2016 was quite a year for all of us, but I have to say it was probably one of the most rewarding and best years I have had personally as well as professionally. I am excited to see what 2017 has in store for me and for everyone.
Looking back at some of the pictures and snaps I took this year, there were a lot of changes, firsts, and experiences I had this year that really made an impact on my both personally and professionally. Here are some of the main ones that I was able to takeaway from this year:
Going behind the scenes at College Gameday
The power of social media really came into play here with this experience. When I saw the College Gameday account tweet out they were going to give away two VIP tickets out to the best tweet, I knew I had to participate. I was able to create a short video (which I created in Snapchat) and then the rest is history.
What was great about this experience was the fact I was able to bring along one of my former students in #Freberg16. This was a great professional experience for Chase and he was able to go behind the scenes on Snapchat for Front Office Sports. Major thanks to Katie Hughes for this truly epic #SMSports experience!
2016 Takeaway: Take the initiative to reach out and see if you can be part of an experience. Learning only happens when you take action. The worst thing you can do is have regret for not doing something to better your career, profession, and personal brand.
Deciding to celebrate track and field retirement with a mini
I do NOT know what was going through my mind back in May 2015. I realized in 2016 I would be celebrating my 10 years of being out of track and field. I knew I had to celebrate it somehow, and I realized I wanted to do something that I would have never thought would be possible back in the day as a thrower. First thing that came to mind was a mini-marathon.
I was able to finish (not last and did not die!) my first mini this year. I was beyond thrilled and excited to have done this because if you would have told me I would have done one of these back in 2006, I would have laughed. In addition, I was able to go back to CA to see the USC-UCLA dual meet for the first time in 10 years, which was awesome.
2016 Takeaway: Set a goal for yourself to do something to push your boundaries and comfort zone. You will become stronger both physically and mentally from the experience. And – chances are you will do it again (side note: I have already been training for next year’s KDF mini in 2017).
Reaching out to Gary Vee about the #AskGaryVee Book (and review is shared a lot!)
I have been a fan of Gary’s for a long time and I was excited when his latest book came out. He was asking people on Twitter who would like to have a copy and review it – and I remember looking at this tweet and thinking – should I say something? What if I do not get a response?
I decided this was 2016 and what was the worst thing that could have happen. 🙂 I reached out and Gary immediately responded and a book was sent my way. I was excited and read the book from start to finish, and I provided this book review.
Little did I know how this post would become one of the biggest ones I had this year because not only did I get traffic from my network, but Gary shared it on Twitter, LinkedIn, AND his email newsletter. WOW. I was pretty blown away!
2016 Takeaway: Influencers listen and respond to what you post. Make sure to establish consistent and relevant engagements with them at first. Build on these connections over time.
Visiting Clemson and learning from the best
This was probably one of the biggest highlights I had for the fall semester and what a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from the great pros at Clemson Athletics. I was able to spent a few days on campus and then go to the game against NC State (what a game!) to see everything in action.
I was a huge fan of Clemson and the team Jonathan, Nik, and Jeff have created with their students and colleagues before visiting the campus. However, this trip was truly epic and beyond what I would have ever expected out of a #SMSports visit. They are the REAL deal both on and off the field not only with their work, but they really are amazing people. Very fortunate to have this experience this year.
2016 Takeaway: Relationships matter and they do not happen over night. Behind each account is a group of amazing people. Be engaging, generous, and supportive to each other.Â
Getting Spectacles
This was fairly recent, but still in 2016! Investing in the future tools for both research and teaching purposes is so crucial for us, especially those in education. We have to make sure we are providing our students with the tools they need to be aware of when they are in the workplace. I am still exploring what these tools can do, but there are a lot of opportunities here for this glasses now and as we head into 2017.
2016 Takeaway. You got to invest in the tools you (and colleagues/students) need to succeed. Tools, experiences, and opportunities are not always given to you – you have to determine which ones you personally want to invest in. These investments will always pay off.
Expanding your personal brand
Conferences and networking events were definitely key in this part for me this year. I had a chance to do several activities where I was able to really network, share my insights, and be part of new communities. Sabrina (my bestie and fellow research collaborator) and I got a chance to present at a Cyberbullying conference this summer in Dublin.
We were two of the PR professionals at the conference, but it opened our eyes and connections to other fields outside of communication, which was cool.
The other thing I was able to do this year was attend two Adobe events. Both of these events sponsored by Adobe were incredible. I loved the fact I was able to chat and engage with many different higher education professionals and amazing pros at Adobe as well. The first was a great event in Lehi that was focused primarily on the creative classroom. I truly loved this event and walked away with so many great ideas to bring back to Louisville and share with my colleagues. The second event was Adobe Max and EduMax – both were amazing and I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to share this experience with one of my good friends and fellow #PRprofs, Amber Hutchins.
Thank you Suzanne Jennings for these opportunities!
2016 Takeaway. Always look for opportunities inside AND outside of your field. In order to grow, you can’t stay inside your box. Explore around and make connections to expand your personal brand and network.
Writing a teaching workbook for social media
This was a fun mini project that I wanted to get out for years, but never really had the time. I decided one day over the summer that needed to change immediately. So, I went ahead and self published the book off of Amazon and the rest is history. I was really blown away with the response from not only fellow professors, but fellow friends in the industry.
This was exciting to see and I am beyond thrilled to hear all of the stories from professors who are going to be implementing some of these ideas into their spring 2017 classes.
2016 Takeaway: If you have an idea or goal, go for it. It may take time and dedication, but the payoff is huge. Be a resource and make sure you are generous with your information. Be the person you wish you had at a certain stage in your career and amplify that by 100.
Getting verified on Twitter
I never knew a blue checkmark would be so cool to have, but I finally was able to get verified on Twitter. I was able to write about the experience and share the insights I gained initially. A few months later, I have seen some great opportunities and connections being made on Twitter that may have not been possible otherwise. It does make a difference for sure!
2016 Takeway: Who says marketers and “social media influencers” can have all the fun on social media? 🙂 Professors can as well and we can learn from what the practitioners are doing and amply these insights into our own profession. We are going to have to do this for 2017 and beyond.
Overall, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, 2016 was pretty awesome. There are a lot of goals and projects I have lined up for the next year and I am beyond excited to see what 2017 brings to the table.
Wishing you all a wonderful and Happy New Year!
Best Wishes,
