In memory of Harold Sydney Deino

This Monday morning started pretty quietly. I woke up at home after an amazing weekend in Las Vegas. Voice scratchy, eyes tired, smiling as I reflected on good times and great friendships.

I made coffee and an to-do list: write a blog post, send the next edition of my way-too-long-overdue Inside Scoop newsletter, address the 200 emails in my inbox, make a few calls, plan a webinar for Wednesday, walk the dog, go for a run and to yoga, and drop my clothes off at the dry cleaner.

Then I got  a call from my uncle saying that my grandpa died of a sudden heart attack this morning.

He was leaving the gym (never misses a workout) and according to the garage attendant, had the wherewithal to put his car in park even while having a heart attack. Life is short, but he lived a long beautiful one and left us today at the age of 83.

The to-do list vanished immediately.

All I could think about was reaching my family, canceling everything, and driving down to Southern California. It's amazing how families can instantly come together in times like this, and I am grateful to be part of one that has.

The remainder of this blog post is dedicated to my grandpa: Harold Sydney Deino (1928-2011)

Grandpa -- thank you for being so wonderful. You were an amazing, generous, kind-hearted man.

You celebrated your 60th wedding anniversary this year, and I am in awe of the family, career and retirement you created with your incredible wife, who I am proud to call my grandma.

You were a child of the Great Depression, and taught us all innumerable lessons about spending, saving and investing wisely.

I've always loved knowing that you drew the exclamation phrases for the original Batman show when you worked at ABC; you taught me to value design and precision, and to take pride in my work.

I loved all of your routines: sitting outside with coffee, toast and your newspapers in the morning, 24 Hour Fitness with the latest Nikes (even at 83!), religiously taping every Lakers game, and the way you took diligent notes to learn how to use the computer,  your iPod, and your new iPad.

You take organization to a whole new level -- no gadget goes unlabeled, no file sits out of place. We all smiled this evening when we went to use the coffee grinder and saw a note on the lid about how high to fill it; you really did think of everything.

You taught me to value exploration and new cultures by watching you and grandma travel the world -- every continent twice over and too many countries to count.

You were the MacGyver of the house, creating contraptions and hacks and ingenious solutions for every inconvenience and product design flaw known to man.

When I visited in April you wanted to make sure I had a nice dress for my book launch party in New York, so you waited patiently while grandma and I went shopping after dinner. I absolutely love the dress we found, and I loved the proud smile on your face when I showed it to you once we got home.

The picture below is for you, grandpa -- I will think of you every time I see it. We miss you so much already. Your memory will be with us always...may you rest in peace.

Reminder: send a note -- or better yet, give a hug -- to someone you love today.

Video: My TEDxCMU Speech (Career in the Age of the App)

Remember that one time I almost panicked in front of an audience 500 people? Well folks, the moment-of-truth video has arrived! A quick recap for those who didn't read the original post: I had the great pleasure of speaking at Carnegie Melon in April for their TEDxCMU conference. I was the opening speaker, and about five minutes in I realized that the audience couldn't see my slides. I debating stopping altogether, but decided to continue and power through because I didn't know if I would have the opportunity to do it over, and there were 1,000 eyes staring at me waiting to hear what was next. So I kept speaking, but as the crew worked to resolve the issue I could no longer see my own slides. I delivered most of my speech from memory while watching one monitor count down my 18 minutes and the other monitor flickering with various troubleshooting methods.

Which brings us to today: I was so nervous to watch my TEDxCMU speech back -- I tend to be self-critical as it is, and I was dreading seeing the panic wash over my face when I realized my slides weren't working.

The crazy thing is that the moment of near-panic and confusion I experienced is almost imperceptible, as is my distraction throughout the rest of the speech waiting for my slides to return.

My stomach was doing backflips and my heart was pounding out of my chest, and yet -- in this video, you can hardly tell (it happens right around 5:50 and again at 7:07). I realize that's a very good thing -- but it strikes me as a reminder that a) there often more going on with people than meets the eye, and b) we are probably a lot more self-conscious about imperfections, speaking, or social situations than others actually notice. (The slides finally come back around 13:18 and I let out an embarrassing Howard Dean scream -- remember him??).

For those who don't want to watch the whole video: click here to read the transcript (this was my prep document so it won't be word for word, but you can see how I prepare for a big speech). Alexis Grant of US News & World report also summed up my career development philosophy quite well in her article, Treat Your Career Like a Smart Phone.

TEDxCMU Video -- Career in the Age of the App (click here to watch in a new window) -- 18 minutes

***

Life After College is in the news! Check-out some of the recent media coverage:

• USA Weekend - Grads, Get Help With Your Money
• CNN.com / CareerBuilder - Graduating? Start Your Career Search Off Right
• CBSNews.com (totally random news clip while I was in NYC) - Local SoHo Residents Irate Over Will Smith's Movie Trailers (for the record, I was not irate...nor am I a SoHo resident -- yet! They caught me while on a run and I gave a very cheerful California spin on why it comes with the territory of living in an awesome city, but they didn't show that part. Still -- I got my 3 seconds of fame :)

Stay tuned for some long-overdue book tour updates and launch party pictures! To get the full behind-the-scenes peek at everything (and access to an upcoming Q&A call), join my Inside Scoop monthly(ish) newsletter.

Revolution.Is: Act As If

I had the great pleasure of being featured this week for Amber Rae's exciting new venture, Revolution.is. As Amber describes the project:

Our mission is to motivate people to take initiative, trust their gut, and live what they love. Each week, we’ll share stories of up-and-coming change-makers, people who are changing the world by spending their energy living their passion instead of just talking about it.

Here's an excerpt of my story -- Act As If:

Just about every law of attraction tome advises dreamers to “act as if.” Act as if you are wealthy, act as if you’ve already achieved your biggest goals, act as if you’re on top of the world. I used to shrug it off as nothing more than an adult version of playing house. Nice in theory, but I’m not suddenly a doctor because I act as if I have a stethoscope in my hand.

I was wrong. It works, but in unexpected ways.

I’ve wanted to be an author ever since I was a little girl, sitting on the floor of the Green Apple Bookstore in San Francisco, dog-earing pages of books because I knew I would be back the next day. In 2008, after mustering up the courage to write a book for college graduates based on my blog, I completed the first draft. I told everyone I was going to self-publish because “I was on a roll” and “just wanted to get my book out there to the world.”

But deep down I knew it was because I was terrified that I had nothing of value to say and that I couldn’t handle the rejection that might come with pursuing a traditional publisher or of having a book that didn’t sell. And so instead of choosing a direction at the fork in the road – self-publish or pitch to big houses – I stopped . . . paralyzed. I didn’t open the Word file with my book in it for five months. Graduation season – my peak promotion opportunity – came and went.

For every day that I ignored my project, it felt like a part of me died. I was watching my life dream free-fall through my fingertips, and I couldn’t muster the strength to do a damn thing about it.

I started hating myself for giving up and for being so weak. I felt dull and uninspired and lost. But then – in an aha! moment – I realized that the only way to move forward was to act as if.

{Keep reading about what happened after my aha moment at Revolution.is...}

Just because you're not seeing progress doesn't mean it isn't being made

Big goals, big decisions, big projects...big plans. We itch to see progress -- to know that our hard work is not wasted. We become desperate for answers -- to know that our brain's churning is not in vain. We are anxious to see results -- for confirmation that we are on the right track and/or not making a huge mistake.

We get nervous if we can't see progress or if we don't feel we're moving fast enough on a big decision.

So we pound on unlocked doors, not realizing that we will find our way through when we're ready.

Worse yet, we start comparing our (lack of) progress to others' success. We wonder why we don't have their level of happiness, income, notoriety, success. Comparison is a losing game and it robs us of enjoying our own pace of progress or decision-making.

Just because you don't see progress doesn't mean it isn't being made.

• On big decisions: your gut collects dozens (if not thousands) of pieces of data every day. Just because you don't FEEL closer to a decision doesn't mean that it isn't around the corner. One day you will wake up and you will KNOW. Although we often feel like those decisions happen overnight, we tend to overlook the invisible path that progress took to get us there. Decisions blossom when they are ready...not a minute sooner. Sometimes you just need to bite the bullet and decide, but sometimes you need to give yourself time and space. It's a fine line. If you want help wrestling with a big decision, check out my decision-making template.

• On big goals: With our biggest, hairiest goals it's easy feel scattered, confused, stalled or overwhelmed. Not to mention the times that we're just flat out LAID OUT at the bottom of an ugly, uncomfortable dip. Just because you haven't crossed the finish line doesn't mean that you aren't getting closer every day. This applies to weight loss, healthy eating, starting a business, learning a new skill and anything else that requires perseverance and hard work.

It's important to feel like we are headed in the right direction and to take meaningful action that moves us forward, but consider releasing the need to SEE progress at every turn.

Progress is often invisible to the naked eye. Imperceptible improvements start to accumulate right beneath our nose. Sometimes we're so busy looking at the horizon that we miss the thousand flowers blooming. Stop for a moment and breathe…relax…and trust. You are farther along than you think.

Where in your life might you be making progress even though you can't see (all of) it yet? What progress have you already made that you haven't yet acknowledged yourself for?

Big thanks to my dad, who inspired this post during one of our weekly walks.

***

P.S. Congrats to our contest winners from the Almost May Giveaway Day!

The winners are:

• The Book of Awesome: Tiffany Mayfield
• Business Cards: Sarah Peck, Emily Smith, Kerri Ford
• Digital Camera: Kristen Byers

Winners - please send me an email when you get a chance -- jenny [at] lifeaftercollege [dot] org. Thanks, and have a great week everyone!

