A great video from one of the founder’s of the NGO we met with in Cambodia
Rebranding Yourself
I know it’s been awhile since I’ve blogged, but I needed to find something worth blogging about. I think I’ve found it.
I was browsing around on Facebook when PEPY, the tour company that we partnered with on the Cambodia trip posted a video about how they were rebranding themselves. How their logo doesn’t really match what their efforts are currently achieving in Cambodia. And then I began to think about how this can relate to each and every one of us on a personal level. Are we ourselves not constantly changing and altering our appearance and what we do in life? How does one go about rebranding themselves and how can that apply to a company?
The video goes on to explain that they had to analyze how their brand was being used currently first and how a new brand would be perceived since their current logo is so heavily infused with their organization. To analyze myself, how is my image used in what I do on a daily basis? It’s who I am. I represent the people I work for, the people I know, and myself personally. So yeah I would say my current brand plays a very active part in who I am.
The next step is to see where you are going in life and have your brand/logo reflect that. Where do I want to go in life? That’s a good question. I almost feel as though my brand is constantly in the brainstorming stage. Its edits are impacted by what happens at work or whom I speak with. There are days where I want to shoot documentaries. Days I want to work for a non-profit and do their social media. And others where I want to stroll down the red carpet and interview celebrities. (I’m pretty sure my Cambodia travels have led me to the first two more so.)
After the brainstorming stage PEPY, has decided on a logo and then shared it with response groups and then online to see the response before they go with the final push. Isn’t that what we do as well? Before we make a life decision such as moving to another state for a job or something like decided between 2% or skim milk, we reference our friends and families opinions. Now, what did Derek say about skim milk…was it better or worse for you? I know in choosing where my life takes me I research and ask if I can see myself in those places. I look for mentors like the PEPY team, WT Professors/Faculty, and people like Kelsey Timmerman and Blake Mycoskie. What do they do? How did they get there?
PEPY’s logo came up with a cool concept - one unique logo for the overall company and then altering that one logo to fit the different components that they represent, whether that be education or bike tours. The altering of a singular logo that represents a parent organization is brilliant. We all represent different things at different times in our lives. I know I want to do so much and at the same time be myself. When we rebrand ourselves we need to keep with the same person we are. Expand and grow upon what has been laid down beforehand.
One singular logo with several different facets.
The day before we leave
March 18, 2011:
#1:
Today we had a great day! I’ve been so busy, I’m mad that I didn’t have time to journal. At breakfast I realized that I don’t want to leave. Tomorrow we head home, and I’m going to cling on. I want to come back, I want to stay.
We headed to a Buddhist temple for a blessing. Before we got there Garlic* ran into a little problem. We won’t mention what it is on here, but it involved some other students and made Garlic very upset. I grabbed Garlic and told them that they reminded me so much of myself. That Garlic’s a perfectionist and wears their heart on their sleeve. Garlic reacted to that and opened up to me and just asked if they were wrong for thinking the way that they did. I said no that I completely agree with how they felt and but that they couldn’t let it ruin their day. Garlic had to push through.
At the temple and blessing some of the girls didn’t go up to the monks to receive the red prayer bracelet. They had an issue with it being not Christianity but they grasped the concept of the philosophy and had a talk on the ride back with Daniella about that issue. They basically acknowledged that although it was a different religion they could respect the beliefs and honor that way of life.
After the prayer and temple, we went to the silk farm. It was fantastic to see the silk worms and just see how it was all made. The women were amazing. How they knew how to thread the cloth and can work so fast was mind boggling. It was nice to see that even though they had not been paid that well, it still was a good job to them. They had an income. I bought a silk pillow case for Pepper. It’s blue with some cool flowers on it. I’m thankful that God put Pepper in my life. They have been a moral compass and a best friend.
The ride to lunch was Daniella, Parsley, Sage and I. We talked about religion from this morning and then about voting with our money to the proper organizations. Making sure the impacts are real.
After lunch, we went to PEPY’s headquarters. It was really enlightening to see their staff at work and just hear from Daniella about how PEPY. formed. I bought a t-shirt with Daniella’s favorite quote on it that said “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and then do and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” It means to better yourself before you change the world. Follow your heart and passion and change the bad where you are. When you change yourself you are changing the world.
We split up into groups for afternoon activities. Some went to the markets, others went to the land mine museum, and my group did a bike ride. The bike ride was suh-weet! My bike broke down right off the bat, but our tour guide switched me bikes - I felt embarrassed. It was awe-inspiring to see Cambodia this way. We saw a different Siem Riep and saw the poverty biking through the markets and the area. We were told that the people living along the river were being forced to move because they litter in the river and to protect it they are moving without the government giving them a new home. It was tough to hear, but I can see both sides of the story - the people and the environment. As we trekked through the rural area, Garlic’s bike got a flat tire. In the end I’m thankful it did.
To be continued…
*all names have been changed for privacy
Moving Forward with Fear
February 22, 2010:
We had the Cambodia class today and it was eventful. Students presented their ideas on women’s issues today. I thought they went well and showed the group different aspects of things.
Bay Leaves* finally broke from their shell! They made jokes during the presnetation and seemed to be engaging more.
We signed waivers and such from PEPY (the organization that we are going with/taking us around). I also brought in the XL2 camera to show them what it looks like and to get some footage of our class.
After their presentations, I played the Africa documentary for the class and went though the filmmakers pledge. I talked about what I’m going to do with it and how I’m balancing the role of peer leader and filmmaker. I feel like I got a lot of good classroom shots today. I got some nice rack focus’ of students’ faces as they watched the presentations.
Ginger also made it to class today! Ginger seems to be feeling a lot better and looks good. I was so happy to see them, I feel like they are almost a parent away from a parent.
After class some of the freshmen, Paprika and I went to the soda shop on the square for ice cream. It was nice to hangout with everyone outside of class. We all cracked jokes about Bay Leaves’ jokes and Saffron had some questions for me about what counted as a logo on a shirt for documentary copyright issues.
I really really like the 12 remaining students. We all get along well and have formed our little Kruesa.
The blog seems to be running smoothly. Everyone seems to understand the gravity of this trip. I made Garlic do a vlog before class so I’ll be posting this on the blog.
I’ve had my first friend change issue already and we haven’t even left yet. Today I was texting one of my friends Nutmeg about how I was scared of the personal change I’ll be making with this trip. Basically Nutmeg said that they doubt I will change and I’ll just go back to the same old me like two weeks later. Uhh, really? Hell no. I’m not traveling overseas to see firsthand the impacts of human trafficking and then just “oh well” the rest of my life. Vanilla, another friend, also agreed with Nutmeg which upset me even more. People have ended relationships from the trips, stopped drinking, and changed their thought process altogether. I called Pepper about this and they said they had completely changed. Pepper doesn’t hangout with the same friends - those that didn’t get it. Changed how Pepper looks at the world.
Pepper also said that there isn’t a point in changing their minds. They aren’t in my shoes. They aren’t going on a trip to another country. I just wonder about what my other friends think. How many will I loose? Life happens. Growth is for the good. This trip WILL impact my life.
*all names have been changed for privacy
