In the past not a single post could escape my personality but hardly any have told you what is going on in my life, offline. Currently this new blog is in creation and an appended update will soon follow at the end of this post where if you are interested, you are welcome to join me in the discussion. The site you are on now will continue to be the epicenter for my advertising/marketing related posts and you are always welcome to visit my side project blogs:

DANIdotNOAH [Relevant and interesting articles, videos and pictures from my daily readings]

Boys with Bowties [We all have our types, originally created because of a youtube video but has morphed into a compilation of the male prep scene]

Not In A Million [Names are removed to protect the innocent but no bad pick up line can go unnoticed.]

**Update**

You can now find this personal blog at http://andbubblegum.blogspot.com/

This meant that I needed to find a new “One thing”. My sister, who is always willing to help especially if it includes putting myself in awkward situations, recommended pilates. I have done yoga before and although I was nervous for the pilates class I figured my flexibility and love for fitted workout pants meant I would be amazing at this.

I was wrong.

Yes, I said it… I was wrong. Ashley, my sister, had the best core workout in the class because she was laughing the entire time as I tried to figure out what the heck the instructor was telling me what to do. I felt like Chelsea Handler in the sketches she does for her show where she is doing Yoga or S Factor. [Insert funny clip that youtube pulled off site because of violation, boo!]

In the end, I came… I saw… I con-won’t be coming back!

Other wins for the month include:

• First post grad job interviews
• Experiencing and falling in love with Portland’s food cart scene

My five strengths are: Ideation, Positivity, Activator , Belief, Connectedness

Ideation: People who are especially talented in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.

Instinctively, you occasionally feel a need to update, upgrade, or renovate. Perhaps few things please you more than devising original tactics, inventing new processes, designing useful tools, or proposing innovative solutions. You are fascinated by ideas. You are delighted when you discover beneath the complex surface an elegantly simple concept to explain why things are the way they are. You revel in taking the world we all know and turning it around so we can view it from a strange but strangely enlightening angle.

• Seek a career in which you will be given credit for and paid for your ideas, such as marketing, advertising, journalism or new product design.
• You are likely to get bored quickly, so make some small changes in your work or home life. Experiment. Play mental games with yourself. All of these will help to keep you stimulated.
• You are a natural fit with research and development; you appreciate the mindset of visionaries and dreamers. Spend time with imaginative peers.

Positivity: People who are especially talented in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious.

You are generous with praise, quick to smile, and always on the lookout for positive in the situation. You find ways to make everything more exciting and more vital. Somehow you can’t quite escape your conviction that it is good to be alive, that work can be fun, and that no matter what the setbacks, one must never lose one’s sense of humor.

• You will probably excel in any role in which you are paid to highlight the positive.
• You tend to be more energetic and enthusiastic than most people. When others become discouraged or are reluctant to take risks, your attitude will provide impetus to keep them moving.
• Never underestimate the effect that you cab have on people.

Activator: People who are especially talented in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action.

“When can we start?” This is a recurring question in your life. Only action makes things happen. Only action leads to performance. You know you will be judged not by what you say, not by what you think, but by what you get done. This does not frighten you. It pleases you.

• Seek work in which you can make decisions and act on them.
• You can transform innovative ideas into immediate action.

Belief: People who are especially talented in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life.

You have certain core values that are enduring. These values vary from one person to another. They give your life meaning and satisfaction; in your view success is more than money and prestige.

Connectedness: People who are especially talented in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.

Driven by your talents, you are genuinely fascinated with the mystery of life.

My Childhood

• My elementary school happened to be in the same building as my dad’s work which meant that after school ended I could go to his office until he was done at work instead of the dreaded daycare. I had a small posse that were in similar situations and we would always get together to play. One of our rooms we hung out in was right next to the building entrance and reception area and the door was so heavy that whenever we would enter or exit it would slam with an echo throughout the entire building. I had the brilliant idea to climb out of the window instead since we were on the first floor and be more considerate of others. So we did, we climbed in and out with no problem… we were as quiet as a mouse. During my turn to climb out one of the daycare teachers happened to be walking by and not only railed into me for being “bad” but went and told my dad. I, of course, got into big trouble but I still stand by my solution and am quite proud for being conscious of the issue and finding a unique way to elimate the initial problem.
• Other wins: 1^st place in the regional poem recital contest in 2^nd grade, excelled at all math contests like around the world.

