A quote that is often bounced around is that “if you do a job you love you never work a day in your life”. I’ve been considering what happens when your hobby becomes so serious that it does become a job, a chore, even a way of life. What if it also works in reverse, what if the job you do becomes more like a hobby, giving you the chance to enjoy it and make your own.

I spoke before about looking forward to conferences this year, tomorrow is my first conference in a string of events. OpenTech 2013 is on tomorrow, I have never attended before but am looking forward to the experience. As a non coder I’ve always been a little intimidated by events so tech heavy. Don’t get me wrong you’ll often find me wired up to something but I am somewhat out of practice when it comes to hard wiring.

I guess the most important part is learning new skills, maybe even one that becomes more than a hobby.

Thats all for now
Amy

I have also planted up 10 sweetcorn plants and a few carrots to see if they will be more successful than last years, I have made sure that they have suitable drainage and look forward to seeing those first leaves appear. My radishes have been a great success, none eaten yet but I have one to try in my lunches this week pre the full harvest.

After a glorious weekend, I have actually been very glad to see some rain, for my plants it is pure bliss. A bit of sunshine, a bit of warmth then straight back to being soaked. All seems to be going well in my little garden, I’m currently wanting to plant more but I think part of that is being a little impatient.

Courgettes, green beans and aubergines are on my list as well as some more herbs. I have also been promised some lovely strawberry plants….no idea where I’ll keep them!

That’s all for now

Amy

I’ve been out of the routine of blogging lately, with a house move, new job + general chaos of trying to get back on my feet, writing up any thoughts and revelations has dropped down my list of things to do.

Last week on twitter I saw @Nickie72 talking about Cybher :

“Cybher is a one day event which brings together the most influential bloggers and speakers from all corners of the blogosphere to network, inspire, share and learn.”

It was the first I’d heard of the event and luckily I have managed to find a ticket for it. Whilst filling out some of the information though I found myself asking “Why do I blog? and what do I blog about?”

In an effort to try to regain focus pre the conference I’ll be playing around with topics and writing styles. So any and all feedback is welcome.

The second conference I am hoping to go to is one that my friend Liz is venturing down for called OpenTech 2013. Although neither of the above directly link to my new job, I find it is so important to learn about what is going on and see if there are ways that a new idea could be adapted for your everyday plans.

That’s All For Now
Amy

The difficulty I have found is the way the majority of companies encourage ebilling, apply online and do not print. Means that now that I have moved, proving that I have has become quite the dilemma.

I went to sign up to the local library, but I require a proof of address (the lady very kindly offered to put me on the system as long as I brought proof next time). So until I have a piece of post to prove my identity and location I am unable to get online via the local library.

It was very simple to change my address at the bank, although being able to check my accounts is quite tedious compared to a few clicks of a button via the desktop site. I am able to access apps and limited websites (most aren’t mobile friendly!). As a child of the computer generation, I struggle getting my information offline to prove who I am.

Going to the other side of someone who has grown up with everything being kept offline, I can’t imagine how frustrating the need to be online must be. Being asked to switch to online billing although it saves paper, does not make it easier to remember various passwords, log ins, email addresses, security questions and much more.

Locally I believe offline is an advantage, building relationships with local retailers. Although when you are new to an area online gives you the chance to learn from others recommendations. Merging the two initially is difficult but maybe this is just due to my lack of connection right now.

I will be moving house next week so I won’t be able to blog for a while, so I wanted to do a quick summary of my goals for this year. After quite a busy few months (and watching Luke’s TEDx Talk) I have realised that I should try to set myself some challenges that aren’t academic/profession specific.

