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What Did You Read in the News Today?

Considering my full-time job is working as content manager for a social media company, it is no surprise that I first learned of yesterday’s tragic incident via Twitter. The way my news feed was dominated by thoughts and well wishes for those affected was really an incredible representation of the times we are living in. But that’s not what I’m blogging about today.

Anyone who signed in to the platform yesterday witnessed another example of how social media is changing the shape of journalism. Twitter offers us an astonishing opportunity to share and receive news reports in real-time – through text, video and images. But rather than using this platform to its full potential, we’re abusing it instead.

It is scary to watch as even the most trusted names in news succumb to this sensationalized form of reporting. What happened to the trust factor? After all, social media is all about creating a web of trust for your brand. Instead, sources choose to promote unverified information for the sake of being first. They choose to capitalize on over-graphic images in pursuit of the most clicks.

People’s lives are in danger here. How does this tragic fact transform into an opportunity to drive web traffic and satisfy advertisers? Tragedy should not be used to advance any personal agenda. The victims, their families, and the people of Boston deserve so much more than that. The world deserves more. We deserve better stories, supported by hard truths and facts – not speculation.

And we’re going to have to fight for it. We can start by refusing to promote assumptions, which means ignoring sensational tweets and taking initial reports with a grain of salt, understanding they will likely be proved erroneous. We must demand more of the media, until they have no other choice but to listen.

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by on April 16, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in In The News
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Posted by carlybumstead on April 16, 2013

http://charlottebumstead.ca/what-did-you-read-in-the-news-today/

How is the Evolution of Technology Impacting Your Job Industry?

By 2025, it is estimated that robots will have taken over nearly one-half of jobs currently held by human workers in the United States. Industries that are being hit the hardest by this shift include automotive, manufacturing, and food services. Robots are already driving cars, climbing walls, hiking up cliffs, and even mining the moon. The question is no longer whether or not robots will impact the human job market, but rather, what are the consequences going to be?

Conventional thinking has held that, historically, automation and robots have led to positive transitions. When a machine becomes capable of taking over a task, the human who initially performed it is forced to move onto something smarter and better. This is why the vast majority of us are currently working jobs that farmers from the 1800s could never have imagined.

Yet, when we consider the possibility of losing 70 per cent of today’s occupations to automation – as happened to the farmers 200 years ago – we can’t help but feel threatened rather than inspired to try something new. Smart machines reduce the demand for people; and they’re starting to take over jobs faster than humans can come up with new and better things to do.

Let’s take a closer look at where this second wave of automation is headed, and how certain industries are responding to the changes inspired by technology.

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by on March 13, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in In The News
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Posted by carlybumstead on March 13, 2013

http://charlottebumstead.ca/how-is-the-evolution-of-technology-impacting-your-job-industry/

My Happiness Project: Goals for 2013

The year of 2013 is going to be my best year yet. And it’s not only because I’m marrying my best friend – although that certainly sits at the top of my list when it comes to lifelong accomplishments – but it’s because I know better now than I ever have what truly makes me happy, and I am fully focused on seeking the most appropriate ways to fulfill my dreams for happiness.

I’ve learned that setting goals – and finding ways to achieve them – is one of the most effective ways for me to make the changes necessary for improving my life. I understand the process is about making a combination of both grand transformations and small adjustments. The key is staying honest with myself and setting aims that are attainable, while also tracking and evaluating my progress along the way.

Last year, my number one goal was to work really hard. I feel confident that I accomplished this, as I spent the majority of the year working two or more jobs, as well as volunteering. Because of this, I am able to welcome 2013 with a career I love and no student or consumer debt weighing me down. It’s certainly a more comfortable seat than the one I rode in on when entering 2012.

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by on January 3, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Lifestyle
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Posted by carlybumstead on January 3, 2013

http://charlottebumstead.ca/my-happiness-project-goals-for-2013/

You Don’t Find Your Dream Job; It Finds You

We spend a significant part of our lives figuring out what it is we want to do with the time we have here. First, we try to figure out who we are as people – our beliefs, passions, what makes us tick. And then we search for people who share our philosophies and viewpoints; people we can relate to and trust, people to have a good time with. Soon we start looking to discover the ideal career path. We want the dream job; the one we get excited to do when we wake up in the morning. The question is: how do we get there?

Well, I could give you the practical answer. We set goals. We work hard. We make decisions. But what if that’s not enough?  Some things are simply out of our control – like unemployment rates or Bill 115. Sometimes, it’s not what you do but who you know.  Maybe you just happened to be born in the wrong decade, live in the wrong city, or took the wrong program at school. But who’s to say it’s wrong? That’s just life.

What if you don’t find your dream job, but rather, it finds you?

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by on December 14, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Lifestyle
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Posted by carlybumstead on December 14, 2012

http://charlottebumstead.ca/you-dont-find-your-dream-job-it-finds-you/

Why Bloggers Need to Take Their Own Advice

Earlier this year I blogged about why we all need to quit stressing about the future. Easier said than done, of course. Shortly after writing that post, my life just kept getting busier. For the majority of the past year, I have been working at least two jobs. And although this has been helpful for my bank account, it has been tough on everything else. I tend to work around the clock – checking emails, writing, editing and starting the cycle all over again. After a while, it becomes another bad habit. Now, I wouldn’t even know what to do with a free Saturday afternoon. How sad is that? I realized my schedule was getting too busy for my own good, and I was losing any creative inspiration I once had because everything in my writing life was so repetitive. Something had to change.

Reawakening my passion

I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in a field that was full of creative opportunities. I knew I loved to write and I figured if I could make a living doing what I loved, I would be all set. What I wasn’t necessarily aware of is how writing full-time is so different from writing whenever you feel like writing. It’s a different mindset when you have to prepare yourself to go hunting for inspiration rather than waiting for it to come to you.

I started to realize that I just didn’t have the time to let my creative mind wander. I’ve set so many projects aside because my day is already so full. So it is time to make a change. And one of the rewarding aspects to blogging is that once you set a goal and announce it on your blog, you’re pretty much forcing yourself to follow through with it.

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by on November 8, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Writing Tips
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Posted by carlybumstead on November 8, 2012

http://charlottebumstead.ca/why-bloggers-need-to-take-their-own-advice/

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