I think there might be a lot of mystery surrounding my job as traffic manager. I'm not going to go into a boring job description; instead, I'd rather give you some myths I've heard about what I do all day and then dispel them with the REAL explanations below. Behold!

Myth: When I'm staring intently at my computer screen, I'm playing Cafe World or Tetris.
Reality: I'm sifting through the daily 280 emails, 96 system reports and a crap ton of task notes that come into CurrentTrack.

Myth: When I'm eating a sandwich for lunch, I'm thinking about how much I enjoy that sandwich.
Reality: I'm actually considering what HAS to get done after lunch/before the end of the day and how we're going to get there.

Myth: When I arrive in the morning, the first thing I do is check my personal email and text my bestie.
Reality:  I DO text my bestie...CurrentTrack is my bestie. Personal email is for sissies.

Myth: I'm gossiping at everyone's desks all afternoon.
Reality: I'm herding all of our cats into the big bag by checking status with everyone individually. Okay, I might goof around a little at each desk, but that's part of my mystique. I'm really just trying to get you to do what I want you to do.

Myth: I sit kind of weird in Jolt.
Reality: I'm making sure I hear everything that's said around our huge conference table. That means I gotta lean in a weird way sometimes.

Myth: When I'm out of the office, you all can mess around.
Reality: I'm everywhere. You can't hold me. Even when I'm gone, I know what you're doing.

We all have our skeletons in Advertising, especially account executives. There is a mystery to the magic of advertising and how account executives perform their tricks. What makes AE’s tick, what keeps them going, how do they balance it all? Find out from a one-on-one interview conducting by me with my fellow account executive sisters.

For the privacy of all individuals involved, names have been replaced with fun titles.

Account Executives have to balance so much in a day. Client calls, emails, research, proofing, notes, follow up, tactical details, creative briefs, timesheets, client meetings, internal meetings, and that is all before lunch. What are the secrets to getting all of this done at Current?

Party Gal says:
Listening to jazz and not overanalyzing things

Margarita Mixer says:
Trusting your team, fun snacks and making lists for everything, all while jamming to some My Morning Jacket

Southern Belle says:
80’s music, a game face and rolling with the punches

Dog Lover says:
Always be ahead of schedule and let Dave [Matthews] show you the way

SUMMARY:
Music, Milk Duds and Management

The secrets to capturing every account executive’s heart are a pat on the back and letting the good times roll. Around these parts, we call these guilty pleasures. What are the guilty pleasures that drive our AEs?

Everyone says:
Margaritas, chocolate (Thanks Dawn and Tracey for keeping us stocked!), dance music, joking about mixed metaphors and yummy lunches. All of this can put pep in any girls step.

SUMMARY:
Margaritas and Marketing do Mix (after hours of course)!

We all have tools that we use to make our jobs easier. Designers enjoy cool applications like Photoshop and typography sites. Copywriters enjoy research and peace and quiet. What tools do our AE’s enjoy the most?

Party Gal says:
Keynote

Southern Belle says:
Keynote

German lover says:
CurrentTrack

Dog Lover says:
Excel, Love me some spreadsheets!

Funny Gal says:
Pages

Margarita Mixer says:
CurrentTrack

SUMMARY:
Get a MAC with iWork, spreadsheets are your friend and use CurrentTrack by Developware.

Stay tuned for more Account Executive Confessions.

As a member of our media department here at CurrentMarketing, I am a firm believer in the power of numbers. I am especially impressed when the power is driven solely by a large group of people, working together to make a difference. Our world has experienced natural and man-made disasters of equal magnitude, all of which have produced some of the most moving scenes and inspirational stories.

You hear it everywhere you go. "I just don't have time." I truly believe that people want to help, but as life goes, most people can't seem to find the leftover hours in the day to volunteer at their local shelter, ring the Salvation Army Bell, or pack food boxes for Dare to Care.

When I first read about this company, I knew I had to share the story on UnderCurrent, because frankly everyone has time to text. We all have time and how easily we forget, that it's how you spend your time that really matters. We are now in the age, when a text message can be the beginning of a significant event in history.

mGive began as a 25-person mobile software company whose initial mission was to recruit non-profits to adopt mobile giving. Metro United Way, for example, can sign on and any fundraiser or donations they accept will be transmitted through text message. As grassroots movements go, it was very difficult for founder, James Eberhard, to recruit even one NPO to jump on board. Eberhard put over $4 million of his own money into the company before the morning of January 13, 2010 at 4:30a.m. when the State Department reached him to get a very specific mobile giving campaign going for Haiti.

Literally hours later his company launched a national campaign that allowed people to donate $10 to a number of different charities via cell phone. Thanks to the many cell phone carriers that waived their fees and allowed pledges to show up on the next month's bill, people could text the word HAITI to the number 90999 and the dollars would instantly show. And they did!