My Youth

• In highschool I started a club called “Girls Standing Strong” where Juniors and Seniors would mentor JR High girls. Before we launched we had a retreat weekend in San Francisco to bond and learn more about ourselves. In my head I had an idea of what I wanted this weekend to look like so I took my poor mother to every hotel in San Francisco until I found the perfect spot and then negotiated until prices matched my budget. I even compiled scholarships so every mentor could attend.
• Other wins: Always standing up for underdog, ASB Entertainment Director and bringing in the largest crowds to events

My Adulthood (and still going…)

• After traveling to Ethiopia with Streams of Life International, we were to do a trip recap for all of our non-profit givers. (Large room / roughly 300 people) I had already secured that I would not be speaking and only had to stand up when our portion was talked about to look pretty. But once all the speakers were done the feeling were a bit dry and unmoving. So I had a one second warning in a side glance from SOLI’s founder, Ashley, before I was announced and handed a microphone. Unprepared I talked about starting the trip as the photographer and seeing the experience behind my lens but as I was keeping everything at arms length I was taken away from camera and put on the front line doing patient intake for the clinic with a translator. One after one, I met people with bugs in the brain (a headache), pain in the chest (bullet wound with bullet still in chest), and a new mother bleeding from childbirth but too afraid to go to the hospital. My heartbreak resonated with the audience and Ashley was grateful for life to come back to the trip.
• Other wins: Setting the curve in my upper division marketing class, decorating my apartment creatively and cheaply

The next step was to analyze my moments of success and pull out important strengths. What I found was:

• Take risks
• Evoke emotion
• Thinks quickly and outside of the box
• Motivates others to action
• Optimize
• Find solutions

Then I took it a bit further and brought in some fresh eyes and someone who has had experience working with me and we came up with:

Visualize a different future >> Take something & make it fresh >> Optimize potential

I definitely recommend reading this book and taking the time to find your sweet spot. My next blog is all about another book I read and finding my strengths followed by what I think it all means.

I am a self-assured person but after talking about myself for hours I start to wonder, “wait, am I that?” I have dived into some books recommended by friends and family to help me define my areas of strengths and where I can really contribute. This week on my blog might read like a self help book but I am very excited about what I am learning and discovering. My hope is that you can learn a little more about me and also be encouraged to learn more about you as well!

A coffeeshop

A bookstore

A music venue

I spend more time than I will ever admit working, pretending to work, people watching, pretending to work while people watching, enjoying coffee, postponing work to enjoy coffee at a coffeeshop. It is my “haven.” Although San Francisco has its share of great coffee spots, San Jose was a bit lacking. I called home to only two places and served very different needs. But now I am here, in the land of coffee houses. I took it to my twitter page to find out what coffeeshops I must experience before calling one home.

Initially the idea was to:

Try one coffeeshop a week…

Visiting it at least twice…

On both occasions having the basic non fat cappuccino…

Once to go, Once to stay…

My reasoning for this was because the cappuccino is one of the most basic coffee drinks and one of the most often made incorrectly. The balance of coffee, milk and foam needs to be precises and I am a self proclaimed expert. Just ask my mom.

Like I said, I took this to twitter then compiled my list in a Google Excel Doc. With nearly 30 places submitted I knew this idea of one per week would have to be squandered. So here I am, with a list of coffeeshops that I need to get through… Unfortunately, I think I found my favorite during week one but a challenge is a challenge. No calling one home until I’ve tested them all.

Wish me luck!

Coffeeshop  –  Recommended by

• Albina Press (N) — @brittontaylor
• Albina Press (SE) –  @jacobgrier
• Ava Roasteria  –  @jamespolits
• Barista  -  @brookelynnNY
• Baristadors  –  yelp
• Beveland Coffee  –  @rnoah
• Blend  –  yelp
• Capital Coffee  –  @jamespolits
• Cartola  –  @jerryketel
• Coffeetime  –  @verymickey
• Fresh Pot  –  @evoldog
• Heart  –  @jacobgrier
• Insomnia  –  @torriejae
• James John Cafe  –  @evoldog
• Jazz Cat  –  @rnoah
• Kens  –  @verymickey
• Kettleman’s  –  @verymickey
• Manhattan Cafe  –  @calebbryant
• Metro Perc  –  @jamespolits
• Mississippi  –  @evoldog
• NW Coffee  –  @verymickey
• Red E Cafe  –  @jacobgrier
• Spella  –  yelp
• Stumptown  –  @rnoah
• Three Friends Coffee  –  yelp
• Urban Grind  –  @torriejae
• Vivace   –  @torriejae

If you want to add more to my coffee list or join me in a cup of cappuccino, just @ message on twitter @danidotnoah!