P.P.S. Final reminder to join us on Thursday for the Book Launch Party (hosted by the kick-ass NY Creative Interns team) if you are in the area :)

Authors@Google Video: 10 Lessons I Learned During the Publishing Process

After hosting many authors at Google myself (before taking my leave of absence), I had the great pleasure of delivering my very own Authors@Google talk in March as part of the book tour kick-off. Below is a 38 minute video of my speech, where I take you behind the scenes of the publishing process and share 10 lessons that I learned in the process. Big thanks to Cliffbusters for the great intro!

Authors@Google: 10 Lessons I Learned During the Publishing Process

Click here to open the video in a new window, or here to purchase the book on Amazon!

***

Life After College - NYC Launch Party

East-Coasters! I would LOVE for you to attend my book launch party in NYC next Thursday, hosted by NY Creative Interns (an incredible group of women who are helping with everything from a chocolate fountain to custom cupcakes to catering to gift bags, a DJ and photo booth). If you think it sounds more like a wedding than a launch party, you're right! This is it, baby. It's my big day - beyond a dream come true.

The party is made possible by the most amazing woman I've ever met, Ruth Ann Harnisch. When I was worried that my book would get written off as a pile of meaningless cliches, she encouraged me to bust through my upper limits and move forward anyway. She said she wanted to throw me a book launch party in NYC, which served as a beacon of light at the end of a very long creative tunnel. I'm thrilled to announce that the launch party is on May 12 at WIX Lounge - click here to RSVP!

It's-Almost-May Giveaway Day!

As someone whose mood is directly linked to the weather (for better or for worse), I find myself practically skipping as I write this post...Spring is springing, people! A colony of butterflies in my brain just got their wings. And yes, I realize that sounds like I'm on drugs. A drug called Sunshine! And coffee. Too much coffee... It gives me great pleasure to bring you not one...not two...but THREE giveaways today as a thank you for being the best readers on the planet! Details on how to enter are in the footer of the post.

» Giveaway #1: A copy of Neil Pasricha's The Book of EVEN MORE Awesome I reviewed Neil's first book last year, and I'm so excited to announce that he's already releasing book #2...today! Neil is an amazing writer who brings optimism, laughs and great perspective with his quirky and heartfelt lists of Awesome Things. I can't help but smile when I read his work -- The Book of Even More Awesome had me grinning from ear-to-ear. Check out #256 - When the Bass Kicks In (one of my favorite things too!) to watch the awesome book trailer video.

» Giveaway #2: THREE sets of Business Cards from UPrinting.com ($70 value each) Working on a side hustle and declaring the start of {Your Name} Enterprises? Need some business cards that are just for you (not your company)? Enter to win one of three sets of business cards from UPrinting.com that you can use to promote your business...or to give random hot Italian waiters your number (I know nothing about this).

» Giveaway #3: A Kodak EasyShare digital camera (~$60 value) from National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Remember that one time I had my car broken into and my laptop, Italian leather bag, Flipcam and Moleskine stolen? Yeah, that sucked. When I tried to get my bag covered by my homeowner's insurance, I was told that I needed a receipt (it was a gift) or at the very least a picture of me holding the bag. I had neither.

So it was particularly timely when Allie from NAIC reached out to me a week later encouraging me to spread the word about how important it is to photograph your belongings for insurance purposes. Prior to the car incident, I would have shrugged this off. Now I'm sold - and want to share the digital camera as a boost for you to do the same. Even if you don't win -- I highly recommend you follow the NAIC's helpful home inventory tips. Unfortunately a similar thing just happened to Grace who also provides great reminders in her most recent post, Stolen.

A little insurance inventory education for all of us (from Allie):

"Do you know how much ‘stuff’ you own? Unfortunately, without a clear grasp of our property, our most prize possessions might not be covered by our homeowners or renters insurance. One of the best ways to make sure possessions are fully protected is to document them through a home inventory.

A home inventory basically involves documenting the “stuff” in your home to ensure all your favorite things are covered in case of a fire or emergency. As a young single, you might want to consider purchasing renters insurance to cover your possessions, even if living with roommates — don’t rely on the landlord’s insurance.

While there are several options for forming an inventory, a new option is an iPhone application called MyHOME Scr.APP.book. The free app, from NAIC, lets you quickly photograph and capture images, descriptions, bar codes and serial numbers, and then stores them electronically for safekeeping. The app organizes information room by room and creates a back-up file for e-mail sharing."

How to Enter:

I've created three prompts on the Life After College Facebook page -- one for each giveaway (that way the entries don't get all jumbled in the comments here depending on who wants what). Respond to each prompt (no more than once, but you can answer all three) by Wednesday, May 4 for your chance to win!

***

Update: Speaking of giveaways, huge congrats to Sarah Peck and Amanda Hansen who won the Life After College launch day coaching session giveaway! If you didn't win but want a major life/inspiration/action plan boost, feel free to check out my coaching packages -- I would love to hear from you :)

Audible.com Review & Free Audio Book!

If you hand me a book, the first thing I'll do is crack it open, stick my nose right in the center of the pages and give it a giant inhale, eyes closed as I soak up one of my favorite smells in the world. I may look like a crazy person, but I don't care. I love books THAT much. (As a biased aside, my own has a GREAT new book smell - give 'er a whiff if you haven't already!)

So you can imagine my own surprise at writing a review on—gasp!—AUDIO books today! But hear me out (no pun intended).

What is Audible.com?

Many of you may have already bucked the paper book trend (what are those again?) in favor of reading e-books on Kindle or your iPad. Audible.com is a subscription-based service (much like Netflix with a similar price-point) that allows you to listen to books while running, driving, or dancing in your room.

I first discovered Audible while I was in NYC for one glorious month as part of my self-funded 14-city book tour, and I hyperventilated at the thought of narrowing down my book companions to fewer than 5, seeing as I have no less than 20 unread books on my shelves that I am dying to read (check out my full list on GoodReads).

Given that I would be traveling so much, it seemed like a great time to (slightly begrudgingly) make the switch to audio—at least for a little while. So I signed-up for a free trial at Audible.com and wanted to share the experiment with all of you! I used my free download to get the book Talent Code - a must-read recommendation from my brother.

How the Free Trial Works (which includes one free book download)

You can sign-up by clicking here (note: these are affiliate links—all proceeds go to cupcake consumption). If you cancel before your trial period is up, no harm done! You still walk away with a free audio book. If you continue your membership, you will be charged a monthly fee ($14.95 or $22.95, depending on what plan you choose), which gives you one or two book credits to use each month. There are also incentives if you refer a friend.

The Audible Affiliate Program:

Audible has a fantastic associate program, in which anyone with an account can create links to refer their audience to Audible and Amazon. It's free to become an affiliate, and it's very simple to set up. With each successful referral, you earn an advertising fee.

My initial review of Audible.com

Pros:

• I love the preview feature that allows you to listen to snippets of the book before purchasing
• I like the price consistency - one credit is applicable to almost all of the books on the site
• Books are super easy to download and play in the Audible app
• There is no need to create a new account—it's conveniently linked up with Amazon.com
• If you decide to cancel your membership, Audible pitches some great deals to keep you there a while longer :)

Cons:

• My own ADD! I still have a hard time listening to audio books without getting easily distracted or wishing there was music on instead.
• The site navigation is a little bit clunky
• The search feature leaves MUCH to be desired (:::cough, cough they should use Google enterprise!:::)

Ready to give it a shot? About the Audible Membership Free Trial

From Audible.com (who will do a much better job describing the details of the free trial than me):

Download any audiobook, free, when you try Audible for 30 days. Choose from 180,000+ best sellers, new releases, sci-fi, romances, mysteries, classics, and more. After 30 days, Audible is just $14.95/month. Membership includes your choice of book each month. Don't like your book? We'll exchange it for you. Cancel anytime—your books are yours to keep.

I'd love to hear your thoughts: Are you an audio book convert and/or already an Audible.com member? Does this seem like something that you could get into, or are you still stuck on books like me?

---

Book Tour Update:

I've been a little quiet lately...landed in NYC last Wednesday and decided to take a complete break from everything—from work, commitments, social media, and from buzzing around to see everyone and anyone I can fit into my schedule. I've gotta say—it feels amazing.

At first I caught a case of the Slow-Down Sads (my new term for feeling low when you suddenly slow down and stop DOING) but it's nothing that daily yoga isn't helping to cure. I'm in a place of transition and reflection—and though a little uncomfortable at times, it's a welcome opportunity to re-evaluate everything I'm doing. More on all of this soon...for now, I'm continuing with my semi-hermit-just-enjoy-the-big-apple plan!

The picture below is the first time I saw my book in a major chain—facing out at Barnes & Noble Union Square!

Life After College Book Launch: Post-Game Analysis (What Worked, What Didn't)

Now that the initial book launch frenzy has subsided, it's time to do some Monday-morning quarterbacking on what I think went well and what I would do differently. Hopefully this is helpful to aspiring authors out there, and at the very least interesting to the rest of you!

