Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the $300 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/ http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3779
  • Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
  • Dealing With the Millennial Perception
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
    • ]]>     it’s key to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your generational membership may set up against you.

    How Millenial Are You?

    Since that time the Pew Research Center has published a 14 item quiz that will tell you how "Millennial" you are by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey. Perhaps the most interesting part of the process is the ability to compare your answers to those of other generations (including your own) and alter your answers to see the impact on your score.  Spending some time reviewing the information, playing with your answers and contemplating the resulting changes will provide valuable insight as you learn about your generation and others. The key is to not entrench yourself in your assessment results – ‘I’m an 86 and you’re a 38!  You’re old and will never understand me’ – but rather use the results as a starting point for a conversation about how you may or may not connect with friends, professors, parents, mentors and future/current employers.

    Knowledge Application

    The challenge last week was to understand the perception issues and challenges your generational membership places in front of you.  This Pew Research Center quiz will help you.  The next step is to use that knowledge to help build on your capabilities and demonstrate a level of engagement and understanding that will add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. For example, some of my colleagues took the quiz last week.  One colleague scored a 10 and referred to herself as a dinosaur.  Certainly her generational experiences are very different than yours or even mine.  Dismissing her expertise and knowledge because of generational differences would be a huge mistake however as she’s very knowledgeable and can make things happen.  Rather, knowing the differences can help inform how you might need to re-frame your interactions and language when working with others who don’t shape or view their world in the same manner as you. I’m not going to reach out to my colleague on Facebook or Twitter, that’s just not how she operates. But if I send an email, call, or better yet, visit her office and focus on content areas in which she has (tremendous) expertise I’ll set both of us up for success.

    Generational Success

    How different generations view and approach the world is not wrong, it’s just different.  And different can be good. Understanding the ‘generational place’ for you and others in those interactions and the perceptions/assumptions people make about your generation will help you add value to your communities because of who you are, not despite it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. As a GenXer he scored an 86 on the How Millenial Are You? Quiz.  Had he not contacted a government official for a speaker series he would have scored a 94.  He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Avoiding Generational Battles At Work
    2. Dealing With the Millennial Perception
    3. Capable and Becoming Engaged

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/how-millennial-are-you-using-generational-knowledge-to-generate-success/feed/ 1     Capable and Becoming Engaged http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/ http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:39 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3645
  • How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
  • Suprax Antibiotic
  • Choices
    • ]]>     I met with a student this week who is contemplating transferring to another university at the end of the semester. I serve on the University’s retention committee so I spent some time getting a sense of what factors were in play for him as he contemplates transferring.  I wanted to talk with him for two reasons, one to inform my work on the committee and two because this is a student I genuinely didn’t wanted to lose – I like him. He’s talented and there is something about him that seems as if it could blossom in the right situation. Perhaps we could make that happen for him here.  (I myself transferred in college and if a university is not the right for someone I’ll be behind them 100% to help find the right fit.  I won’t try to make this student stay if it’s not right for him.) The conversation was peppered with a lot of maybes, and I don’t knows.
    • Why did you come here? I don’t know.  I applied late and didn’t want to go to local community colleges.
    • Would you be willing to stay here? Maybe.
    • What do you want to do? I don't know.
    • What do you really like to do? I don’t know.
    • What are you really good at? I don’t know.  (Based on one completed assignment in his art class his work was so good that he was questioned by the professor if he was an art major).
    • What do you want to major in? Maybe this but I don’t know why.
    • What about art? Maybe but I don’t know.
    • If you got in at the other school (he should, his grades are solid – but he doesn’t know what they are) and financial aid was a non-issue what would you do? I don’t know.

    Capable but Disengaged

    As our conversation progressed I was reminded of a recent meeting I had with colleagues about our current generation of students.  Today’s college students were described as capable but disengaged and disinterested. I understand this is a generalization and perhaps you are a talented, interested and engaged student so you have nothing to worry about right?   I’d caution you to consider, however, that your capabilities are being observed through a generalized lens that has been colored with a ‘capable but disengaged’ film.   You have a strike against you before you even start. What if the above conversation was a job interview?  The employer would have passed him over in a heartbeat – capable and talented is a dime a dozen. I don’t think there is any doubt that the world sees this generation of students as capable and interested in changing the world around them. I think that has been going on for the past few years – the past presidential election is an easy example of what can happen when talented, capable and interested people engage.

