Disney Believes in Recycling

I knew Disney films were similar, but this is ridiculous!

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TOMS Shoes creator, Blake Mycoskie, is featured on CNBC as an entrepreneur.

Public Relations within the Music Industry

The following is an informational interview with Michelle Roche, owner of Michelle Roche Media Relations. Her company specializes in all aspects of publicity within the music industry. In addition to managing tour press for various musical artists and festivals, Ms. Roche also takes on promotional projects for DVD releases, such as Adult Swim's Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

What made you choose the music industry to establish your career?

I’ve been around music my entire life. I grew up around it, being involved in chorus and going to shows in during college. I went to journalism school. I wasn’t very savvy about the industry at that time, though. I feel like today’s generation is much more in tune with how the music industry functions. My goal after college was to go into advertising. I started out working at a TV station. Later, as a manager at a jazz club in Atlanta, I realized I could take my passion for music and the skills I’d learned in journalism to create a career in the industry. So, I kind of stumbled upon the career.

In addition to those you’ve already mentioned, what jobs and experiences led you to your current position?

My background in the service industry helped a lot. I was a server and, later, a restaurant manager at a fine dining facility in Atlanta. Like I said, I also worked at a television station for two years. I spent a year doing advertising sales. All of these experiences provided me with great public relations skills. I was then an independent publicist for two years before working for five different record labels. I eventually ended up at Capricorn Records, working with multiplatinum bands and artists. After leaving Capricorn, I started my own company, which is where I’ve been for more than seven years now.

If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same career path for yourself? What would you change?

I would change very little. If anything, I would start earlier. For instance, I would have gotten more involved with music in college. I would have worked at the college radio station, written about music for the school paper and interned as much as possible. It was good to have the managerial skills that I received from other jobs, so I wouldn’t change that aspect.

What do you find most challenging about your current job?

The most challenging part of owning my own company is the financial aspect, such as dealing with taxes and billing. It’s also a challenge deciding the most effective use of my time and maintaining a balance between work and a personal life.

What are the most and least rewarding aspects of your job?

The most rewarding is definitely being my own boss and having the opportunity to travel whenever I want. I usually travel five or six weeks each year. It’s also nice to have respect within the community as a local business owner. The down side of owning my own company is that no one pays for my vacation time and benefits, which would be the least rewarding aspects.

How is the economy affecting your industry?

The music industry was already struggling before the economy went downhill. Since music and entertainment are top U.S. exports, I would say that the industry is no worse now that it was before. The ones suffering the most as a result of the economy are the music venues and the touring artists, since people don’t attend shows and purchase merchandise as much as they normally would. On the other hand, the publicist aspect of the industry is strong because it’s a necessary service for every artist. They will usually cut other expenses from their budget before getting rid of their publicist.

How do you see this type of job changing in the future?

My job evolves on a daily basis. I’ve been doing more consulting for internet marketing and online promotion. I’ve also been doing more promotional projects for DVDs, since they tend to be bigger than music. There has also been a change in attitude as far as the type of media coverage that may be considered press. For example, I now keep records of blog posts and webcasts that feature the particular artist or band, in addition to traditional newspaper articles.

Do you have any special words of warning or encouragement as a result of your experiences?

Internships, internships, internships! I think you should have several internships while in college because employers are looking more and more for graduates to have real world experience. Also, I would pay close attention to the length of the internship and the knowledge that can be gained from it. For example, if your internship was only two months, I know that you only received two-months-worth of experience, as opposed to a longer opportunity that would allow for more hands-on experience.

TOMS Shoes

I first heard about TOMS Shoes from a friend who had attended a "Style Your Sole" event at someone's apartment. The concept behind this young company is what really caught my attention. Why would someone create a shoe business that gives away just as many pairs as it sells?

The answer to this question came to me later as I earnestly researched our new client for my public relations capstone class at the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The class consists of completing an entire public relations campaign from the initial research stages to the final implementation and evaluation. Who would have thought that my assigned client would be this exciting company that I was already somewhat familiar with? Sporting the new pair of TOMS I had eagerly requested for Christmas, I began my investigation of this intriguing young company. Several YouTube videos later, I was HOOKED!

For those of you who aren't familiar with TOMS, their policy is to donate a pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair purchased on their Web site or in their stores. It didn't take me long to discover that TOMS Shoes could revolutionize the way that corporate America does business. By developing a nonprofit sector to supplement the efforts of this commercial company, TOMS has created the "perfect storm" to contribute to international community development. What an incredible way to connect American commercialism with a global need for shoes!

Since it began in May 2006, the company has given over 115,000 pairs of shoes to children in places like Argentina and South Africa. TOMS Shoes also allows its supporters to get involved by going on a "shoe drop" through their nonprofit sector, Friends of TOMS. These shoe drops allow passionate volunteers to experience what it's like to give someone their first or only pair of shoes. This video can better demonstrate the TOMS initiative and the life-changing experience of a TOMS shoe drop.

H.E.R.O. for Children

Balloons floated toward the heavens. On one was written “I just wish I could graduate high school,” on another, “I wish my family would be all right.”

These wishes were part of HERO for Children’s annual Fall Festival of Fun for children infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS.

Out of the 500 programs in the state that provide basic needs for HIV and AIDS patients, HERO is the only one to focus on the quality of life for children affected by this disease, according to the organization’s website.

HERO for Children is financially supported by University of Georgia’s HEROs student organization.

Two UGA graduates, Ryan Gembala and Garrett Gravesen, founded UGA HEROs several years ago after both had touching experiences with AIDS orphans abroad.

While one had taught an AIDS orphan to blow bubbles for the first time, the other had attended a funeral for a child who lost his battle with the disease.