"A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit." --Richard Bach

Launch Stats:

• #11 -- The book's peak ranking in Career Guides on Amazon. It also ranked at #30 in Personal Development. The overall ranking peak was #747. Not a bestseller, but out of 8 million books I'm pretty happy with it :)
• #53 -- Current ranking in Career Guides...not bad! #9,576 overall.
• 0 (GOOSE EGG) - Number of times I made the NYT Bestseller list. Oh well! A girl can dream. And once The Today Show finds my phone number I'm sure the book will skyrocket up to instant bestseller status.
• 52 -- The current number of 5-star (!!) Amazon reviews. I am blown away by the quality and thoughtfulness of all the reviews. Thank you all so much!
• 130 -- @replies I received with people tweeting about the book on launch day...by lunch time! I lost count after that...the response was incredible.
• 38 -- Number of book reviews, interviews and article mentions (that I know of) during the launch week. Huge thanks to all the bloggers that took the time (and valuable online real estate) to help me promote the book!
• 2,330 -- Visits to my site on launch day -- almost five times higher than my normal traffic days (though lately the number has stayed consistently over 500/day).
• 236 -- Number of new Twitter followers since launch day on March 29
• 8 -- Number of speeches, webinars and workshops I delivered during the two-week launch window
• 4 -- Book signings. Those were the crazy-awesome moments that really made me feel like an author. I still can't believe people want me to sign anything other than a receipt!
• Unquantifiable -- number of cupcakes I've eaten at said signings and events since starting sabbatical, number of people I annoyed on March 29 by taking over the Internet, number of times I've checked my Amazon stats (slowly weaning myself off), and the immense out-of-this-world gratitude I feel for everyone who has supported me throughout this launch.

Book Launch -- 5 Things that Worked:

1. Blogger outreach -- Thank GOODNESS I did not rely on traditional media to carry this book launch (not that it was ever the plan). The lion's share of the momentum came from my friends online -- some I've known forever, some I'd only just met. How I did it: I had the publisher send 200 advance copies out in early March. I asked for 200 expecting them to negotiate me down to 100. Surprisingly, they said yes! Which gave me an impetus to reach out to a lot of people I've never met. I wrote a personal letter for the publisher to include in the press kit that listed ways people could help. Not everyone who received a book promoted it, but that is perfectly fine with me. You never know when they might recommend it to a friend!
2. Starting my Inside Scoop Book Newsletter a year ago -- my inside scoop readers have been with me behind the scenes at every turn, providing support, encouragement and ideas. I felt so comforted knowing that I had a group of passionate readers and friends who were cheering me on from the moment I wrote the proposal to the moment the book hit stores.
3. Creating a book website -- this has come in handy countless times. Things like the downloadable media kit, blogger kit, Around the Web page, and book tour schedule have allowed me to clearly communicate what's going on with the book without losing people in the many pages of my blog.
4. Attending conferences -- I am meeting so many amazing people through conferences like SXSW, TEDxCMU and pretty soon the World Domination Summit. The people I've met have given me countless great ideas and are inspiring me to really take my business to the next level. They have been incredibly generous with their time, and proactively reach out to ask how they can help -- an amazing quality.
5. Creating a template email for friends, family and inside scoop subscribers to forward -- some people wrote back and said they were single-handedly responsible for selling 10-15 copies among their friends and family! Amazing. Word of mouth is so powerful -- and it felt great to spread the word among the part of my network that isn't immersed in the Internet.
6. Bonus: taking leave from Google so I could focus 150% of my time/energy on the launch. I love Google -- don't get me wrong -- but trying to do all of this WITH a full-time job would have sent me to an insane asylum. I have been working around the clock since the day I left -- having fun for sure, but still wishing I had more hours in the day! (What happened to those visions of sipping a margarita on a beach in Mexico during my sabbatical?!) I'm so thankful that Google is giving me the time off; hands down the BEST thing I did for this book and my sanity was asking for it in the first place.

Book Launch -- 5 Things that Didn't Work:

1. Traditional Media -- I've had two radio interviews, and not a single TV, magazine or newspaper mention that I know of. I don't know what I could have done differently, but I do know that there was a huge missed opportunity here in reaching parents and people looking for graduation gifts. It's not too late, but I still have no idea how to break into the big players in these markets. The publicist at Running Press sent out hundreds of galleys to magazines and newspapers, but not many have bitten...yet.
2. Guest Posts on HUGE blogs -- I just didn't have it in me to do any more writing amidst trying to balance my speaking events, finishing up at Google, writing launch communications, keeping up with the blog, and sending inside scoop newsletters. I had every intention of submitting a guest post to Copyblogger (even got an introduction) or the Huffington Post...but I didn't. Guest posting and adding value for big time bloggers seems to be a strategy that has worked very well for other authors, so this was probably a big missed opportunity for me to generate additional buzz during launch week.
3. Not following up individually with people who received advance copies -- There are many people I could have directly emailed to ask for support or Amazon reviews (after my initial group reminder email). I know now is not the time to be shy or tentative -- but I just didn't want to force it. I wanted people who genuinely wanted to help -- but it's also possible that many of those people were just super busy and needed (or wanted) a nudge from me.
4. Not having freebies (or paid products) to capture interest from launch week buzz (beyond the book) -- I would have loved to have a book club kit (still in progress!), a free guide and even some additional paid products that could continue to capture people's interest and provide value even beyond the book. These are all things I'm working on, but I wish I had something ready for the launch week. As the saying goes, "The best time to start is yesterday. Barring that, start today."
5. Purchase incentive structure -- I had every intention of creating a tiered incentive structure post for launch day (as many authors do -- led by example from Ramit and Tim Ferris). Buy one book, get a signed bookplate. Buy three books, get access to a Q&A call. Buy 10+ books, get something awesome. Buy 50+ and I'll do a custom webinar for your group for free. I thought about this often for weeks (if not months) leading up to the launch, but nothing was clicking and I was already overwhelmed. I finally scrapped the idea at 11:30 p.m. the night before the launch (after semi-frantically calling Sean Ogle for 11th hour advice). It was just too much to think about, and I didn't want to do it if I couldn't do it well.

Given that we're still only two weeks out from all the launch madness, I'm sure I'll think of more for both categories -- but these are the broad strokes! The really interesting thing will be trying to keep the book sales alive over the long-term (post-honeymoon). That will require a whole new strategy -- I feel like I'm starting over as a beginner again, but that's what keeps this whole process exciting!

Next stops for the book tour: I'm in San Diego this week filming videos with/for iGrad (awesome crew) and hanging out with my grandparents, then a bachelorette party in Lake Tahoe over the weekend, then headed to NYC for a month on Tuesday! I'll be taking the first two weeks OFF - as vacation (what a concept, I know) - I'm not planning any meetings unless they are mission-critical, and will probably be slow to respond to email.

If you're on the East Coast, save the date -- my NYC book launch party is on May 12 at WIX Lounge! It is being organized by NYC Creative Interns (angels!) and sponsored by the most amazing life coach I've ever worked with, Ruth Ann Harnisch on behalf of Thrillionaires.org. {Click here to register to attend!}

"Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer." --André A. Jackson

Are you a hypocrite?

Someone asked me this in an interview the other day. It's a perfectly fair question. I didn't know what to reply other than,"Yeah...I guess so."

Don't think I haven't already asked myself this exact question a hundred times while writing, editing and promoting my book. Facing this question on a regular basis is the price of being a personal development writer (slash junkie).

I know I need to take care of myself to be the best author/speaker/coach/friend/etc I can be. And yet, I'm still finding it challenging. I have never launched a book before. Every day is part of the learning process.

I hate that despite having a "Health Manifesto" on page 223, I haven't been able to get on a consistent workout routine in weeks (if not months), that I've stopped my daily yoga routine (gut-wrenching when I admit it), and that newspaper reviewers say that I look "well fed."

When I worked at the start-up company, I remember referring to my cubicle and post-grad work life as "ass expanding." Try rolling out of your bed straight to your laptop and working for 14 hours day-after-day because you're so committed to launching your big project. That is ass-expanding too.

Which brings me to two very important points about life (and my book):

1. The book is meant to be aspirational -- even for me. Satisfaction and balance in our lives goes in waves. Of all areas -- health, work, money, dating, fun, friends, family, relaxation -- some will be up while others go down. It would be unreasonable to expect your life to be a perfect 10 in every area at all times. All we can do is put our love and attention on areas that are anemic or unsatisfying and start making some changes. See Nicole's amazing related post: 5 alcohol-free weeks, the garden metaphor, and the process of getting unstuck.
2. I -- we -- you -- are doing the very best that we can. Almost every single tip in the book (of which there are hundreds) made in there because it was something *I* struggled with. I am not sitting on a throne trying to tell you how to be perfect. F*** perfect. I struggle, I learn, and I teach. Then I do it all over again. So yes -- I am a hypocrite. But we are all probably hypocrites from time to time -- because the very things we preach against are the reminders we want to give ourselves. And solving something once doesn't mean you've solved it forever.

Give yourself room to struggle a little bit.

Struggle is where the learning is.

Guest Post: 10 Tips to Shred the Competition in your Skype interview (by Jenny Foss)

Editor's Note: Before we jump in -- for those curious about how the book is doing: sales have gone up and down, but the book is holding steady at #36 in Career Guides (after peaking at #11). I'll post a more detailed update next week. As for Amazon reviews -- we're at 49 out of my goal of 100...halfway there! If you haven't left your thoughts yet, please post a review when you get a chance :) Thank you all for an incredible launch! This is a guest post from Jenny Foss (Jennys FTW!), the firecracker career maven behind JobJenny.com, a site that provides job-seekers with practical advice that is relevant to TODAY’S job market and technology. Jenny describes herself as “Your job search BFF and tough love expert on finding career passion.” She just launched her first ebook, To Whom It May Concern: Or, How to Stop Sucking at Your Job Search.

I’m excited to give Jenny the floor today because a lot has changed since I was last out there job-hunting, and these tips are relevant and incredibly helpful for anyone who uses Skype -- not just job-seekers (they've been great reminders for me as I do book interviews, and are great tips for networking calls via Skype as well).

