Remember: Be nice to the little guys!
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A blog dedicated to exploring and gaining knowledge on the non-profit marketing community.
About Me
Carly Schwichtenberg
Richmond, Virginia, United States
The first afternoon of Kindergarten I firmly stated to my mother that I hated my teacher. Her name: Mrs. Hogan. Translation: Hulk Hogan’s wife. At the time, if you had asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up I would proudly announce: "I am going to marry Hulk Hogan." I do not seem to be able to avoid this question, even today. This is the grown up form of one of the most rhetorical questions in my life. Do I tell them the truth or make up something they want to hear? A part of me always wants to tell them about my five-year-old fantasy of being Mrs. Hulk Hogan, but then I remember I’m twenty-two, not five. Sadly, I know my dream won’t become reality. Instead of actively pursuing The Hulk, I am now acting on a whim that I created at the wise age of fourteen in which I decided I was going to go into advertising when I was “older”. Crazy? Yes, but also true. Watching television one lazy afternoon I discovered the movie What Women Want, a blockbuster centered on the “glamorous” advertising industry. Obviously, for reasons I still am trying to contemplate, the movie had a big impact on my future decisions. I remember telling my parents that I wanted to go into advertising after seeing the movie. My father looked at me like I was crazy while my mother said the obligatory “That’s nice dear” something-or-the-other. Fast-forward four years and I was supposed to be applying to college. Not knowing where I wanted to go, I decided to narrow my choices by picking schools with direct advertising programs. With no surprise, I ended up going to Virginia Commonwealth University, knowing that I wanted to get my degree in strategic advertising. Another quick fast-forward five years and I am about to graduate with that all-important degree I wanted so badly.
I’ve now devised the perfect answer for “What do you plan to do with your degree after graduation?” When asked I quickly reply, “Well… advertising?????” It seems to work because people often don’t fully understand the term, but the question marks happen to be my big answer. I don’t really know what I’m going to do after I graduate, though I’ve gotten plenty of suggestions. I have goals, but I still feel very lost and want to hide when people bring up my “future”.
After making my fourteen-year-old dream semi-real and majoring in advertising, I obviously want to do the whole advertising industry/agency career right? Yes, but with reservations. I’m proud of myself for sticking with the major after finding out I would be working seventy-hour weeks and making no money, torturing myself with sleepless nights trying to find the best creative solution for a fake dog bone company, and spending more time at IHOP for campaigns then I ever thought possible. During all of this I think I’ve found a better understanding of myself then I could have with another major. I’ve always known that I have a bleeding heart, and now I want to use it to actually do something that feels significant. I’m using this blog to explore my interest in a very specific niche of advertising and one that is often and unfortunately lost: non-profit advertising and marketing.
Enjoy!
Richmond, Virginia, United States
The first afternoon of Kindergarten I firmly stated to my mother that I hated my teacher. Her name: Mrs. Hogan. Translation: Hulk Hogan’s wife. At the time, if you had asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up I would proudly announce: "I am going to marry Hulk Hogan." I do not seem to be able to avoid this question, even today. This is the grown up form of one of the most rhetorical questions in my life. Do I tell them the truth or make up something they want to hear? A part of me always wants to tell them about my five-year-old fantasy of being Mrs. Hulk Hogan, but then I remember I’m twenty-two, not five. Sadly, I know my dream won’t become reality. Instead of actively pursuing The Hulk, I am now acting on a whim that I created at the wise age of fourteen in which I decided I was going to go into advertising when I was “older”. Crazy? Yes, but also true. Watching television one lazy afternoon I discovered the movie What Women Want, a blockbuster centered on the “glamorous” advertising industry. Obviously, for reasons I still am trying to contemplate, the movie had a big impact on my future decisions. I remember telling my parents that I wanted to go into advertising after seeing the movie. My father looked at me like I was crazy while my mother said the obligatory “That’s nice dear” something-or-the-other. Fast-forward four years and I was supposed to be applying to college. Not knowing where I wanted to go, I decided to narrow my choices by picking schools with direct advertising programs. With no surprise, I ended up going to Virginia Commonwealth University, knowing that I wanted to get my degree in strategic advertising. Another quick fast-forward five years and I am about to graduate with that all-important degree I wanted so badly.
I’ve now devised the perfect answer for “What do you plan to do with your degree after graduation?” When asked I quickly reply, “Well… advertising?????” It seems to work because people often don’t fully understand the term, but the question marks happen to be my big answer. I don’t really know what I’m going to do after I graduate, though I’ve gotten plenty of suggestions. I have goals, but I still feel very lost and want to hide when people bring up my “future”.
