Career Profile: Green Marketers

In today's career profile, we will take a look into the social responsibility field at a traditional occupation with an eco-friendly perspective. The green jobs sector is experiencing tremendous growth, especially when it comes to business practices and applications. If you haven't taken the time to educate yourself on recent green trends and developments, it could be a very smart move. Even if you're aren't passionate about the environment, you should be aware. There's a good chance that the company you end up working for values green business practices, or faces competitors that do!

A green marketer's role includes many tasks; marketing environmental awareness is certainly one of them. They analyze green marketing and sales trends to forecast future conditions and analyze the effectiveness of marketing strategies and channels. A large part of their job involves keeping up to speed with environmental technologies, advances, and education. They attend many conferences, events happening in local/relevant communities, and promotional events-all related to green products, companies, and technologies. An essential component is understanding consumer opinion, so research on buying habits and values is important. This helps them determine which target markets are most susceptible to green services, products, and technologies. Incorporating green business  practices (such as the use of recycled materials in the manufacturing of a product) into a company's branding or sales initiatives is a major component to the job. As stated earlier, marketing environmental awareness is key. A green marketer is constantly promoting environmental information and implementing it within advertisements, presentations, public relations related work, and other communication materials. Knowledge of green markets, regulations, products, and technology is carefully worked into the marketing strategy for optimal sustainability and social responsibility. Green markets identify the best marketing channels for their products/services and re-design or improve upon existing marketing strategies that lack environmental focus. In their efforts to spread awareness, green marketers are also responsible for writing the marketing content for green company/product websites, brochures, blogs, and other channels of communication. (Job task information adapted from O*Net, onetonline.com).

This career is just one example of how social responsibility or sustainability can be incorporated into an already existing, traditional business career. Combining your passions with your career... sounds familiar? That's what iChoose is all about. Click on the link below and take some time to see just how many different types of green jobs there are, and how much growth the industry is experiencing.

All Green Economy Sectors

Also, take the time to check out Justmeans, a website all about doing "business better." This website has a plethora of content on applying social responsibility to business, initiatives that companies are starting, and general industry news.

Don't forget to check back later in the week to learn about Vault Guides, the detailed and information rich industry guides available online to you through Babson!

Takeaways from November's Monthly iChoose Meeting: Networking

With all this talk about networking, you may be wondering what the ultimate point of it is. The truth is that everybody has a different reason for networking because we all want and need different things in life. We can employ networking as a tool to obtain what we need whether it be information on a career, an idea, resources, or even an internship or job! With such important goals, it's essential that you realize networking isn't about luck or a single strong connection- it's about building ongoing relationships with peers, professionals, strangers, and just about anyone! There is an immeasurable amount of value to be found in networking. Networking is a skill that must be practiced and perfected like any other. If you genuinely make the effort to start now, you'll be amazed at the number of contacts you can compile at your time at Babson, and even more in the business world beyond.

Don't assume networking is all about finding contacts; maintaining an ongoing relationship complete with communication and regular updates is equally, if not more, important. These relationships are life-long and bursting with opportunities and information. Make sure to maintain a single networking log to keep track of contact information, initial contact date, date you should follow-up, and other important information. Below is a link to a pre-made networking log for you to download. Feel free to add more to it or keep it basic, but keep it active and running for life!

Click Here for Networking Log

Here's the key to getting the most out of your networking resources: start sharing your interests with everyone! Anyone you meet may hold exciting information related to your passions, but if you don't tell them what your passions are, you might never find out.  Here are some potential resources you should make a mental note to target:

• Clubs, speakers, conferences on campus
• Faculty
• Alumni Directory, alumni office
• CCD!
• Other centers on campus such as the Blank Cener, Lewis Institute,                                                       Bernon Center and Sustainability Office
• Family
• Social Media

Networking through social media is a fantastic and easy way to make and maintain connections. After meeting with somebody connect through LinkedIn or Google+! You can post blog comments on industry or company blogs. Use twitter to ask a company questions or make remarks. Don't have a twitter account? Sign up, seriously. Social Media is meant to be engaging and fun, but it can also be a brilliant way to market yourself, take advantage of opportunities, and let your voice be heard.

