Showing Off Your Creative Spark, One Slide Deck at a Time

"The PowerPoint guru." It has become my not-so-secret identity after the bulk of my co-workers discovered my talent for mixing dull information with creative design. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, I always have something sitting on the backburner to make time fly.

In today's world, PowerPoint is a skill that most take for granted. Corporate America has developed a dependency on their ability to relay information to large groups, no matter how lackluster the final product may be. So it comes to no surprise that one of the world's most prestigious business schools now requires a presentation from perspective students.

The University of Chicago recently enacted a policy that will require applicants to submit a four-page "PowerPoint-like" presentation. If applied correctly, admissions hopes to see a more creative side of candidates, something otherwise absent in their current recruiting process.

"To me, this is just four pieces of blank paper," says Rose Martinelli, associate dean for student recruitment and admissions. "You do what you want. It can be a presentation. It can be poetry. It can be anything."

The university does have some ground rules – no hyperlinks and (congrats recruiters!) no videos, beyond that, let your creative spark do the talking.

The University of Chicago is making a bold statement – creativity is just as important as intellect. It makes me wonder why the business world isn't doing more to stimulate this quality in their recruiting process.

We already know from recent debate that video is a no-no. Recruiters don't like it because they take too much time and there's plenty of ethical concerns that make the legalities a nightmare.
So what about PowerPoint? If nothing else, it would prove a recruits dexterity with one of the most widely-used softwares of big business.

With over 500 million copies used in over 30 million presentations a day, I can't think of a reason why employers wouldn't want to see what candidates can handle.

"If there's one foundation of business, it's innovation," says second-year University of Chicago student Michael Avidan. If employers want to nab the "cream of the crop," maybe it's time to examine an employee's vision over anything else.

Granted, PowerPoint is limited in its creative ability, but it's been a standard tool since high school science. Unlike PhotoShop or anything similar, most people get it's simplistic nature, which ensures limited exclusion in recruiting.

Maybe I'm a sucker for anything non-resume. Or maybe my willingness to show employers more than black-and-white says something about the value of the creative mind. Either way, it's comforting to see a top-notch university put some emphasis on the imagination.

With any luck, the trend will take off. I'd definitely capitalize on the opportunity to get creative, and hopefully, get ahead. Besides, if you can relieve the eye sore that most presentations impose, you may just be a corporate exec's knight in a shining armor.

Getting "Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck"

High school teaches us basic algebra, geometry and calculus. It teaches us how to appropriately research papers and cite sources. We learn U.S. and world history. But, most school systems fail to give us a basic financial education.

In his notorious book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki points out this fatal flaw in our school system and proceeds to give us a financial education. Of course, he then released a handful of other books that more or less say the exact same thing, but that's not the point. In the grand scheme of things, being financially literate is one of the most important skills anyone can have.

This is the number one reason I majored in Accounting and Finance. It wasn't because I love crunching numbers and valuing stocks. It was because I knew that learning the basics of money and finance is an invaluable weapon to have in my arsenal. I don't regret this decision for a minute, but I recognize that you don't need to study the topic for four years to learn the basics. All you need to do is read the right books.

Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck, by Michael Rubin, is certainly one of the "right" books. The book is "a conversation about income, wealth and the steps in between." And it's a conversation we all need to have.

So what financial advice does Michael give to young adults seeking to better manage their money? He was kind enough to let me pick his brain on the topic. Below is the Q&A that ensued:

What is the best way for underpaid entry level workers to save some cash?

It seems like every financial expert is all over young people for spending too much on coffee. Look, there is a savings opportunity there for some folks, but most entry level workers aren't going to come up with an extra ten grand a year by pinching pennies at Starbucks. Instead, you've got to put major focus on major expenses, like your choice of housing and car. If you're an underpaid entry-level worker, you can't live in the neighborhood of a fairly paid middle-manager or drive the car your boss drives. Not yet. Once you commit to high housing or car expenses, you pay them for a long time.

What is the biggest financial mistake young people make after college?

Overly aggressive spending on housing or a car—but we just talked about that. Another common financial mistake by new graduates is not signing up for their 401(k) plan, especially if they are fortunate enough to work for a company that provides them with an employer match. Although money is often tight for young people, they will still likely experience the largest increase in pay they'll ever get – from virtually nothing as a senior in college to perhaps $30,000 or so at a new first job. If a new grad making $30,000 can immediately become accustomed to living on $27,000 – still a $27,000 raise – he or she will be saving 10 percent from the get-go. With a 50 percent match, that's $4,500 saved for retirement – and it will grow from there.