10 Tips to Shred the Competition in your Skype interview (by Jenny Foss)

You may already know this, but allow me to reiterate: corporate HR has discovered Skype. And they’re using it with increasing frequency to interview candidates. It’s cheaper than flying you in, and it’s more personal than a phone call.

Welcome to your huge advantage in the job search. Do use it accordingly. Even if you’re not job searching, these tips are helpful for any Skype calls you do, including informal interviews and networking.

If you’re competing with older candidates for your dream job, they may very well have the “years’ experience” edge. But if you’re already comfortable using Skype? You really, truly could outshine that senior level candidate if he or she is “green” with this technology.

Of course, you must then make this your mission. Outshine, friend. Outshine.

To ensure this mission is successful, here are 10 tips to help you shred the competition on your next Skype interview:

1. When confirming the interview, provide your Skype account name. Show the interviewer that you’re comfortable with the technology right from the start. Also, ask if you are to dial them, or if they will call you. No sense starting off on this weird note.
2. If your Skype name is cutesy or unprofessional, set up another account. And not MadSkillz or HireMaddie. Just your name, please. Or something close to it if yours is already taken.
3. Practice first. I recognize that this might sound obvious, but you’d be amazed by how many people don’t do it. Dial up a friend, relative or professional mentor and run through a few mock questions. Check the audio levels, make sure the room lighting looks normal
4. Get the eye contact thing down. This can feel a little strange on Skype, but eye contact is VERY important in an interview. Be sure and look into the webcam a large portion of the time. You’ll be tempted to stare at the screen, because that’s where the interviewer’s image appears. But if you look there the whole time? It will come across that you’re looking down the entire time. Eye contact. A must
5. Don’t even think about doing it in a coffee shop. Quiet, clean room. Absolutely no environmental hustle and bustle, none.  Oh, and when I say “quiet, clean room?” Assume I mean “quiet, clean room with no weird crap in the background.
6. Silence any other phone or potentially interrupting technologies before the interview. That’d be your cell phone, your land line and any other audible alerts that could pop up on your computer during the call.
7. Go professional, but remember you’re probably sitting at home. Some professionals will argue me on this, but I think that, for most positions, it’s unnecessary to get all spiffed out in an “interview suit” for a Skype interview. “Hi, I’m sitting in my apartment in pinstripes. Just a regular old day here.” It just seems odd to me. Absolutely look polished, ironed and professional (and wear pants, for heaven’s sake,) but I say suit is not required (unless, of course, you’re in the running for some big Wall Street or CPA gig, then yes, probably.)
8. Prepare in the exact same way that you would for a face-to-face interview. Research the company, the industry and the players with whom you’ll be interviewing. Come to the interview with thoughtful questions related to these. Listen. Listen. Listen. And then answer questions calmly and succinctly. Smile. Just like you’d do in person.
9. Don’t panic if you have a dropped connection. More than likely, the interviewer already knows that this happens sometimes with a Skype call. In the event it happens on your interview? Take a couple of deep breaths and wait for him or her to re-connect. If five minutes passes and he or she doesn’t? Redial.
10. Say thank you. And do so while you’re looking at that webcam.

Finally: pat yourself on the back when it’s over. Your comfort level with newer technologies like Skype may well help you land the dream job!

Looking for more? Check-out Jenny’s just-released ebook, To Whom It May Concern: Or, How to Stop Sucking at Your Job Search. You can also find Jenny on Twitter @JobJenny.

***

Note: the e-book links in the post are affiliate links, but I am HIGHLY selective about guest posts and the content I recommend. I only bring you the best because you deserve nothing less!

10 Lessons Learned from Almost Panicking in Front of 500+ People at TEDxCMU

"Any fool can act when everything is going right. The true test of an actor is what happens when everything starts going wrong." --A quote that TEDxCMU host Dr. Michael "Doc" Chemers shared with me after I delivered my speech

I had the great honor of delivering the opening speech for TEDxCMU (Carnegie Melon) this Sunday -- in the very same room that Randy Pausch delivered his deeply moving last lecture. The team of student organizers did a phenomenal job with every aspect of the event, and the entire day went of without a hitch….except for a 10-minute glitch that felt like a lifetime to the person on stage at the time. Me.

The Set-up (how it all went down)

15 minutes prior to my speech: I checked my slides and made sure the clicker was working. Check.

10 minutes prior: I started pacing slowly and taking deep breaths to work out any last minute adrenaline and nerves. Check.

5 minutes prior: I smiled up at an audience of 500 people as I was being introduced by Doc, knowing that the talk was also live streaming to 2,000+ people and being recorded to last for Internet eternity on YouTube. Check.

GAME TIME. I walked on stage and started my delivery.

5 minutes in: I turned around to check the large projector screen and realized that the audience couldn't see my slides. My subconscious toyed with the idea of panicking as the 18-minute clock on one of the monitors in front of me continued ticking down.

At that moment I had two choices:

1. Shut down -- stutter, give up, panic, stop in my tracks. Wait at the front of the room like a deer in headlights (literally -- the lights were so bright I couldn't see the audience) until the problem was fixed and ask for a re-do, if that were even possible.
2. Keep Going -- make light of the situation, play the hand I was dealt, and use the opportunity to absolutely crush it.

In a mix of conscious choice and the universe blessing me with the miracle of grace, I landed on option number two.

The Recovery

6 minutes in: "You can't see my slides, can you?" I asked the audience. They shook their heads. "Joke's on you I guess!" Everybody laughed.

I started to feel a bond forming…like the room was on my side. They knew I was climbing uphill with a 50-pound backpack at this point. "Geez…there's like 500 of you -- one of you could have said something!" I jokingly chided. They laughed again.

For the remaining majority of my 18-minute speech, I delivered my talking points from memory. The glitch wasn't anyone's fault -- a breaker had gone out somewhere -- but the technicians' fiddling with my slides (projected for all to see) made it even more complicated to deliver my speech in a way that still clearly got my message across AND made an impact.

~13 minutes in: My slides started working again (hallelujah!), and I was able to close with a few powerful images -- all while somehow staying under 18 minutes.

When I sat down, the host (Doc) and my friends Julie, Amber Rae and Charlie Hoehn whispered, "You killed it!" And I really needed to hear that…otherwise I might have started crying from the sheer overwhelm of it all.

Bolstered by their positive feedback, I exhaled…hands shaking slightly from the adrenaline. I smiled. I felt deeply proud of myself, and the response from the audience during breaks and in "keeper" emails was incredible. I could have given up but I didn't. I persevered.

In fact, as Amber pointed out -- the technical glitches, subsequent jokes, and smooth delivery endeared the audience to me and my content far more than I could have done on my own. I had earned more than their admiration…I had earned their respect.

As soon as I sat down, I knew that this whole snafu would make a great blog post. As you may know by now, I love turning challenging personal experiences into life lessons that we can all learn and grow from. In true-to-Jenny-Blake-form, here are:

10 Lessons I Learned from Almost Panicking in front of 500+ People During my TEDxCMU Speech

1. Be careful what you wish for! Earlier that morning I said to Charlie and Amber (two other amazing speakers and friends) that I didn't have any good jokes for my speech, and yet I love to make audiences laugh. Oh well, I thought at the time with a shrug. HAH -- I got some jokes alright! I actually had the audience laughing throughout my speech -- thanks to the technical glitches. Lesson 1b: when the universe throws you a curve ball, laughter is the best way to knock the pitch out of the park. And you can't find humor if you're busy panicking.
2. Practice and preparation MATTERS. In one of our prep calls, Charlie reminded me that coming across as natural and conversational comes from intense rehearsal. Practice and preparation are critical to nailing something you really care about. If I had not rehearsed (which I often don't), I would never have been able to deliver without my slides while watching a glitchy monitor and having the pressure of a countdown clock. P.S. For those who don't know Charlie, you must! He wrote the incredibly popular e-book, Recession Proof Graduate -- a must read for any recent grads looking for work or anyone looking to start a side hustle.
3. That said, all the preparation in the world won't prevent surprises. No matter how much you plan or prepare, there will ALWAYS be circumstances beyond your control. The best you can do is learn to accept them and roll with the punches as best as you possibly can. Shit happens. Focus on what you can do to fix the situation, because it's what you do when surprises show up that really matters.
4. I've said it before and I'll say it again…deep breaths are FREE. Use them! Deep breaths fix more than you probably realize. Doing my yoga breathing (as described in 8 Ways to Practice and Improve Your Public Speaking), greatly helped my release any nervous energy before I started. Once I got to the panic fork in the road, it was a single deep breath that saved me. In that breath, I gave myself the time to think and assess. Deep breaths can save you in moments when you are on the verge of panic or any potential emotional tipping point.
5. Heed the principle of Wabi-sabi - the beauty in imperfection. Wabi-sabi is a Japanese term that my dad introduced me to after we found a handful of typos in my book. As my dad (half-joking, half-serious) says, you need typos -- that's how all the demons get out. According to Wikipedia, Wabi-sabi "represents beauty that is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete." I share my highs AND lows on this blog because I want all of us to remember the beauty in imperfection and in being HUMAN.
6. Smiles are a powerful way to trick your mind into solving stressful situations. And guess what? They're free too! If you smile through a tough situation, you might be surprised at how quickly the rest of your brain will catch-on that this isn't so bad…and that there is some diamond in the rough worth smiling about. If you can muster a smile, you can start to re-ignite your positive energy. Smiling will allow you to release tension and (hopefully) handle the situation with grace.
7. There is great power in learning to master improvisation and creativity. I've taken a few improv classes, and though the idea of doing improv on stage in front of a live audience terrifies me, I enjoy the classes immensely. Improv teaches you to drop your ego and get creative. To build on whatever is happening with a  "Yes! And…" mentality. No slides? YES! I got this. AND…as Amber remarked, it was a better presentation because of it. I encourage you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone to get practice with improvisation -- whether in speaking, writing, or other social interactions.
8. There's nothing like a live (even if unexpected) demo to prove a point. One of my key messages was that ANY job can teach you valuable skills if you break it down into component parts. In reference to my time delivering AdWords product training to new hires at Google, I told the audience that "although I wasn't passionate about teaching people how to place Analytics tracking code or set their daily budget...it taught me how to stand up in front of a classroom every day; it taught me how to make people laugh, keep people engaged…and how to keep going without panicking when my slides don't work!" The audience broke out into applause. Many people said afterward that it was a great demonstration of my point…I was walking my talk.
9. Challenges we "pass" become badges we earn -- and it takes much of the power away from our fears. Now that I've had this experience, I will A) practice the s*** out of every speech from here on out… and B) feel even more confident about heading up on stage in the future. I know that I have now had a worst speaking-related fear occur, and I survived. The same goes for you -- encountering some of our biggest fears will often take the sting away as we build the resilience to deal with them and the confidence of knowing what to do if they ever happen again.
10. Kind words are one of the world's greatest currencies. Every moment of frustration and disappointment that I experienced because of the slide snafu was surpassed tenfold by incredibly meaningful comments and support from friends, audience members, the host, and the organizers. Never forget how powerful a genuine compliment can be. Those compliments sent me over the moon on Sunday. Thank you to everyone who lifted me up after nearly falling down.

