I've Been Hired!

 (In case you don't follow my site www.digitalmention.com - post from today!)


There is one less person on the job market now that #HireHoff has been hired!

If you remember, on June 14, 2010 I launched my Campaign #HireHoff.



I had an overwhelming amount of support during this time. Here were some of my favorites:

• "Also, an online acquaintance launched her ‘hire me’ campaign, #HireHoff, today. It’s such a creative way of putting yourself out there. I can’t wait to see the results!" - Amanda Miller
• Twitterview #92 - with Sarah Kay Hoffman (@SarahKayHoffman)
• "Attn. Hiring Managers ... When you see creativity like @sarahkayhoffman 's #hirehoffman campaign you should take action http://bit.ly/cmUWVX" - @socialnicole
• "This is good stuff RT @sarahkayhoffman: @josippetrusa @genychat #GenYChat tries Campaign #HireHoff Thoughts? http://bit.ly/hirehoff" - @GenYChat
• "U of Minnesota grad creates campaign around hiring her: http://www.digitalmention.com/hirehoff/ via LinkedIn group-- http://ow.ly/22hK0" - @wkellyo

Here are some Stats:

• According to this Poll, most people think it will take them 4-7 months to find a new job. It took me 43 days.
• Here is what you get if you Google #HireHoff.
• 409 people clicked on the direct bit.ly link.
• Viewer Geography: US, Canada, Australia, UK, Argentina, Netherlands, Germany, Latvia, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Norway, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Russia, Belgium, France and Singapore.
• Direct Traffic: 29.33%, Referring Sites: 67.03%, Search Engines: 2.91%.
• Currently a Top Landing Page for the site.

I had multiple people contact me during this time for various positions. I was able to network with some wonderful people, and I learned a lot about being proactive and managing my own brand: Sarah Kay Hoffman!

So what position did I take on that 43rd day?

Community Manager - Fitness/Sporting Goods (FitClub) - Sears Holdings Corporation.

If you know anything about me, you know that I am most passionate about Social Media and Health/Fitness/Food. Merging the two is an absolute perfect fit for me! I believe that a company who can take advantage of this will benefit - at least that's what I am making a 100% commitment to!

I look forward to learning about and engaging with the "community." I am excited to embrace change, growth and success in this role and bringing forth many posts to accommodate it all! (Please note: This blog will continue to be based on my personal views.)

At the end of the day, I can honestly say that even though I was forced into Campaign #HireHoff, it only re-confirmed that, "everything happens for a reason!"

Wild Card Wednesday Day

Good Morning!

Welcome to another Wild Card Wednesday! If you don't remember what this is, click HERE.

This past week someone asked me the question (with regards to Social Media),

 "If you could give one or two words of wisdom about all of it, what would they be?"

Answer: Participate & Engage.

(And since there are only 2 words, I'll give you a little why. If you want to partake in the social space you must first show up. And then you must actually participate in the conversation and engage with people by providing value!)

Remember, the Wild Card Wednesday can be any questions you have! They don't have to be all about health, fitness and food!

You can ask via formspring (http://www.formspring.me/sarahkayhoffman) or any other way you'd like!

Cheers! 

Wild Card Wednesday

As I mentioned on Monday, many of my Blog posts will be more "themed." I am dedicating Wednesdays to all of you! 

People send me questions all of the time via email, private message and more. Typically people will preface their questions with, "I'm really sorry to be asking you this - I'm sure you get sick of people asking questions, but...." My response is always - "Please don't say sorry. I am happy to help and answer questions." The truth is that I believe the most positive thing about our lives is that we can take our own experiences (positive and negative) to benefit someone else. Mine just happen to be through health, fitness, food and an overall "zest" for life mixed with social media, marketing, personal branding and all things generation z.

That being said, Wednesdays are now "Wild Card Wednesday." To ask me a question, just go to my formspring profile & ask away! (http://www.formspring.me/sarahkayhoffman) Each time I answer (on Wednesday's only), I will have my answer automatically published to this Blog so you can all see the Question/Answer!

So what are you waiting for? Ask away! (ps. If you'd rather not ask via formspring, you can always ask via the comment section below, email or private message!)

CHEERS!

Online Communities for Health Nuts

Just in case you have never ventured to the DigitalMention Blog, I thought I would share with you the posting I put up there today. The posting was called, "Health Nuts Unite via Online Communities."

There are so many places online for daily support, motivation and overall "acceptance" for whatever your interest is in health, fitness & food. I encourage you to find a community, participate, engage and "show up." You'll be surprised at the connections you can make and the rewards you'll reap from that! (Please let me know of any others I forgot - would love to add more to the list!)

