A Guide to Professional Development

So far my time in Madrid has consisted mainly of work. That is to say, I spend more than 40 hours a week here at Lola Madrid and the rest spending time with coworkers or the other interns. During my time at Lola, I´ve had the opportunity to dabble in different departments within the agency. I´ve done competitive analysis and research for the strategic planners, I´ve organized excel documents for the global account manager of Rexona (my direct boss), and I´ve translated scripts into English for the creative department that were presented just this week to the clients in London. (well received I might add!!)  All of this work has obviously afforded me more skills, more resume enhancers, and professional growth. But beyond the concrete accomplishments, I revel in the daily struggles, successes, and occurrences that could be as simple as asking people within the office for a new task or career advice or how I spent my day last Sunday:

At 11 AM, my coworker called me to ask if I wanted to go to el Rastro, which is Europe´s largest flea market here in Madrid. I woke up, met her on the metro, and headed through the crowded streets of leather goods, jewelry, random electronics, plants, and typical Spanish fans (as in, to fan yourself).  I spent the day with her and her flatmate and their friend talking, eating lunch, walking around the city, driving to the train station, and later cooking dinner at the house. When I arrived home late Sunday night around 1 in the morning, I reflected on the day I just had. Not only had I passed the day without speaking a word of English, but I got to know 3 more people who each have 3 different stories, careers, interests, hobbies, and network. I am fascinated with everyone I meet here. It is in forming relationships with these people that I feel true growth comes from. I´ve learned how to make my powerpoints more succint and I´ve also learned how to listen. The power of listening should never me underestimated! Whether its when people are talking in my office, or over lunch on a hot Sunday afternoon, development and growth come from those experiences where I´ve been attentive!

With a little over two weeks to go, I look back at these experiences with a smile on my face and a spirit of excitement of whats to come here in Madrid and when I return to San Francisco.

By the way!! My camera is broken, so I haven´t been taking pictures digitally. My two analogue cameras are certainly getting their use, though! I´ll develop the pictures and get a CD if possible to show you more of my little world here.

Today, I´m renting a car with a coworker and an old friend I met  while living in Argentina last year. We´re driving up to Galicia and hopping on a ferry to Isla Cies, where there is supposedly the most beautiful beach in the world! Its a 6 hour drive and luckily one of the creatives at the agency made me mix CDs earlier this morning! 

Until next time. :)