1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,440 On today's episode of Life's Next Lesson Plan podcast, I'm joined by Kelly Allen, 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:12,440 a former student of mine who is a writer and editor based in New York City. 3 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:17,360 After graduating high school in 2015, Kelly pursued a professional journalism degree 4 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,720 at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. 5 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,920 Now with six years of post-graduate experience in the media industry, including at House 6 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:32,840 Beautiful, Delish Magazine, and Cosmopolitan, she covers design, culture, and travel, and 7 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:37,800 is here to share her story as well as the hottest tips for networking your way to your 8 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,280 dream job. 9 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,000 Thank you for joining me for another episode. 10 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,520 The goal of my work with Life's Next Lesson Plan podcast, as well as my Live and Learn 11 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:54,240 Patreon, is to create a connection where we are all teachers. 12 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,960 We all have lessons and stories to share that can help others. 13 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,840 I am so fortunate to be able to extend the four walls of my previous classroom to an 14 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,960 unlimited audience, where we can all learn from each other. 15 00:01:06,960 --> 00:01:11,520 And my guests are some of the most inspirational people with the best stories and lessons I 16 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,080 know, which is why I want to share them with you. 17 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,360 Their words are something everyone should hear. 18 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:22,200 It is my hope that you are able to take away something from each episode to apply to your 19 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:28,800 own life, whether that be a career search, a path to a more fulfilling life, or new ideas 20 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:37,960 on current topics. 21 00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:42,600 Today's guest is a former journalism student of mine who has been to some of the coolest 22 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:48,320 places in pop culture, and she's here to share all her tips and tricks with us. 23 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:53,200 When I explain her job to people and show them her work, their response is always the 24 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:54,480 same. 25 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,600 That is the coolest job ever, and how did she get that job? 26 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:03,320 And I will be sure to have a link to her work in the show notes so you can see exactly why 27 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:04,920 that is. 28 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:10,400 With that, I will let Kelly introduce herself and explain all about her work today. 29 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,320 Hi, yes. 30 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,840 So we met in publications class at Homestead High School in Wisconsin. 31 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:23,840 Then after high school, I went on to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to study journalism. 32 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:28,080 Then I moved to New York, and now I work as a writer in New York City. 33 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:33,080 Yeah, I'm personally, I told Kelly, obviously, I've been following her work and everything, 34 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:39,120 but there's like so much in between how you go from Macquan, Wisconsin to New York, and 35 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:43,160 so I'm so excited to have her explain that journey today. 36 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:48,720 But before we get into that, I'm going to have Kelly either share a funny memory from 37 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:54,040 our high school days or a memorable moment from high school because of course that's 38 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:55,800 where we met. 39 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,400 Yes, so I don't remember a whole lot from high school now. 40 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:07,280 My memory is so terrible these days, but I did work on the yearbook, so I remember enjoying 41 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:08,280 doing that. 42 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:14,520 We also went to like a national high school journalism convention in Washington, D.C. 43 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:16,720 in 2014, and I remember enjoying that. 44 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:18,920 I don't remember a lot about these things. 45 00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:25,600 Yeah, that, I think that trip, because I mean I have done like eight or ten of them at this 46 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:29,680 point, but I think that was our biggest crew that we had. 47 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:34,240 It was like 13, it was like 12 girls and one boy. 48 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:40,120 And my sister met us in D.C. to help me out, to help me wrangle everybody. 49 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:45,440 So that was our biggest group, but also to me that was like one of our most meaningful 50 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:51,200 trips because I think our editor of the new, we had a newspaper at the time. 51 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:56,520 I think it was Katie Bandersky, and I think I, she and some other people really wanted 52 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:58,520 to change to a news magazine. 53 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:04,000 And I said, if we win a pacemaker with the newspaper, meaning the biggest award that 54 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:10,040 you can win at these journalism conventions, I'll let you switch to a magazine. 55 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:13,400 And on that trip, we won the pacemaker. 56 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,960 Haven't since, hadn't before. 57 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:20,720 But that was like a super exciting trip, I think. 58 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:26,720 I think also one or two people had to leave to go home because they weren't feeling well, 59 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,960 which had never happened on one of these trips before. 60 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,840 So, but it was definitely a memorable trip and just what a cool place to have a journalism 61 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:36,800 convention in Washington, D.C. 62 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,280 So yeah, I remember that trip as well. 63 00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:47,240 So going back to your high school days, obviously a lot goes into where you want to go to school, 64 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,760 what you think you want to pursue. 65 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:55,200 So can you talk us through your decision making and kind of your path, high school, and then 66 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:56,920 beyond to college? 67 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:03,520 Yes, so I was lucky enough to head into college knowing that I wanted to be in journalism 68 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,320 and specifically to work for a magazine in New York one day. 69 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:12,160 It's funny looking back, I never even considered going to college in New York. 70 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:17,400 I was just like, I'll go to college, get the kind of like, I wanted that big 10 football 71 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,760 type experience because that's kind of what Homestead was like. 72 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,440 So I was like, I'll go to college and then I'll just go to New York after. 