It was another fabulous day for the "Sarah-Food Camp!" No problems to report. Perfectly "perfect" feeling. The only complaint I have is that due to the leg workout around 10:30am, I felt completely famished for the rest of the day. That's okay, though. I just listened to my body, ate and felt no bloat! 

Tonight for dinner I'm going to introduce carrots, as the thoroughly-steamed version. I may have a cup, with some sprinkled cinnamon on top! I'll report back:)

I am supposed to have my Endoscopy follow-up tomorrow. Seems as though my biopsy results are not in yet, so this may be rescheduled. I'm not happy about that. I'm not very patient! 

I'm looking forward to a great night sleep. I worked so hard at the gym today that I have a feeling I'll be out before 9pm!

CHEERS!

Updated Leg Circuit Workout

I have an Updated Leg Circuit Workout from the one I shared with you a few weeks ago:

1 (a). Bulgarian Split Squat - no weight

- 3 sets; 12-reps/leg; RI = 30-40 sec. -

2 (a). Squat - no weight

2 (b). Moving/walking pushups - no weight
2 (c). Medicine Ball Chop

- 3 sets; 10-15 Reps/each; RI = 30-40 sec. - 

3 (a). Hamstring (in-and-out) on Ball

3 (b). Calf Raise -no weight

- 3 sets; 15-20 Reps/each; RI = 30 sec. -

4 (a). Bench Stepup - no weight
4 (b). Medicine Ball Chop + Squat
4 (c). Jumping Split Squats

-  3 sets; RI = 30 sec. -

My new Leg Circuit Workout is just more intense (and interjects an Ab set).

Here it is:

1. Bulgarian Split Squat (deeper) - no weight 
1. 5 sets, 12 Reps/Each Leg, RI-40 sec. (Next week it will be 6 sets.)
2.  (a) No-weight deep squat, (b) Walking pushup, (c) DB Chop
1.  5 sets, 15 Reps/squat - 8 Rep Walking pushup - 10 Reps (*15 lbs) DB Chop), RI between each set-40 sec. (Next week it will be 6 sets)
3. (a) Side (Oblique) Dips off bench, (b) Off-Bench V-ups
1. 3 sets, 10 Reps each side/oblique - 20 Reps V-ups, RI-30-40 sec. (Next week I'll try for 4 sets).
4. (a) Hamstring (in-and-out) on Ball, (b) No weight calf raise
1. 5 sets, 16 Reps hamstrings - 25 Reps calf, RI-30 sec. (Next week it will be 6 sets)
5. (a) No-weight bench step-up, (b) Stiff-Leg Deadlift, (c) Jump- Split Squat
1. 4 sets, 12 Reps each side/bench step up - 10 Reps (x40lb) Deadlift - 14 Reps Jump-Split Squat, RI-40sec. (Next week I will try for 5 sets).

Did I do Cardio afterwards? H#$% No! I was so tired! I warmed up for 5 minutes, and the entire workout took me just a little over 50 minutes to complete. I was super shaky and "spent" when I was done with that one! When you have little resting time in between sets and you're constantly moving, you are getting a double-whammy out of your workouts. 

While the "no weight" (or very low weight) might seem nonsense, it's not! Trust me, this was hard! But again, you always have to do what makes sense for you and your goals. My workouts are finally starting to make sense for me! (My proud moment in the gym today was when a lady came up to me and said, "Are you a trainer?" To which I responded, "No, sorry." And she said, "Hmmm...you look like you should be." #ThankYouMA'AM!)

So go ahead, give it a try! Let me know how it goes!


CHEERS!

 

Confessing & Truth-ing Upgraded

What started out as me "confessing, truth-ing" and sharing my journey with you has and is evolving into something much more! 

I am excited to share that very shortly I will be announcing a huge new major feature to my Blog! At this time, there is one....I am currently working on the second! Am I telling you this for "self-promotion" reasons? NO! Absolutely not! I am telling you this because this is something you will benefit from as well! And because - the truth is that I am so passionate about feeling optimal and helping you also become the (healthy, happy, passionate, inspired - and - skinny diva) you've always wanted to become! It's not about molding into a "picture-perfect" anybody. It's about molding into a "picture perfect" YOU. And that's the most important "perfect" any one of us can achieve! 

Again, I am not allowed to announce anything yet. On the left-hand side you will see a "Keep Up with Me" and a button which allows you to "FOLLOW." Click that. You'll never miss a posting!