When you are networking in person, it's important to be able to market yourself quickly and clearly with personality. That's why you should develop and rehearse your elevator pitch. If you only had a minute to describe what you're looking to do in life or in the short-term future, what you personally do well, and who you are, would you be able to tie all of these things into an impressive and energetic spoken statement? Below is an elevator pitch worksheet to help you do just that. 

Elevator Pitch Worksheet

When you are able to confidently market your experiences, interests, and skills, people will pay attention to what you have to offer. The more practice you get, the more likely opportunity is to knock on your door.

Resources at Babson For The Entrepreneur In You

No matter where you go in the world, when you say Babson College, people think entrepreneurship. Some of us choose to concentrate in it, many will or already run their own business, but nobody can escape it. It is the axis of our curriculum and the backbone of our society. Our entrepreneurial thought and action based learning has earned Babson College the #1 rank in entrepreneurship from Businessweek 15 consecutive years. It differentiates a Babson degree from a typical business degree and communicates your advanced problem solving abilities to potential employers. Today's blog post will address the resources available to you at Babson that will cultivate and fuel your entrepreneurial spirit beyond the borders of the classroom.

Let's start with the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship. This building is the core of entrepreneurship at Babson. It combines a plethora of programs, initiatives, organizations, and opportunities to inspire entrepreneurship and put it into practice! A key example of this is The Venture Accelerator Program. This is a program unlike any other which takes a student's idea or vision and nurtures it through the exploring, pursuing, and launching and growing stages of the entrepreneurial process providing exceptional resources and support along the way. This is a one-of-a-kind recipe which combines peer groups, mentors, test strategies, market research, resource building, workshops, incubation space, events, speakers, and fundraising to create the ultimate entrepreneurial venture experience. It isn't simply a study, it's living entrepreneurship and taking action. You've probably heard this before at Babson, Action Trumps Everything, and this is what the Venture Accelerator Program is all about. Take some time to find out more about it here. Do you know what you're capable of starting? It's up to you to find out.

Get involved with Babson Entrepreneurship through social media! Like the Facebook page, follow @BabsonEship on Twitter, or get connected on LinkedIn.

Did you know that Babson is a leader in global entrepreneurial research? Babson has partnered with the London School of Business to conduct the largest, longest standing research on entrepreneurship called the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. Other research pursuits include the Successful Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Practices Program which focuses on entrepreneurial growth and legacy across family businesses, and the Diana Project which focuses on female business owners and business growth activity.

November 11-19th is Global Entrepreneurship Week at Babson! This week is loaded with activities, educational sessions, networking opportunities, and bundles of inspiration. It starts right off the bat with the Babson Entrepreneurship Forum from Friday, November 11th to Sunday, November 13th. You can still sign up so don't miss out! This forum is jam-packed with keynote speakers (refer to picture below), workshops led by experienced professionals, and contests including business plan competitions. If you take a few minutes to look over this year's schedule, you'll be amazed at how much you could experience and learn in one weekend.

                               @BabsonForum    Babson Entrepreneurship Forum on Facebook
Last, but certainly not least is E-Tower, the student-run special interest housing tower on campus located in Van Winkle Hall. E-Tower is home to 21 students that live and breathe entrepreneurship. They hold events across campus, hold speakers, and live by these 5 values: Just do it - Fail fast, cheap and often,Work harder & push yourself, Be ambitious, Learn & grow, Communication. It's a competitive process to land a room in E-Tower, but the learning and living environment is perfect for serious entrepreneurs. They've had ten businesses in Businessweek's top 25 and members are a fantastic resource for advice and information on starting up your own venture! Check out their website, find them on Facebook, and follow them on @etower on Twitter to see what they have in the works!

During this year's Global Entrepreneurship Week appreciate attending the finest institute for entrepreneurship around the world and get involved. Get connected across social media channels to stay up to date,know what opportunities are available to you so you can take advantage of them, and expand your mind. Action trumps everything at Babson College; if you get involved, you'll be amazed by the results.

Your Internship Strategy

With spring just around the bend, now's a better time than ever to start searching for an internship. However, to find one that's right for your field of interest, availability, and workload, it's essential that you develop a strategy. Today's post will help you identity methods and resources so you can do just that!