What Amy Did Next – 2013

• Learn to play a song on the guitar off by heart from tab
• Sign up for singing lessons
• Read every book that is recommended to me by any individual
• Complete a swimming challenge to fundraise for charity
• Touch my toes
• Complete the Creative Pay-It-Forward that I pledged to do
• Learn how to make profiteroles the way my mum does
• Code something for the Raspberry Pi
• Make a Lemon Drop Cheesecake

Hopefully over the next 8 months I should be able to complete the majority of these goals. Some may sound simple and feel free to ask me about any of them, I am happy to explain them to anyone who is interested to know why I have chosen them.

Amy

1. What is an Intern?

The answer I gave :
An internship is a great way to get involved, build on existing skills or explore a change of career. Some other interns have written about their experience as well as their roles http://www.macmillan.org.uk/GetInvolved/Volunteer/Internships/InternshipCaseStudy.aspx.

Additional thoughts
An intern is someone who is looking to gain experience within a certain profession, a little like going on work experience although it is often for a longer time frame and you have a little more responsibility. I didn’t end up making tea/coffee or just filing paperwork. I was involved in several meetings and given the opportunity to put forward my own ideas for projects.

2. What is it like and what do you do?

The answer I gave

I loved my internship, I got the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and at the beginning my line manager discussed what skills I’d like to develop and ways I could build on my experience. My internship was for a social media role so I got to learn more about the way that Macmillan uses social media to provide support, information and the planning involved in different projects.

Additional thoughts
Working for Macmillan is an experience in itself, with so many people passionate about their work it is hard not to get caught up and end up staying extra hours. I have had the pleasure of meeting people from many different departments and offices, in person, via email and even spoken to them on the phone. The office itself is very bubbly and the ever-changing posters bring a smile to my face. I work on social media, I wrote posts, responded to comments and found answers for those that needed them, I also got to learn about our regional pages and accounts as well meet some of the fundraising team up in Shipley. I had the opportunity to experience the ups and downs of working life as a member of the Social Media team.

3. What is the meaning of life?

The answer given
42

Additional thoughts

It depends which book you read.

4. More details please? Full Time? Part Time? All areas of support or focused area?

The answer given
My role was 4 days a week, mainly working on social media but I did have the opportunity to learn about all the various ways Macmillan provides support (here is the blog I wrote about it http://community.macmillan.org.uk/blogs/b/community_news/archive/2013/02/20/how-macmillan-supports-online-and-offline.aspx ).
Internships are fairly flexible, I work from the London office but there are internships available around the UK. Macmillan asks that you do a minimum 3 days a week and will ask what hours you are available to work.

Additional Thoughts
Social media has been integrated across all levels at Macmillan, so I found myself often asking other departments for information or how I could help out. I learnt a lot from the cancer information team and throughly enjoyed working on the recipe Pinterest board as well as trialing the recipes. So even though I only worked in the office for 4 days a week, I often caught myself thinking of new ideas and wondering how everything was going on even on my days off!

5. What qualifications do you need to apply?

The answer given
Internships are available to everyone, you are chosen on your experience and what you could bring to the role. So if you are interested get applying

Additional thoughts

Internships are open to everyone, that is one of the best parts of applying for one. No pressure on your qualifications just the knowledge of the role you are applying for. If I decided to intern for the fundraising department I would just need to evaluate the skills I have opposed to trying to work on another qualification. This part of internships amazes me.

6. I take that this is voluntary work?

The answer given
Yes an internship is a voluntary role, I was given a nice pin badge to say that I’m a volunteer which I wear proudly.

Additional thoughts

I volunteered my time and effort to gain experience so I could be a part of the work that Macmillan Cancer Support does. I also got a snazzy folder and badge. I was pretty chuffed with my starter kit.

7. Did you work in a PR capacity? If so, what’s the best way to get an internship?

The answer given
My role was focused more on social media, which meant we did work closely with the PR team for some projects. Keep an eye out for any opportunity to gain experience, previously I did some work writing for a local magazine which got me used to press releases and other things

Additional thoughts

Grab any opportunity you can to gain experience, I loved writing for the Ark Magazine but I also enjoyed the photography I did for the students union. There were lots of opportunities to get involved whilst I was at university and it gives you a chance to learn more about how different people work. It also gives you chance to see the way you work when placed in different teams/departments/companies.