Today was a phenomenal day! It wasn't like my energy was skyrocketing by any means, but it was sustainable energy all day long!
I made it though a hard workout. It felt so great. I didn't feel the urge to nap. And there was no bloat. I added in my extremely-ripened bananas today, too. (Yes, they are allowed....yummy, delicious carb here I am!)

I think you will notice via my "daily food log" that I eat fat. A lot compared to before. But don't let "fat" fool you. All fat is not created equal. And fat is not the enemy! I have only lost weight!

Fat gets a bad name due to the huge amounts of saturated fat that we consume on a daily basis. McDonald's is very open with telling you that a "Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese" has 19g of Saturated Fat.

"The American Heart Association recommends limiting the amount of saturated fats you eat to less than 7 percent of total daily calories.  That means, for example, if you need about 2,000 calories a day, no more than 140 of them should come from saturated fats.  That’s about 16 grams of saturated fats a day." 

In your McDonald's sandwich alone you have gone over. Enough said.

But in foods like avocados, almonds, salmon, olive oil and others, you will get the healthy fats that help (not hurt) you. These are better known as "monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids." This is not giving you permission to stuff your face with them all day long. They do still contain calories, a lot of them! But what it means is that you should get some in your diet each and every single day. 

I never miss a day without having them!
(Side note: You are thinking, "but you always promote your Coconut-based products to be so good and they contain mostly saturated fat." Never fear, there are different kinds of "saturated fat." If you think it's the "bad" kind, it probably is. Coconut is not. Read more HERE.)

Day 4 Food:

• Slow-cooked chicken
• Magic Mineral Broth
• Homemade chicken broth
• Slow-cooked turkey
• Lean beef
• Avocado
• Broiled chicken in Coconut Oil
• Raw Coconut Butter
• Extremely ripened bananas
• Probiotics

Alright, that's a wrap for me today. Tomorrow I'm throwing a question out for all of you. Stay tuned....

CHEERS!

Father's Day

Today is Father's Day. 

I am reminded of how fortunate I have been for the past 27 years to have an amazing Father. I have always been, "My His Girl."

My favorite thing I said about my Father last year on Father's day was:

"But my Dad would give the shirt off his back for a stranger. He would give his last penny to a friend in need in a heartbeat. And again, it's because he believes he has everything he wants. He has mastered a simple and beautiful life that I am striving for. I adore my Father."

I remind myself of these things so often. (Probably because I have seen such a lack in these values from people lately.) But reminding myself. And remembering where I'm from and how my Father taught me to treat people with respect, help them when they need help and trust even when it seems "off" get me through the little (because they are "little") things in life.

There are many reasons why I'd love to live back in Minnesota. My Father is one of them.  

I get my impatience from my Father. And my "unfiltered" language sometimes. I think I got his smile. And his long legs. I'm fairly certain I got his nose. I hope I got his dedicated, sincere work ethic. 

The world has been a much better place with my Father! I love you. Miss you. And I keep a special place for you in my heart....2,000 miles away!

Happy Father's Day!

No Cheese like my Laughing Cow Cheese

Get your Laughing Cow Cheese today! No, really! There is nothing quite like my Laughing Cow Cheese. 

I'll let you in on a secret as to why I love them so much (two secrets actually):

1. The Laughing Cow Brand is all about living healthy, being fit, fabulous and achieving a vibrant life. Don't believe me? Check it out!
2. The obvious. The taste is unreal and the calorie count even more unreal. For 35 calories I get all the flavor I need when I make my "tofu-wrap" recipe (which you can view by clicking above on the "check it out!)

CHEERS!

Campaign #HireHoff

Click HERE to view full version in flickr.

Confused about Twitter?

Since part of my goal through this Blog is to reach an infinite amount of people, it should come as no surprise that I love Social Media. I have talked about it some on this Blog before, but it is a huge part of my life. I have made a career out of it. 

My love for Marketing meshed with Technology, the Digital and all things Social lead me there! 

If you haven't seen my website yet, you can find it by clicking HERE OR you can see it in the right column titled, "Digital Mention by she." (she = sarah hoffman enterprises)

From time-to-time I am going to put up Social Media-related posts here. I think people enjoy them and can benefit from them. 

Today: Confused about Twitter? For the full version click HERE to be taken to my original article. (QUESTION: What types of Social Media information/articles/how-to's do you want to see??)