• Moved myself to Oregon. No family to help, no friends to bribe, just myself and some movers.
• Made the epically long drive from San Jose to Portland in one sitting by myself.
• Learned how to play Texas Hold ‘Em Poker by a professional player. I was a bit disappointed by my poker face (I had such high hopes in it) and I cheated but it was a lot of fun!
• Just Say Yes February: This was actually what my planned “One Thing A Month I’ve Never Done Before” and the most silly and interesting. For February, any young man who asked me out on a date received a yes. Big or small, weird or cool, I gave it a go. I went on 5 dates and had to cancel 2 because of the move which took longer than expected.

I am SO excited for March, I already have my “One Thing” planned but I am open for more suggestions! Feel free to send ideas in my comments or email to info (at) daniellenoah (dot) com.

The moving experience from California to Oregon was… traumatizing, to say the least. Between the 11 hour drive, movers from hell and saying goodbye to my 9 years in California I am a bit worn out. The good news is I have made it to Portland, my furniture is some where between the Silicon Valley and the Silicon Forest and the weather is absolutely beautiful it still feels like I am living in San Jose.

To keep with my transition theme I am reworking my online presence as well. Between my main homepage, photography and design pages they are all being revamped and prettied. Also, this blog (the one you are reading right now) won’t be updated daily like prior to the move. Instead I am going to be shooting for multiple times a week and pushing the smaller posts to my tumblr account (danidotnoah.tumblr.com). Tumblr allows me to quickly reblog my favorite posts from all of my blogs that I subscribe to on google reader and is a lot easier than transfering it and making it look nice for here. Instead, this blog is going to be strictly my words and thoughts. Of course I will recommend you follow both but as long as you are connected to my twitter (@danidotnoah) you should get a reminder of updates.

Outside of online, I am still on the search for a full time brilliant job. I am looking for account management opportunities within advertising agencies or brand management within businesses. In the meantime I am fine tuning my skillset and networking whenever possible.

I can’t wait to share about some exciting events I have been apart of  recently and continue to update you as I go from in transition to settled. Portland is a welcome change regardless of being unable to pump my own gas!

As many of you know, my ultimate dream is to be apart of a stellar advertising agency…to be specific, I want to be a contributing part of that agency. I am willing to start in the mail room if that means getting my foot in the door but I might pull a Michael J Fox in The Secret to my Succe$s and take over an executive’s office.

It is easy to get comfortable in the life you live. For someone so young I have been able to live quite a posh life. But life is a little more fun when living in the uncertain. (Also a bit more stressful, but I am trying to be optimistic here!) I am wanting and needing a challenge.  So I am packing up and driving Club Rav up to Oregon.

I have no job… which means I have no money.

I will be crashing at my parent’s house… which means I will have a mild social life.

But I do have an amazing family, my dog Jake, time to look for a job and some killer shoes to boot.

I have decided to live with gracious uncertainty.

For those that I am leaving, thank you for making my home a home. The only thing I am sad to leave behind is you. Which is why I am as frequently looking for jobs for you as I am myself. I can confidently say that our adventure isn’t over, it is merely expanding territory.

For those that I am joining, if I become grumpy feed me red velvet cake and all will be well. Everything else is relative.

For my followers, if you so much as touch my foursquare mayorships I will fly down there and break not only your kneecaps but every bone in your hands… and there are a lot! You think Chuck Norris is tough? He hasn’t met me yet!

For my future followers, game on.

Peace, Love & Bubblegum

Danidot

PS. As this transition takes place, this blog will be taking a short hiatus. If you are miserable without me, which I completely understand, please find ways to connect on the right hand panel towards the top. You may also follow my mini blog at http://danidotnoah.tumblr.com/

January was full of many firsts, most revolving around New York.

• FINALLY paid an overdue visit to New York
• Experienced New York
  • INCLUDING:
  • Phantom of the Opera
  • Authentic New York pizza
  • Magnolia’s Bakery (yuck)
  • Serendipity (blah)
  • Central Park
  • Jimmy Fallon
  • West Village, Greenwich, SoHo
  • Brooklyn
  • …
• Turned in my “notice” to BANG. More on that later!
• Post-grad interview
• #tweetup
• Created an experiment based off of an article I read and am chronically the journey. It’s not going to be blasted on her, so if you want to read it you will have to find it.