SHE SAYS: IT'S WHO YOU KNOW

Every once in a while — and always against my will — I find myself in a situation in which I am expected to “network.” The thing about being a writer is that you end up becoming very skilled at typing, not talking. Consequently, standing in a room full of other less-than-chatty individuals can be painfully awkward.

We all know the importance of networking when it comes to job seeking. Maybe you know this from experience or from a professional development class or from your know-it-all uncle who is constantly reminding you: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

I know a few MBA candidates who have been required to attend mandatory networking events to brush up on their schmoozing skills. Students learn the importance of eye contact, exchange glad-handing tips and go head to head against each other in timed business-card-collecting competitions.

While these formal networking exercises seem a bit superficial, business logic suggests that a stellar resumé means nothing in a world where being unconnected results in being unemployed.

Unfortunately, this is bad news for introverted folk who do not excel at small talk with strangers. I might have plenty to say in writing, but social networking in real life is an entirely different story. My idea of “working the room” is nibbling on appetizers and hiding in a corner with my smartphone until it’s appropriate to leave.

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BRIGHTS

Bright v-neck tees at Joe Fresh and rainbow rows of macarons at Nadege

A tiny new friend I spotted on the terrace at the Robert Watson Lofts; 

I'm searching for my dream home there on a weekly basis.

New mint jeans and freshly Shellac-d nails in Gotcha

The blue below. View from 113 storeys above atop the CN tower.

As you can see, I've been enjoying snapping photos with my new iPhone. I finally made the switch (RIP Blackberry) and don't regret it for a moment. Well worth every penny of that early upgrade fee. Yikes.

Anyway, you can find me on Istagram at jess_emma_

OFFICE SPACE

Since I'm stuck inside all day (writing, writing and more writing) I thought I'd post a few images of very enviable workspaces. Photos found here, here and here.

SHE SAYS: FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

This isn’t really a book review; think of it as a public service announcement for curious bookworms. I want to warn you to stay away from that new romance novel you’ve been hearing enthusiastic whispers about. I am, of course, referring to Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James, the first in a trilogy of erotic page-turners. 

I really wanted to like it. I think it’s wonderful when people put down their smartphones long enough to get excited about books, even if those books are dubbed “Mommy Porn.” Sadly, despite what the New York Times hype machine has to say, Fifty Shades of Grey is JUST. SO. BAD. Not guilty pleasure bad, but “I’d like my $20 back” bad.

Perhaps I didn’t give it a proper chance; after all, covertly skimming racy passages while riding public transit isn’t the ideal way to enjoy some erotica. But even though I might have been distracted by my attempts to shield pages from nosy, over-the-shoulder-peering passengers, I don’t think reading it in a private setting would have made that much of a difference.

For those who have read the book, it should come as no surprise that it originated from a piece of Twilight fan fiction. It certainly reads that way. If you haven’t read it, well I’d say “Spoiler Alert” but frankly there is hardly a story to spoil. I don’t know about you, but I like a side of plot with my S&M interludes.

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PIN IT TO WIN IT

I've been sweating my face off at Booty Camp Fitness in downtown Toronto for just over a year now. I can't even begin to describe how happy I am to have found a form of exercise that I not only tolerate, but actually enjoy. I hope to never step foot in another GoodLife for the rest of my entire life.

A few weeks ago, Booty Camp launched a contest on Pinterest challenging recruits to accumulate and pin images and quotes that reflect the company's three core values: Fun, Friendly, Fitness. I have never won a contest IN MY ENTIRE LIFE but I figured I might have a chance at a digital scrapbooking-esq competition. 

Thankfully, my hours of avoiding real work and scouring the web for motivational fitness-related images paid off. I won (!!!) a free four-week boot camp session for my Fitness pin board which includes a collection of colourful images featuring grapefruits, go-get-em quotes, Jennifer Anniston's abs and other inspirational visuals. 

You can view the board here (which I'll continue to add to), and um, sorry for bragging.

SHE SAYS: WHO CARES ABOUT KLOUT?

I recently received an email letting me know that I had FINALLY achieved a Klout score in the forties, 45 to be precise. What tangible impact has this had on my everyday life? Absolutely nothing.

Founded in 2008, Klout allows users to measure their fluctuating influence across the social web. While “clout” refers to real political or social power, Klout with a K is a much more superficial unit of measurement, much like anything from the Kardashian Kollection.

Users relinquish all sorts of private data from their various social networks—Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn—and Klout compiles a score ranging from 1-100. This influence score reflects your ability to drive action within your social circles.

I first learned about Klout at a web conference I attended last year. I registered immediately; a decision based on equal parts curiosity and vanity. After determining my score and realizing just how irrelevant it was, I completely forgot about my account.

But while I was quick to dismiss it, many are eager to find out where they land on the barometer of influence. To date, the San Francisco startup has assigned Klout scores to over 100 million people and brands worldwide.

Interestingly, Klout not only tells you who you are influencing and how much, but what topics you are influential about. However, based on my personal experience, the accuracy of these insights varies from spot on to absolutely absurd.

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