First off, networking is responsible for the majority of full-time jobs acquired post-graduation. Why not use networking as a gateway to obtaining an internship? Networking will be the theme of next week's blog post, but  invaluable connections can be made at business events, through LinkedIn, the Babson Alumni Directory, through informational interviews, and essentially anyone you engage in conversation with. The ability to recognize and efficiently utilize the personal and professional relationships you have in your life will get you far in the business world.

Exposure to hundreds of job and internship postings are available to you right now on Babson Career Connections. It's an incredible resource right under your nose. It's so simple to use, but not utilized nearly enough. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use it.

1. Log onto your portal homepage and find the career center applet (shown above). Under useful links, click on career connections.

2. Fill out your academic and personal profile so that your grade level accurately reflects postings that you are eligible for.

3. In the main search box at the top right of the page, type in internships and hit enter.

4. A list of postings related to the search keyword (s) come up. You will see the type of posting (job/internship), semester it is for, application deadline, and general description in the search results. You can do an advanced search by field, location, etc., but a broad search is recommended to avoid missing anything of interest.

5. If you click on a specific posting title you will be brought to a page with much more detailed information. Most jobs will require a resume with your application. You can upload your resume by clicking on the documents tab on the top of the page. Then it will be on file so when you find a posting you want to apply to, it will be ready to go. The same goes for cover letters, writing samples, etc.

It's really that simple! There are new postings every day so take a few minutes to fill out your career connections profile so you can reap the benefits for the rest of your Babson experience! Another word of advice: don't apply to just one or two internships and wait, apply to as many that genuinely interest you as possible until you secure one!

Have a particular company in mind you'd love to intern with? Go to their website and search their employment/career section for any internship listings or further information. If no information is available,  email them! Prospect! Ask if they hire interns to work on projects, normal functions, etc.(but don't ask for an internship directly), or look to set up an informational interview. Maybe they're respond with interest, it's worth a try.

The internet is an infinite source of internship posting with sites pertaining to specific fields to enormous general job boards. All you need to do is type internships into Google and hours of tab-opening, book-marking, and exciting opportunities await. Set aside a few hours on a less busy day in your schedule to explore what is available to you and get you motivated. Then you can select your top choices and work hard to present the most attractive and relevant application. Make sure to follow all application instructions carefully. Make an appointment with a counselor in CCD to create a custom search strategy and prepare a strong tailor-fit application for an internship/job posting.

Career Profile: Purchasing Manager

This week's career profile features the purchasing manager profession in the retail supply chain field. 

Job Description

Purchasing managers plan, direct, and coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. This includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising managers and procurement managers.

Tasks

Purchasing managers are in charge of forming policies and contracts with suppliers on behalf of their firm. They oversee all of the buying, selling, material, equipment, machinery, and supply distribution activities of their department. They also interview, hire, and train new personnel for their department. Purchasing managers seek out the best suppliers to buy materials, equipment, and supplies from. They then communicate with the suppliers to get an accurate idea of the terms of the sale, product availability, and all essential details. Common duties include initiating and processing purchase orders and requests for both supplies and equipment. Making clear and accurate contracts with suppliers is an extremely important business matter. Purchasing managers are in charge of developing and implementing the instructions, policies, and procedures for purchasing and contract management. They keep organized, detailed records of all goods ordered and received. Participation in the development of product, equipment, and substitute material specifications is also part of their job. Constant analysis of the market and current delivery systems is an essential role they play in predicting and managing current and future availability of materials. Lastly, purchasing managers must mediate and resolve claims against employers and supplier complaints or dissatisfaction. Similar job titles include materials manager, director of purchasing, commodity manager, director of materials, director of strategic sourcing, procurement manager, procurement officer, purchasing director, and purchasing supervisor.

While their job description is chocked full of responsibilities, the tools a purchasing manager uses are relatively simple: a 10 key calculator, desktop, or laptop computer. However, the technology (software) used by a purchasing manager is a powerful resource that the job cannot do without. Database query, enterprise resource planning, procurement, project management, spreadsheet, and word processing software are all essential to purchasing management.

Purchasing managers must be knowledgeable in many fields including, but not limited to, economics, accounting, transportation, customer/personal service, human resources, law, government, mathematics, production/processing, administration, and management. 