To date, more than $40 million has been raised for Haiti. We always say we need things faster and easier. It doesn't get much better than this! If you want to feel like you've helped in some small way, I urge you to find the time to text.  Here are just a few U.S. organizations offering mobile giving campaigns:

• American Red Cross: Text the word “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10.
• The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund: Text the word “QUAKE” to 20222 to donate $10.
• Salvation Army: Text the word “Haiti” to 52000 to donate $10.
• UNICEF: Text the word “Hope10” or “UNICEF” to 20222 to donate $10.
• National Religious Broadcasters (NRB): Text the word “Haiti” to 40579 to donate $10.
• Save the Children Federation: Text the word “Save” or “Safe” to 20222 to donate $10.
• World Vision: Text the word “Give” or “World” to 20222 to donate $10.
• Americares: Text the word “Americares” to 25383 to donate $10.
• Habitat for Humanity: Text the word “Habitat” to 25383 to donate $10.
• American Jewish World Service: Text the word “AJWS” to 25383 to donate $10.

Looking back on my high school days, a lot has changed in the office setting.   While in high school, I can remember taking Shorthand.   That class was important if you wanted to work in an office as a secretary.  I was one of the girls that wanted to be an Executive Secretary; taking shorthand was an added plus on your resume along with your typing speed.

In my junior year, I took Shorthand 1.  I still recall how easy it was to pick up the method.  Once we had the abbreviated symbols down, our teacher dictated a letter to us to help build our speed.   She verbally punctuated with  commas, periods, new paragraphs...which was very important to know. Keep in mind, though, when you were hired for the position with an officer of a company, he/she would not punctuate while they were dictating.  You had to know where the commas went, the start of a new sentence and even a new paragraph.   After the teacher was finished with the dictation, we would then have to type the letter she dictated from our notes.

This was so serious that we had to practice so we wouldn't lose the speed that we had built up or forget the symbols.  My girlfriends and I would get together during summer breaks and practice shorthand and dictate to each other so we could keep up our speed.

My senior year, I took Shorthand 2.  In Shorthand 2, we were taught how to abbreviate more symbols to increase out speed even more.  Believe me, it was important to keep my speed up because if I got behind on the dictation, I was lost when it came time to type what was dictated.  Back then we had the good old typewriter, not a computer to edit until everything was correct.   If we made a mistake, we had to use either the White-Out or Correction Tape to correct the misspelling and hoped it wasn’t too noticeable on the paper.   Typing letters today, using Microsoft Word or Excel, all you have to do is hit the “Spell Check & Grammar” button and it points out the mistakes on grammar or spelling that needs to be corrected.

I'm not sure, but I suspect Shorthand isn't used in any type of office setting anymore.  I’ve read that the Medical Field uses it when they are making notes in our files, but otherwise, can you think of anywhere else?  Would it help the Account Executives to know shorthand while they are taking notes in meetings with the clients? Maybe so!

The first thing I do—after I kiss my husband “good morning” and accept that wonderful cup of coffee he brings me every day—is say a prayer of thanks that I get to go to work each day in a place where extraordinary people are hired and entrusted to do what they love. And that we have such an interesting array of clients and businesses to serve. I’m often asked what a typical day is like, and well, there is no such thing at CurrentMarketing. I cherish the variety of projects and the creative thinking that I am challenged with every day. I can’t imagine working in a factory setting or facing a workday where there is no creative outlet.

The second thing I do is choose my attitude for the day. I know that I have a choice every day on how I am going to react to whatever comes my way.  I know that my tone of voice matters when I greet someone I work with first thing in the morning. I know that paying someone a compliment often makes their day. And that mistakes happen because we are human and it is how I react in those challenging moments that can make or break the “teachable” moment. We are not performing brain surgery.  And it is very important to have a spirit of fun at work, even when we are up against deadlines!

The third thing that I probably couldn’t live without is Jolt®. Jolt is our daily status meeting—a gathering of the entire company that begins at 8:43am. This is the one chance every day that I get to see and interact with everyone, even if only for 17 minutes.  We rocket around the long black table in the center of our studio and every person at CurrentMarketing talks about what they are going to get accomplished today and what they need from others to complete any tasks. If someone’s workload is light, they can jump in where most needed and level things out. It also helps keep everyone informed about new clients, new projects, new technology and new personal developments—from engagements to home purchases.  And it eliminates the question that some folks have about others they work with: What is __________ working on today? Often wondered because they have so much going on and they want to make sure that others are equally as challenged.

Following Jolt®, each and every day is very well planned and coordinated. It is never the same and always fun and exciting. And I look forward to being here!

As a newish resident, I thought it would be fun to shoot a few Louisville related questions to CurrentMarketing’s other recent transplant. So let’s see what Michigan native, Brian Solomon, has to say about the ‘Ville:

AT: Best thing you’ve seen since moving here?
BS: The junkyard. Well, it’s not a junkyard, it’s a yard that has everything that Coney Island threw away. On Mellwood, I think.