Dying to watch the video (and check out Charlie and Amber's killer speeches)?

The TEDxCMU crew is currently working on processing the videos…they should be up in about a month, at which time I will definitely share with all of you! In the meantime, there is a great written recap in The Tartan, CMU's student newspaper, and a feature story on my career philosophy in US News & World Report.

Update: you can now watch the video here!

The key takaway if you read nothing else in this epically long post:

Get out there on the stage of YOUR life and stumble around a bit. It's the rush of a lifetime to fall down and get back up -- especially in front of hundreds (if not thousands) of people. What doesn't kill you absolutely makes you stronger. And more lovable, and more relatable. It will take you from average to human f***ing magic, baby.

Life After College Launch: Mid-Week Report

My heart is exploding with gratitude right now...so much that I can barely find the words to express a proper thank you.

Even amidst the thrilling chaos of launch day, I left the house (points!) to go for a run (double points!) and had a moment where I realized that Tuesday was THE proudest day of my life.

Partly because of the book being officially launched and unleashed to the world. Partly because it skyrocketed up to the top #1,000 on Amazon (#747 to be exact). But mostly because I felt such a sense of pride and overwhelming gratitude at the outpouring of support and community. I am truly honored and humbled.

Because of you: the book shot up to #750 overall on launch day, and peaked at #11 in Career guides! Because of you: countless friends, family members, Facebook readers and Twitter followers heard about the book and checked it out. Because of you: there are nearly 40 Amazon reviews to encourage those on the fence to buy the book (including an awesome video review from Marc Luber of Careers Out There!).

1. In other fun news:

• I was quoted in US News & World Report yesterday (with a full interview coming out next week). If you have a minute, check out And on the Side, I'm an Entrepreneur.
• Michael Bungay Stanier (@BoxOfCrayons) also interviewed me for his Great Work podcast -- give 'er a listen! I talk about how to find your passion, deal with "expectation hangovers," listen to physical cues about your great work, diffuse your inner critic, time-management strategies and tips for navigating your career within an organization.
• Video interview with @SeanOgle on Location 180 - 5 Things That Almost Didn't Make it Into the Book
• A peek into my brain through the eyes of my desk at Google in a fun feature on TagBento (click on the boxes for a story behind each piece of desk flair)
• Check out more awesome reviews and interviews on my book website's Around the Web page.

2. Here are some behind-the-scenes screenshots of the statistics I see on my Author's Central page on Amazon:

Statistics as of 10pm on March 30:

Sales over the last month: up and to the right, a very good thing! (Click to enlarge)

P.S. Amazon is tricky, huh? Their graph makes it look like my book is at #1 even though it's #834. But hey, out of 8 million that's not too shabby!

3. I still need your help in two major ways:

1. Launch Week Push until Monday -- If you have the book on your wishlist and plan on buying it eventually, please buy it between now and Monday! Launch week, from Tuesday, March 29 to Tuesday, April 5, is the best chance I have at making a bestseller list. Every book counts. If you're on the fence, check out some of the great Amazon reviews -- I know you won't be disappointed, and the book is currently selling for less than $9!
2. Speaking of Amazon -- I still have a goal to get to 100 reviews by Friday (we're in great shape at 38!). If you have a copy of the book, I would be thrilled if you could leave an honest Amazon review sharing your thoughts -- social proof is an amazing motivator for those who don't know me (or my work) to get their own copy.

4. Coaching Giveaway -- Reminder from Tuesday:

Two readers will win an autographed copy of Life After College: The Complete Guide To Getting What You Want and a 45-minute private coaching session ($300 value!) to help you find clarity and inspiration around whatever topic you choose.

Giveaway Rules: Each of the actions below equals 1 or 2 entries. After you’ve completed one or more, leave a comment on Tuesday's post telling me how many entries you’ve earned (we’re on the honor system here!):

1. Share this post on Twitter with the hashtag #LACBook – 1 Entry
2. Share this post on Facebook – 1 Entry
3. “Like” the Life After College Facebook Page – 1 Entry
4. Let me know you are subscribed to the Inside Scoop newsletter – 2 Entries
5. Write an honest review on Amazon.com (obviously only if you have already read the book!) – 2 Entries
6. Copy and paste this template email to let your networks know about the book – 3 Entries

The contest ends on Wednesday, April 3rd at 5pm PST.

5. Reader Testimonials...with pictures!

I've seen other authors do this and I think it's a great way to share excitement about the book, put faces to readers' names, and cross-promote all of you! If you send me a picture of you with the book and a testimonial (send to lifeaftercollege [at] gmail [dot] com), I'll tack them on to the footer of my posts. This week we kick of with Bradley Will of Forward Looking Entrepreneurship!

From Bradley:

"I wish this came out 5 years ago (wow...it's been that long). It would have saved me a lot of time and struggles!"

Thanks again for an amazing launch week everyone!! I can certifiably say I'm the happiest I've ever been...thanks to you. :)

Life After College Book - Happy Launch Day, Baby!!!

There's so much going on today that I barely know where to start! This is a three-part post: launch-day reactions and videos, interviews you don't want to miss, and details on how to enter to win a signed book and coaching session from me! 1. Pinch Me.

My house is in a state of disarray, you couldn't pry me out of my sweats if you tried, stacks of unopened mail pile higher every day, and I have to add things like "shower" and "leave the house" to my to-do list. In Jenny Blake world this can only mean one thing...book launch day is upon us, baby!!!

It's finally HERE. Today.

What?!? I know...I can hardly believe it either.

Just as some girls spend years fantasizing about their wedding, I've had visions of my book launch party and first book signing for as long as I can remember. What I'd be wearing, how I'd be glowing with happiness as I celebrated the proudest day of my life with friends and family, and a feeling deep in my gut that I was fulfilling my exact purpose on this planet.

Through all the ups and downs of the last two and a half years, I am thrilled to report that my vision became a reality this weekend. I had my first book signing on Thursday (sold out of books!) and my book launch party on Saturday -- a signing at Books, Inc. followed by drinks, dancing and cupcakes. Some short video highlights (courtesy of my brother Tom, aka T-Bones):

Video #1: Book Signing at Books, Inc - 36sec (open in new window):

Video #2: Cheers! From the book launch party - 8sec (open in a new window):

2. Interviews + "Behind the Scenes" Webinar Recording

I'm collecting all interviews, reviews and mentions on the book website -- here are some that you don't want to miss!

• Interview and book review at Forbes.com (thanks to the amazing Elisa Doucette!)
• The recording of my Behind the Scenes of the Publishing Process webinar
• My BlogcastFM interview (~40 minute podcast) on How to Get a Book Deal without a Massive Audience

3. In honor of LAUNCH DAY (SQUEE!!) I've got a special giveaway for you:

Two readers will win an autographed copy of Life After College: The Complete Guide To Getting What You Want and a 45-minute private coaching session ($300 value!) to help you find clarity and inspiration around whatever topic you choose.

Giveaway Rules: Each of the actions below equals 1 or 2 entries. After you've completed one or more, leave a comment below telling me how many entries you've earned (we're on the honor system here!):

1. Share this post on Twitter with the hashtag #LACBook - 1 Entry
2. Share this post on Facebook - 1 Entry
3. "Like" the Life After College Facebook Page - 1 Entry
4. Let me know you are subscribed to the Inside Scoop newsletter - 2 Entries
5. Write an honest review on Amazon.com (obviously only if you have already read the book!) - 2 Entries
6. Copy and paste this template email to let your networks know about the book - 3 Entries

The contest ends on Wednesday, April 3rd at 5pm PST.

Good luck and thank you so much for being here to celebrate with me!!

Big love and hugs to you all :) Jenny

***

P.S. Webinar Reminder - If you're free at 5PST/8EST tonight, join me and Brazen Careerist for a 30-minute webinar and 30-minute Network Roulette! During the webinar I’ll share my career development philosophy and side hustle tips for 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes of Q&A, then we’ll head into a 30-minute Network Roulette where the first five people to get paired with me will win signed copies of Life After College.