    Distancing Yourself from Generalizations

    So how do you distance your self from the negative generalizations of your generation?  To begin, I think it’s key to understand how your generation is defined.  A quick search for Gen Y can give you some easy starting points.  Again it may not be ‘right’ for you, but you have to understand the generalized perception of your generation to be prepared to push back against the barriers your membership sets up against you.
    • How is your generation perceived with respect to cultural, social and workplace norms and expectations?
    • What do popular culture trends indicate about your generation?
    • With capable as a given, what are you doing that can tangibly demonstrate that you are engaged?
    • What examples and stories can you share that illuminate you desire to earn your keep and that you have a minimized sense of entitlement?

    Answer and Engage

    When I was talking with the student in my office I asked him why he really wanted to transfer?  He answered I don’t know and then drifted to silence.  Hopefully for him that silence won’t be filled with the generalizations about his generation: He’s just another capable but disinterested student.  Hopefully we’ll be able to spend some time together in a way that helps him identify his passions, highlights his talents and prepares him for success. I think he can but I don’t know yet if he wants to. Hopefully for you, you’ll be able to answer the challenges your generation places in front of you in a manner that builds on your capabilities and demonstrates a level of engagement our world needs from your generation.  Everyone knows you can do it.  You just need to prove it. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How Millennial are You? Using Generational Knowledge to Generate Success
    2. Suprax Antibiotic
    3. Choices

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/capable-and-becoming-engaged/feed/ 0     Planning Horizons http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/ http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3147
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • Attend. Participate. Lead.
  • Meaningful Experiences
    • ]]>     Certainly some will be better formed than others but you must have a sense of where you are going long term to inform what you are doing short term. In college it’s very easy to have planning horizons defined for you and only move from class to class, semester to semester and on to graduation without much long-term planning. It’s imperative that your collegiate work leads to a holistic view of post-college life beyond your first job. Do some reverse planning and you’ll set a destination for your efforts. Certainly there are many paths to arrive at your destination but you can’t be a rudderless ship all the time.  Below are some questions to consider to get you started.  Some of these questions may seem far-fetched to think about at this time in your life, especially knowing that as your situation develops the questions and answers will change.  However, taking the time to answer them now will reduce your regrets later.

    Planning Questions

    • What do you want to do after retirement?
    • When do you want to retire?
    • How would you describe a successful career?
    • How would you describe a meaningful personal life?
    • What do you need to do over the next (40, 20, 10, 5) years to make your successful career and meaningful personal life a reality?
    • What do you need to do in your college career over the next (year, semester, week) to move along your path?
    • Who do you need to connect with to create your desired reality?
    These are questions to just get you started.  There are many more to ask as your plans evolve.  Keep your head up to see the horizons in front of you and you’ll be pleased about the gratification that intentionality can bring. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Implementing Best Practices
    2. Attend. Participate. Lead.
    3. Meaningful Experiences

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/planning-horizons/feed/ 0     Attend. Participate. Lead. http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/ http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=3006
  • Lead So You Can Succeed
  • Implementing Best Practices
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     Employers are looking for well balanced individuals who can articulate their worth using a variety of experiences to highlight and explain their credentials and knowledge. College is a great opportunity for personal exploration and development.  Take advantage of the opportunities available to you now to set yourself on a path of personal success and development. You can give yourself the best competitive advantage possible by having both a breadth and depth of experience during your college career.

    Attend.

    Many events are free and many more are accessible at a reduced rate with your student ID.  Go! Athletic events, music ensembles, speaker series, student organization meetings, comedians, bands, and more.  They are all there for the taking – probably more than you could ever attend if you take the time to look around.  Attend events and activities that appeal to you, and also those events that work with your schedule but that you might not normally consider. Exposing yourself to the wide array of experiences available to you will help develop the breadth of exposure that employers are looking for in the candidates they pursue.

    Participate.

    Once you start attending more events, it will be time to take your attendance to the next level and get engaged.  Some ideas include joining a student organization committee, offering your ideas in group, or asking a question during a speaker’s open forum.  Don’t just attend the event- start to participate in the conversations that take place.

