The Beast

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 30, 2012 -> 09:22 PM) Ross, you've got an excuse for everything...I have thought for some time that the reason you're struggling is because you're always feeling sorry for yourself. People sense that and avoid people with that attitude. You need to stop worrying so much about where you're going to end up and just enjoy being a twentysome-year old dude. Just relax...be patient...pick a f***ing job and do it well and make friends and enjoy your life. The rest tends to fall into place. Life isn't the worst thing in the world, I have many friends, a college degree, a good family and recently have begun dating a wonderful girl. What is missing is fulfillment and being paid for the work I do. The entire source of the problem is the fear of going down the wrong path which is why I haven't picked anything. But I'll quit worrying and just try to pull a 180 and be more positive. It's going to be tough but it's necessary to have joy in all parts of life. That said, maybe it's time to play to my strengths and start talking to people to figure out if the jobs I am thinking of or an advanced degree is necessary.

I would enjoy networking if I didn't despise small talk. I can be very friendly but stumble upon questions that are "evasive" even though they are what gets the kind of information I am interested in. So it's more of a communication thing. Not to mention as an introvert (who has social skills) going to networking events and loud and boisterous places isn't as effective as networking in small groups where that is my strength.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ May 29, 2012 -> 11:10 PM) No offense, but a business degree is almost useless without complentaries like networking, professional development, and leadership roles, no matter what school. It's good to major on business because intends to set those things up, but without them a business degree, or any degree, is almost useless. Well what is networking? I have attended networking events in the Chicagoland area and have done the awkward "Hi, what do you do," gathered business cards and LinkedIn contacts. I know that sounds negative but in all honesty I don't know what I should be looking to gain out of that since it isn't exactly what I would call a friendship. My professional development came from practicing content at my job on campus and my leadership roles come from managing interns. I guess the most odd part of my degree is that the management courses did not teach me much of anything since it was all theories. I am sure it trained me in thinking, but if I researched NIU's business schools compared to mine, I'm sure it would have drastically changed curriculum. I'm not discrediting what you are saying, but I am playing devil's advocate. @SoxFan1 - that's awesome. I was going to recommend the Big Ten Conference as an internship since their HQ is in Park Ridge, IL.

This is all sad but true. Cubs draw an increase of 2% with fewer wins. White Sox draw 2% fewer fans and have 5 more wins at this time last year. Given the amount of people in this city and the amount of following for the Cubs, how likely is it for the Sox to increase average attendance by 5,000-10,000 more fans by the end of the season? Is it logical to think there will be an increase if they can stay hot or are we not a large enough fan base to make it out to the park for Boyer and Co. to make their quota?

Well, I have the skills a PR person needs, graduated with a Business Administration/Management degree after taking advice for not getting a Journalism degree and am now working in PR. But that doesn't mean I am better off with the business degree - I got through the courses but I sure would have much rather written for four years as opposed to stomach Principles of Finance and Accounting. That said, business did lay a foundation for me to understand key jargon used in business writing and business journalism. I'm at the stage right now where I am probably being too selective in my next job is going to be, but that's because I have no interest in what is hiring for a person like me (entry-level sales positions). Writing positions are few and far between, but I have heard that those with writing skills should try marketing or creating marketing communications materials. I may end up doing that if I don't go into the business side of health care or higher education. Thanks for the commentary, it is comforting to know you don't have to have a plan when you're 24. You are just expected to pay the bills and figure it all out in the next five years. Maybe move out in the next year and meet a smoking hot wife.

Ah Fielder's Choice. It reminded me of the cheap hits the Twins used to get. I'm going to take a picture when he hits .400.

Can anyone offer an explanation as to why PK's RBI wasn't a hit? If its not a hit then what is it?

Nice catch by Brantley. Hot blonde behind the Sox dugout

I definitely need to come up with a long term vision before I go do something. I'm not trying to escape the workforce, but I am wanting to be on a path where I will be paid more, get out of making cold calls and have a career I feel satisfied or happy going to each day. In terms of what would make me happy, I am sure something where I work alongside with and not pitching ideas to would be more fulfilling, which is why admissions, guidance counseling or working in health care would suit me. The job itself that I have right now is tough when I am not making enough to support myself or pay bills if I was on my own. One person in particular in my office keeps getting promoted because her department (kind of like sales) is thriving and bringing in business. The rest of us (social media, customer service, public relations) aren't getting raises, which sucks since we're on hourly pay. With regards to the months spent at the first job, I wanted to know if an employer would view 6-8 months as being a legitimate amount of time to leave a first job for another job. My sister left hers after a year, but at least Enterprise paid her decently before she departed for Groupon. Maybe instead of school I will just have to volunteer on my nights off or do a crap ton of informational interviews and networking since I don't want to do PR at my next job. Perhaps an alternate option to going back to school is a crap ton of networking to get people to know, "Hey, I can adapt to the position you can offer (HR, IT, Higher Education) because I can learn anything on the spot. Yes I am aware none of my work experience is directly applicable." @Disco72, it's always nice to fall into a career you really enjoy.

