“Art is never finished, only abandoned.” Quote by Leonardo DaVinci (noted in April 2019)

 

Professor Patrick shared this quote in my visual communication class. Essentially, this means that reworking or improving art is always a possibility, and because of this, artists are hesitant to declare their works complete. Although this quote was shared in class with a focus on artwork, I feel that this idea can be applied to many other aspects of my life. Even after reaching personal goals, there is always room for improvement, and I can choose to continue learning, reworking, and improving.

KEYWORDS: personal growth, value

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“It’s about the words you use.” – Randy Iden (July 6, 2019)

 

This came up during discussion of the Workplace Interactors presentation. We found that there are many ways to explain why something shouldn’t be done, and when confronting others on their unethical actions, the words we use can make all the difference. Although this came up during the ethics class, I feel that this can be applied to communication as a whole. The words we choose to use can elevate a message from ordinary to elegant.

KEYWORDS: elegant communication

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“Leaders who change the status quo in their field such that their field isn’t the same perform a regular daily practice of reflection (to gain perspective), are proactive on leveraging their strengths instead of improving their weaknesses and are quick to bounce back from adversity.”

– Michelle Buck (October 10, 2018)

 

This was a note that I wrote down during a session with Michelle Buck called “Leading with Vision and Purpose: What’s Your Story” when she was explaining extraordinary leadership. I found her insights on leaders interesting because I often find myself too busy to even take a moment to myself, let alone to reflect. Also, we always think about what we’re not good at and try to get better at those things. However, leaders do the exact opposite: they reflect daily, and they focus on their strengths.

KEYWORDS: leadership

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“Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing.” – John D. Rockefeller (quote shared in a lecture on October 27, 2018)

 

This was a quote that Professor Iden shared during a lecture on strategic communication and public relations. Rockefeller’s quote is the epitome of public relations, and we see it every day in life: the politician sharing a photo op on social media, news releases of organizations doing good things, etc. Sometimes, though, we have to wonder if the good deed is authentic in nature, or just another photo opportunity.

KEYWORDS: public relations

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“Strategies for Regulated Business Environment” by Professor Rick Morris (2017)

 

This was a list of 49 strategies that Professor Morris compiled over the years that businesses can use to accomplish their goals — or essentially, to get what they want. Some of these strategies include the use of lobbying, strategy of public pressure, and controlling information. We identified and used these strategies all the time in our class while discussing real-world scenarios, so these strategies can definitely be applied to issues or situations even after I complete the MSC program.

KEYWORDS: strategy, regulation

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“Your personal brand is all about how the world sees you, and the value you bring. It’s about what you can do for others.” Quote from Jetta Bates (May 2019)

 

During the branding workshop, Jetta Bates explained how we can cultivate our personal brand. Personal branding is important more than ever before with the internet and information on almost anything we need at our fingertips. People will find out what they want to know about me, so why not try to control my narrative with my personal brand? Before the workshop, I wasn’t quite sure how to develop my brand, but I now have a better idea of what it should entail and what I need to figure out to reinforce my branding.

KEYWORDS: branding, value