Mark Cuban's Crowdsourcing for a New Jersey Design

Recently, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban posted on his blog a sort of challenge to help redesign the team's jersey. What's the reward? We're not even sure yet. All that Cuban guarantees in his blog post is bragging rights and he "may even throw in some tickets." Who will own the design? The Mavs as soon as you post it on the website.

Many critics are questioning the morality of such an act. You do all that work and you're not even guaranteed a reward and you lose your rights to your work. But this is actually a very smart move on Cuban's part. Why spend so much money to hire a designer to make your jersey when you can have someone do it for free? Sometimes even the public's work can be better than a designer's. No wonder why Cuban is so rich.

For those who aren't really business savvy, there's a term for what Cuban is doing. It's called crowdsourcing. He's using the cheap human capital that he has to try and get new ideas/concepts for his company. It's not an uncommon thing for businesses to do. Doritos has done it before by holding contests to help create their Super Bowl ads and look at how that's worked for them. The crowd responded with some really creative, low-budget commercials.

As to whether or not I will choose to participate in Mark Cuban's little game, I'm not sure yet. For those who are interested, the deadline to submit a jersey design is May 31st. You can read more here:

http://blogmaverick.com/2013/05/13/help-the-mavs-design-our-next-uniform/

Integrity and Company Values (More Like Me Venting a Month of Frustration)

So the past month I've been working hard at my poolside waitress job while trying to look for a full-time job. Something I've learned: it's hard to find a company that has integrity or upholds the company values that they claim they have.

I feel like a lot of the companies that I've been interviewing with the past month somewhat lack integrity. They falsely advertise the types of job positions they are looking to fill. I look for a marketing job and I end up at interviews for sales jobs. I understand that marketing itself is a kind of sales position, but this is the very questionable stuff. Like, I had 3 interviews for places where they are selling "$475 worth" of Texas Rangers tickets for $40. Clearly a sales position even though all of them touted a "marketing assistant" position.

Then there's the job that I'm at right now. The company claims to put their employees first, but so far I'm having trouble believing it. I asked for an early shift tomorrow so that I can get out in time to attend a mass for the one year anniversary for grandma's passing. They scheduled me for 2pm which roughly translates as I won't be done until 8. I also asked for Wednesday and Thursday off, but I was still scheduled for both days but I have Monday and Friday off. I texted my shift manager about it and then the pool manager personally called me to tell me that I was wrong for that. I admit that the way I went about it was wrong, but it would not have been a problem if they had even remembered that I had asked off. On top of that, they only sent out the schedule 2 hours ago and this is the schedule that starts tomorrow. They always send out new schedules at the last minute. If they sent out the schedule at least half a week in advance, there would be more time to sort out these problems. So in the attempt to make it so that I have those requested days off, they revised the schedule so that I would only be working for one day this week. It was supposed to be Tuesday, but lo and behold, they scheduled me to work on Thursday. Now I'm in a frantic scramble to try and switch with my coworkers instead of going through the management team again. It's not like this is the first time they scheduled me on a day that I requested off.

Don't even get me started about my paycheck. Over the past 4 weeks, I found that I'm missing over $200 total. Employees first, indeed. I just can't seem to catch a break with these waitressing jobs.

Anyways, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a job opportunity that Azim referred me to. I'm not to optimistic about my chances, though, since I managed to bomb my phone interview yesterday. I just really want to dig myself out of this ditch.

I'm Okay Here, But It's Not Where I Want to Be

So this past week I've been sick with a cold/cough. Last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I was pretty miserable, but I'm okay now. Still a little cough here and there. Nothing unmanageable. I also started my job as a server at the Gaylord Texan. During the weekdays I'm working the outdoor pool and Saturdays I work at the mini waterpark on property called Paradise Springs. So far, it's been okay. It hasn't been super duper crowded so my hours aren't ridiculous unlike at Studio Movie Grill. Apparently that changes as soon as Memorial Day hits.

Right now, I'm content with where I am. I mean, being a server isn't exactly what I had in mind when I graduated early. But then again, it's better than sitting around the house doing nothing like I have the past 3 months. I just wished I had a real job right now. Not a job based on wage, but based on salary. I want a bit of stability in my life. Many people wonder why I'm in such a hurry to grow up. I mean, I graduated early cuz I wanted a head start in life. Maybe it's just me, but I've already got my whole future planned and a road map on how to get there. I like sticking to Plan A. There is no real Plan B. So far, I've been following nothing but Plan B, C, D, E. I can apply for full-time jobs all I want, but I never get a call back. I'm getting restless waiting for my life to begin. I want to be able to save up some real money for my future. I want to be ready to pay for a wedding and a house and a honeymoon in Rome. Sounds ridiculous since I'm only 22, but I'm ready to have a family. I see little babies and all I can think of is when I'm going to have a chance to raise a kid. I mean, I adore kids. Weird, right? At 22, I should be living it up and partying like the rest of my coworkers.

Oh. That's another thing. I didn't think it was that rare for 22-year-olds to have graduated from a 4-year college. Apparently, my coworkers are really surprised that I already graduated college. When I said I graduated in December, they thought I meant high school. No one believes I'm 22. I barely pass as an 18-year-old. But anyways, I talked to a few of my coworkers. Only 1 has graduated from college and she's also about to graduate with her Master's. Everyone else stopped going to school. One guy is just busy living life and the other's are just working. I shouldn't feel sad that they didn't go on to higher education, but I sort of do. I dunno. I'm weird. I shouldn't worry cuz it's their life and their choice whether or not to continue their education.

Anyways, working at the Gaylord Texan apparently opens up a lot of opportunities especially since the company is now partnered with Marriott. I could stay as a server and work my way up to graphic designer. But, looking at the graphic design work in the hotel now, they have a specific image to uphold. Everything is very conservative. Then again, the Gaylord Texan's audience is mostly business people. I can't have my creative wings tied down like that. That being the case, I'm going to have to fly the Gaylord Texan nest one day. I hope that day comes soon.

I feel like I'm rambling. I'll stop.