Why should I be worried about retirement already?

Actually, no twentysomething should be worried about retirement. You've got all the time in the world. It's only if you haven't done anything about your retirement and are now a fortysomething that you should be worried. The key for twentysomethings is to just get started. By starting to save for retirement while you are still in your twenties, you remove one of the key sources of potential worry later-on: procrastination during your youth. Thanks to the miracle of compounding interest, the amount you have to save when you are young is quite minimal compared to what you'd have to save if you wait just a few years.

Author's Note: You can get a free basic motivational summary showing you your personalized numbers by clicking here.

What do you mean when you say, "connect with your money emotionally?"

That's first on the list of the Top Ten Saving Strategies. When you are emotionally separated from your money—from your cash—you spend more. It's just human nature. When I speak to audiences, hardly anyone raises their hands when I ask "How many of you are paid in cash?" In fact, few people even get a real paycheck anymore—it's all direct deposit. Our spending is the same way: no cash, almost all credit cards. Most people have no idea how much cash they have in their wallets until they find themselves at a place that has the audacity to not accept credit cards.

Why does that matter?

Because when you're not connected to your money emotionally, you spend more. Spending cash hurts—right away. Credit cards are painless—until you get the bill.

Is the solution to get rid of your credit cards?

Absolutely not. There are plenty of positives about credit cards—but that's another discussion for another day. For now, simply recognize that an emotional separation from your money means you will spend more. (Doubt me? Think about casinos.) So try this: next time you go to the mall, leave the credit cards at home. Take some cash with you and see how your spending habits change. You'll find that when there are two options for something you need, one at $59 which is "good enough" and another at $79 that is "better," being forced to spend cash means you'll likely take the one for $59.

You say constant budgeting isn't required, what do you recommend instead?

The beauty of following the first nine of the Top Ten Saving Strategies is that you'll be saving so much that you don't need to micromanage your finances. Budgeting can limit your desire for spontaneity, making it hard to keep at it. But you can get away without budgeting at all if you simply commit to saving. After all, if you're saving 15 percent of your income, what's the difference how you spend the other 85 percent?

What should you do with the money in your 401(k) account when changing jobs? What if you are leaving to pursue your own business?

The big advantage of rolling your 401(k) account into a regular IRA upon changing jobs or going into your own business is that you don't wind up with 401(k) accounts all over the place after you—like most of us—job hop a few times. Simple is better because simple gets done. Roll each 401(k) account into an IRA and you'll never have more than one 401(k) plan to keep track of. Plus, you'll benefit from the virtually unlimited investment choices available to you in your IRA.

It's "aSmallWorld" when you're rich & famous

If you never thought your connections on Facebook and MySpace would matter in the real world you were right. You have to be a member of an elite online social network to get that sort of recognition.

Let me most properly introduce you to aSmallWorld.com (aSW), the leader in a new wave of socially elite web networks that only accept "the best of the best."

"We allow our members to connect, reconnect and interact more effectively with like-minded individuals who share the same circle of friends, interests, and schedules," boasts aSW's homepage. "We have imposed certain criteria in order to keep the network exclusive."

A little ambiguous? The classifieds on aSW should make things perfectly clear:

"The site already features ads where people sell classic Jaguars, yachts, and Cartier watches," notes Catherine Holhan of BusinessWeek. "Advertisers include champagne producer Moët & Chandon and private-jet company Sentient."

Sounds like the online network at aSW is nothing but a "country club" for Web 2.0.

Critics have already coined a winning nickname – "snobster." But aSW chairman and found Erik Wachtmeister retorts. "One's network site is less useful if it is diluted by people you don't know." Spoken like a true elitist.

The last time I checked, the true value of online networking was the magnitude of diversity. People with little access to the right people could get connected and share in a way that might not otherwise be possible. But I guess that doesn't matter if you already know the right people.

When you break it down, I suppose networks like aSW won't be stealing any more great jobs than the CEO who saves the prime positions for his golf buddy's sons and daughters. But there's something so arrogant about the site that I just can't ignore.

Do affluent Americans really need an online social network to set them apart from the masses? If nothing else, aSW is a tribute to upper-echelon exclusion. It's disheartening in an age where the best way to prosper is to come together.

There will always be someone trying to taint an otherwise good thing. Fortunately, you can't ignore the good we've seen through internet communities thus far. I'll keep an optimistic outlook. Let's just hope enough people look past the conceited aSW network and do the same.