73 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,000 And I was like, I feel like it worked out. 74 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:34,320 So I was like, I don't know how common that is because again, I went to college and became 75 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:39,080 a teacher so I don't really know how easy that is to just say, I want to work in New 76 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,600 York and then have it happen. 77 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,480 So you're going to talk us through that a little bit today. 78 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:50,920 And then once you got to college, what are some things that you did there to make this 79 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:51,920 dream come true? 80 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:58,000 Well, I'll also note to one thing before going into that, that actually I applied to Minnesota 81 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,200 and then once I got in, I didn't apply anywhere else. 82 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,160 So I technically only applied there and then I was like, okay, I'm going. 83 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:04,160 Oh, wow. 84 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:05,160 Okay, brave. 85 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,920 I was pretty sure about it. 86 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,280 I liked that like city and like college feel. 87 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:19,080 Okay, but yes, once I was in college, I like knowing what I wanted to do, I basically, 88 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:23,720 so I was specifically obsessed with Cosmo, so I started following some of their editors 89 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:30,160 on Instagram and this was kind of like the heyday, I feel like, of the magazine industry 90 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,640 where like being an editor in New York was very much the vibe. 91 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,680 I don't know from my perspective. 92 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,400 So they're very, you know, active and they still are too. 93 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:43,480 I mean, I guess I am too, active on Instagram. 94 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:47,440 I feel like it was just like a little bit different. 95 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:51,960 So sort of following them, keeping up with their work, I was collecting like any advice 96 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:57,920 that I could about how to get into the industry, whether it was like directly from people or 97 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:04,800 just kind of like aggregating any little pieces of information that I could find from books 98 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:09,440 or like things I've said that I've seen online. 99 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:18,440 And then in college, I majored in professional journalism, I ended up doing three magazine 100 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:26,000 internships in college and I was the president of the university's magazine club. 101 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:32,960 So all of that sort of helped me toward my goal of working for a magazine one day and 102 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:37,240 I also attended a few networking events throughout college. 103 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:44,000 Like when I studied abroad in London, I went to a networking event that was hosted by Cosmo 104 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:49,160 UK and that was really interesting to go to. 105 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,600 A wild experience because I just like showed up alone. 106 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,240 I got on a ticket and I was like there, but it was great. 107 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:56,360 Oh my gosh. 108 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,280 So are these things at Minnesota? 109 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:03,680 Because if you said you did magazine internships and I got to hear about like the London, like 110 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:08,720 how does the college set that up for you? 111 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:14,520 So well for the magazine internships, those were all in Minnesota. 112 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:22,360 Those I basically went off and applied to my own, I believe. 113 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:29,920 I don't really think I had assistance with that necessarily. 114 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,720 So those were just in the city, like downtown Minneapolis. 115 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:34,040 I did those during the summer. 116 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:35,680 One of them was six months long. 117 00:08:35,680 --> 00:08:42,360 So I did like the summer and then fall semester. 118 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:50,440 And then for the London part, studying abroad was through my school, but the internship 119 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,640 that I did there was not like an editorial internship. 120 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,720 It was like a social media internship for a fashion label. 121 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:05,160 So when you were over there, was this part of this Cosmo networking event for the social 122 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,600 media internship or was it you just saw it and you went? 123 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,560 It was literally just something I saw it out on my own and I was like, I want to go to 124 00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:13,560 this. 125 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:14,560 So I went. 126 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:15,560 Oh, that's okay. 127 00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:20,200 So there's a lesson in just like if you see something and you think it will benefit you, 128 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:21,200 just go. 129 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:22,200 Even if you have to go alone. 130 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:23,200 Yeah. 131 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:24,200 I didn't even know. 132 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,040 I probably, I took notes while I was there. 133 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:30,120 So I'm sure there's some advice where I learned from being there, but I don't know if I could 134 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:31,880 necessarily pinpoint anything I got out of it. 135 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,520 I just thought it was an amazing experience and I don't know, got me out of my comfort 136 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:36,520 zone, I guess. 137 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:41,560 And did you have the right outfit picked and packed to go to this event? 138 00:09:41,560 --> 00:09:43,760 I know you're very aesthetic. 139 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:44,760 I think so. 140 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:49,840 I mean, I went to, at the time, there was like a London Fashion Week festival that I went 141 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:51,560 to where I got like some pants. 142 00:09:51,560 --> 00:09:52,560 So I wore those pants. 143 00:09:52,560 --> 00:09:53,560 I'm pretty sure. 144 00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:54,560 I love it. 145 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:59,920 I'm like, I know she like perfectly curated an outfit for this event that she didn't even 146 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:02,560 know she was going to when she went there. 147 00:10:02,560 --> 00:10:03,560 Okay. 148 00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:07,680 So then after your internships, you're getting ready for graduation. 