P.P.S. Bloggers - are you registered to attend #BiSC yet? This will be my second year in attendance at Bloggers in Sin City -- a fabulous weekend of drinks, dancing, and chatting poolside. If you register by Wednesday, you'll be eligible to enter to win another book + coaching giveaway!

6 Ways to Manage a Side Hustle Without Going Insane

Note: This is a re-post of a guest blog I did for Brazen Careerist (GREAT discussion happening in the comments) to promote our upcoming 30-minute webinar and Network Roulette tomorrow (launch day!) at 5EST/8PST. During the webinar I'll share my career development philosophy and side hustle tips for 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes of Q&A; after that we'll head into a 30-minute Network Roulette where the first five people to get paired with me will win signed copies of Life After College. Join us if you can, and stay tuned for an exiting launch day post tomorrow! :)

6 Ways to Manage a Side Hustle Without Going Insane

Side hustles (a term I first heard from Pam Slim of Escape from Cubicle Nation) are all the rage these days. A side hustle is anything you are doing outside of your full-time job (you know...the one that pays the bills), and often involves an entrepreneurial enterprise of some sort -- something you’re building on your own for personal satisfaction and for profit.

As Pam says, “Everybody needs a side hustle.”

Side hustles are great for the following reasons:

1. They allow you to experiment with business ideas without the pressure of trying to make your full income from them right away.

2. They are great for self-expression and self-identity -- you get to build a business (or a blog) around something you are passionate about; you get to be your own boss and set your own strategy.

3. They create a parallel career track that you could leap over to at some point -- or if you were to lose your “day job” -- you would already have a bank of skills and experiences that could either create a new income stream or help you land your next gig.

However, side hustles are not for the faint of heart:

1. You essentially have two jobs. 2. Work/life balance becomes even more challenging -- nights and weekends are easily consumed by one of the two. 3. You risk giving each scattered focus, which could result in a sub-par position on both if you don’t correct course.

A little bit about me:

I’ve been managing side hustles -- gigs in addition to my full-time jobs -- for over six years. When I was working at a start-up company after college, I started doing web development tutoring on the side (which was a great way for me to grow my skills, earn extra spending money, and learn how to find and work with clients). Then in 2007, I started this blog while working full-time at Google in Training & Development. In 2008, I started the process of writing a book and training to become a life coach.

By the time I got the book deal in 2010, my side hustle (author, blogger, coach, speaker and yoga teacher extraordinaire) had become a full time job in itself. Paired with the intense, fast-paced environment of managing global programs through my work at Google (I am a Career Development Program Manager though currently on a 3-month sabbatical) -- it has been all I could do to maintain my sanity these last three years!

With that, I share some tips with you to help you keep your marbles together during the exciting pursuit of what you love.

6 Tips to Keep Your Sanity While Side Hustlin':

1. Draw clear boundaries and create routine. Draw clear boundaries for when you will work on your side hustle. Nights and weekends? Just weekends? No weekends? I chose nights and Sunday afternoons for mine (at least until things got really ramped up with the book, when I found myself working through most weekends). Drawing boundaries will help you stay focused and stay sane -- you will never get everything done, but you will at least know what your “big push” windows are.

2. Be transparent with your employer. I realize not everyone feels that they can share what they work on outside of the office with their manager -- but to the extent that you can, this may actually help him or her support you and give you projects related to your area/s of interest. In my case, it helped tremendously to share what I was doing. Because I’ve kept Google in the loop, they felt comfortable letting me take a 3.5-month unpaid leave of absence to promote the book.

3. Set goals for your side hustle. What are you trying to build? How much extra income are you trying to generate? With limited time to work on your pet project, you will need to be laser focused on what you’re trying accomplish and by when.

4. For bloggers -- assume everything you write will be read by your boss and every co-worker. Does it still pass the “publishable” test? I’m not trying to censor you, but there is a level of discretion required when writing outside of your day job. I can’t tell you how many co-workers of mine reference my blog posts when they run into me -- many of whom I had never met in person prior to our interaction.

5. Stay committed to your social life and be clear about your mission with friends and family. I have made the mistake (far too many times) of letting my two jobs suck up every second of my spare time (partly because I am so motivated to make my side hustle successful). So don’t forget to get out of the house every now and then! Do what you can to enroll friends and family in what you’re doing too -- it’s likely that you will see them less as you ramp up your side hustle -- at least for a period of time. If they know what your greater mission is, they will hopefully understand the times you have to to buckle-down and provide support in the process (though don’t get discouraged if they don’t -- not everyone will see your vision right away).

6. Unplug, recharge, and TAKE A VACATION. No matter how energized you are by what you are doing outside of your full-time, everyone needs a break...or you’ll soon be headed for a break-DOWN. Take it from a girl who has had several hair-pulling hot mess moments over the last few years -- vacations (in which you totally unplug from both jobs) are critical to maintaining your sanity while you juggle. I recently took a week off for SXSW and a spontaneous road-trip detour to Las Vegas -- even though I fell far behind during a critical time for the book launch, the relationships I built and memories I created were unforgettable. No side hustle is worth depriving yourself completely of life’s best moments. After all, isn’t creating MORE of that why we’re doing it in the first place?

Side hustles are a lot of work, but they can also be incredibly rewarding. It’s an amazing feeling to build something of your own and watch it grow.

For those of you already hustlin’ -- what did I miss? How do you maintain your sanity while growing your business while working a full-time job?

Want to learn more? Join us for a LIVE 30-minute webinar and Network Roulette on Tuesday, March 29 at 5PST/8EST (with a chance to win one of FIVE signed copies of Life After College)!

Pre-Launch Round-Up! Events, Giveaways, Early Reviews & Free E-Books

We are in the home stretch, baby! I've said it before and I will say it again -- this book is every bit your success as it is mine. It would not be here without you. You are the greatest community of readers and friends I could ever ask for. With that friendly reminder said, there is so much going on that I hardly know where to start! This post is a round-up of upcoming events, giveaways, free e-books I contributed to, early reviews and a short list of ways you can help if you feel so inclined.

An Awesome Picture (and Moment):

This is the first time I actually saw my book in a bookstore...and to walk in to this! A tower of glory at my favorite local bookstore, Books, Inc. Big thanks to Glen and the team for putting up such a 5-star display!

The even cooler news is that people are already buying it! It's crazy to think about people I don't know picking up a copy based on the book's own merits (not just because I'm paying them to be my friend ;-) - but that's what makes this whole process so exciting! I love the idea of the book spreading even beyond the online community, into unexpected places, and finding people who need it most -- no matter where they are.

Upcoming Events:

• Behind the scenes of the publishing process - free 60-minute webinar with Pierre Khawand of People On the Go - this Thursday at 12 p.m. PST. {Sign-up here}
• Managing a side hustle without going insane (see accompanying guest post) - a free 30-minute webinar with the awesome team at Brazen Careerist on Tuesday (launch day!) at 5EST/8PST, followed by a 30-minute Network Roulette. You'll get paired with a new person every three minutes, and the first five people who get paired up with me get a free signed copy of my book! {Sign-up here}
• IRL event -- Book launch party! For any of you in the Bay Area, I would love for you to stop by my book launch party this Saturday! It will kick-off with a bookstore talk/signing at Books, Inc on Castro Street in Mountain View, followed by drinks, food, and -- what else -- cupcakes -- at Zen Lounge. {RSVP here}

Book Giveaways:

• Life After College Facebook Page - Win a signed copy of Life After College by sharing the best piece of advice (either your own or advice you've received) for life after college. The advice with the most Facebook "likes" by 12 Noon PST on Friday, March 25 wins!
• The Anti Resume - For starters, Mike Krass is awesome; we're doing a joint shindig after my bookstore event at University Bookstore in Seattle on June 2 (save the date!) for any of you living in the area. Check out his website for details on how to win a free copy of the book from him on the Anti Resume Facebook page!
• Twitter Chats - Join me and Chanelle Schneider for a #GenYChat conversation on Twitter on March 30 at 6PST/9EST for a chance to win a copy. College Lifestyles will also be doing a giveaway during their chat in April - details to follow!

Contributions around the Web - Free E-books!

• My first lesson in taking initiative - a contribution to an e-book for Seth Godin's Domino Project, compiled by the ever-amazing Amber Rae. The e-book is an assembly of "50 inspiring stories about taking initiative from accomplished entrepreneurs and up-and-coming stars."
• A transcription of my video interview with David Trotter for his 127-page FUEL E-book, "11 Passionate Voices Empowering You to Launch Yourself."
• The latest edition of Thom Chambers' In Treehouses Magazine, "The Profit in Free." I'm not in this one, but I was honored to have a feature in last month's issue, and the magazine is so gorgeous and informative that you should read it anyway!

Early Reviews:

Even though the "official" launch date is next Tuesday, advance copies and pre-orders have already shipped, and I've been completely humbled by the response so far. If you post a review, please let me know so that I can add you to the Around the Web page on my book website!

• Jessica Lawlor - Book Review: Life After College by Jenny Blake Jenny asks poignant questions that will get you thinking about what you value, what your goals are, and where you see yourself heading. Something else I really loved about this book was hearing Jenny’s stories and tips. Jenny shares several stories that show her during times of doubt and fear. She doesn’t position herself as an expert who has never experienced anything she writes about.

• SoCalTJ - I'm Not Normally One for Self Help Books... Jenny has managed to create a totally fun, INTERACTIVE book, with tables to fill in, lots of questions with spaces for your answers. And it's in color too! It's pretty much unfathomable to me that I could get a copy of this book for under $20, let alone TWO of them. (Clearly they aren't paying Jenny enough for her hard work!). I've never been that excited about reading books - I don't think I've picked one up since college, but I'm stoked to delve into this one and see where it takes me.
• Grad Meets World - Video review!

