Jaime Shine

On Writing: Lessons From The Breakfast Club

Last night, I took a trip back to high school with the “Brat Pack” to good ole Shermer High. It’s easy to see why The Breakfast Club became a cult classic and iconic portrait of high school in the 80s and beyond. The main lesson of the film is one to remember when writing (orContinue reading “On Writing: Lessons From The Breakfast Club”

The Trapper Keeper Is Back! And Other Insights From Back-to-School Shopping

It’s officially back-to-school season, a $72.5 billion* celebration for retailers. CCC sponsored two kids through the United Way, a 1st grade girl and 5th grade boy. It was interesting to hit the stores for back-to-school shopping this weekend and see how much the supplies had changed, if at all. Surprisingly little… While the smartphone cases wereContinue reading “The Trapper Keeper Is Back! And Other Insights From Back-to-School Shopping”

6 Valuable Snippets of Career Advice I’d Tell My Younger Self

After reading some of the entries in the popular #IfIWere22 LinkedIn series, I was inspired to think about what I would tell my younger self. Hindsight is 20/20, right? So here I go… 6 Snippets of Career Advice I’d Give to My Younger Self Don’t let yourself be used. Yes, it pays to be aContinue reading “6 Valuable Snippets of Career Advice I’d Tell My Younger Self”

Are LinkedIn Groups Working For You?

The past week we’ve focused on LinkedIn, the largest professional networking site on the planet. It tends to be a platform that most people aren’t utilizing effectively, because they’ve either posted a profile years ago and haven’t been back, or they share every tweet, which is a little overboard. So far, we’ve covered general tipsContinue reading “Are LinkedIn Groups Working For You?”

LinkedIn: The Essence of a Profile

You created a bare bones profile and uploaded your resume to LinkedIn a few years ago, and you haven’t been back. You’re done, right? Similar to other social platforms, the more you put into LinkedIn, the more you’ll get out of it. And just like other platforms, it all starts with your profile. What’s in a LinkedInContinue reading “LinkedIn: The Essence of a Profile”

LinkedIn: Are You Connected?

All of your colleagues and fellow business professionals keep telling you to get on LinkedIn, but you’re not looking for a job. So what’s the point, right? Wrong. LinkedIn is the Rolodex of the 21st century and so much more: an organized way to store your professional contacts, an easy way to follow up withContinue reading “LinkedIn: Are You Connected?”

Celebrate Your Safety: Thank A First Responder Today

Tomorrow is July 4th, and people all over the US are looking forward to a fun holiday weekend. By all means, celebrate. As Americans, we have so much to be grateful for that we often overlook in the day-to-day monotony of life. But please be safe. Before you do something questionable or stupid, remember that you’reContinue reading “Celebrate Your Safety: Thank A First Responder Today”

Social Media: For Better or Worse?

In honor of the fifth annual Social Media Day yesterday, we wanted to stay on subject. While pouring over the coverage, it reminded us how much social media and the digital revolution has changed our lives — for better or worse. How has social media changed our lives? For Better Connecting people around townContinue reading “Social Media: For Better or Worse?”

50 Things I’m Grateful For… Summer 2014 Edition

It’s become an annual tradition at the CCC blog to list 50 unique “things” that I’m currently grateful for. It makes me think and reminds me how blessed I am. The first 50 Things I’m Grateful For post published in May 2012, a month after the blog started, and was an immediate hit. The follow-up post,Continue reading “50 Things I’m Grateful For… Summer 2014 Edition”

I’m Sorry… Will You Read This?

I hate to bother you but could you do me a favor and read my blog post? Sorry to interrupt but I’d love to hear your feedback. I really don’t want to be a pain. Does this sound like you? Do you walk around and apologize all of the time? Even when you haven’t doneContinue reading “I’m Sorry… Will You Read This?”