I feel bad.  I haven’t posted in a while.  It’s strange how time flies—one would think that being unemployed would have left me with ample time, but I sort of packed it up to the brim these last couple of weeks—for both work and fun

Lets see…first the work part.  I’ve been trying to figure out which sector of the market I want to focus on.  Clearly, PR agencies are hemorrhaging, so no point in trying to go back there.  But health care is still surviving, and in some cases, growing (yes hospitals still need PR support).  While I was researching the industry, I realized that there was a major medical conference right here in my back yard.  This conference was partially social, hosting lavish banquets, fashion shows, etc throughout the week, while also maintaining some academic semblance by offering continuing medical certification programs.

A great networking opportunity with physicians from around the country, I really REALLY wanted to attend this.  But I’m unemployed and can’t afford to spend hundreds of dollars just to get in some banquet where I might make a contact.  I’m also not a doctor, which may have been an easy way to get my foot in the door.  But I AM a trained professional whose career relies on looking at all angles of a situation to find that special “hook”—one that opens doors and makes people interested in what you have to say.

And what hook I found!  It got me an “All-Access” pass, helped build my resume, and let me work with some of the local physicians and organizations in the Bay Area.  A week before the conference started, I managed to get a hold of the organizer, and after a 30-minute call, I had him sold on the idea of using Twitter at his event.  I explained how major companies, including my former client HP, have all successfully used Twitter at conferences, and that they could do something similar to create more buzz and excitement during the event.  And of course, as the new manager of their social media program, I needed access to everything so I could send interesting and timely tweets.

Very simple idea, but one that the organizers loved!  It all went well, the attendees liked the concept, and I got to eat great food, dress up, meet interesting people, and slap one more thing onto my resume.  Win-win from all ends

And right after the conference, which consumed a good two weeks, my sister came out to visit!!  Yay!!  And the best part was, I didn’t have to take any vacation time—I just plunged into my forced vacation and made the most of it