Do you possess the skills and abilities needed in purchasing management? Which ones can you build or polish?

skills: 

• Coordinating your actions to those of others
• Active listening
• Critical thinking 
• Speaking
• Managing personnel 
• Negotiating
• Persuading
• Social perceptiveness
• Strong time management skills
• Decision making/judgment

abilities:

• Oral comprehension and expression
• Speech clarity and recognition
• Written expression
• Deductive reasoning (apply general rules to specific problems)
• Fluid ideas
• Written comprehension
• Problem recognition
• Information ordering

General work activities include resolving conflicts, communicating with external parties, communicating with supervisors, peers, and subordinates, forming and maintaining personal relationships/connections, gathering information, decision making, problem solving, efficient/frequent computer use, the monitor and control of resources, coordinating the work/activities of others, and directing and motivating subordinates.

Does the work styles of a purchasing manager fit with your personality?

• Integrity
• Dependability
• Self control
• Initiative
• Stress tolerance
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Analytic thinking
• Leadership
• Attention to detail
• Cooperation

The median wages for a purchasing manager are $47.51 hourly and $95,070 annually (2010 data). The employment figures were 70,000 employees in 2008 with little to no projected employment growth rate from 2008-2018. There are predicted to be 21,100 purchasing manager job openings between 2008-2018. The top industries for a purchasing manager include manufacturing and the management of companies and enterprises.

More information can be found from:

• Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
• The American Purchasing Society
• The Association for Operations Management
• The Institute for Supply Management
• National Institute of Governmental Purchasing

Information from this career profile was obtained from onetonline.org. Check back next week for a career profile related to Babson' College's favorite field: Entrepreneurship! 

Make Your Resume Stand Out

Whether you've drafted your resume before or don't even know where to begin, it's extremely important to always have a relevant and enticing resume on hand. Your resume is an essential component of personal marketing that gives employers a first impression of you, your experiences, and the reasons why they should interview you! It's one thing to have a correct format, but does your resume stand out from all the others for a specific job or internship application? Even if you feel you've perfected your resume, it should cater to each specific application, emphasizing how your skills and experiences will contribute to that specific company's organizational goals and values. This means doing research on the company beforehand, evaluating what that company is looking for in a candidate and communicating this in a clear and visually appealing way. Drafting a resume is a process, not a one time assignment! We've compiled a list of tips that will help you build your resume to it's maximum potential!

The use of action verbs and strong adjectives are important when describing your work experience. However, did you know that the nouns that you choose to use in your resume are growing increasingly important? This is because companies are implementing technology that scans resumes for keywords. This system identifies keywords that companies want to see within resumes for a specific position. Some systems even place weights on the importance of different words. While there is no sure way of discovering what the desired words are, there are techniques and guidelines to enhance your resume with the strongest choice of keywords.

When it comes to formatting there are three basic styles of resumes: chronological, functional, and a combination/hybrid of the two. In a chronological resume, education and work experience are listed in, you guessed it, chronological order, but starting with your most recent experiences. This format emphasizes the organizations you've participated, positions you've held, achievements, and what you were responsible for. It draws attention to your career progress you have made and is effective when your experiences and education line up with the position you are targeting. On the other hand, a functional resume focuses on the achievements you've made and skills you possess rather than titles, organizations, etc. However, this resume will most likely not be appropriate for your use as it is helpful when applying to positions which your education and work experience are not relevant to. This type of resume is categorized by skills such as communication, leadership, etc. that target the position you're applying to. A combination or hybrid resume focuses on functional areas highlighting skills and capabilities, but contains chronological work experiences including positions, dates, and organizations. 

There are many ways to format a resume and some are more appropriate for different positions or levels of experience. However, in general, your resume should always be a single sided page, an easy to read font (11-12 pt), and contain a clear white space of separation between sections to make for easy scanning. You can bold, underline, or use bullets to stress the importance of an accomplishment. Make sure to demonstrate how you personally completed objectives that furthered the organization's overall strategy and goals. Cite numbers when possible; tell the size of the team you managed or the amount of revenue you generated, etc. Only include relevant information that markets yourself effectively. Choose topic headings that are enticing and  inviting. Communicate the desirable personality traits you possess, but don't get too personal! Listing your age, gender, martial status, and religious or political views is completely unnecessary and should be left out. Also, don't state the obvious-employers know that you will be able to produce references or attend an interview! Make sure that you understand (and demonstrate your understanding of) that company's needs, priorities, what they seek in a candidate, and relevant vocabuary (those keywords again!). Don't use "I" or other pronouns and avoid unnecessary extra or repetitive wording.