Making time for a blog and a full time job

For the past six months I have been maintaining my blog, Employee Evolution. At this point I realize that the decision to start a blog is hard, but writing regularly is harder. So here is a list of tactics I've used to maintain a full-time, corporate job along side a full-time blog.

Be Realistic

Before I started Employee Evolution, I did a little research and realized four posts was a minimum. I also realized there was no way in hell I could maintain a 45-hour-a-week job and create a successful blog without completely stressing out.

One night during one of many career conversations with my good friend Ryan Paugh, I had one of those "ah ha" moments. I asked if he wanted to create a joint blog, and he immediately agreed. Now I can write four posts a week, but two is sufficient if it's a busy week at work. Being realistic before starting has allowed my blog to continue growing six months later. And I am stress free, kind of.

Know when you are the most creative

Coming up with ideas for blog posts takes a good amount of creativity. I have my creative moments, but I would never be mistaken for a creative genius. This lack of creativity has caused me to pinpoint the times when, for whatever reason, I am able to tap into my right brain.

I usually have great ideas in the shower. I'm not sure if it's the water waking me up or the clear head from a good night sleep, but some of the best ideas seem to come in the shower.
The shower is great, but nothing beats a long run to get my creative juices flowing. The time from when I stop running to when I walk into my apartment is like a one-man brainstorming session. I realized this about two months ago, and ever since I have increased the length of my runs so I can stop about a mile from my apartment. Often I forget half of everything by the time I stop sweating and grab a pen and paper, but half of those interesting ideas are always better than none.

Create deadlines

Creating deadlines is crucial to getting blog posts completed. I have been unbelievably lucky that I have a weekly deadline for Brazen Careerist. But if you aren't accountable to someone else, it can be easy to slack off. Create your own deadlines and hold yourself accountable. Sure it takes some self control, but it's good for you. I make sure to have at least one post finished before Monday morning roles around. If it's not done, I skip Entourage and write until it's done.

Another option is to ask someone to create a deadline for you. Because I know the value of having a weekly deadline imposed by someone else, I am able to push my partner, Ryan Paugh to complete one post by Sunday night as well. This is a self imposed deadline by him, but he also feels accountable to me. And no matter who you are, it's much easier to get something done when someone else is relying on you.

Don't forget why you're blogging

Everyone starts a blog for a different reason. Some start a blog to share their subject matter expertise on a given topic, some start a blog to share all their crazy ideas with the world and others of us blog about a subject because it could lead to new, exciting opportunities. I fall in the latter group, and I constantly remind myself of this.

It's okay to skip a day

We all have times we simply cannot write well or are to busy with work to write a good post. Don't put up a bad post. Quantity is good, but quality is king. Chances are your readers won't even notice a missed day. Just make sure it doesn't turn into a pattern.

Cross-posted at The Brazen Careerist.

FUN ain't a four-letter word

I never thought it was possible, but I have a great time working late. At the end of the nine-to-five, the remaining employees are always more genuine – more human if you ask me.

Maybe it's exhaustion that causes the ordinarily oppressive corporate walls to crumble, but we all act a little different. We're not afraid to be ourselves. And corporate America becomes a bit less corporate.

Imagine a business that could pull this off all day long. What would it take? Probably a miracle…but as individuals, our mannerisms go a long way. Make a change in yourself and the office may become a better place.

Learn to speak human

If you speak to your fellow employees like Bill Lumbergh, you're already off to a bad start.

"Ummm, yeah…" It's time to reevaluate your conversation skills. Seriously, be a guy people want to talk to.

Limit the jargon to your TPS reports. If you think it makes you look like a pro to the bigwigs upstairs, you may be right. But you work with me buddy, and I live in average-joe country.

Crawl out of the cube

I know this guy who takes lunch breaks, but never leaves his desk…what a waste.

Interacting within your office is just as important as the time you spend deleting e-mails you don't want the boss to pick up on. More even!

An environment in action ignites productivity, cubicle confinement suffocates it. Can I back that up? No. But who's going to tell me they enjoy doing work in a felt box?

Share a good story

If you think your co-workers don't want to hear about the raunchy teenage sex comedy you saw last weekend, you're dead wrong. I convinced a few 30 and 40-something co-workers to go see Superbad this weekend. They were all about McLovin commentary.

Moral of the story: people love a shameless conversationalist. It didn't matter what I talked about, just that I took the initiative to lighten the mood. And it didn't hurt that I made them feel young again.

You can say what you want about your job. If you say it sucks, who am I to argue? But don't sell it short without attempting to make things better. You could be the missing link that converts a stale office aura into something McLovin would even consider cool.