One piece of advice to kick this off, go out and get yourself Hollis Thomases’ book, "Twitter Marketing: An Hour a Day." (I got it directly from Amazon - link/picture to the left.) I bought the book just recently. I learned so many new things, but it would have done even more wonders for me had I picked it up from the beginning!

So, Twitter: not a nasty 7-letter word

• The very basics:
  @xyz = saying something to someone, everyone in your network – people that follow you will see it
  d @xyz = sends the person a direct message – which they can only receive if they are following you
  RT @xyz = retweets something the particular person has already said – goes to your entire network
  #hashtag = a trending topic – an index of finding everyone talking about that topic
• Don’t spam.
  Don’t go on Twitter expecting to “sell, sell, sell.” As a matter of fact, until people like and trust you, I recommend not selling at all.
• Show up to Participate. And Add Value.
  Participate in the conversation happening. Engage with people. Show your personality, without talking about yourself or your business in every tweet. Say you are a Local Fitness Club. For every one tweet you put out that makes “noise,” (ie. I’m listening to my iPod and wondering what workout to do at the gym tonight) you should put out 3-5 “added-value” tweets (ie. Great article on the best fitness routines for summer). See the difference? People care less about you and more about WIIFM (What’s In It For Me.)
• 140 characters. Wait, maybe just 125 characters.
  You are allowed 140 characters per “tweet.” But if you want to be retweeted, try to fall under that so there is enough room left for added commentary by the “retweet-er.”
• Shorten that Link.
  When you want to include a link into your Tweet, make sure to use a URL-shortening service. You have many to choose from. Here are just a few: tinyurl.com, zi.ma, bit.ly and budurl. Not only, will they reduce the overall characters used, but they also provide you with a platform to track how many people click on the links you have provided!
• Find Locals Talking about things Relevant to You and Your Business
  Didn’t think this was possible? It is! One of my most favorite tools to use is socialoomph.com. You can actually track anything on Twitter you want. For example, for my clients, I always set up certain keywords that happen within a certain distance. I have them sent to me 2 times/day so I always know what’s going on. It is a great lead-generation tool, among many, many other things.
• Don’t Underestimate the Power of Twitter Advanced Search
  Local Business will always benefit from the standard Twitter Advanced Search. Just a couple of minutes navigating through it will show you all the capabilities.

Twitter is not scary. Twitter is not useless. I have skimmed over very, very basic Twitter applications and “tips.” There are thousands of tools out there to help you get the most out of your Twitter strategy.

Of all the tools, tips and tricks, nothing compares to the fact that in order for it to work, you must show up and actively engage. People like to share and talk on Twitter. They don’t like to be sold to, and they are definitely turned off by the classless “salesman” pitch. Keeping your “voice” authentic and consistent on Twitter can do wonders for you. Just give it a little time, patience and personality!

An Unlikely Pizza

 One of my most favorite things to do is to take "bad" foods and make them "good." Why? Because I'm just like you. I love food - and I don't want to eat lettuce all day. I refuse to. But because I'm (supercalifragilisticexpialidocious) when it comes to food, health, fitness and working out, I am overly conscious about everything. Some call it annoying. I call it "why the hell can't everyone see the benefit of this?!" 

Since not everyone can or cares to, I do it, post it and hopefully those of you who try it love it, too! So....
 
Have at it! Brought to you by the CalorieKing.com, nutritionals on all your favorite pizzas! Scared? I'll help you with one. The average 14" Pizza, Cheese Topping, Original Crust has (per 3.6 oz/1 slice serving): 272 calories, 9.8g fat (4.4g saturated), 33.6g carbohydrates and 551mg sodium. And consider, this is the average, with only cheese and just one small slice. And let's be honest, we never have just one slice. Ever!

Pizza, done right, can simply be alright - for all of us! I wanted to gauge whether or not people are interested in this sort of "foodie post" before I put a ton of work in it. So I have to be honest when I say that I don't have the exact nutritionals, products and brands. But here is what I do know about my Pizza I made:

• Low-Carbohydrate, High Fiber Tortilla (80 calories and 12g fiber)
• Made with tortilla, low-fat cheese, sauce, extra-lean turkey and mushrooms
• We guessed it was less than 350 calories (for the entire pizza!)

Taste = A (you will only find an A+ when it's done exactly right to my "likes:)")

What you could do differently = Add more vegetables. They are super-low calorie and great for you (I have to be careful with them due to my stomach issues)  

What I would definitely do differently = 

1. Different sauce (Don't get me wrong, it tasted great, but I know there is a much lower-sugar one available at the same great taste.)  
2. Sprinkle some herbs and spices on after the sauce is on (zero-calorie flavor!)
3. Use a different cheese. I would attempt to make a Laughing Cow Cheese work because it's one of my favorites.