After making my fourteen-year-old dream semi-real and majoring in advertising, I obviously want to do the whole advertising industry/agency career right? Yes, but with reservations. I’m proud of myself for sticking with the major after finding out I would be working seventy-hour weeks and making no money, torturing myself with sleepless nights trying to find the best creative solution for a fake dog bone company, and spending more time at IHOP for campaigns then I ever thought possible. During all of this I think I’ve found a better understanding of myself then I could have with another major. I’ve always known that I have a bleeding heart, and now I want to use it to actually do something that feels significant. I’m using this blog to explore my interest in a very specific niche of advertising and one that is often and unfortunately lost: non-profit advertising and marketing.
Enjoy!
Blog Archive
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▼
2008
(14)
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▼
November
(9)
- Non-Profit Resource List
- Weekly Spotlight: The ONE Campaign
- Weekly Spotlight: Central Asia Institute
- Non-Profit Marketing: Being Charitable to the Charity
- My Radical Truths
- Remember: Be nice to the little guys!
- President Elect Barack Obama and Philanthropy
- Non-Profit Recession Tip List
- Top 10 Non-profits for 2008
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▼
November
(9)
Posts
My Favorite Links
Favorite Quotes
- “The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.” Carl Jung
My Personal Manifesto
If limbo is someplace between heaven and hell, college is the dividing line between childhood and the “real” world. There are no rules, yet no real responsibility in college. Let’s “loosely” say you are ready for responsibility. The first time you can’t afford “those perfect shoes,” you’ll want change your mind, but learning to make sacrifices can only make you stronger.
Work hard; play hard. Repeat.
No more sleeping until 1 o’clock (other than a lazy Saturday). You’ve spent two-years as a part-time waitress working until 4 a.m., sleeping until 8 a.m., attending class, completing schoolwork, and managing a social life. You’ve learned time management, now let’s work on the concept, “the early bird catches the worm”.
You have proven to be an independent individual. You do not need three girlfriends to escort you to the bathroom.
Tell others you disagree, have an opinion, even when other people are listening. Make sure to apologize in front of those same people when you find yourself wrong.
Life is precious and short. Do not fear the future, nor regret the past.
What comes around goes around (both good and bad). Take advantage (while being thankful) of the opportunities and privileges you have been handed in life. One day you will be the one handing out the opportunities and privileges.
Everything starts small, especially careers. Michael Dell washed dishes for his first job. Mariah Carey was a coat check girl before fame. Just remember that laughter and accomplishment, no matter how small, help bring joy even to the worst task.
Good ________… deeds, business, friendship, reputation, health are worth more then money (if you look at it in the right way). This is an important mindset to work toward.
You are not perfect. Mistakes happen. Everyone needs help once in awhile. Perfect is boring. For example: Forrest Gump (play emotionally uplifting music now).
Traveling is extremely important. You do not want to wake up in old age and realize you’ve never seen the world.
You are tougher then you are aware of. You are also extremely patient. Consider the two put together a lethal weapon.
Remember to look people in the eye. Whether striving for sincerity, intimidation or something in between, eye contact is important for successful communication.
Work hard; play hard. Repeat.
No more sleeping until 1 o’clock (other than a lazy Saturday). You’ve spent two-years as a part-time waitress working until 4 a.m., sleeping until 8 a.m., attending class, completing schoolwork, and managing a social life. You’ve learned time management, now let’s work on the concept, “the early bird catches the worm”.
You have proven to be an independent individual. You do not need three girlfriends to escort you to the bathroom.
Tell others you disagree, have an opinion, even when other people are listening. Make sure to apologize in front of those same people when you find yourself wrong.
Life is precious and short. Do not fear the future, nor regret the past.
What comes around goes around (both good and bad). Take advantage (while being thankful) of the opportunities and privileges you have been handed in life. One day you will be the one handing out the opportunities and privileges.
Everything starts small, especially careers. Michael Dell washed dishes for his first job. Mariah Carey was a coat check girl before fame. Just remember that laughter and accomplishment, no matter how small, help bring joy even to the worst task.
Good ________… deeds, business, friendship, reputation, health are worth more then money (if you look at it in the right way). This is an important mindset to work toward.
You are not perfect. Mistakes happen. Everyone needs help once in awhile. Perfect is boring. For example: Forrest Gump (play emotionally uplifting music now).
Traveling is extremely important. You do not want to wake up in old age and realize you’ve never seen the world.
You are tougher then you are aware of. You are also extremely patient. Consider the two put together a lethal weapon.
Remember to look people in the eye. Whether striving for sincerity, intimidation or something in between, eye contact is important for successful communication.
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