly to succeed in my original intent?
This has become my quest: finding the right answers to these questions. I’ve been thrown in to the “rat race” and “shark-infested waters” of real life and I hope to fall feet first so I can continue running at top speeds. I’m a kerplunker, a person who has entered a new life and must learn to swim.
Let’s just hope that I can turn my thrashing strokes into graceful glides.
Falling Feet First 