After its humble beginnings on the University of Georgia campus as UGA HEROs, this organization has spread its influence internationally, while also keeping strong roots in its home state.

“Our mission has always remained the same, but we have definitely become more fundraising focused over the past few years,” said Kevin Scott, executive director of UGA HEROs.

“HERO for Children in Atlanta is on the cutting edge of a lot of things, but they need the financial support from us to make these things happen.”

The growth of UGA HEROs is evident in its fundraising totals. The organization went from raising $52,000 in its first year to $100,000 in a single semester.

This year the organization is focusing on two things: recognition and fundraising.

“We have done activities such as a free Greek cookout and a free Residence Hall cookout to invite people to come and learn more about HERO in a non-threatening way,” Scott said.

Although awareness on campus is important, it’s the fundraising aspect of the organization that really impacts lives.

“The bottom line is that we can have all the fun we want and have everyone on campus know what UGA HEROs is, but if we aren't raising money for the programs then we really aren't helping these kids, Scott said.

“Ideally, we would like to raise $300,000 this year – a major jump for the organization.”

The money raised by UGA HEROs goes directly to fund HERO for Children programs such as SuperHEROs, Global HEROs, Fall Festival of Fun, Hero Olympics and many more.

These programs provide opportunities for these children that they would not normally get since many live in homes with an average income of $10,000 per year or less.

Partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, HERO for Children has also developed the state’s first mentoring program for children affected by this disease.

A mentor is assigned to each child and spends time with them on a regular basis, often taking them to events such as Braves or Hawks games.

During a time when AIDS remains a controversial disease, organizations like HERO for Children are attempting to lessen the negative stereotypes surrounding the illness.

It is often hard to imagine the pain that victims of this disease feel. One 4-year-old girl expressed hers by writing on her balloon, “I love God, I wish God loved me.”

Village Life in Fiji

I hoisted the young Fijian girl, Nabua, onto my shoulders with waves crashing and children laughing nearby.

When I first became a student at the University of Georgia, I never would have imagined that this university would allow me to spend part of my summer studying in Fiji, one of the most beautiful island chains in the South Pacific.

However, I was allowed to do exactly that, thanks to the amazing opportunities provided by UGA’s Study Abroad program.

Beyond Fiji, UGA offers many opportunities to study in places such as Antarctica, Australia, Belize, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. These programs focus on the ecology of humans and their natural environments.

My particular programs consisted of a three-week stay in Australia and an eight-day visit to Fiji, which included two days in a local village with a host family.

Our Fiji trip began on the main island of Viti Levu in the city of Nadi, from which we made our way on a scenic bus ride along the coast to the capital city of Suva. I’ll never forget the stunning views of lush mountains meeting crystal clear ocean waters.

Although the landscape was breathtaking, the poverty of the country was quite surprising. As we traveled, we passed countless villages consisting of basic concrete houses, usually surrounded by barefoot villagers waving and shouting “Bula,” the Fijian welcome.

Although the locals were very friendly, their living conditions involved unsanitary water, little electricity, and often heaps of trash nearby. Not surprisingly, this aspect of Fijian life is often omitted from travel brochures.

However, it was interacting with these poverty-stricken people, rather than the natural beauty of Fiji, that had the most significant impact on my view of the world. In the local village of Votua, I discovered the insignificance of material possessions.

Despite the fact that the families in this community do not have many possessions, they demonstrate a level of hospitality that is often absent in average American homes. It was truly amazing to be welcomed into the homes of complete strangers and experience such an overwhelming sense of love and belonging.

Although we, as American college students, had little in common with these locals, they eagerly welcomed us into their village of Votua with open arms and complete acceptance.

In Fijian villages, a traditional “yagona,” or “kava,” ceremony is performed as a sign of welcome into that particular village. The visitors present a bundle of “waka,” or dried pepper plant root, to the village chief with a brief explanation for their visit, a custom known as “sevusevu.”

The host receives the sevusevu, pounds the plant, and then places it in a cloth sack. Afterwards, it is mixed with water in a large, hand-carved wooden bowl, called a “tanoa.”

The first cup of kava, a non-alcoholic, tranquilizing drink, is then presented to the guest of honor, while the second goes to the master of ceremonies. Before receiving the cup, the drinker must clap once and again three times when the drink is finished.

Although Kava drinking is an almost daily social norm in Fijian society, it does not have the stigmas associated with alcohol consumption. The drink does not produce the effects of alcohol, but simply a slight numbing of the tongue and mouth.

After our initial yaqona ceremony, our group was split into pairs, each pair staying with a different host family.

While talking with Tabua, the host mother of our house, over breakfast the morning after our arrival, we discussed our own families and backgrounds as she described hers.

After declaring that she now considers us a permanent part of her family, she insisted that the next time we come back to Fiji with our own families, we should stay with her. In this way, our families can experience the real Fiji and prevent wasting money at the resorts.

I will never forget this incredible cross-cultural hospitality. It seems that open understanding and acceptance are often difficult to find in our world of social prejudice. However, the notion of equality among cultures is still a prominent factor in local Fijian society. If only American families were so open to new people and different cultures.

Why Carpe Diem?

When trying to think of a blog name that would provide somewhat of an insight into my life and the way that I live it, the phrase "carpe diem" was the first thing to come to mind. This Latin phrase literally meaning "harvest the day," or more popularly translated as "seize the day." Although some may view this phrase as somewhat disheartening since it suggests our limited time on earth, I believe it's a remarkably motivating and inspirational philosophy to live by. It urges us to take advantage of our present situation and the opportunities presented to us in order to live a rich life. I believe this is a philosophy that many people don't consider as they go about their daily tasks, forgetting to "stop and smell the roses."