    Lead.

    As your level of engagement continues, your next step is to take on leadership roles.  This does not necessarily mean you need a titled position (president, vice president, chair, etc).  What is does mean is that you need to take on a responsibility role in the success of a group of people or event.

    Self-Assessment

    So how are you doing? No leadership roles? Then you need to expand your depth of involvement and start working your way along the continuum from participation to leading. Do you lead everything? Perhaps you need to expand your breadth of experience and exposure to other opportunities on campus. Are you wallowing in the middle? Make a commitment to put yourself out there and engage at a different level. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Lead So You Can Succeed
    2. Implementing Best Practices
    3. How to Be Assertive

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/attend-participate-lead/feed/ 0     What Stories Will People Tell About You? http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/ http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:21 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2895
  • Your Story
  • Stromectol Online
  • Biaxin Xl Pak
    • ]]>     Seelbach Hotel – a 4-diamond luxury hotel built in 1905 – for a conference.  From the time I was picked up at the airport, I’ve been hearing about the rich history and legacy of the hotel from hotel staff. From the shuttle driver, I learned the hotel was the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. He selected this because, while in the military, Fitzgerald enjoyed getting a drink at the Old Seelbach Bar- one of “The 50 Best Bars in the World”.  From the concierge, I learned that the Rathskeller is decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery – one of only two rooms like it in the world (the other is in Germany). From the front desk staff, I learned that The Oakroom is the only 5 Diamond Restaurant within a 7 hour drive, and it includes the Al Capone room, complete with a mirror that Capone donated to the hotel (as gesture to court favor during prohibition) and a secret passage way, unknown until 1971, that a waiter pointed out to me when he had some time to give me a brief tour and a history lesson. The stories and grandeur of the hotel are deeply understood and broadly shared by its staff.  I’m sure they have been trained on the history of the hotel, but the delivery of their stories comes across as if they are telling me stories about an old friend in their own lives– they are sincere, passionate and they pull you in. I’d stay at the Seelbach again, only I’d bring friends and family so I can share the cool stories with them, too. Isn’t that what good brand management is all about?  Done well, brand management is about sharing your authentic experiences, and enamoring people so much that they want to tell your stories for you. Over time, those stories become your legacy.  Right now, you are creating the stories that you will tell your children, family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the years to come.  Are the events you’re living and the actions you are taking lending themselves to the stories that will create a lasting legacy? What’s your story?  What will be your legacy? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Your Story
    2. Stromectol Online
    3. Biaxin Xl Pak

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/what-stories-will-people-tell-about-you/feed/ 1     Effort http://studentbranding.com/effort/ http://studentbranding.com/effort/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:01 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2783
  • How to Be Assertive
  • Change Management
  • Learning from Success and Failure
    • ]]>     There are situations that call for a little extra effort. There are situations that will be fine with a just good enough approach.  And there are situations where you will need to cut your losses and move on.

    The Extra Effort

    This past Saturday, Pierre Garcon, an Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, made the extra effort when a pass thrown his way was intercepted.  At the time, he was the furthest player downfield and he could have easily let his teammates handle the tackle and head off the field until the next series. Instead of Baltimore having the ball and the chance to keep the game close, Garcon ran back, caused a fumble and helped Indianapolis keep the ball, subsequently leading to a field goal.

    Good Enough

    During my undergraduate career at Central Michigan, I had a B+ in one of my classes going into the final exam.  I needed a 96 on the exam to raise it to an A, but only a 12 to maintain my current grade.  Considering it was finals week and I could more easily make an impact on my GPA by focusing elsewhere, I studied just enough to maintain my grade.  I went into the final, I answered 20-25 points worth of questions (just to be sure), turned my test in and called it good enough, allowing me to focus on other classes. Could I have put in the extra effort to get the A?  Sure.  But I thought my effort was better placed towards another class.

    Cut Your Losses

    There were reports this weekend of a Belgian First Aid team evacuating a Haitian field hospital, leaving patients behind due to security concerns.  They did return the following morning. The situation in Haiti is awful and I don’t fully understand the issues at hand on the ground, other than that they are dire.  The medical director made the decision he felt was right in this particular situation.