AT: How do you pronounce your new city?
BS: Before, Looeyville. Now, Looavull. I’m learning the local lingo.

AT: Cards or cats?
BS: Cats. I have a cat, so I better say cat.
(After a brief clarification of UofL Cards vs. UK Cats: “Spartans”)

AT: Place you can’t wait to check out?
BS: 4th Street. Haven’t spent much time downtown.

AT: Most surprising aspect of Louisville?
BS: The architecture. It looks straight out of a Twain novel.

AT: What do you think about horses?
BS: They’re very big. And freak me out a little bit.

AT: Bourbon or beer?
BS: Bourbon.

AT: What do you use most to get around town? Google maps, GPS or wing it?
BS: Google Maps on my Google phone (flashes phone). But I’m starting to wing it too.

AT: Something that we have in Louisville that you did not have in Michigan?
BS: A river.

Only 1 out of every 9 scratch offs is a winner - that's 11%.

CurrentMarketing won 4 out of 10 of the coveted Hot Ten Awards from the Louisville Advertising Federation today - that's 40%!

That's right, we're more likely to win than a scratch off!

Congrats to Meredith Will, Megan Snider, Angela Trumbaturi and Ashley Cherep on their big wins today - we're all so proud!!!!

Our own Queen of the Social Sphere, Angela Trumbaturi, will be featured in an upcoming issue of Velocity and the pub arrived today for her pampered photo shoot atop our Jolt table! She looks damned good, if we do say so ourselves - shortly after the shoot, Annie Leibovitz called!

Most companies these days have some sort of internet policy.  Every company expects their employees to limit their personal internet use during business hours to a minimum and to not frequent any questionable websites.  Many companies have implemented programs to block certain websites (such as sites that deal with sports and entertainment) they feel could be large time wasters for employees - more often than not these will also include social media sites.  Lately I’ve been thinking that this seems to be an old school mode of thinking.

The internet is just another form of communication and the most efficient form of gathering news and information. So why are so many companies afraid?  Maybe some companies are worried that their employees will damage their brand by saying something negative online?  These employees can post the same thoughts a couple of hours later from home, so that doesn’t seem to be logical.

Along those same lines, if an employee happens to see a damaging comment on a social media site, they can draw the proper department’s attention to it and the company can be more proactive in dealing with the issue.

Some companies may have a fear of viruses or spyware or other malicious programs that an untrained employee might accidentally acquire.  While this is a valid concern, there are steps to take that can protect their systems.  They should already have those in place anyway.

If it’s a loss of productivity that they are concerned about, many people these days own smart phones, and they have the means to waste time right there in their pockets. If you can’t trust an employee to do his or her work, you may have hired the wrong person.

Many years ago, any personal phone calls at work drew this same sort of criticism.  Now they have become an accepted part of the work day as long as the calls aren’t excessive.  My hope is that one day companies will feel the same way about allowing internet access to all their employees.

I know religion is one of those topics that's typically forbidden in the workplace, but there actually is a tie to CurrentMarketing here. Stick with me.

I recently read Squire Rushnell's "When God Winks at You." It's all about daily occurrences many folks label coincidences, which Rushnell refers to as "Godwinks."

Many of you know we have a few office dogs, one of which is Mona, our fuzzy Golden Doodle. I recently experienced one of Mona's "Godwinks."

We all know how it is when you have one of those mornings when everything that can go wrong, does go wrong.  Recently, I had one of those days.  As I prepared for our morning jolt, I felt a sense of, well, blah - so blah that I wasn't even in the mood to do my expected daily outburst of "Good morning, CurrentMarketing!!!!"

As I sat in jolt and listened to the team discuss their daily tasks, I had determined that I wasn't having a good day, so I didn't feel like talking, let alone saying "Good morning."

I was looking down at my notepad and noticed Mona walking towards me. As her tail was wagging back and forth, she looked up and in my head, I heard her say clearly, "Good morning, Mel!"  She came over so I could pet her head and assure her that I knew what she was trying to tell me.  It was like the clouds parted and I knew it was going to be a wonderful day.

As my turn came up to talk about my tasks for the day, I yelled out "Good morning, CurrentMarketing!" The best part about saying that each morning is that I get 25-30 simultaneous responses back – "Good morning, Mel!" What a daily joy!

Was it a coincidence that Mona approached me in the morning jolt? Nope - it was a Godwink.  She very seldom visits with me in jolt because she is busy playing with Molly (our other office canine). On this day, though, I think she sensed I was not having a good day and I needed that extra boost as a reminder of what a blessing life really is.

We have a great team here at Current.  When you're having a bad day, believe me, someone knows, even if you don't wear it on your sleeve. We are all each others cheerleaders and support team! When you can come to work with such wonderful and fun people, you can't help but start the day off with "Good Morning, CurrentMarketing!"

Every once in a while, you might even have to include a cartwheel, toe touch and high five!