149 00:10:07,680 --> 00:10:09,800 So walk us through that part. 150 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:10,800 Yes. 151 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:17,480 So during like my last semester, I graduated a semester early. 152 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:19,720 So this is like in the fall. 153 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:25,720 I was applying to fellowships and editorial assistants jobs and I was, I came in like 154 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,760 pretty close getting one fellowship that would have been perfect, but then they ended 155 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:35,760 up like not even going through with having that position in the first place. 156 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:39,600 They're like, we'd give it to you if it was still existed, but it doesn't anymore. 157 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:41,400 Like, okay, cool. 158 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:43,200 Oh no. 159 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:48,240 So that kind of, and then for two months after graduation, I was getting a bunch of 160 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,240 interviews, making it to like the third round. 161 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:52,400 So this was pre COVID. 162 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,040 So Zoom interviews weren't really a thing. 163 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:59,720 So I was basically like all my resume, I used using my friend who lives in New Jersey's 164 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:05,200 address pretending that I had already lived here because people at the time, I wanted 165 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:06,880 to hire people who are already in New York. 166 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:10,240 It's just easier to like hire people who are already here, I guess. 167 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:17,800 I don't know if I was really fooling anyone, but I was flying in and got to a point where 168 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:22,160 I was just like, I need to move here and to finish this out. 169 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:23,160 It seems promising. 170 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,240 I just need to like get there and like get something. 171 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,440 So actually the day I moved here, I had, I literally had an inter, like a final round 172 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,960 interview that morning, the morning that I flew here. 173 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:39,560 I like dropped my stuff off at my apartment in Brooklyn and came into the city and I didn't 174 00:11:39,560 --> 00:11:44,840 get that job, but it was still like an interview process, I think. 175 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:50,560 So I think all the experience that you can get is great, right? 176 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:55,640 And so how long after you moved to New York, did it take to land you your first job in 177 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:56,640 New York? 178 00:11:56,640 --> 00:12:00,320 It took two months, which felt like the longest two months of my life. 179 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,560 They were like very hard because I also didn't know anyone in New York. 180 00:12:02,560 --> 00:12:05,080 So I literally moved here just not knowing anyone. 181 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:09,960 So not having any friends, not having a job, it was all kind of piling up and just like 182 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,040 getting stressful. 183 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,960 Yeah, it took two months and I didn't even get a job in editorial. 184 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:22,320 So I got my foot in the door at Hearst. 185 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:26,840 So I got a job in Cosmos fashion closet and that's where I wanted to be anyway, just not 186 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,520 in the exact position. 187 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:34,360 And eventually I did that, end up like writing for Cosmo and staying at Hearst. 188 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,560 So my gosh, you say it so calmly. 189 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:38,560 I think I would. 190 00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:39,560 Yeah. 191 00:12:39,560 --> 00:12:40,560 Wow. 192 00:12:40,560 --> 00:12:46,160 It's just so I want to do this and then you keep plugging away and eventually, you know, 193 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:49,400 little steps at a time, you kind of get there. 194 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,720 And so is that where you've been? 195 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,880 No, you have, you've changed jobs since then. 196 00:12:55,880 --> 00:13:00,720 So yes, I've had a few roles at Hearst, but my entire professional career in New York 197 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:02,400 has been at Hearst so far. 198 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,160 Okay, awesome. 199 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:11,600 So what are some highlights either from your college days or probably more recently your 200 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:12,760 career? 201 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:18,600 Like obviously this is what you wanted to do and you're living an amazing life or at 202 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,560 least that's what it looks like from your portfolio and your Instagram, which I will 203 00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:24,760 share down below. 204 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:28,400 So tell us some of the highlights for you. 205 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:33,280 There are so many highlights honestly, as far as just like the life, so I don't know 206 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:34,960 what things that I get to do. 207 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:40,760 I would say right now I really love interviewing production designers and set decorators who 208 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:47,800 have worked on like big movies and TV shows and seeing so many screenings of these productions 209 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:49,920 before they come out. 210 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:56,200 I'm also good to be a part of the writer's guild of America East because I'm part of 211 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:57,200 the Hearst Union. 212 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:02,320 So like even if I wasn't covering those topics, I would still get access to screeners through 213 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:06,840 that and I do like being part of that like community because it's also made up of, I 214 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:12,000 mean mainly made up of like screenwriters and all that. 215 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,320 So that's been really cool. 216 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,480 Another highlight is definitely traveling. 217 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:27,680 I've stayed in some absolutely insane hotels that I would like never stay in otherwise 218 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:29,880 and I've been to something really cool events. 219 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:36,520 I spent Cicero de Mayo once at Marvis Stewards Bedford estate where I got picked up in a 220 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:43,560 car from my apartment in Driven, went to her house and it was wild. 221 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:44,560 Oh my gosh. 222 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:45,560 Dogs. 223 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:46,560 Did you meet her? 224 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:47,560 At the backyard. 225 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:48,560 Yes, yeah. 226 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:49,560 She's very lovely. 