Viral Marketing and the likes

As some of you may know, I am a full-time student at my local community college. I am graduating this summer with an A.A. with a degree in Behavioral and Social Science.

One of the requirements of my degree is that I have to take about 15 free electives. I thought that if I was going to do that, I should take a class that I might find relevant to my life currently. The first thing that popped into my head was MARKETING. I mean, I kind of had an idea of what marketing is. I had the negative stigma attached to it, too.

Marketing, marketing, marketing. It surrounds us at all times. We’re constantly marketing. We market clothes by wearing them, we market stores and products by talking to our peers about them… we even market ourselves!

So I figured that since I want to be a Twitter/Blogger/Internet extradonaire, why not try it? I’ve been known to drop a class in a heartbeat— for any reason! Don’t like the professor? Drop it. Don’t like the element of students? Drop it. Yeah, I admit it. I’m a bitch. A really big bitch. I have no time for stupidity and I found that it’s almost impossible to avoid at a community college. Ahh, well, that’s what a four year school is for, I suppose. I figured that if I hated it, I’d drop it. No big deal. I decided to take this particular marketing class in an extension center. It’s conveniently located next to my ex’s apartment… I had been living there up until I started classes, so this was a perfect location for me. It still is because we’re best friends and hang out a lot.

Anyway, I digress. Back to marketing.

I entered the classroom and found myself looking at a young man in a suit. He was curt and spoke rather rapidly. It was intimidating, but I found myself raptly listening. In fact, I was hanging on his every word. Everything he was saying made more sense to me than any other teacher I’d ever listened to. Primarily, in a classroom setting, I will spent a majority of my time texting/semi-listening/taking notes. In his class, I am so absorbed that I sometimes even forget I have a cell phone. That’s a pretty big deal for me.

Marketing is a game. It’s a ploy. It’s a manipulation. It’s beautiful and ugly. It’s scary and fascinating. It’s negative and positive. It’s life. It’s real. And that’s what I love about it.

Target markets, marketing strategies, the SWOT analysis… I know that this class is a very basic one, but I’m learning so much! And so quickly. Our mid-term is next Wednesday and I’m dreading. The funny part is that I’m only dreading it because it marks the beginning of the end.

Professor Albis, if you ever read this, I want you to know that you have helped change me. Lately there have been a few people to enter my life. It seems like the cue to enter stage from the right side (no pun intended) was given to a few strangers who took it. Or at least I put myself in front of them. And I feel so lucky, so blessed, to have ever met these people.

I have made such a tremendous amount of growth within the past month. I quit smoking, I’ve settled myself down from the anxious and insane lifestyle I was constantly pushing for, and I’ve learned not to get so angry so quickly (although this will come with time and the other lesson I am working on: patience!)

My professor has opened up a whole new world to me that I didn’t realize existed. I am so interested in it. I haven’t felt passion in so long. I was afraid that there was nothing out there for me. But I feel like… maybe this is it. Maybe I have a future in advertising. Or as a marketing intermediary. Maybe I can make this work for myself! Actually, there is no maybe. Maybe leaves excuses for failures. I will not fail. There is only success.

I’ve been warned by a few: “Don’t go into marketing! There’s no future there!” But I ask you this: why?! WHY NOT?

Marketing is everywhere and everything as I have said before. Take this for example: in my marketing class (oh, the irony!) a really cute girl started to talk about how she works in a hair salon that just so happens to be around the corner from my parents’ house. She mentioned that they did “Eastchester’s cuts with Yonkers’ prices”. For those of you unfamiliar with this area of New York… just know that that is a great thing.

I mean, it didn’t hurt that she has a body like a battle axe, but she seemed so passionate about it. And she had such great hair. As I felt how heavy my own mop was, and looked at the split ends, I figured, why not ask?

Two days later, she was taking off my smock and I was smiling like a fool. It was the first time I ever left a salon beaming. The color is beautiful, the cut is light and neat— she did lots of “interior work” and left me the length that I am petrified of losing again— and it WAS cheap. I was colored and cut for $70. I jumped out of the chair and turned around and grabbed her. I hugged her so tightly.

I did that for two reasons. Number one, I was truly so happy about my hair that it was hard to contain myself. Number two, I needed her to know that. Sometimes people need to know the difference you make. I can only speak for myself, but I know that when someone is genuinely excited about something I did for them, I love to know. And what better way to show that then a hug? I give the best hugs, for the record. No limp arms. Tight, close and loving. It’s the way to be.

I think that I can make it work if I really want to. I don’t see why not at least. I mean, I’m marketing myself right now with this blog, aren’t I? Speaking of, I need to start putting myself out there more often. I really want this to happen. I am determined, driven and READY. Can you feel it!?

I love life right now. I love the beauty that I am finding everywhere around me.

I’m sitting on an airplane, on my way to Los Angeles, California. The clouds outside are so gorgeous and fluffy that I’d love to jump in them. Doesn’t it feel good to feel good? I want to stay like this forever!

Everyone, enjoy your weekend. Enjoy your life. Give someone a hug today and don’t forget to smile to five random strangers. That’s been my rule for a while now, and it really has helped me feel better.

PAY IT FORWARD.