OLSON--Week4

Good morning, and welcome to week four!

This week, I have to say, I honestly took my own advice (see tip of the week last week) and did not allow myself to be afraid of failing. Would you like to know what that does? It allows you to live in freedom!! It does not make everything peachy and perfect, but it certainly does create an environment within which you can experience the joys of learning much more easily.

I was able to be at radio recording sessions for three days last week. As before, it was a neat experience. This time I was able to see it start to finish, which means that I am better prepared to do it on my own one day. It was a ton of fun watching everyone play the (highly valuable) roles they have in the process. To sit in a room with a radio mixer, a production guy, a creative guy, and an account services individual throughout this entire process was a great learning experience. If you get a chance, drive somewhere where you can hear radio spots for Fifth Third Bank. They are hilarious! Props to the writers; props to the voice talent (big time)!

Non-work related tip of the week: Try the spinach salad (smoked apple, brie, pecans, and a great vinaigrette) from Be"Witched" in Minneapolis. We got it for lunch one day at the recording studio and it was phenomenal!

This week, I noticed things clicking more in terms of how everything fits together in the role of an account executive. If you work at OLSON, are an account executive, and are reading this, this will be nothing to you (because you have already mastered this art). However, for the rest of the world: I received 100 e-mails and sent 50 on Wednesday. 100. 50. Wow! I am told that this is nothing. Thankfully, I am finally grasping what it is I am to do with all of this new information I need to process and compartmentalize in my mind so that I can properly evaluate and react (if applicable) to each one of these highly important pieces of information flying around at the speed of mack 22.

I think I will continue to have a tip of the week, just because it is fun, and because I can. Also, it will be a neat way to look back at the end of the summer and see some of the highlights of my learning experience (tucked up nicely into sentence-long pieces of beautiful wisdom).

TIP OF THE WEEK: Never cease making friends and having fun at work!

Don't worry, I have a story. I'll also try to hook you up with at least one fun story for the week, just to keep things interesting (Lord knows OLSON is anything but boring, and I wouldn't have it any other way)!

I was sitting at my desk on Friday afternoon, getting ready to go to a meeting in a few minutes, when I heard a question being asked a few desk spaces away (just close enough that I could hear it perfectly, but far enough away that I could not see who was saying it). This was the question: "What is the difference between 'began' and begun?'" Now, let me make something clear. Every single OLSONite I have met is incredibly bright. However, we all have more learning/refreshing to do throughout life. Good thing, too. Otherwise, life would be pretty boring, don't you think? Learning is the best part of life, in my opinion!

Anyway, getting back to the story. This question was asked. Seeing as I had about three minutes before I needed to pack up my laptop and notepad to head off to a meeting (did I mention that each meeting room is marked by a lettered/numbered dodgeball?), I thought about the question. Although I majored in "Get Every Written Piece of Work Critiqued Until It Can Be Critiqued No More" (also known as Public Relations), I realized that I was not solid on that rule of grammar either. So, being the curious, hungry-to-learn, and Google-loving individual that I am, I Googled it.

I then walked over to see who it was who had asked. Thankfully, I knew one of the two having the conversation. I did not, however, know the one who had posed the question. So, answer in mind, I brought it up with the guy I knew (and introduced myself to the one I did not), and cleared the air on the epic grammatical dilemma known as "began vs. begun." Moral of the story? If you run across something you do not know, and have the resources and ability to check it out (and it doesn't take you away from current responsibilities), check it out! I did, and look at where it got me: a greater understanding of an epic dilemma, a new friend, and four "intern Points!" What could be better? If you are a fellow O-tern reading this, do not worry, you have not missed out on an official score-keeping method of the O-tern program. These points were made up on the spot, but, nonetheless, posses incredible value. So, don't worry, you're not missing out. (But I am winning...just saying.) :)

Well, now that you have sat through the insights (ramblings) of an O-tern for week four of her epic adventure at OLSON, you may rest and be at peace knowing that another week was well spent, and another tip well learned. Remember kids, never cease making friends and having fun at work!