Carolina Alumni Review - May/June 2012

GAA Staff

Administration Doug Dibbert ’ 70, president doug_dibbert@unc.edu; 962–7050

Steve Shaw ’ 82, director of finance & administration steve_shaw@unc.edu; 962–3599

Lisa Beers, controller lisa_beers@unc.edu; 962–3575

Linwood Blalock, mail room, 962–3979 MaryCatherine Kurzenski, alumni center coordinator marycatherine_kurzenski@unc.edu; 962–7052 Susan Lane, accounting assistant susan@gaa.unc.edu; 843–8974

Tom May, printshop coordinator tom_may@unc.edu; 962–3741

Elizabeth Morgan, telephone receptionist, 962–1208 Emily Wooten ’04, assistant to the president emily_wooten@unc.edu; 962–7051

Communications Regina Oliver ’ 75, editor and director of communications regina_oliver@unc.edu; 962–7056

Kate Newton Anthony, art director kate_anthony@unc.edu; 962–3572

Sarah McCarty Arneson ’ 96, associate art director sarah_arneson@unc.edu; 962–4794

David Brown ’ 75, senior associate editor david_brown@unc.edu; 962–7057

Dave Drake ’ 92, online coordinator dave_drake@unc.edu; 843–9712

Harry Kaplowitz ’07, marketing coordinator harry_kaplowitz@unc.edu; 962–1276

Keith King ’ 82, associate editor keith_king@unc.edu; 962–3903

Andrea Saye ’08, advertising account representative andrea_saye@unc.edu; 962–8820

Membership Stephanie Miller’ 83, director of membership stephanie_miller@unc.edu; 962–7058

Mike Dempsey ’ 11, coordinator of membership services mike_dempsey@unc.edu; 962–3577

Diana Koonce ’02, coordinator of membership administration diana_koonce@unc.edu; 843–0151

Programs Rick Davis ’ 85, director of enrichment programs rick_davis@unc.edu; 962–3581

Ann-Louise Aguiar ’ 76, manager of alumni education & travel ann-louise_aguiar@unc.edu; 962–3574

Linda Conklin, manager of alumni career services linda_conklin@unc.edu; 962–3749

C. Hawkins ’00, coordinator of student membership c_hawkins@unc.edu; 962–7054

Kat Jackson ’07, coordinator of student programs kat_jackson@unc.edu; 962–7053

Steffi Kinton ’05, coordinator of alumni education & travel steffi_kinton@unc.edu; 962–0313

Tanea Pettis ’ 95, manager of affinity activities & alumni admissions programs tanea_pettis@unc.edu; 843–9694

Casey Privette ’01, coordinator of alumni clubs casey_privette@unc.edu; 962–6705

Laura Sheppard ’08, coordinator of Homecoming & affinity reunions laura_sheppard@unc.edu; 962–3582

Linda Sherck ’ 95 (MA), manager of alumni activities linda_sherck@unc.edu; 962–3576

Maghon Walker ’08, programs assistant maghon_walker@unc.edu; 843–5115

Records and Information Systems Roger Nelsen, director of alumni records & information systems roger_nelsen@unc.edu; 962–7055

Emilee Brown, records assistant emilee_brown@unc.edu; 962–4412

Tracy Chrismon, records assistant tracy_chrismon@unc.edu; 962–3737

Kelly Dalton ’07, records assistant kelly_dalton@unc.edu; 962–4412 Starla Glenn, records assistant starla_glenn@unc.edu; 962–3584

Julie Gonya, network administrator julie_gonya@unc.edu; 962–5788

Rachel Orr, records assistant rachel_orr@unc.edu; 962–3739

Joan Pendergraph, assistant director of alumni records joan_pendergraph@unc.edu; 962–3580

Kemesha D. Stanley ’08, records assistant kemesha_stanley@unc.edu; 962–3738 Meredith Tozzer ’09, records assistant meredith_tozzer@unc.edu; 962–3586

Careers

Recently my mother moved from an apartment into a nursing home. My
brother and I assumed the task of closing up
her apartment, consolidating the legacy of 98
years of living into a four-foot-wide locker.

After two days of sorting clothing, kitchenware, photos, books, jewelry and knickknacks, we gave up and invited the neighbors to take whatever they wanted. By the time the remaining items were sent to a local thrift shop, we were mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted.

As I watched the last box being carted out of the apartment, I resolved to take a serious look at my own accumulation of stuff. I never again wanted to feel overwhelmed by unused and unwanted stuff.

When I got home I was ruthless, leaving no closet untouched. I tossed out unused Christmas wrap and some funny-looking things that had melted in the attic. I recycled coats the kids had left behind years ago. I donated boxes of books to the library (including some of my college books). I purged my closet of clothes that I would not want to be seen in again. It felt great — like a tremendous burden had been lifted.

Most of us have unnecessary stuff lurking in closets, drawers, attics, basements and computers. Eventually you run out of space and end up with clutter. Whether it is in full view or hidden, clutter is costly in terms of time, money and stress. That same kind of clutter can bog down your career, obscuring your original goals and ambitions. It can stymie a job search, hindering your focus on real opportunities by recycling other possibilities that have passed or aren’t good fits. Consider the time and energy used searching through queues of emails and stacks of paperwork, mail and professional journals for an important document, a client’s phone number or a critical file. Your perfectly organized day can quickly be derailed by an extended search for misplaced items.

You can reclaim your space and your life by tossing out extraneous and unused items and those that no longer have any value. Establishing simple guidelines will make the process easier at home and at work.

■ Handle information once. Most clut-
ter is the result of delayed decision-mak-
ing. Instead of making an immediate
decision about what to do with a piece
of email, a job
posting or old
materials from
prospective
employers, we
create stacks or
computer folders to be dealt with later.
Head off information clutter at the
source by deciding what needs to be done
with each item the first time you handle it
— act on it, file it or toss it. Start by resist-
ing the urge to open junk mail, paper or
electronic (it is junk, after all). Put it right
in the trash. Then give each action item a
date to take care of it. File only those
important items, such as receipts for docu-
menting expenses.
■ Share your treasures. If you haven’t
worn an item in a year, or it does not
make you feel wonderful, pass it along to
someone in need. If you have suits in good
condition, you can donate them to Dress
for Success, an organization that provides
programs to help economically disadvan-
taged women get jobs. Donate relevant
magazines or books to local job-finding
clubs. Feel the joy that comes from giv-
ing something you have to help others.
■ Eliminate. Make it a rule to toss out or
give away one or two items from your
home or office each week. If an item no
longer serves a purpose, get rid of it. Tear
out magazine articles that interest you
and toss the rest. When you buy a new
item, let go of something you already
own. Make parting with your things eas-
ier by finding a thrift store that will turn
unwanted items into dollars for charity.
Simply put, clutter creates low-grade
stress, which drains your time, money and
energy. A satisfying life and career do not
come from accumulating things; they come
from having the emotional, psychological
and physical space to live your best life, to
develop a fulfilling career. Let all the stuff
go, set it free, and in the process you will
find room to live and prosper. ;
your career,
your life

LINDA
Clear Out the Career Clutter

Linda Conklin, GAA manager of Alumni Career Services, provides career coaching and monthly teleclasses. The June 18 teleclass will be “ Cover Letters With Clout.” Find her advice and career-related information at alumni.unc.edu/career. Contact her at linda_conklin@unc.edu or (919) 962–3749.