227 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:53,320 I've actually interviewed her a few times too now. 228 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:59,160 You know you're the second person and I have only your like you're my first handful of 229 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:02,520 guests that I've interviewed are the second person who's met Martha Stewart now. 230 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:03,520 Oh my gosh. 231 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:08,040 My first guest, Mr. Engel, who you probably remember from high school. 232 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:09,040 Oh my gosh. 233 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:16,200 He was, I want to say he was in Italy and the tour guide asked him like we have three Americans, 234 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:17,200 could they join your group? 235 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:18,200 Is that okay? 236 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:19,200 And he's like sure, sure. 237 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:21,280 And he turns around and says Martha Stewart. 238 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:22,280 So what the heck? 239 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,320 Why is everybody meeting Martha Stewart? 240 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:26,320 Was this recently? 241 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:27,320 Like over Thanksgiving? 242 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:33,280 I know she was like no, this was, I don't think it was that recent. 243 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:37,560 But it's just so funny how coincidental that you got both of them at her. 244 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:38,560 Yeah, I guess so. 245 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,200 I know some of my favorites are at least my daughter. 246 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:48,560 When I show her these headlines that you get to do or the students in high school, I know 247 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:55,920 a favorite of theirs is you got to tour the summer I turned pretty house, correct? 248 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,560 I never have toured it, but I did write about it. 249 00:15:58,560 --> 00:15:59,560 You wrote about it? 250 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:00,560 Okay. 251 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,800 A house and the sets that were created for that. 252 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:08,000 So how does that work when you do, I know you wrote something about Euphoria, that's 253 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,120 a big favorite of theirs too. 254 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:16,720 So when you are going to these hotels or you're actually going to the site that you're writing 255 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:22,240 about that they just fly you there for so many days and you take notes and pictures, 256 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:23,560 how does that work? 257 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:31,280 Yeah, with hotels specifically, usually the hotel is like hosting a press trip and they'll 258 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:36,640 cover like the flights, the stay obviously and everything. 259 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:43,880 And then there's usually no expense for hospital or like whatever magazine you're working for. 260 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:49,120 Even if you're a freelancer, they'll usually cover everything and then you'll just pitch 261 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:50,920 your stories out to however. 262 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:51,920 Wow. 263 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:55,000 So these assignments that you get, I have so many questions. 264 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:59,720 I know how it works in the pubs room, but these assignments that you get, are you pitching 265 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:01,640 them or are they coming to you? 266 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:03,840 Do you know where you're going to be going? 267 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:04,840 How does that work? 268 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:09,880 I would say it's like a very good mix of it all. 269 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,160 Sometimes I'm pitching them, sometimes I'm asked to go on them. 270 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:18,280 When I went to Italy, that was like a really special case where it was like we sort of 271 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:25,920 worked with a luxury travel PR based in Italy to design our own press trip with House Beautiful 272 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:26,920 and Delish. 273 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:27,920 So it was very small. 274 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:33,440 It was just two people from House Beautiful, two people from Delish and we kind of chose 275 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:37,320 the locations that you wanted to go to and then they set up, set us up to the hotels and 276 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:38,320 everything. 277 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,000 So that was like a special case. 278 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,280 Usually I'll just get like invites in my email all day and like, hey, we're hosting a press 279 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:50,400 trip, like would you be interested in going, I'm covering and then I'll pitch it and then 280 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,160 I'll get approved or not. 281 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:53,160 Wow. 282 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:57,960 And I noticed on some of your articles you're using like stock images, but on others it is 283 00:17:57,960 --> 00:17:59,800 your byline under the photo. 284 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:06,320 So have they trained you for that in your job, the types of images they want you to collect? 285 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,400 There's definitely no training. 286 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:12,640 I mean, I love photography, so I feel like I do a pretty decent job. 287 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:19,040 But when I mix like imagery from a hotel and like my own imagery, it's because usually 288 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:23,840 they get shots that I wouldn't be able to get by myself. 289 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:29,680 Like I would need a drone or something to get like an entire image of like the property. 290 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:34,960 So some of them are just better than like what I could do, but we do prefer like original 291 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:40,240 imagery these days because I think, I think it helps with Google. 292 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:46,080 So do you have any, I mean, I know the way back in high school what, you know, the photo 293 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:51,360 composition techniques that I teach there, but how have you learned, did you learn that 294 00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:54,720 in college how to take good images or you just have an eye for it? 295 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:56,960 You were always a good designer. 296 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:01,680 I mean, I did take a photography class in college. 297 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:07,240 My minor was, it was called an interdisciplinary design minor, which is basically I designed 298 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:15,680 my own design minor, so I took classes in photography, fashion, and graphic design. 299 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:21,520 So I think that that certainly helped me, but I've always been interested in photography 300 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:26,200 from like, even when I was young, my dad used to take like a lot of photos, had a professional 301 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:29,160 camera and everything made home movies and stuff. 