Beyond that, I'm all set! We had it on Friday night. It's a great Friday-night meal. Really...it's a great meal any night!

So tell me....what is your most FAVORITE "junk food" or otherwise "unhealthy food?" I'd love to cook up another "unlikely health food!"


CHEERS!

Workout: Day Off

Today is an "Off Day." And we need these days. They help us repair, recover and rest so that the next day we are better, stronger and ready as ever!

In case you missed them, here was Workout Day 1 and Workout Day 2.

Since it's an "Off Day" today and I don't have a workout to share with you, I wanted to offer up a deal! If you live in the East Bay area and are looking for a killer workout, I highly encourage you to check out the UFC Gym in Concord, CA. This is not just a Gym for Men. No, Women and Children participate in many things as well there! It's the Ultimate Fitness Experience. And remember what I said - ultimate usually yields faster results!

Click here to PAY ONLY $49 for a 1-month membership, 2 Personal Training Sessions and a Free Kids Club (normally $199). (But hurry...you only have today and tomorrow to take advantage of this!)

Maybe you'd like a shot at winning one of these? Click HERE to do so!

Have fun! If you are taking this as your "Day Off" with me, remember 2 things:

1. You should still get some sort of movement in. I will probably go for a walk with my husband and dogs or a bike ride. 
2. If you get the 1-month membership to the UFC Gym that will take you through this 4-week program. You could substitute any of your "cardio" for classes there!

Questions? Let me know! Feel free to reach out to me HERE!

CHEERS!

ME dot COM

My friend, Ted Rubin says, "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... it's about learning to dance in the rain."

I absolutely love that! But it's time for me to act that out.


Lately, I have been too consumed with work. That's the problem with Social Media and having a career focused around a computer - it's always there! And I have let it consume me. 

Couple that with my inability to run, run, run and I have basically just been nearly "cooped-up," allowing myself to be burried in the computer. 


No More! I am not waiting for my "feet storm" to pass, feeling sorry for the fact that "I can't run." And I'm certainly not going to fore go it while sitting by my computer working!


Time for action! It's not realistic for me to say, "I promise to turn my technology off for 3 hours each day." And the truth is, I don't want to! I currently work with certain individuals who inspire me each and every single day. And for that, I give back my time, energy and brain. But, I must always remember ME first! So, like a diet, I'm not making promises I can't keep (the computer stays on!). The best laid plans will fail with unrealistic goals.

My new "goals" are in the works. I like to call them: ME dot COM. And what does that mean? It means merging my love for Health/Fitness and Food with Social Media once again! Remember ME on NIKE? One project has already begun with Mr. Bob Stanke, Director of Social Media for Lifetime Fitness.

But what will be next?! My "Wild" Card is out there....  

Attitude is Contagious

We have all heard it before, 

Attitude is contagious. Is yours worth catching?

I now believe that mine IS worth catching! I believe that I was well on my way about a year ago, but I believe that it is 100% there now. And why? Because I am now surrounded even more - day-in and day-out - by people who also have an attitude worth catching!

I can't wait to watch this highly-contagious positive network grow! Will YOU be the next person I meet (face-to-face OR virtually) with an Attitude worth Catching?! I hope so!

Happy Friday! CHEERS!
 

Everything Starts at the Beginning

I got little sleep last night. I laid awake thinking about the last 5 simple words our CEO, Chris Ruggieri, sent me via email last night:

Everything Starts at the Beginning

I kept thinking about what a simple and yet engaging and exciting idea that is! We are all so excited in life because of what we work so hard to produce as the outcome. We strive to be the best we can because we can't wait for success to turn tables. 


Yet, reality is that it's the beginning and the middle that count the most. Sandra Bullock said it best in Hope Floats, "Beginnings are scary. Endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. And you need to remember that when you find yourself at the beginning."


Today those 5 simple words are still fresh in my mind, lingering there. But today I'm more excited about the beginning. 


I'm excited about the ideas that are generated in the beginning, followed by the process of implementation in the middle and finally end up in pure success! (And if at first we don't succeed, we just re-invent until we get it right. But we appreciate, learn from and have a ton of fun doing it!)


And here's to great beginnings! CHEERS!

Busy March!