8. What part of your internship have you enjoyed the most whilst at Macmillan?

The answer given
I’ve loved working on a variety of projects, seeing a project go from planning stages to launch has been fantastic! Learning about new ideas and working with some lovely people has certainly made the 3 months fly by.

Additional thoughts
There have been days where I wondered how people managed to stay so positive about their cancer experience, then there were moments of pure joy when I heard about how thankful someone was for the support they had and wanted to know how they could give back. The projects were great to work on and they did make time fly, though I do have to say some of the messages I saw re-affirmed why I want to work for a charity and how I can help others.

9. What campaign have you enjoyed working on the most? HINT #CharityShakeOff

The answer given
There have been a few projects like #AgeOldExcuse, #charityshakeoff and #notalone. I’m currently working on ‘A Really Good Night In’ so I’ll have to announce my favourite later on this year.

Additional thoughts

The shake off was pretty cool, seeing three charities work to raise awareness and have a bit of fun was certainly different. Video is a great way to portray messages without lengthy explanations, although simplicity is key. #Notalone & #AgeOldExcuse have very powerful messages that have left a lasting impression on those who have seen them. My current project ‘A Really Good Night In‘ is my first fundraising project and it has been hard work getting the planning and content together but I am thoroughly enjoying seeing everything develop.

10. Are there internships in the north-east of England? Is there an age limit on being an intern?

The answer given
There are internships available all across the UK so keep an eye out for them via http://volunteering.macmillan.org.uk/Search/AdvancedSearch . You have to be over 18 to be able to apply but other than that no age limit. Great that you’ve chosen to learn new skills, wishing you the best for the future

Additional thoughts

It is experience that matters not age, I was very surprised by this question purely as I believe you can change career or learn new skills at any age. I have always wondered if I have been rejected from jobs because of my age, I never considered that people may believe they’ve been rejected due to being too old for an internship. We all have to start somewhere.

14. What is the internship about ? What do you do? And what do you gain?

The answer given
There are a wide variety of internships across Macmillan. My internship was for Social Media, so I focused on the Macmillan Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+) working on different elements of planning and content. I have gained experience of working within a charity and the chance to work on some amazing campaigns.

Additional thoughts

I’ve recently been trying to explain to friends and family what I actually did during my internship, the simplest way to explain is that I work on a selection of social media platforms. Generally this gets me a bit of a blank look and “so you just sit on Facebook all day?”. I wish it was that simple, drafting up content for statuses and picking photos to upload is a lot more difficult, trying to be interesting and relevant all the time. I love it but trying to explain it can sometimes be tougher than if I was able to show them exactly what I do in an average day. I have gained a lot of knowledge not only about social media but also about cancer, medical support and financial support available.

15. What are your managers like?

Additional thoughts

I didn’t reply to this on the main thread as it was asked after the Q&A had finished. My managers have given me the chance to shine, with their feedback and knowledge I am not the same person that I was when I started my internship (in a positive way). With their help and encouragement I have spoken at events such as #barcampnfp and actively taken part in discussions both internally and externally about how social media should be incorporated. I have been very lucky to have been offered the opportunity working on ‘A Really Good Night In’ and look forward to evaluating what I have learnt after it has been completed. So I would like to say Thank You, to my Managers and the Online Community team for making my internship a fantastic experience. I hope the next intern brings you even more snacks.
Amy

My first memory of receiving thanks for a donation was when my primary school set up to sponsor a child, we managed to raise enough money to donate from a school event to give to the charity. I remember a 20 minute phone call explaining what a difference it had made and to expect a letter to say how it had helped. I felt so proud about the donation we had made. Another memory I have of donating was sending off shoe boxes as part of a Christmas appeal, I always felt so sad at the fact that the shoe box I was packing might be the only gift that someone would receive that Christmas. I never remember if we heard back about how they liked their gifts, I expect we did have a response but it hasn’t stuck in my memory as much as that phone call.