302 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:33,560 So I feel like that's kind of where it started and that's like a path. 303 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:35,040 Yeah, that's so cool. 304 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:40,520 So on this journey of yours, obviously you're a huge self-starter and you know how to take 305 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:42,680 advantage of opportunities. 306 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:48,280 Has there been anybody impactful who has helped you along the way as well? 307 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:54,960 Yes, I would say I've been lucky enough to work with a few great editors. 308 00:19:54,960 --> 00:20:00,120 I've learned a lot about the design industry and editorial from Hasbeetha Fulls former 309 00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:02,320 digital director, Hadley Keller. 310 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:07,800 She now works, she only leads editorial at the design leadership network. 311 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:10,960 So that's like a network of interior designers. 312 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:13,360 So she's more entrenched in that space. 313 00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:21,480 She started a quarterly there and they go on a lot of like trips that a bunch of interior 314 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:24,640 designers go on to and I think it's amazing. 315 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:25,640 She's always traveling. 316 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:26,640 Okay, yeah. 317 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:32,480 Say someone, even follow in her footsteps and kind of does she have a great social 318 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:34,280 media to follow as well? 319 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:35,520 Oh, absolutely yes. 320 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:41,040 She's, she always posting and she posts like interiors all the time of the places that 321 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:42,480 she goes and it's incredible. 322 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,800 So it's Hadley Keller, that's her name. 323 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,000 Do you know her handle by chance? 324 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:48,960 I think it might just be Hadley Keller. 325 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:49,960 Okay. 326 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:53,840 Because now I want to follow it and I'm sure some people listening who are into design 327 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:54,840 and stuff. 328 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:56,360 It's just Hadley Keller. 329 00:20:56,360 --> 00:20:57,360 Okay. 330 00:20:57,360 --> 00:20:58,360 Director Corial. 331 00:20:58,360 --> 00:20:59,360 Awesome. 332 00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:00,360 Okay. 333 00:21:00,360 --> 00:21:01,360 Yeah. 334 00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:05,560 It's always fun to see like what other people who have mentored you, like what their work 335 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:07,600 looks like and things like that. 336 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:08,600 Awesome. 337 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:09,600 Okay. 338 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:13,600 We're going to take a little break before we launch into your lesson and so we will 339 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:18,400 be right back. 340 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:23,040 To those of you who have followed me for a while, you know that I value mental and physical 341 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:24,040 wellness. 342 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:28,760 Personally, I've worked with a few different coaches over the years and even been one myself. 343 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:33,800 If you are looking for education and support in your own wellness journey, I would love 344 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:38,320 to invite you to the wellness community I am currently in that keeps me accountable daily 345 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:40,320 with my nutrition and movement. 346 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:46,960 If you are a Facebook user, you can search for our free group called team MG. 347 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:52,840 This group is led by my coach, Megan Grimord, who is a certified trainer and nutrition coach. 348 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:57,160 She offers lots of education and support for your wellness journey. 349 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:01,640 If you want to get to know coach Megan more, you can follow her on Instagram at all lower 350 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:11,640 case Megan M E G A N underscore Grimord G R I M O R D or even listen to her on episode 351 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,120 10 of the podcast. 352 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:17,200 She has also created a discount code for my listeners. 353 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:27,720 Let's go to her website www.team-mg.com and enter code lesson plan 10 to get $10 off any 354 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:31,640 of her premium coaching packages for the first month. 355 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:37,160 Coach Megan is a busy mom like me who works full time, so I appreciate her practicality 356 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:42,480 mixed with some tough love to keep me going. 357 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:49,760 So we are ready for the lesson part of today's podcast and I'm super excited to hear what 358 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:55,040 Kelly has in store for us because again, like all my former students have way cooler jobs 359 00:22:55,040 --> 00:23:00,960 than I do and the job market has changed so much since I was in it over 30 years ago 360 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:05,920 and I think all of their advice is so fascinating in today's world. 361 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,200 So Kelly, we are ready for your lesson. 362 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:14,320 I've learned that networking might not always get your foot in the door, but it will help 363 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,280 repel your career once you're inside. 364 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,880 So when I'm first moved to New York, I was networking. 365 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:25,960 I was meeting with a few editors at different media companies. 366 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:31,560 But the job that I eventually got, I don't want to call it luck, but I don't think networking 367 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:35,760 like networking didn't help me get my foot in the door. 368 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:39,600 But once I did get my foot in the door, it did. 369 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:47,320 So when I was working as an assistant in Cosmos fashion closet, that was a temporary gig. 370 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:58,840 So it was a six month contract position and I was on a photo shoot one day that had Cosmo 371 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,640 editors in the photo shoot. 372 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:06,000 So I was assisting on that and I took that as an opportunity to reach out to one of them 373 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,080 afterward and be like, hey, would you want to grab coffee? 374 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:13,720 I'd love to like chat about your job, learn more about what you do. 375 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:21,880 So I had coffee with one of those girls and she really kind of took a chance on me. 376 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:28,880 Like a piece of advice that she gave to me was to just reach out to people and see if 377 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:34,000 they need help on your team or kind of neighboring teams. 