After you're all done, proof read it several times and seek feedback from multiple friends and professionals (make an appt. with CCD!). You want to be fully confident that your resume effectively communicates the value you will add to a company personally and your individual qualifications for that position. If your resume stands out, it will earn you the chance to interview, the chance to really sell yourself.

This article from Daily Writing Tips contains 44 invaluable tips for resume design. It's definitely worth taking the time to read and consider. Get working on your resume today and good luck!

Career Profile: Marketing Manager

Hey iChoosers!
Each week we will be featuring an in-depth look into a specific career within different business fields. This week the field is marketing and the profession is a marketing manager!

It's an extremely involved role with a lot of responsibilities. The marketing manager is in charge of planning, directing, and coordinating marketing policies and programs for a company. They attempt to determine the demand for products and services offered both by their own company and its competitors. They try to identify potential customers and set pricing strategies that aim to maximize the company's profits or market share while maximizing consumer satisfaction.

While all job descriptions contain a degree of variation, the role of a marketing manager is often synonymous with the following job titles: Marketing Director, Marketing Manager, Vice President of Marketing, Business Development Manager, Marketing Coordinator, Account Supervisor, Business Development Director, Commercial Lines Manager, Commercial Marketing Specialist, Market Development Manager.

The Tasks of a marketing manager involve working with advertising and promotion managers to design marketing activities and policies that effectively promote products and services. They use their knowledge of markup and cost factors, establishment objectives, and market characteristics to identify, develop, or evaluate a marketing strategy. Marketing directors manager marketing and sales staff, overseeing the hiring, training, performance evaluations, and daily activities of the department. Marketing Managers even oversee the financial aspects of product development including research and development, expenditures, budgets, return on investment, and profit-loss projections. They craft pricing strategies that keep company objectives and customer satisfaction at a harmonious level. They generate comprehensive lists of product offerings and benefits, launch market research initiatives, and analyze research results.  Forecasting is an important part of the job; strategic planning is used to guarantee the sales and profitability of products, product lines, and services while analyzing business developments and market trends. They plan or participate in trade shows and a variety of other promotional activities, usually in conjunction with advertisers, developers, and production managers to market their products and services. Interaction with buying personnel is essential too; this communication gives them insight into the products and services that are predicted to be in demand.

The tools of the marketing manager are your basic office equipment: laptop, desktop computer, fax machines,  PDA's & Smartphones, Scanners, and Photocopiers. The technology is more interesting! Analytic and scientific software includes programs like Lyris HQ Web-Analytics Solution, Nedstat Sitestat; Online advertising reporting software, and the all too familiar Minitab Software. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) programs like Oracle Siebel Server Sync, QAD Marketing Automation, Sage SalesLogix, and Salesforce.com Salesforce CRM are used. ClearEDGE software, Fast Track Systems software, Microsoft Access, and Structured query language SQL are all used for data base user interface and query software. Of course e-mail and photo/image editing software are essential and have many software options to choose from such as Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Outlook.

So what is it important for a Marketing Manager to know? Here is a simple list of the essential general fields that these managers are very knowledgeable of and skilled with:

-Sales and Marketing

-Customer and Personal Service

-English Language

-Administration and Management

-Communications and Media

-Computers and Electronics

This next part is important in your career research! Is this a job a good fit for you?

Read this next list of skills and abilities essential to a Marketing Manager profession and assess whether you possess them. If not, and this job seems to align with your passions, make a mental note of the skills and abilities you are lacking so you can focus on developing them specifically!

Skills: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Persuasion, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Active Learning, Coordination, and Operations Analysis

Abilities: Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression, Deductive Reasoning, Written Comprehension, Fluency of Ideas, Speech Recognition, Written Expression, Inductive Reasoning, Originality, and Problem Sensitivity

Do the following activities involved in this profession appeal to your passions and skills?

