Brianne Garcia's Internet Home

Dear 2013: I’m Scared of You, and I Like It

I honestly don’t have much to say about 2012 because it was a year filled with utter chaos, and I blogged about most of it, so no need for a flowery, lengthy re-hash. As a refresher (to myself as much as for anyone remotely interested):

I graduated Graduate school with a Big Fancy Master’s Degree (which apparently doesn’t mean much),
noticed the rise of Style over Fashion and decided to try and start a new company, Parceld, in that space.
I entered an incubator program, got some funding and used it to recruit a team and build a web product.
It didn’t work out.
So I started looking for a job, and THAT SUCKED.
I wrote an open cover letter to potential employers, and the response was intense, immediate and amazing. In fact, it actually landed me 8 job interviews, which BLEW MY MIND!
I took a position with Complex Media helping to launch their new Branded Content department. So far, I AM SUPER INTO IT.
Skillcrush, an awesome company out of the same incubator program, asked me to blog about How I Hacked The Job Hunt. The response to that was ALSO overwhelming and made me realize I need to blog more.

So that’s that. I got excited about something, I researched the shit out of it, I attempted success, and I failed.

But now I am learning a ridiculous amount about how ads are packaged, structured and sold, how to dive deep into e-commerce data to see what kind of content drives conversions, how much money (a LOT) big corporations are able to spend on tweets and new campaigns, working with mostly men on both the editorial AND marketing and advertising side of a media company, and I could go on. I feel lucky to be able to learn as much as I am. I feel like I’m in on a secret, and I want to tell everyone “YO! Can you believe what I get to see everyday?” But I’m pretty sure everyone would Kanye shrug and go about their business.

With that said, I honestly have NO IDEA what 2013 will bring. I kind of feel like I’m venturing into a dark forest with just a backpack and a flashlight, and instead of being scared shitless, I need to embrace the ambiguity and keep my eyes peeled for new opportunities, lurking in odd places.

I had a list of “resolutions” / goals for 2013, but they’re more simply goals or things I think will make me a better person. Those were:

Remember who you are
Invent the life you want
Blog more
Go to at least one design or UX workshop / lesson a month
READ MORE FICTION
Make stuff with your hands
Lend your skills to causes

But if you’re really into resolutions, this might of interest to you. And lastly, thank you to anyone who ever reads anything I write here. I’m amazed people are interested at all in what I have to say. Also, I would LOVE suggestions on possible topics of discussion for 20-seomethings and 30-somethings who are curious about the world and looking for new adventures in their careers, personal lives and/or entrepreneurial ambitions.

(And if you’re interested in getting a nice daily dose of reading tidbits and inspiration in your inbox, my good friend has an email newsletter that I highly recommend. The title should lure you in).

I don’t know what else to say other than HAPPY NEW YEAR…and go get ‘em.