378 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:39,000 And I used that advice directly on her and I emailed her afterward and I was like, hey, 379 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:43,400 like if you need any help with anything, let me know. 380 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:49,760 And that's how I got started freelancing for Cosmos Entertainment team, writing SEO stories. 381 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:56,240 So I honestly don't even know if she had read any of my work prior to like being like, yes, 382 00:24:56,240 --> 00:25:02,240 we can write this story, but I'm very grateful that she allowed me to do that. 383 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:10,640 And I was able to start writing for them and then I think that helped me get my next job 384 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:11,640 at Hearst. 385 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:18,600 So when you started, did you start in contract or short term positions or did you start in 386 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,120 a permanent position right away? 387 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:25,720 So it's called a permanent answer. 388 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:28,800 It's technically a contract position, but it's full time. 389 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:34,520 So like 40 hours a week, every day, whatever. 390 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:37,920 So it was a contractor, but full time. 391 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:42,280 I did that for like the first two years I worked at Hearst. 392 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:44,640 So I was getting paid minimum wage. 393 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:46,000 I've never heard that term. 394 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,600 I just learned something, permanent answer. 395 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:52,560 It is very common, especially at my company. 396 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:53,560 Okay. 397 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:54,560 Interesting. 398 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:56,200 I've heard that. 399 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,760 A trap, but it's fine. 400 00:25:58,760 --> 00:25:59,760 Okay. 401 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:03,800 And then that kind of led you to different position. 402 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:04,800 Yes. 403 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:05,800 Okay. 404 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:06,800 Awesome. 405 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:10,600 And also the story you just told, I don't know, hopefully this doesn't embarrass you 406 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:12,360 and we can cut it out if it does. 407 00:26:12,360 --> 00:26:15,000 But in high school, you were quieter, right? 408 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:16,000 Yeah. 409 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:17,000 Would you agree? 410 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:18,000 Okay. 411 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,680 I'm trying to imagine Kelly Allen from high school. 412 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,200 Like I think you're more outgoing when you're comfortable. 413 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,880 Maybe that's what it is or you're so driven. 414 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:28,840 Obviously, you had like a very specific goal. 415 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:34,240 I'm trying to imagine you asking this lady out for coffee. 416 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:36,840 Like was that, were you nervous? 417 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:40,840 Is that something that you've gotten better at just because you were so driven? 418 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,280 Well, that specifically I emailed her. 419 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:44,280 Oh, okay. 420 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:45,280 Okay. 421 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:47,160 I thought you went up to her like at the shoot. 422 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,160 I am definitely way less shy than I used to be in high school. 423 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:52,840 I'm still like more reserved, I would say. 424 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,120 I mean, but I'm interviewing people all the time. 425 00:26:55,120 --> 00:26:57,280 So I'm like, I definitely come a decent way. 426 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:02,960 I suppose, yeah, because even when I say to students on the first day of beginning journalism, 427 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:08,400 I'm like, this isn't the kind of class where you read a novel and you write an essay for 428 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:09,880 your teacher. 429 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:15,080 You have to, in order to even get your assignment done, you have to talk to other people in 430 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:18,440 the building who you might not know on a deadline. 431 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:22,800 And if that is not for you, this year I had one girl literally stand up and walk out. 432 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:27,720 I was like, okay, I'm just saying like this, this is that type of class. 433 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:32,360 And even when we're a month in, I'll get students who are like, oh, I don't want to talk, I 434 00:27:32,360 --> 00:27:33,360 don't want to talk to somebody. 435 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:37,760 And I'm like, okay, but this is what the class is. 436 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:40,360 So it's just funny remembering. 437 00:27:40,360 --> 00:27:44,760 And I think I'm trying to remember what year you started journalism, wasn't it later? 438 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:48,560 I have some who start freshman year, sophomore year, I want to say for you, it was junior 439 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:49,560 year. 440 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:50,560 Oh, oh, was it? 441 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:52,560 Or maybe it was sophomore year. 442 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:57,840 I'm definitely not freshman because I think my like English teacher at the time told me 443 00:27:57,840 --> 00:27:58,840 to join you. 444 00:27:58,840 --> 00:27:59,840 Okay. 445 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:03,480 I don't, I feel like it was sophomore maybe, but. 446 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:05,840 And you worked your way up to an editor position. 447 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:07,440 So you were in it for a while. 448 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,560 You were one of those kind of quiet, it's, it's funny. 449 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:13,440 Like you have the more outgoing leader, right? 450 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:14,840 Who makes themselves known. 451 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:18,760 And then you have someone who quietly produces amazing work. 452 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:23,240 And then I will normally reach out to that type of student because they're quieter. 453 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:24,720 And that was definitely you. 454 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,760 Yeah, I guess I had some louder editors. 455 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:33,000 Who will probably show up on this podcast. 456 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:36,960 I'll say it's possible to get out of it. 457 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:40,240 Like if you really like the work and just keep doing it. 458 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:46,160 I mean, I still get nervous before interviews, especially with like production designers. 459 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:49,680 I recently interviewed like the creator of a TV series on Netflix, which was my first 460 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,120 time interviewing a creator. 461 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:52,920 So that was like nerve wracking. 462 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:56,520 I learned from that experience. 