It was another great week in the world of Sarah Kay Hoffman. Sometimes I feel like these "happy-go-lucky" blog posts need to STOP! Really, who cares if I'm happy-go-lucky, right? But then again...my goal here is not to boast - my goal is to spread my cheer. It's to spread what I hope will be even one small thing for someone else to say, "Wow, that made me smile."

I digress....

It was a great week for me. I feel so alive, so productive and so useful within Yolo Industries! I have waited a very, very long time to get to this point in my life. Now that I'm here, I'm working so hard to stay here, grow here and get "famously" successful here! The company is growing at a rapid rate, and I feel that the success can be attributed mostly to the fact that everyone who works there is passionate about who we are! And that is something you cannot put a pricetag on!

I welcome each and every one of you to follow The Yolo Life Blog! Today we put up a posting, "Perfect for Your Spring Purse," and we are giving away a few goodies! Follow the blog and check it out!

In other news, I have a few more big things to look forward to this month:

1. Running: And a lot of it! (I am training for the Rock 'n Roll San Diego Marathon!) I will be completing a 14-mile run this upcoming Sunday. This will mark the furthest distance I have ever run! I am nervous and excited, but mostly excited! My long runs are getting up there in mileage. I like that - it's a great mental challenge for me!
2. Running: On Monday, March 22nd I will begin Ms. Ashley Kumlien's journey with her as she begins her 6-month trek across the United States! Ashley is running to raise awareness for MS, which her Mother battles. Ashely is amazing and inspiring. Though I was not able to go on a 2-month "tour" with her, I will see her off on an approximately 15-16 mile run in San Francisco (across the Golden Gate Bridge). IF you are in the Bay Area we would love to have you join us! Please post any comments if you think you might be able to come. I know Ashley would love to see them! In the meantime, you can check her out via: MSRuntheUS Website, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter and Flickr.
3. Social Media: On Monday, March 29th I will be speaking in Portland, OR at the social fresh Social Media Conference. I am absolutely thrilled to be doing this, not only to share my experiences, but also to meet some incredible people! Just to name a few:  @gwenpeake with Ford, @skydiver (Peter Shankman) with HARO, @foomanpdx with Nike, @waynesutton with Twine Interactive, @cspenn with Blue Sky Factory, @mattsingley with M80, @shaunacausey with Comcast, @lorelleonwp with Lorelle on WordPress - and last, but not least - Mr. Social Fresh himself, @jakrose Jason Keath. (Side Note: These are just  A FEW - there are so many I can't wait to meet!)

I'm hoping for a super productive and successful March! And I'm hoping that each and every one of you has the same:) CHEERS!

Yolo Industries

Free. And loving life!


Today closes week one for me with my new company, Yolo Industries. And I have to say, it's been an amazing week! I tend to stay pretty optimistic from week-to-week, but this week has by far "trumped" most weeks! It's Friday today and I find myself saying, "Where the hell did this week go?! I'm just getting started!" And that's the beauty - Just. Getting. Started.


I've had multiple people ask me, "What are you doing? What is YOLO?" So here it is:

1. First off, I have been hired by Yolo Industries as their Social Media Strategist. Prior to me coming, they didn't really have a Social Media presence. They had a company who did it from time-to-time, but nothing full time. I have spent my first week doing "foundational" things. I'm trying to figure out, learn and engage more with the brand as a whole. I feel that all too often in Social Media people just shoot from the hip without knowing who their target market is and/or what they want, where they shop and what they do. I'm still learning this. I will be building everything Social Media-based from the ground up. And that is so exciting to me!
2. So WHAT is YOLO? There was just an article published in the February Issue of ALIVE East Bay Magazine about YOLO Industries. Here is the article: 

Discovering YOLO Industries - You Only Live Once

As I was driving through Downtown Danville the other day, my attention focused on a huge, monster truck advertising YOLO Industries. My curiosity had me hooked and I pulled up their web address: www.yoloindustries.com. To my surprise, YOLO- “You Only Live Once”, was not a website hosting extreme sports or adventure travel, but a host to the beauty industry. YOLO names Glo Tanning, Salon Forty Sixty Two, Dabble Cosmetics, Jellyfish Spa and Route 66 Barbershop as its partners and is offering unlimited memberships for $99 a month! I was completely intrigued and decided to dive in a little further to get in contact with YOLO Founder and CEO, Chris Ruggieri. I wanted to meet with him and hear all about this brand new concept.

We met for coffee at the Blackhawk Plaza, where all of his YOLO businesses are located. I expected to see a high powered executive in a business suit, but what walked in was entirely different. Here came a young, “skater-like” dude, wearing a beanie and a track suit! “What’s goin’ on?”, he said in a disturbingly loud voice, and I didn’t know whether to laugh or be scared of whom I was meeting. But after chatting for a few minutes, I realized not only was he professional, but extremely energetic and passionate for his unique vision of YOLO Industries.