As I write this you may have already figured out what I’m going to say next :

For every PLEASE there needs to be a THANK YOU

I was brought up to write thank you notes for birthday, Christmas and Easter presents. I was never very good at getting them done promptly. I always thought that people would feel or know that I loved the gift they had given me. Otherwise why would they have got it? There are times where I ponder if charities feel the same way , their supporters know that their donation makes a difference. The reality is that if you don’t tell them, how will anyone really know what impact it has made?

Being able to show where the money has gone towards gives a boost to what you can say, photos of the roof on the scout hut being re-made or seeing a well/pump being built gives satisfaction towards knowing how the money has helped. Something I’d love to do is to follow my donation through its journey. If my donation of £5 becomes ten books I’d like a photo of those ten books. A way to capture the moment with the words “You did that”. Letting donors know their value could be the difference between a one-off donation and a monthly direct debit.

That is all for now
Amy

P.S I am aware that many donations do receive a thank you, this is in response to many people asking ‘Where does my money go’ which got me thinking and blogging about the concept.

Last nights #NFPTweetup discussed the topic of gamification, which was defined ‘taking something isn’t usually a game but applying game principles’. I love games, my first ever game was lemmings on the pc, the problem solving and dilemma of whom to sacrifice and who to save taught me a very basic principle of ‘the greatest good for the greatest number’ . Although I never really understood what difficulties the lemmings were going through or why they needed help, or even how to provide them with fund so they didn’t have to build bridges across huge abysses.

A lot of the debate at the tweetup discussed fundraising and awareness and a session I took part in debated about dealing with less ‘fun’ issues. Should sensitive topics be trivalised by gamification? I believe they already have, when looking at sustainability of a game we should look back to games themselves. Even a Crossword or Sudoku has rules to be followed and you may remember earlier this year that Rev John Graham broke his cancer diagnosis via a crossword puzzle. So do not think that gamification trivalises all that is contained in them.

I tweeted about a game called Heavy Rain which allows the player to control the lives of various characters, making decisions and changing the view-point. It was pointed out to me by Madeleine that this could be done in the style of a “choose your own adventure book” now even though the outcome might be grim, if its accurate, would it have more of impact on the person making the decisions? Even encourage them to help?

The competitive element of gaming is hard to forget, for fundraising it is a dream, for other areas it can be discouraging. Campaigning for change on a serious issue, do you really need to have a leader board for who has invited or got the most people to sign? Does there need to be a reward or should there be one? How do you ensure people actually care? or do they even need to care?

I thoroughly enjoyed the #NFPtweetup although after this event I feel like I have been left with more questions than answers. I would love to hear any thoughts from those who attended in person or online so leave me a comment with your feedback.

That’s All For Now
Amy

Obviously creating content that outrages anyone may not be the best move for your brand, but creating debate can be. What I’ve been wondering is how to encourage an audience to get involved, when you haven’t already got an audience?

What I have been working on is trying to see what people ALREADY share. You want to learn how to do that neat thing? Youtube has many tutorials for that reason. Need to know some advice on local area/activities? try a twitter hashtag of the location or activity and see what others have to say about it.

I’ve been planning some content as part of my current role, trying to integrate what people might search for with what they would share. The difficultly is trying to catch someones attention when you don’t know what they want or even if they want the additional information you want to provide. A lot of brands are getting an audience involved in tailoring their messages (#danceponydance mixer).

Feel free to share any examples of great content in the comments

That’s All For Now
Amy

For me I can use this reflection as a way to evaluate my writing, my skills and my experience. Hopefully for my 500th post I shall have more things to reflect upon as well as projects to share with you.

If you look back over the past year or three what would be your highlights?