463 00:28:56,520 --> 00:29:00,400 Sometimes I can be awkward, but it's like whatever life goes on, but it's for the story. 464 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:01,400 So the story will be great. 465 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:02,400 Yeah. 466 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:06,480 I think in just looking at your work, it's like, it's so cool that you like push through 467 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:10,160 any nerves and like you just put yourself out there. 468 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:16,240 So you've shared obviously successful examples of networking that you've had. 469 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:20,480 Have you had any, I mean, I think everybody has situations where they're like, okay, 470 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:21,480 that didn't go so well. 471 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:25,880 Here's what I would do differently. 472 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:27,720 Not necessarily. 473 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:35,360 I think the networking that I did before I had a job in New York, they were good meetings. 474 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:42,120 But like nothing came of them and I think it was really on them to like, I don't know, 475 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:44,160 get me this random person a job. 476 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:49,840 But like, so I was like slightly unsuccessful, but not in the sense that like nothing went 477 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:50,840 wrong. 478 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:52,400 It was just like nothing came of it. 479 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:53,400 Okay. 480 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:54,400 That makes sense. 481 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:55,400 Sure. 482 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:56,400 Yeah. 483 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:57,400 For sure. 484 00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:58,400 Okay. 485 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:03,600 So for our action steps today or our homework, if people want to apply this to their own 486 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:08,880 lives, we've created a little kind of step by step sheet depending on where people are 487 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:10,760 in their journey. 488 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:15,800 If they want to do like hit the ground running, doing some networking, they're not quite in 489 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:16,800 a position yet. 490 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:19,680 We have some steps that they could apply. 491 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:24,840 And then if they are already in a position and they kind of want to network their way 492 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:30,080 to a different position, I think you have a lot of great advice for that. 493 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:37,080 But if they wanted to just tomorrow maybe apply some action steps to their life, what 494 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:44,440 are some easy kind of next day tips that we could let them leave this episode with? 495 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:51,400 Well, obvious one would be just like creating or updating your LinkedIn profile. 496 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:59,160 I think an easy way like signing up for like a networking industry event is an easy way 497 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:04,800 to get in the space without doing a one-on-one conversation and hoping that someone, like 498 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:06,360 some people won't respond to you. 499 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:07,360 And I get that. 500 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:09,040 I've been on both sides of it. 501 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:15,240 I think sometimes it's hard to tell to who's serious when they're reaching out. 502 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:18,240 And sometimes people reach out and it doesn't make any sense. 503 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:20,520 Like why are you asking me? 504 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:25,080 Like just because I work at this company doesn't mean what you applied to has anything to do. 505 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:27,240 Like I wouldn't know anything about it. 506 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:32,960 So yeah, I think like an industry event or networking event would be an easy way. 507 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:40,760 Like grab a friend if you don't want to go alone and reach out to people in your existing 508 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:41,760 network too. 509 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:42,760 That can help. 510 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:49,160 I know you mentioned earlier in the episode that because you knew you wanted to work at 511 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,520 Cosmo, you started following some of the editors. 512 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:55,200 Do you think that that helped at all? 513 00:31:55,200 --> 00:32:03,920 I like to think so because I mean when I got my job at Delish and how it's beautiful as 514 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:09,480 an assistant, one of the editors who I'd followed for a really long time was like the hiring 515 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:10,480 for that role. 516 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,400 She was like the first round interview person. 517 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:19,800 And I like to think that maybe she's recognized me in her comments or wherever. 518 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:20,800 Maybe she didn't. 519 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:26,400 But I don't know, I think it just helped even just watching and learning subconsciously 520 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:28,520 from what they were doing. 521 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:29,520 Right. 522 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:30,520 It doesn't hurt. 523 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:35,600 But by osmosis, as you're saying, you never know how it seeped into your subconscious 524 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:37,520 and helped you out grow as well. 525 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:38,520 Yeah. 526 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:39,520 Okay. 527 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:42,520 Any other advice? 528 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:48,640 Following up to something that I recently met with an editor at Cosmo. 529 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:56,240 And a piece of advice that she gave me was to follow up like every six months to just 530 00:32:56,240 --> 00:33:00,840 check in and be like, hey, I saw what you're working on. 531 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:01,840 This looks exciting. 532 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:03,520 Here's what I'm working on. 533 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:04,920 Help you well. 534 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:08,480 And have it be something that they don't have to take an action for. 535 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:11,520 And they can just be like respond and be like, thank you. 536 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:13,720 Like hope you're great or whatever. 537 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:15,720 Because so many people get so many emails. 538 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:16,720 So it's nice. 539 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:20,320 Just kind of have an email that's not like they don't have to do anything. 540 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:21,320 Yeah. 541 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:25,160 And I think it puts your name kind of back on their radar too. 542 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:26,160 Yeah. 543 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:27,560 In fact, I'm going to give this advice. 