“What is YOLO?” Chris replies. “Yolo is a philosophy, a state of mind, a way of life. It’s about having fun and living life in the present, in the moment. It’s about taking care of yourself and taking chances, taking risks. It’s about asking yourself, when I am at the end of my life, would it have made a difference to have spent that extra buck, to have taken that well needed vacation, or to have taken that risk. How does all this apply to the beauty industry, you might ask. YOLO is about feeling good. When you feel good, you are happy. When you are happy, your heart is open. And when your heart is open, the possibilities are endless!”

It is by this mantra that Jellyfish Spa was created.

“I woke up one night to a light going off in my head. I thought....Unlimited services on a membership basis for $99 a month. BAM! Thus, my concept was born! I wanted to bring a totally new concept to the public, where every person could afford and enjoy getting pampered. At Jellyfish Spa, the members can get their nails done, facials and massages as frequently as they want.”

Could this really be true? I pay $90 for a one- time massage alone, I said.

“Yes”, Chris replies, “and now there’s no excuse for taking care of yourself. We are providing luxury on a beer budget for anyone who wants to make a change in their lives. For $99 a month, clients can come utilize Jellyfish Spa, they can get make overs and discounts at Dabble, they can get discounts at Salon Forty Sixty Two, and coming soon, exclusively for men, Route 66 Barbershop memberships for unlimited haircuts and spa treatments! I was tired of the typical spa experience and frankly, bored”, Chris said. “My vision was to energize and excite the client.”

And boy am I excited! The moment you step foot in Jellyfish Spa, you realize you have entered something entirely new. Embellished with all modern elements and architecture and a 600 gallon jellyfish tank, you will be refreshingly amazed. “People always ask me why I would name a spa after a deadly creature”, Chris said. “My response is simple; jellyfish are the only species that metamorphosis from an adult state back to that of an infant, thus making them immortal. And, who doesn’t want to reverse time!?”

By this time, I was completely engrossed by this man and he proceeded to tell me how he got this concept started.

“I started out in the gym industry, managing clubs and getting them off the ground, moving from location to location. Ending up in New York City for a brief time, I fell in love with the modern architecture and one day while tanning, I came up with the concept of Glo Tanning and opened our first location in Walnut Creek.”

Six locations later, Chris received his General Contractor’s License and started Ruggieri Construction, focusing on various modern projects throughout the Bay Area. Soon after, while having many family members and friends in the hair industry, he opened Salon Forty Sixty Two.

“The Salon was a huge challenge for me. Not being a hairstylist myself, I was always intimidated to walk into an upscale salon. They always seemed cold and uninviting. I had a tough audience. Not only the clients, but the team of stylists who had high expectations and a need for constant inspiration.”

And boy, did he inspire. The moment you walk into Salon Forty Sixty Two, you are consumed by its beauty and design, not to mention its bright pink wallpaper! It’s hard to imagine not being inspired.

“Our stylists are like mad scientists”, Chris said, “mixing up their potions to change the way the client perceives themselves. They are expected to know all the latest gossip, trends, give advice on relationships, kids, life and all the while looking dynamic themselves. All that and a great cut! I wanted to create a forum for them to inspire and be inspired and that is how I came up with the idea of having round tables as work stations. Most salons have you cramped in a little cubicle, hiding behind a wall of mirrors. We pride ourselves with having the ‘creme de la creme’ of the industry, and I wanted them to be able to share their wonderful creations with not only fellow stylists, but the other clients as well. Who doesn’t want to show off their happy and proud clients?”

“The owners of the Blackhawk Plaza had been so impressed with the success of Salon Forty Sixty Two, they asked if I would be interested in opening another beauty outlet. Ready to take on any challenge, I agreed, thus Dabble Cosmetics was born. I saw a niche and went for it. With Dabble, again, I wanted to create a space that was exciting, inspiring and beautiful. The idea behind Dabble was what every girl dreams of...One big, luxurious closet! You can’t resist the oozing sex appeal and charm of the space. The hot pink and black damask wallpaper and crystal chandeliers scream glamour! We spent countless nights searching for those hard- to- find product lines that are hip, trendy and mainstream.”

You’ll think you’ve died and gone to boutique heaven walking into Dabble!