How you can help:

Next week I'll post more details on purchase incentives (buying 1, 3 or bulk). In the meantime, for those of you who have received your book/s, I would absolutely LOVE your help in any of the following ways:

• Leave your HONEST review on Amazon (my goal is to get to 100 by the end of next week. 8 down, only 92 to go!)
• Bloggers - some ideas: review the book, share an excerpt of a few tips, or use one of the coaching exercises as a prompt for your next post. I'm happy to do written or video interviews too. There's a full Blogger Kit on the book website with more resources too.
• Everyone else -- tell your friends and family! Let your networks know about the book and find more info at LACBook.com. More goodies to follow next week.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Book Tour Kick-off: 8 Days + 25 Moments

Blog disclaimer for the near future: With so much happening right now due to the book launch in ONE WEEK (!!!), I am likely to increase my posting schedule a bit and talk more about the book than I normally would. I'm juggling the desire to share everything that's going on while being mindful not to overwhelm or bombard. If the increased posting schedule bothers you, feel free to "mark as read" or (gasp!) unsubscribe for the next few weeks -- but I'm hoping you'll stick around, of course :) 8 Days + 30 Moments

I just returned from an amazing week in Austin, Texas for the SXSW Conference, which was also the first official stop on the Life After College Book Tour (followed by a last minute detour to Las Vegas).

Even if you didn't attend the conference, there are some awesome people on this list that I look forward to introducing you to! And now, a recap of my 25 most memorable moments:

SXSWi - South by Southwest Interactive (aka Geek Spring Break):

1. Getting picked up at the airport by Kristi Richey, one of my earliest blog readers (seriously - second only to my parents) in her red pick-up truck. Catching-up and gushing over the box of books that had arrived at the hotel.
2. Dancing and hanging out with my boys J-Money and Nate, the founders of Love Drop -- a company they started after I introduced them to each other a year ago. AMAZING guys. Meeting their fabulous friends, Danielle Smith and Alli Worthington.
3. Selling book number one at Chris Guillebeau's Best Party in Austin event. Signed, stamped, sealed and delivered…I really felt like an author! Taking a picture with my "mantourage" which included Scott Hale, Andrew Osborn, Andy Drish, Ryan Stephens, Norcross and @Kenny. Seeing the bright smiling faces of Monique Johnson and Stacyann Forrester.
4. Ryan scheming to make sure he was the very first Amazon review for my book. Success! I'm blown away by the reviews that are already up. Ryan -- thank you for kicking things off :)
5. Buffet brunch with Sydney Owen at Moonshine talking about her newfound love and big leap into professional freedom. (Hi Sydney!)
6. Attending exactly ONE panel the entire week: Tony Schwartz on managing your energy. I call it the $500 panel since that was the cost of the conference pass. Hey - at least it was good!
7. Actually having a CUPCAKE SPONSOR for my book signing event at Icenhauer's in Austin -- I need a NEW WORD for thank you to express my gratitude to the incredible Betty Jean Bell who put on the entire event; complete with bottomless mimosas and tacos! Event photos by my good friend Benjy Feen (who also has a dating advice piece featured in my book).
8. Sitting at a table signing books…absolutely surreal. Chatting with new friends; honored and humbled by all the of the support as each new person walked through the door. Thrilled to share the spotlight with Josh Kaufman (Personal MBA).

9. Chatting with Tony Hsieh (Zappos founder) on the Delivering Happiness bus with Andy Drish and Amber Rae, followed by cupcakes at Delish.
10. Sipping wine at Halycon Cafe in Austin with Andy, Amber, Nick Reese (Becoming Bold), and Sean Ogle (Location 180); talking about life, business, dreams and big plans. Brainstorming a joint book launch/Revolution.is party in NYC with Amber on the back of a napkin.
11. Catching up with Pam Slim (Escape from Cubicle Nation) and others over dinner at 10 Oak. Awed by the energy of getting a group of 25+ incredible people together at the same table, thanks to The One and Only Nick Reese.
12. Missing Willie Jackson tremendously and talking with others about whether we were introduced BW (Before Willie) or AW (After Willie).
13. An epic 2-hour long slumber party call with my BFF Elisa (Ophelias Webb) during which she calmed me down from a complete book tour overwhelm meltdown. Decided that canceling all end-of-week meetings and going to Las Vegas would be a great decision, despite the rapidly multiplying to-do list waiting for me back home.
14. Getting a tour of Adam Baker's Man vs. Debt RV during his Adaptu breakfast meet-up (more free tacos!)
15. Hanging out with an amazing crew of people at Nick and Markus Urban's (Living on Impulse) rented loft in Austin. Meeting awesome bloggers like Cody McKibben (Thrilling Heroics), Karol Gajda (Ridiculously Extraordinary), Jenny Leonard (Where is Jenny), Tyler Tervooren (Advanced Riskology), Benny Lewis (Fluent in 3 Months) and Adam from the UK (Magical Penny). Catching up over drinks with Michelle Ward (When I Grow Up Coach).
16. Attending Kevin Smokler's always-unforgettable 9th annual Kookies with Kevin dinner with literary industry professionals and other creatives on the last night for the second year in a row. Having an amazing conversation with Keith Arsenault, who happens to be a sales rep for Perseus (the parent company of my publisher, Running Press).

VEGAS...ROAD TRIP!

17. Canceling my flight home from Austin in lieu of a 20-hour road-trip detour through Las Vegas with Jenna "Badass Animal" Forstrom, Ryan "Impossibly Good Looking Man Candy" Martin and The One and Only Sean Ogle.
18. Doing my best to be the "stay-awake-company-keeper" for each of the drivers (I had an allergic reaction the night before and felt like a stampede of bulls were running across my stomach for 24+ hours).
19. Cracking up with Ryan at 3 a.m. as we updated Sean's Facebook status while he was sleeping -- to the effect of, "SO excited to dance with leprechauns down Las Vegas Boulevard!" We tried to announce that he was "OMG OMG so excited to see Celine Dion!!! <3!" a few hours later, but were thwarted due to lack of service through the Arizona mountains.
20. Teaching everyone in the car how to play highs and lows (each person says a high, low, and something they learned for the day or week) - and sharing our best SXSW moments.
21. Dancing, talking and sipping on drinks under the moonlight at Tao Beach.
22. Laying out at the pool in my underwear because I didn't bring a swimsuit to SXSW. Hoping no one noticed, but not really caring if they did.
23. The four of us huddling up to stay warm while watching the Bellagio fountain show (to Elton John music) in a total Ocean's 11 moment.
24. Late-night meals (in bed) with Jenna. Pizza and spaghetti - the best leftovers to come home to after a long night of dancing!
25. Smiling on the plane ride home (eyes drooping, voice gone) at how great it felt to be spontaneous, live in the moment and hang out with incredible people for eight straight days.

Stay tuned for a soon-to-follow post chock-full of book updates, early reviews, and upcoming events. The final countdown is on! 1 week, 1 day and 7 hours. Many of the pre-orders have already shipped...INSANE! And so exciting :)

SXSW, Stolen Goods & Signs from the Universe

Forgive me for the somewhat random post today -- I'm in the process of wraping-up my last week at Google before sabbatical (I am taking 3-months of unpaid leave to go on my self-funded/self-planned book tour -- dates here). My last day is Thursday, then I hop on a plane to Austin first thing Friday morning to head to SXSW and kick off the book tour! I can't even believe I'm saying that out loud. It's right around the corner, people. The official book-release countdown is -- drumroll please -- 3 weeks, 1 day, and 8 hours (at the time of this writing); pre-order price still hovering at a bargain cost of $9.10 -- less than 3 Sprinkles cupcakes!

SXSW Shenanigans (and yes, cupcakes are involved)

I will have to sing SXSW's praises in another post -- but suffice it to say that this is my favorite week of the entire year. I describe it to my non-Internet-geek friends as "my Oscars" -- the event that culminates and celebrates so many amazing relationships and projects created throughout the year.

For any of you who are attending, let's meet-up! I am co-hosting two events -- I would love to see you there, and please feel free to invite your friends :)

• Saturday night (7-10pm) -- Book signing at the "Best Party in Austin" with Chris Guillebeau
• Sunday afternoon (1-3pm) -- Book signing and short talk at Books, Brunch and Beer with Josh Kaufman (organized by the FABULOUS and incredible Betty Jean Bell)
• Other events -- I'll be trying to keep my schedule current on Plancast; or shoot me an email (jenny [at] lifeaftercollege [dot] org) and let me know where you'll be!

My Mass Gadget Exodus

This has been an interesting month. In the span of eight days, I left my cell phone at LAX and had my car broken into. On the former, I got it back eventually -- and quite enjoyed being "un-leashed." On the latter: I returned to my car after a quick dinner at Chipotle last Thursday to find my laptop, FlipCam, iPod and Moleskine stolen (okay so a Moleskine notebook isn't a gadget but I cherish it every bit as much).

My irreplaceable Italian leather bag with half my digital life was ripped out of my back seat through a broken window. As far as crimes go, things could be SO MUCH worse, but I can't describe the terror I felt when I looked over my shoulder to pull out of the parking spot and noticed shattered glass and a hole punched through my back window. Thank goodness there wasn't someone waiting for me in the back seat!!

The other creepy part is that I have fully tinted windows and a car alarm -- so they must have been watching me tuck my bag behind the passenger seat...which I almost never do. But alas...all it takes is one stupid choice...in an ill-fated parking spot on an otherwise normal evening to lose some prized (albeit material) possessions.

