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I was fortunate enough to be able to hear advice and insight from the amazing Tracy Wong.

“Ego can hijack your career.”

“Ego hides opportunities.”

“Ego blocks ideas.”

“A great idea is 99% strategy.”

“Your greatest creative weapon are your ears.”

“Knowledge talks, wisdom listens.”

“Embrace compromise.”

“Have an empty mind, not an open mind.”

“Engage in the democracy of good ideas.”

“There’s no ‘I’ in team, but there is in prick.”

“Anything is possible as long as no one cares who gets the credit.”

“Love your client like you love your dog.”

“Listening creates trust which kills fear.”

Everything that Mr. Wong said will stick with me throughout the processes I will take in life. His words are simple, yet full of such meaning and when he presents them, you sit back and almost get hit in the head with common sense. But I would have never realized all of this if it wasn’t for him. So thank you, Tracy Wong.

-Taylor

I love painting my nails and while I was in a store today buying yet another color, I took a good look at the packaging and noticed how creative the OPI company is when promoting a new line of colors.

Their newest set of colors is called the “Holland” collection.

I wonder how the company decided to come up with this idea of forming a group of polishes all interrelated under one umbrella theme.

I think by doing it this way aids the success of the business by making it easier for consumers to associate a particular color.

Plus, I think it is fun.

There are numerous OPI collections and I am always so impressed when they release more collections.

I mainly think about how they decided on naming it a specific collection and why. What were the steps?

And even more interesting are all the different individual polish names and how clever they are.

It goes to show how many cool and creative people there are out there to compete with.

But by breaking all of this down and studying their work, I think can only strengthen you as a creative thinker and challenge your mental idea boundaries.

Stay colorful.

-Taylor

Source: www.google.com/images

Thanks to Deb Morrison, I have now been thinking about the skills that I have in my ‘toolbox.’

But even more, I have thought about what I want to put in my toolbox.

The toolbox… The skills you have as a person, employee, intern, what have you.

As I reflect, I can think of skills that I have that make me a worthy student and upcoming person in the world of advertising.

But there are many skills that could be sharpened and learned in order to make me better.

Every profession ideally wants to higher the person with a full toolbox.

So now, I can work on gathering some more wrenches and hammers.

-Taylor

Obviously, trends vary and trends vary geographically.

In Eugene, I think some of the most popular trends are Dutch Bro’s, feathers as accessories, organic and vegan food, Oregon Duck apparel, North Face, and leggings… with everything.

All of these are stamps of Eugene. When I am home in California and I see a girl wearing feathers, I think of Eugene and it immediately takes me back.

Dutch Bro’s. The one and only. Perfection. Live it. Love it. Learn it.

A very typical look of a UO student girl is leggings with an oversized sweater and boots. Comfy, casual and practical. Because really, that sums up Eugenian’s point of view on style.

Eugene has such an eclectic style and when old trends fade out and new trends creep in, Eugene will still have a certain flair.

Source: www.google.com/images

-Taylor

As I am sitting in front of the TV watching the Academy Awards, and all of the interviewers are asking the stars who they’re wearing, I realized it’s all for the credit of the designer.

It’s hands down the best way to advertise.

Other than famous actors and actresses, who else is better suited to help promote sales?

So… Who are you wearing?

-Taylor

When I was on Hulu last night I saw the cutest commercial. It was for the Animal Humane Society and the message was about adopting cats.

They showed all different kinds of cats and each cat they showed said a little message.

Now that’s how you get someone to adopt an animal.

I figure some people would think the commercial is stupid because obviously cats can’t talk, but I think it is brilliant.

For the animal lover, it makes your heart melt. It makes you want to get in your car, bike, whatever, and go adopt a cat.

Because, what if animals could actually talk?

I think a lot more animals would have homes. That’s just my opinion.

-Taylor

I’ll admit it. I love the Kardashian family. I like watching their family dynamics on TV. I think they’re funny and of course, beautiful. But obviously they have had their share of bad press.

But what made them famous? Their dad, Robert Kardashian, who was OJ Simpson’s defense attorney?

Maybe, but the famous ladies has created their own personal fame, and brand.

They have everything from shoe lines, nail polish, weight loss supplements, clothes, perfume… You name it, their name is on it.

The Kardashian ladies might not have the best reputation in Hollywood anymore, but their brand is thriving and everyone wants a piece.

I have to say, in order to build this sort of success from where they started is impressive. Because let’s face it, Kim got attention from her sex tape scandal.

These women are smart and they sure know how to market themselves. They have brought themselves fame that seems like a bulldozer couldn’t even tear down if it tried.

-Taylor

Source: www. google.com/images

It’s time to take my personal brand to the next level. I am preparing to launch my website to include everything I need for my portfolio. This is a big step.

I haven’t decided on much, but I know that I am going to use cargocollective.com to host my site. Cargo is professional, organized and creative; everything I need in order to brand myself in the right way.

I am still thinking about how I want to design it, which fonts to incorporate, and what story I want it to tell. But what is the most important aspect to me is that it tells my story. I want every single detail in my website to reflect who I am as a person. I want it to be comfortable, warm and professionally fashionable. There is a certain flair I want it to contain and when you open the page I want it to look like you are searching within my heart and soul. It should be the essence of me.

-Taylor

All my life I have collected greeting cards people have given me. There is something about a sweet, handwritten card that warms the heart.

I keep all the cards in a vintage, heart-shaped box and it is filled to the brim. There are cards in there from the day I was born.

There is something special about a Hallmark greeting card. For me, they do not just tell stories, but reinvent them. They put words into feelings that not many people can do, and when you look at the Hallmark crown on the back of the card, you get a comforting feeling and you trust what they say.

Hallmark cards can make you laugh and cry. And on occasion, simultaneously. I think that in each individual card was an art director and a writer and the cards could stand there alone and advertise for the brand like no other company.

-Taylor