Work Activities: Communicating with Persons Outside the Company, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, and Subordinates, Gathering Information, Thinking Creatively, Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships, Team Development and Building, Problem Solving, Decision Making,  Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work, Working with Computers, and Developing Objectives/Strategies

Do the work styles of a Marketing Manager seem similar to your own?

Work Styles: Dependability, Attention to Detail, Cooperation, Integrity, Leadership, Initiative, Persistence, Achievement/Effort, Adaptability/Flexibility, and Independence

You're probably interested in the salary information so here it is! As of 2010 median wages were $54.23 hourly and $112, 800 annually. 59, 700 Marketing Manager job openings are predicted between 2008 and 2018.

All information is courtesy of  O*Net , but you can find more at the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

Check back next week to learn about a profession in the Retail Supply Chain field, but never hesitate to do some research on your own time!

Take-Aways from the Oct. 14th, 2011 Monthly Meeting

So whether you were a member of the original iChoose Seminar offering or the most recent one to pass, you identified the themes among your skills, personality, and life experiences. However, now the question is, how have you applied them since? They should be shaping your career research and strategies! Each monthly iChoose meeting will serve as an extension of the research and strategy modules that you covered during the seminar. Maybe you've been slacking on your research, or maybe you've gained new insights and experiences that have shifted your career path. In any case, iChoose will steer you in the right direction with important updates and research tools.


Research Your Interests:

O*Net
O*NET OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more!


Vault Career Guides
See why Forbes magazine calls Vault Guides CliffsNotes for Careers. Published since 1997 and based on reviews from thousands of employees each year, Vault Guides are THE source for insider insight on career information and employer reviews. Find out which industry and company is right for you. (You have full access to these through portal)


The Alumni Directory
A great resource for personal and professional networking. Use it to build networks of friends and colleagues, make valuable business connections, and promote yourself and your business.

Factiva
Respected Content—licensed content from seasoned Dow Jones journalists and the world's top media outlets, trade and consumer publications and business Web sites—filtered to reveal the best and most reliable results


Babson Concentrations
At Babson College, concentrations are an optional way for you to organize your advanced studies, and certify that your focus of study is on your final transcript.


Check Career Connections regularly for job and internship postings!! There are currently 27 internship postings, mostly related to finance and accounting due to the time of year. Thoroughly read through the weekly CCD e-mails to see which employers will be on campus and which jobs have been posted online!

Here are some other sites that you should explore!

Indeed
Find millions of jobs from thousands of company web sites, job boards and newspapers. one search. all jobs. Indeed.

Idealist
The world's best place to find volunteer opportunities, nonprofit jobs, internships, and organizations working to change the world since 1995.

Internmatch
Search and find your next internship in the largest database of college internships online.

Intern Queen
Lauren Berger is CEO of Intern Queen Inc, an online internship destination that helps students find and apply for internships while also educating them on how to make the most of their experiences.

One Day One Internship
One Day, One Internship is the insider's guide to unique and exciting internship opportunities for college students.


Look for more resources to come! Don't forget to mark your calendar for the next monthly meeting on November 8th to learn all about networking.

Self-Discovery at the September 30, 2011 iChoose Seminar

One of the most valuable take-aways from the iChoose program is the importance of self-reflection and discovery. iChoose uses a life line activity to create a framework for understanding how the overview of your life and work experiences shape personal passions and provide feelings of fulfillment. Although the acquisition of a career is in the future, reflection on the past reveals how major life events, influential people, and living environments all interact and build upon one another to determine your goals and values. Taking the time to connect the dots can reveal themes or trends that illuminate what path is right for your future. If you're not confident or aware of your passions, all there is to guide you is what you think you should be doing, if that's even clear. When you discover and reflect on what your life means to you and what you love to do, you'll be ready to set your sights on a meaningful career that provides fulfillment and excitement. This will grant you ownership of your career, making the conversion from dreams to reality much clearer, tangible, exciting, and personal.

Take a look at the life lines of September 30th's iChoose class. As you can see no two are alike in content or design! Most people found that sharing and explaining their life's progression aloud to someone else, in combination with peer feedback, provided new insights into their life's themes. On the other hand, listening to other peoples' personal influences, joys, challenges, and work experiences was inspiring and mind-opening. While the life line activity is fantastic, self-discovery is a continual process that requires constant reflection on your past and thorough analysis of what you experience with each passing day.