“2010 is not going to be any slower of a pace. In fact, hold on to your pants.....Here comes YOLO and watch out, we’re ready to take on the world, city by city. We are launching YOLO Foundation, YOLO Energy Drink, YOLO Reality Show and my man cave project, Route 66 Barbershop”.

To learn more about YOLO Industries memberships and upcoming events, visit:www.yoloindustries.com.

“Oh yeah, one last thing.....You Only Live Once, so do it right and have fun! Let’s do this!!! “ -Yolo Industries

And there you have it....that is what YOLO Industries is/will be, what I am now a part of and what I am so excited and passionate about! I can't wait to watch the company grow and to help make that happen! My initial plans are to revisit the Website that was previously done, incorporate a Blog and all Social Media. From there, I'll strategize content, promotions, giveaways, marketing, interaction and engagement! 

It's going to be exciting! I would love to have you follow the progress! And here you can get started (much more to come):

• Friend us on Facebook - Yolo Danville 
• Fan us on Facebook - Yolo Industries
• Follow us on Twitter - @YOLOindustries

If you have any ideas/suggestions of things you'd like to see us do, please send me an email HERE!

Cheers!

How I Landed My Dream Job

Resume, originally uploaded by sarahkayhoffman.

Passion. Persistence. More Passion. More Persistence. AND....

A creative, different, out-of-the-box and fun resume that I designed around the idea that I wanted to demonstrate Social Media, Marketing and a Creative Edge through my resume. 

After attempting for so long through traditional resumes and tools, I decided to take this different approach. It made all the difference.

And so now....Passion, Persistence, Most Passion, More Persistence AND a unique approach is how I landed my dream job! 

What will YOU do to land YOURS? Click HERE to email me for more information on landing your own! Cheers!


And ps. MUCH MORE to come about my new gig!

Combating Turkey Day Bloat

Thanksgiving is still one week away, but I can already smell the Thanksgiving Day feast!



This is OK. This is normal! BUT.......BEWARE! Thanksgiving is loaded with calories. Furthermore, Thanksgiving is the "kickoff" to a season of feasting on foods that only come around one time a year. And because these foods only come around one time a year, we think we can gorge day in and day out. The problem is, the season lasts for 1+ months (if you consider that you don't stop until your "New Years Resolution").

This year, join me by kicking off the "season" right!  

Here are the Top 3 Things I'm doing to Combat the Turkey Day Bloat:

1. Move It to Earn It - That's right, you've got to move it to earn it! I would guess that most of you will not do a Thanksgiving Day meal until at least 11am. Even if you choose not to wake up until 10am that day, you would still be able to get in a good half hour walk/run/lift/swim/bike/etc. Any way you can move prior to your meal will help in combating the Turkey Day Bloat. Better yet, lift your weights in the morning or do a circuit training workout. Both will help burn optimal calories post-workout! I will be leading a 10K Turkey Trot at our local Club, which will be a fun way to move it and earn it!
2. Protein + Favorites - If your Thanksgiving is anything like ours, it includes plates and platters and dishes and tins and jars of item after item. There really is no end in sight. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach. But, Thanksgiving is not the day to be on a "diet" or attempt "self-deprivation." ENJOY yourself, but do it in moderation. I will load up with turkey and any other proteins I can get my hands on (mostly because this is part of my GAPS Diet I follow). After that, I will look at my options and I will choose a few that look the best to me, even if they are the highest in calorie. Eating something that's second best in order to skimp on a few calories will not do you any good. In the end, you'll end up going back for seconds, thirds and fourths - all because you aren't getting what your body is screaming at you to take! Protein + (moderation) of only your favorite items will help reduce the Turkey Day Bloat.
3. Start Today - Start preparing for Thanksgiving Day today! No, I do not mean physically preparing food. I mean, work a little harder at the gym and be a little more conscious about your current food choices. If you ran on the treadmill for an extra 5 minutes a day for the next 7 days, did one extra set during your weight lifting sessions and skipped dessert just 3 nights, you will have saved up (or earned) about 1,000 calories (give or take, depending on the various factors). And couldn't we all use those 1,000 calories to combat the Turkey Day Bloat?

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving! I love knowing that I work hard almost every single day of the year, so when it's time to eat a little extra on Thanksgiving I can do so - with Thanks - and a full, (unbloated) stomach!

It's Where I Run

I wanted to share with everyone my new Blog.

The new Blog I created is called "It's Where I Run!" I encourage you to check it out, as it goes along with my whole "vibrantly living" ideas!

Hope you all enjoyed a nice, relaxing weekend! Cheers!