• Getting up at 5:45 every morning for work at 7:45 isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. – I’ve always been a morning person but not this early. I thought it would be a huge adjustment and it has to an extent…but I’ve found myself more sharp and apt to accomplish things the earlier I start.
  

  My new cubical at Johnson&Johson/Lifescan

• I’m going to fail…a lot.  – The work I’m doing here and harder than at my last job, requiring a greater level of concentration and effort. I’m going to fail a great deal here but at the same time I’m going to bounce back just as often. It’s either sink or swim and I plan on learning a lot in the process.
• What you did before in a previous job never truly prepares you for what’s next  – No matter where you go there is always a learning curve. Every company has their own in-house proprietary system and way of doing things. Though my move was a bit more drastic in changing dev environments (java to php) even the things I was more familiar with were different enough that I had to adjust and adapt.
• Always ask questions. – It doesn’t matter if you’re the new guy or a seasoned vet..you can always learn more.
• A spacious cubical makes a big difference.  – I went from no space to tons of it and I love it. I have room for both my laptops, notepads and other stuff. Finally an office space that is all my own.

Today’s mood and feelings are bittersweet, leaving a company and friends I’ve known for 3 years. I’m looking forward to the new challenges ahead but I’m soaking in every last minute at this office, at my desk and with these great people.

This move is for the best, no question, but it doesn’t make saying this goodbye any less easier.

Goodbye old friends.

After nearly 3 incredible and productive years at Gannett working for  The News Journal/DelawareOnline, I’ve decided it’s time to move on.

I’m taking the opportunity to join an full service, digital agency on the cutting edge of digital development.

I’ll be a member of an expansive web development team that Iexpect to learn a great deal from and contribute a great deal to.

I couldn’t be more excited about this new chapter in my professional career.

While I anticipate it’s many challenges, I look forward to them molding me into a more agile and intelligent developer.

I’m leaving behind a good deal of friends and fond memories at the Journal.

I certainly had some great times working with some fantastic people and wish them the best moving forward.

• Meetings , meetings and meetings
• New apartment searching
• laundry
• Breakfast with Kevin Wednesday morning
• Side Project due Wednesday morning
• Dodgeball Wednesday night
• Meeting Thursday night
• Freelance project due/site launch Friday morning
• Airport lift for a friend Saturday morning
• Flag football Saturday morning
• Sofa Kings Beef & Beer Saturday night
• Sunday…hopefully nothing

Upset? Work through it

Down? Work anyway

Unhappy? Work regardless

Build productive distractions.

It’s called work therapy. The idea that by working (whether on a project or something mind-intensive) you’ll free yourself from the troubles that bind you. If nothing else it can momentarily, make your brain and mind see perspective and realize there’s more to life than this concern. Sometimes it helps, pushing you to realize a bigger picture or different view of it.

Sometimes troubles are bigger than the distractions we try to place over them. Sometimes deep-seeded or growing concerns are just too much to bear and work, interactions, distractions of all kind can not, even momentarily, remedy. That’s when you work on them, directly trying to effect the situation positively. This kind of work therapy is called action.

Figure out a way to overcome your troubles.

If nothing else accomplish the task of overcoming them mentally by seeing the positive, bigger pictures of things.

Remember the notion of “what could you do if you had no fear?”. Take the fear out of what could happen next and do something, act on it, take a risk…a leap…a step.

The worst you can do is fail and who cares if you fail as long as you get back up.

Work, work work towards something positive and leave this depressive rut you find yourself in.

My desk at 8am

]]> http://citizenconnelly.com/2009/10/my-desk-at-8am/feed/ 0 http://citizenconnelly.com/2009/10/join-us-for-the-first-dypn/ http://citizenconnelly.com/2009/10/join-us-for-the-first-dypn/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:31:34 +0000 CitizenConnelly http://citizenconnelly.com/?p=771

Delaware Young Professionals Network

Free next Thursday?

Of course you are, it’s a Thursday night.

Join us for our first ever DYPN Networking Night, Thursday, Oct. 22 at Deep Blue Bar and Restaurant in Wilmington from 6 – 8 p.m. and meet professionals from all over the Wilmington area.

Make new friends, business contacts and more.
Register now to be part of the night.

More info here also on the LinkedIn page.

Questions?

Call 302-324-2558 or email jbraun@delawareonline.com

MeetJohnVon.com, the one-page portfolio of Voiceover Artist John Von

This was a rush order completed in a few hours from start to finish, consisting of lighbox, basic mp3 flash script built around a stackable navigation.

There are other freelance projects on my plate that are ongoing, most prominently Tribeca Design Studio but this one had to be done quickly for John’s potential clients.

Then there are things that you probably should be doing but don’t because they require effort that exceeds the bare minimum you’ve become so accustomed to over the years.

I think we fall into the trap of complacent activity, complacent doing.

We find in one thing that the smallest amount of effort get’s the job done and we apply it to other things in life. Before we know it…we just don’t care. We loose desire to “be more” and stay content on the desire-less drive of “being there.”

For me it can be anything from not picking up my room to working out. I’ve fallen into the “being there” rut and I want to get out of it.

So, here are my tips for myself and everyone else likely stuck in the same routine of mediocrity:

• Try, try, try…in everything.
• Don’t settle, don’t accept “fine”.
• Expect more from yourself and more will be delivered.
• Care
• Give yourself incentives
• repeat

Just do it…don’t think, just do it. Finish a task, work, what-have-you just do it.

Pray for them, pray for their families, pray they get back up on their feet during these hard days to come.

If you see your name below, congrats and your certificate is on the way today.

ONLINE MEDIA

1st Place, General Web Site Excellence
John P. Gelety, Verna Thompson, Chris Connelly – “Delawareonline.tv – The First Channel”

2nd Place, General Web Site Excellence
Staff – “Delawareonline.com”

3rd Place, Multimedia Storytelling-News
Patti Petitte, Damian Giletto, Matt Sweeney – “DiGirolamo Case – One Year Later”

1st Place, Online Commentary or Blog
Ryan Cormier – “Pulp Culture Blog”

1st Place, Use of Interactive Media
Merritt Wallick, Mike Chalmers, Jim Meek – “Volunteer Fire Companies.”

2nd Place, Use of Interactive Media
Merritt Wallick, Mike Chalmers, Jim Meek – “DelNav – Property Records.”

1st Place, Citizen Involvement
Lucia Blackwell – “Delaware Moms Like Me”

3rd Place, Innovative Online Advertising
John P. Gelety, Chris Connelly – “Webmercials.”

ADVERTISING

1st Place, Local Retail B&W, 1/2 Page or More
Sue Brandt – United Way – “Delaware Does More”

3rd Place, Special Section, Annual
Staff – “Delaware Auto Show”

It should be fun, a lot to do, kickball practice this week, wiffleball playoffs on Saturday, portfolio work and more…a busy week again but I made some awesome lasagna to last me through the week so I should be just fine.

One month until I’ll be in Massachusetts visiting family and relaxing…let the countdown begin!

Happy St. Patty's Day