544 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:34,640 I had some younger journalists where I had someone reach out to me who was a former student, 545 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:35,720 not even of mine. 546 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:39,040 She I knew her when I lived in Macquan. 547 00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:44,720 She actually married one of the neighbor boys in my neighborhood, but she was in journalism. 548 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:50,720 Got with the teacher previous to me and is actually a freelance journalist now. 549 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:53,040 And she is starting a nonprofit. 550 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:55,480 I'll have her on in a future episode. 551 00:33:55,480 --> 00:34:01,120 But she reached out because she was creating an event at our school and she wanted to know 552 00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:05,960 if I had any journalists who would be interested in covering the event in different ways. 553 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:08,600 And three girls were interested in doing that. 554 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,640 And this was an event at the end of December. 555 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:16,640 And they each had a different role and worked with her who's, you know, she's a professional 556 00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:21,080 journalist and I'll recommend what you're saying to them. 557 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:25,200 Like they did complete work for her and they followed up, but, you know, down the road 558 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:29,280 because she's going to be looking for volunteers and beginning journalists. 559 00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:36,800 And I'll remind them to maybe put in their calendars to reach out to her again because 560 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:38,240 you just never know, right? 561 00:34:38,240 --> 00:34:44,840 Like what they did with her at this event is part of their portfolio and it's resume 562 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:47,280 building as they told them it's great experience. 563 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:51,960 I know they really enjoyed it, but like you have said in this episode, you just never know 564 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:56,320 down the road how that might come into play. 565 00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:59,520 Well I appreciate all of your awesome helpful tips today. 566 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:03,960 Kelly and I know there are people out there who are going to find this really helpful. 567 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:10,000 And if nothing else fascinating like I always do, so I appreciate your time today. 568 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:16,920 Is there any exciting trips you have coming up or projects that you're working on? 569 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:24,200 Yes, I am going to Mexico in two weeks for a press trip in the Ramiya. 570 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:29,680 So I'm very excited about that to escape the New York cold because it's freezing here. 571 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:32,040 Can you share with us what you'll be doing there? 572 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:34,960 What is that tap secret? 573 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:35,960 I think I can share. 574 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:43,360 I mean I'm going to stay at the Rosewood Maya Coba and visiting for, they're actually having 575 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:47,480 like an arts and culture, like they have an annual arts and culture celebration there. 576 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:50,600 So that's what the press trip is for. 577 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:56,480 What I'm going to check it out because we're working on a best hotels package. 578 00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:00,120 So we're considering it as for that. 579 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:01,120 Very cool. 580 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:02,120 So what is your process? 581 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:05,320 I didn't ask you this previously but I know you'll have an answer. 582 00:36:05,320 --> 00:36:07,880 What's your process for like packing? 583 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:11,680 How will you pick outfits or is it not necessarily about that? 584 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:13,680 It's just about gathering good content. 585 00:36:13,680 --> 00:36:18,840 Well, it's definitely not about that but I do enjoy that and I have nice and cute my 586 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:20,840 floor right now actually. 587 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:23,040 I do like have a packing list already. 588 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:24,040 Okay. 589 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:27,520 In my mind everything I am like prepared. 590 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:31,280 I knew you would because you're just organized like that. 591 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:38,120 So you are living out your dream that you set for yourself early on before any of this 592 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:43,760 came to fruition and how is your reality living up to your dream? 593 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:46,920 You're in New York, you're doing the thing. 594 00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:52,040 How is it living up to everything you had set out in your mind? 595 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:53,240 It has been incredible. 596 00:36:53,240 --> 00:36:57,440 I still fully like I can't fully comprehend the life that I'm living. 597 00:36:57,440 --> 00:37:01,600 It's been pretty much like a six year long pinch me moment. 598 00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:03,800 Yeah, that is awesome. 599 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:10,120 Well I'm going to put your Instagram obviously and your portfolio in the show notes and so 600 00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:16,920 I'll apologize right away if you get any sort of groupies or maybe there is someone who 601 00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:22,480 liked your advice and maybe just would like to connect with you a little bit more outside 602 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:28,280 of this episode but I appreciate you being on and sharing all your wisdom and your fascinating 603 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:29,720 life with us today. 604 00:37:29,720 --> 00:37:33,520 Of course, happy to do so. 605 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:38,200 Thank you for joining us for this week's episode of Life's Next Lesson Plan. 606 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:43,080 Whether you're charting a new course, guiding someone else or pursuing a lifelong dream, 607 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:49,200 I hope Kelly's story inspires you to manifest those dreams and put yourself out there. 608 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:54,240 If you're looking for more lessons and more personal content, join my live and learn patreon 609 00:37:54,240 --> 00:37:56,640 for $5 a month. 610 00:37:56,640 --> 00:38:01,640 There I share more in depth content and lesson plans that you can subscribe to or purchase 611 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:05,080 individually if the topic interests you. 612 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:10,360 Be sure to follow Life's Next Lesson Plan on Instagram, Facebook, Apple Podcasts, YouTube 613 00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:12,120 and Spotify. 614 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:14,880 Have a guest idea or topic you'd like covered? 615 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:15,880 Reach out. 616 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:16,880 We'd love to hear from you. 617 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:20,720 I can't wait to be back with you next week for another episode.