November 2008

As long as I have been blogging, I have considered this venue/blog/web site a personal project. I am aware that anyone can find it. My name is all over it. If information about me is being sought, it’s likely this content will be located.

However, it is positioned as a personal space.

Since I’ve recently become an independent contractor, it is now by necessity, professional space as well. At least for blogging. When I worked at Sun, I had a professional blog, I named the blog, “Organizing Principles”. It included all of my big thoughts on IA, Social Media and the future of the Internet. I continued that tradition when I moved to EatonGolden and was the head of IA & Social Media. It was important to me to be professionally blogging as someone who held the title Director of Information Architecture & Social Media. So my professional insights about UX and the web 2.0 world lived there.

Now it is me. I am personal and I am professional. It’s all the same anyway because on the Internet, you can search.

Now brought to you by Jennifer Bohmbach, evoljennifer, evoljen, jb, jbohm, evol:

My Holistic Blog

It’s my next social media experiment.

Professional

Personal

It’s all mixed together in this crazy Cut & Paste world we live in now.

I’ve always been disappointed with video chat. It’s never worked for me. Until now. Google video chat was the easiest to set up and get going that I have ever seen.

If you are on a Mac and you want to try this. Google has a great video to tell you how.

I recently had a career change occur. I am now working for myself as an independent contractor. It was an unplanned career change but not one that was unwelcome. I have spent many years acquiring knowledge at companies and consultancies. I have seen many situations, environments, and challenges. I have worked at several different and interesting places:

• 2 years at a start-up that grew from me as employee #33 to over 500 employees in a matter of months.
• 3 years at a high tech company that was fast paced, internal UX taught me the value of systems across many very complicated messages
• I’ve spent many years consulting at big and small places. I’ve worked in many industries on many different experiences including:  software, web apps, web sites, interactive storytelling, mobile web sites and theatrical performance.

I actually started my Internet career as an independent contractor. Over a decade later, it’s time I’m back. I feel I can apply my hard earned professional lessons and diverse background to helping clients as an individual. There won’t be anything in between me and my work. I can do the right thing for the client. I love the work and I want to help people. As long as I can do that, I’ll feel that I’m doing a good job as a professional and for myself.

I was inspired earlier this year by Whitney Hess and Erin Malone who also took the plunge to be on their own. I’d been thinking about it and all of a sudden the decision was made. Some times things in the universe line up and the doors just open.

So thanks universe. I’m off to go help some clients.

That this election is over.

Let the next phase begin.

You know it’s a special day when it is in the 60’s temperature wise here in MN in November. On our dog walk this morning we saw some beautiful fall colors. It’s the perfect time of year in MN - the color change.

My favorite is when all the leaves turn red.

When we found this beautiful red bush, I requested that my husband take a photo with his iPhone for me so I could remember it.