Appreciate the post, Disco72. There's some sound advice there that I will consider going forward. I decided to try PR because I know a lot of business and journalism majors end up there since they have skills for it (persuasion, writing). To be honest, I'm not the sales type and don't see myself staying in PR for five years. That said, I was thinking of what was growing - healthcare or just something I was considering higher education. Since I am not the best in the sciences (although A&P might be easier than I think), I don't think I could be a nurse, but I could work on the admin side of a hospital in...HR or purchasing, maybe. I may have changed my major from education in college, but I still think I would be a good guidance or admissions counselor. Seeing kids succeed and find the right fit for them would be satisfying. What did you teach a class on? That sounds like something I really would be interested in. Maybe getting the MBA or something that would allow me to teach at a college would be ideal.

Not sure who is reading this but I wondered if someone could chime in. Nearly a year has passed since I graduated and since then, I have had three internships and one job that I consider an entry level position. I'm working in an in-house corporate PR position, something that I didn't go to school for and am vastly underpaid in. The company I work for has only given raises to those who are in sales, while I was told I would be given a raise after three months. Three months came and went and still, I have no raise. I'm writing this because I am coming up on six months and wondered if it was time to start looking for something else. I have some ideas for grad school since having the MBA would be nice to have if I went to work in health care, or going to get a master's in something related to secondary or higher education might be more fulfilling. I am debt free and am willing to work in retail or something else because I am making the same money in my current job (so it's not like I'm taking a paycut). I guess I have three questions for all of you are: How long should you stay at your first job, six months or one year? When did you decide it was time to go back to school and why did you? Would you make a leap to school or quit a current position without having another job lined up? Thanks for your time.

Was at the game today and was thinking about the attendance and this team. What does this team remind you of? "The kids can play?" Here's to hoping attendance averages 20,000, some of these pitching prospects pan out and they find a replacement for when Konerko is retired. This team has to decide what their identity will be...seems like they can only win if there's a home run involved. Too many men left on base today.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 28, 2012 -> 03:15 AM) Well, I currently have one part time job and one paid internship which starts Monday, and I'm waiting to hear back from another (really, really good) part time job. Are you going to the White Sox career day on May 24? That's a possibility for you since other organizations will be there.

I've got to defriend Joe Cowley on Facebook. He tries to rile up all of the Sox fans as he clearly sucks as a columnist so he has to fill Mariotti's role. 2 of 3 is rather good, and they strung so many hits together against Valverde so that was a plus. I went to the game yesterday and sat next to a bunch of Detroit fans who said they are worried about the White Sox out of all of the other teams, in addition to disagreeing with the notion that they will win the division by 10 games. Did anyone catch Ohman talking to Venture as he was taken out? Seems like there was some disagreement there about how he was being used.

What would be your grade for Buehrle being let go?

How easy is it to get loans for grad school? I'd imagine it is just like getting loans for undergrad, but I don't know that for a fact.

Good point. Let's say in that scenario he'd get 80 RBI. Or just raise his batting average to .260. Did Kenny Williams join the other Chicago GMs by acquiring a player well past his prime?

Over. He'll hit .235 with 25 HR, 100 RBI and strike out 165 times.

Does anyone have information on that bus that operates from Oakbrook to the game? I could never find it but heard this bus exists.

Not sure how many people I will reach with posts, but here's my thoughts. I am working in an entry level position with a startup in Chicago and I am doing a job that I have only three months of experience in. It isn't that difficult - write press releases, post them to the wire, monitor the media mentions of competitors and our industry and reach out to journalists or media outlets when you have news. The issue with this job? I am a self starter that takes new tasks, but I need a manager or boss that has experience in media relations given that my current boss doesn't know dick about PR. I feel like I sit there on certain days just trying to think of things to do when there's nothing to pitch. The unfortunate thing is that our founders think that the press releases we put out are newsworthy, when they most certainly are not. I get the "you're getting experience," "you could get big with the startup" and "you're learning" responses, but I haven't learned anything since October and I have three internships under my belt. Would you stay here since the economy is "that bad?" Or should I continue working till my review or six months while studying for the GRE and start looking for a new job in the meantime?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 10, 2012 -> 07:20 PM) Do you and Greg have an Ozzie Supporters Forever FB group? No, I have a Kenny Williams sucks club with myself. Don't associate me with Greg.

"Bud, what would you say about the mess our organization has been put in, having spent money on long term contracts for underachieving ball players? Is there a way to cleanse the organization of bad leadership (who canned the wrong man in Guillen), maintain payroll and still be a competitive team?"

Lets hope this isn't like the Mike Sirotka for David Wells trade. Why does KW have a woody for trading with the Blue Jays?

Nice salary dump for two pitchers. Viciedo can hit, but can he play right field well?

There's no issue in making Penn State jokes - I use Sandusky's name all the time now (i.e. The Bears will get Sandusky'd by Tim Tebow this weekend). - $1 hot dog Thursdays each Thursday. - Post a promotion only on social media for games during the week that they know will not sell well and offer $7-$10 upper deck seats and $7-$10 off on lower deck seats. - Make Kid's Days like they used to be...reduced price tickets (I think it was a dollar per ticket if you were under 13) and get the players to sign autographs. - Bring back Fuji Film Photo Day.