I've backed-up my data recently, but not recently enough not to be upset. And yes, most of my data is in the cloud. But not all of it. And semantics are not really the point here (but so many people asked those questions it felt prudent to share). The point is this: as my friend Tara pointed out, my gadgets have literally been trying to escape me! Which is all the more interesting in light of the human magic post where I declared my need to slow-down and unplug from everything...immediately.

The universe answers in mysterious ways sometimes. Are you listening to the signs around you? If not, consider this a friendly reminder urge to tune in. Otherwise the signs get louder and louder in order to get your attention...and that's not necessarily a good thing.

Wrestling with a big decision? New template at your service!

Except for the most spontaneous and risk-taking among us, big life decisions are not usually made lightly. Our brain starts playing ping-pong with the choice, and before we know it the decision is weighing us down in the absence of any real forward motion. For our biggest choices, simple cost/benefit lists don't quite do the trick (though if you are looking for a way to amp up your pro/con lists, check out Paul Williams' great post on Decision-Making Tools).

One of the exercises that I frequently suggest to coaching clients (and that never fails me personally) is a decision-making matrix that helps distinguish between internal concerns (gremlins, doubts) versus external concerns (process-related, "how" questions, next steps).

Enter the 8-Step Decision-Making Template!

This template will help you unpack all the various thoughts, feelings and concerns swirling around your big decision. By writing them down (and separating self-doubt from concrete questions) you empower yourself to be much more creative about how you move forward. Sometimes moving forward just means doing more research to help you feel comfortable making your decision.

And of course, sometimes big decisions just take time. The template will only take you so far -- at some point you just have to trust your gut -- you'll know when the time (or choice) is right for you to move forward.

How to Use the 8-Step Decision-Making Template:

1. State the problem or decision you are facing.
2. Re-state the decision as a question (this will open your brain up to a more creative thinking state).
3. Over the course of the next week (or more), document your questions/concerns around the decision. They may not come all at once. List one concern per line, and distinguish between internal and external concerns. Oftentimes people get bogged down in the "tyranny of the hows" - they feel paralyzed on a big decision because they don't know how to get there yet. This process will help you outline all the various aspects of the decision.
4. Rate the intensity of that question, concern or inner critic on a scale of 1-5. How strongly do you feel about the concern? How much will it affect your decision? (Handy template feature: cells change color based on the number you enter!)
5. State the underlying values or priorities for each concern. What is the essence of your concern? What does it reveal about what is important to you?
6. Brainstorm solutions or replies. For each concern, brainstorm at least three potential solutions or counter-arguments.
7. Gut reaction. Based on everything you've listed, how would your gut answer the question you posed in Step 2?
8. Next steps. If you are clear on your answer to Step #7, what are the immediate next steps to take? Brainstorm a list of 5. If you are not clear on your answer, what other inputs or information will help you make your decision? Brainstorm a list of 10.
9. Bonus: The second tab will help you inventory all of the advice you receive from other people (friends, family, blogs, books, etc.), determine whether or not you agree, and decide whether there are any related next steps to take.

You might also be interested in these related posts: How do you make decisions? (the comments are incredibly helpful!) and the related template: 10 questions to help you stop thinking and start DOING.

For more great templates on career planning, job interviewing, simple budgeting, and even break-ups, check-out my Template Gallery or grab your copy of Life After College -- which has many more exercises to help you think through every area of your life.

Good luck with your big decision/s!

Joseph Campbell on The Hero's Journey

Thank you for all of your kind comments, thoughts and outreach on Saturday's Human Magic post. Feeling much better already! That post helped me articulate a much-needed reminder that with big GIANT goals come big giant roller-coasters of emotion -- dips and triumphs, highs and lows. So it feels like perfect timing to introduce you to one of my favorite pieces of writing about living life to the fullest. I humbly turn the floor over to writer and philosopher Joseph Campbell (bold emphasis below is mine); I find this essay incredibly moving and inspirational, and I know you will too.

The Hero’s Journey (On Living in the World) by Joseph Campbell

The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. What you have to do, you do with play. Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be.

Being alive is the meaning.

The warrior’s approach is to say “yes” to life: “Yea” to it all.

Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy. When we talk about settling the world’s problems, We’re barking up the wrong tree. The world is perfect. It’s a mess. It has always been a mess.

We are not going to change it. Our job is to straighten out our own lives. We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.

If we fix on the old, we get stuck. when we hang onto any form, we are in danger of putrefaction. Hell is life drying up. The Hoarder, the one in us that wants to keep, to hold on, must be killed. If we are hanging onto the form now, we’re not going to have the form next. You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.

Destruction before creation.

Out of perfection nothing can be made. Every process involves breaking something up. The earth must be broken to bring forth new life. If the seed does not die, there is no plant. Bread results from the death of wheat. Life lives on lives. Our own life lives on the acts of other people. If you are lifeworthy, you can take it. What we are really living for is the experience of life, both the pain and the pleasure. The world is a match for us. We are a match for the world. Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging. Negativism to the pain and ferocity of life is negativism to life.

We are not there until we can say “Yea” to it all.

To take a righteous attitude toward anything is to denigrate it. Awe is what moves us forward. As you proceed through life, following your own path, birds will shit on you. don’t bother to brush it off. Getting a comedic view of your situation gives you spiritual distance. Having a sense of humor saves you. Eternity is a dimension of here and now.

The divine lives within you. Live from your own center.

Your real duty is to go away from the community to find your bliss. The society is the enemy when it imposes its structures on the individual. On the dragon there are many scales. Every one of them says “Thou Shalt.” Kill the dragon “Thou Shalt.” When one has killed that dragon, one has become The Child. Breaking out is following your bliss pattern, quitting the old place, starting your hero journey, following your bliss. You throw off yesterday as the snake sheds its skin.

Follow your bliss.

Table for Two: Human Magic and a Hot Mess

Serenity, grace and ease. That's one of my mantras for how I want to be in my life.

I am ashamed to admit that I haven't exhibited much of the three these past few weeks.

Try lethargic, sad and stressed. Burned-out, zombie-like, and exhausted. Impatient, dull and over-committed.

Symptom: Blogger's Block. Cause: Witholding Information.

I've written three blog posts that I didn't have the guts to hit publish on these last few weeks. Partly because I knew that this is the post that really needed to be written. This is the truth, and that is what I make a continued commitment to deliver to you.

I am terrified to admit all of this…so publicly. I am terrified because the last thing I want to do is seem ungrateful for all of the gifts of my life. These professional diamonds I carry of having a great job at Google and a book due out in one rapidly-approaching month (now selling for a mere $9.10!).

I read somewhere that authors should never complain about anything related to their book...because most people would kill to be in their shoes...complaining about those very things.

So I can't help but feel confused and disappointed in myself that I am not singing in the shower and leaping out of bed with unadulterated joy every morning. What is wrong with me?

Aha Moments

Yesterday, in a coaching session during which I ran through half a box of Kleenex, I understood why. It might be blindingly obvious to all of you, but forgive me -- I can be a little slow in the compassion-for-self department.

The tectonic plates of my life are shifting and I am feeling the aftershocks…without wanting to admit it.

I want to be GREAT for you. For me. For my family. For my friends and coworkers. I want to be cheerful, gracious, grateful, and over-the-moon excited. That's what I see in people's eyes when I tell them what I am up to.

But what about me?

Me and My Crazy Gremlins

In another moment of clarity I realized that for three years now I have felt like Atlas carrying two globes -- one for Google and one for the blog/book (aka Jenny Blake Enterprises -- JBE).

I have two weeks left at Google before I take leave (after five intense, awesome years), and four weeks until the book comes out. I can see a finish line ahead and yet it feels like I've slammed into a wall. I've been putting tremendous pressure on myself to tie everything up in a beautiful bow; a pressure-cooker of chaos from juggling these two large responsibilities and my sanity.

I also realized that for the first time in three years I can put the globes down for a minute and give myself a rest and some credit. And in that realization, it has come to my attention that I might need to put the globes down right now. Because I have not been myself these last few weeks (if not more) and that is no way to kick off a time-of-my-life book tour.

My gremlins (the personal development police) tell me that there are starving children in Africa and that I am not curing cancer. That I have no right to feel tired or stressed. That I should just relax and be present. And yet, it's funny how massively unproductive those sentiments are. They do not change how I actually feel.

Breaking News: I am human! (I had almost forgotten)

I was supposed to have a book marketing brainstorm call with my genius friend (and virtual work-husband) Willie Jackson last week. We've never met in person, but by the tone of my voice within five minutes of our opening chit-chat he asked, "Do we need to talk about Jenny Blake the author, or Jenny Blake the human being?" Cue waterworks.

Not even an hour later my book-trailer-producing friend asked how I was *really* doing over a Chipotle dinner. Once AGAIN, I broke down into hysterical sobs. Mid-restaurant. Hot mess for one?

I hated that my breakdown was so blindingly obvious to everyone around me. There was no hiding from it anymore. Book-trailer-friend looked me square in the eyes and said, "You're fucking magic, JB. But you're human magic. Give yourself a break."

These men -- brilliant angels, if you ask me -- had a point.

Growing pains...a sign of great things to come

I know without a doubt that I am just experiencing growing pains (a sure sign that greatness lurks), and that I am not going to give up at the eleventh hour.

But I also want you to know that I am human, and you are human, and none of us are immune from pesky things like FEELINGS or BIG CHANGES.

I'm serving myself up a side of compassion this weekend, and I'll be sending the same to any of you in need. If I'm slow to call back, respond to email, or post something new, you'll know it's because I'm practicing the fine art of giving myself a break.

To human magic, and with endless gratitude for your presence, Jenny