    What’s Your Default?

    Most everybody has a default for his or her effort level. It’s important, however, to have some degree of balance between the three levels: extra effort, good enough, and cutting your losses.  Always putting in extra effort can lead to burnout, but always cutting out and running from a challenge will cause others to question your dedication. The key is to make a reasonable assessment of the situation and choose the best approach, which may not be the easy way out or the way you have always done it. Whatever action you choose - extra effort, good enough or cut your losses - know that it will illuminate the perception others have of you. What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. How to Be Assertive
    2. Change Management
    3. Learning from Success and Failure

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/effort/feed/ 2     Your Story http://studentbranding.com/your-story/ http://studentbranding.com/your-story/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2598
  • Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
  • Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
    • ]]>     Would you have a personal brand without Facebook or Twitter? This question was posed by Hajj Flemings on Twitter last week, and it got me thinking.  Facebook and Twitter are really just communication tools. Strip away the polished delivery methods to tell me about your brand and what’s left? That’s your brand. Not the flash or pizzazz, but the substance. One of my friends is a physician and he shared this story the other day:
    Today at work, Mom A (with three kids) paid the 0 balance for another family. She did not know this family at all. She overheard Mom B talking to our front staff about the balance. After Mom B left, she paid the bill and asked to keep it anonymous.
    I don’t know this woman’s brand, Twitter, website, blog or Facebook (or if she even has any of this), but I can certainly infer and make assumptions about her and her brand based upon this story.  All very positive assumptions.  Certainly use Facebook and Twitter to help spread the stories that illuminate your brand, but make sure there is substance and not just marketing polish. The story above is not from Mom A but about Mom A.  What actions are you taking that are creating the stories, the substance, that people want to share on your behalf that illuminate your brand?  Are you consistent across your audiences - faculty, friends, family and fellow students? What talk are you talking and can your walk back it up? If you didn’t have Facebook or Twitter would people still tell your story?  Is it a good story? Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Do You Have A Personal Branding Success Story?
    2. Amy Sheridan: A Student Branding Success Story
    3. Can You Tell A Good Story?

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/your-story/feed/ 4     Choices http://studentbranding.com/choices/ http://studentbranding.com/choices/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:17 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2532
  • Meaningful Experiences
  • Capable and Becoming Engaged
  • Mid-Year Progress Report
    • ]]>     But, as I progressed through the second iteration of the same game, the card layout didn’t even look the same.  Somewhere early in the game I made a simple choice- one that I did not recognize-  and that completely changed how the second playing of the same game played out. It made me think about all the little choices we make every day and the greater impact each could have further down the road.  I played one card differently and couldn’t re-create the same game I had just completed. What cards do we play, or not play, that make big differences in or futures?  I asked Dan Schawbel a personal branding question several months ago.  I had no intent other than to get his perspective on my issue based on his experience.  Had I not asked that question though, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog. Can you think back about the choices you made that have had an impact on your future? Was there a moment you can now identify that is resonating for you and your future? Certainly you can’t go back and replay your life, but based upon where you are right now what choices can you make- what choices do you need to make- in the new year to define the future you want to pursue? What do you think?  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Meaningful Experiences
    2. Capable and Becoming Engaged
    3. Mid-Year Progress Report

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/choices/feed/ 8     Careers in Student Affairs http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/ http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:19 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2345
  • Biaxin For Strep
  • Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
  • Learning from LeaderShape
    • ]]>     What do you want to be when you grow up? You may have heard that question on occasion while growing up.  Had you answered "college student affairs professional," you would have been in the minority.  But, perhaps now that you’ve spent time in college interacting with student affairs staff members, you may be interested in pursuing a similar career.

    Developing your Undergraduate Experience

    Student affairs staff work in a variety of offices across campus. You’ll see us in residence life, student activities, multicultural programming, career services and more.  Some staff even work in offices within academic affairs, like 'first year experience' and 'student advising'.  The common denominator between all of these offices and professionals is that they are all there to enhance your learning and personal development, in college and beyond. You may already be doing student affairs work.  If not, you can get experience as a resident assistant, orientation leader, career peer mentor, outdoor trips leader, or even student organization officer or member- just to name a few.  Speak with a student affairs staff member on your campus about your interest in student affairs and the options available to you. While not required to pursue a career in student affairs, having some experience in student affairs before you head off into the professional or graduate school world will better prepare you for success.

    Becoming a Professional

    There are several professional organizations in which you can become involved, from state associations, to functional area associations (i.e. AFA, NODA, NACA), to broad umbrella organizations that have appeal across the profession.  Two umbrella organizations in particular are ACPA – College Student Educators International and NASPA. Both ACPA and NASPA support the field with a variety of professional development opportunities, including annual conferences with components for undergraduate students (ACPA's Next Gen and NASPA's Undergraduate Fellows). Several of the functional area conferences have similar experiences.  Participating in these undergraduate programs will expose you to key members and concepts of the profession and introduce you to many students whose interests and goals are similar to yours. Ask your campus student affairs professionals about their conference attendance and which undergraduate experiences they may be willing to serve as sponsors for you. If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, participating in one of these undergraduate programs would be invaluable. As you progress in your interest, you can begin to explore graduate school options by browsing either of these websites: ACPA or NASPA.  While there is quite a bit of cross over in regards to the schools that they cover, each site offers a unique perspective on the profession and access to different information. You can learn more about the profession by browsing some of the links found on studentaffairs.com, the student affairs bloggers or connecting on Twitter by searching #studentaffairs. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about student affairs. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or interest.  I look forward to welcoming you to the profession.  Make it a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Biaxin For Strep
    2. Explore Careers by Attending Campus Career Fairs
    3. Learning from LeaderShape

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/careers-in-student-affairs/feed/ 0     Mid-Year Progress Report http://studentbranding.com/mid-year-progress-report/ http://studentbranding.com/mid-year-progress-report/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:00:18 +0000 Mike Severy http://studentbranding.com/?p=2259
  • Choices
  • Dwelling in Possibility
  • Planning Horizons
    • ]]>     If you were to receive grades in other areas of your life, what would your "GPA" be? The nice thing about being in college is that every so often, you get the hit the pause button.  Even if the world doesn’t stop completely, you do get a chance to slow things down and evaluate your progress.  Here are a number of questions to consider as you contemplate your mid-year break and set yourself up for second semester success- and perhaps some purposeful 2010 goals:

    Extracurricular Involvement

    Are you involved? Are you over involved?  What do you do for fun?  Are you participating in something that is just plain fun?  If not, why not? Are you participating in something that has an academic or career benefit? If not, why not?  Are you in a traditionally defined leadership role?  How are you meeting your civic and service responsibilities?

    Personal Wellness

    Are you exercising?  Do you need to exercise more/less?  Is your exercise balanced (i.e. cardio, flexibility and strength development)?  Do you maintain a balanced diet?  Do you eat breakfast daily?  Do you smoke?  Do you want to stop?  Do you know how?  Do you drink?  Is it in moderation?  Do you plan in advance for a designated driver when you do drink?  How are you meeting your spiritual needs?  Do you maintain a regular sleep/wake schedule?  How many hours of sleep do you get each night?  Is it enough for you?

    Career Development

    What’s your career plan?  When was the last time you reviewed your plan? Are you on the right path with your classes and extracurricular involvement?  How well is your academic plan supporting your career plan? Do you have the right major and minor(s)?  With a little extra effort how could you set yourself apart?  Are you on track for graduation (don’t wait for your senior year degree audit report)?

    Relationship Building

    What’s your social media footprint? Is it big enough?  Is it too big? Is it well-maintained?  Does it convey the message you want conveyed? When was the last time you scrubbed your picture tags, feeds and wall posts? Are you involved in meaningful relationships outside of the social media world? How are you developing your network? When was the last time you asked for an introduction or referral from a friend, family member or colleague?  How are you nurturing those relationships?  How often do you talk with loved ones?  Is it enough?  Is it too much?  When did you last write a thank you note, take someone to lunch, etc? ...So how are you doing? Dwell in the possibility of this coming new year and make every day in 2010 a good day. Author: Mike Severy is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences and that his role is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).

    Related posts:

    1. Choices
    2. Dwelling in Possibility
    3. Planning Horizons

    ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/mid-year-progress-report/feed/ 0