I’ve been part of the Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) team for awhile now, and I get a ton of value from my involvement in the organization. I use social media every day for personal and professional reasons, so being part of an organization that helps connect job seekers and employers through social media has been very rewarding.

Arik Hanson, Minnesota PR pro and HAPPO co-founder, started a new initiative last year called The HAPPO Report, a weekly e-newsletter that’s sent to more than 250 PR pros/communicators across the Twin Cities. It includes relevant jobs, upcoming events, posts from the last week and a featured job seeker each week.

Thanks to Arik’s support, The HAPPO Michigan Report will launch very soon and will contain the same content (but specific to Michigan, of course). If all goes as planned, the first e-newsletter will go out before the end of February. It will be biweekly and will hit your inbox on Wednesdays.

Sound like something that’s worthy of adding yet another e-newsletter to your inbox (c’mon, you know you want to!)? You can subscribe now. If you have an available communications position, are hosting an event and want to share it in The HAPPO Report once it launches or would like to be a featured job seeker, feel free to contact me.

If you want to know what else the HAPPO team has in the works for 2012, Arik shares the future of HAPPO and what you can do to help in this recent post.

** I just switched my domain over to nikkilittle.com, so if the logo is still missing when you read this, please overlook it! It will be back soon. And I lost all social shares on my posts. Boo-hoo! But big thanks to the Don, Hubert Sawyers, for making the switch.

It’s almost the end of the year, which means many people are thinking about how they can improve their lives in the coming year. The gym is always jam packed around this time of year, and people are talking and posting online about their goals and resolutions.

Last year, I wrote about what to keep in mind when setting New Year’s Resolutions, and I actually think setting resolutions and/or goals is better than doing nothing to improve whatever it is you need to work on in your life in the coming year. But this year, I’ve decided to change things up.

Rather than setting resolutions or goals, I created a bucket list. Starting now and moving forward every new year, I plan to work on achieving what is on that bucket list. I may add or delete items before the turn of each new year as my life changes, but that’s OK.

Who doesn’t love a big win? I’m calling you out if you say you don’t! It’s hard not to love rewards for hard work. To add some context to the discussion, when I say big win, I’m referring to:

• Landing a new client when you’ve worked long and hard on the proposal.
• Overcoming a challenge you’ve been working to get past.
• Achieving an important goal.
• Landing a new job or promotion that takes you to the next step in your career.
• Completing your first half-marathon (or, if you’re like me, you aim for 5Ks and consider those a big win!).

The list goes on, but you get the point. Most people would consider those big wins.

But do we always have to aim for such grandiose achievements? What happened to relishing in the small wins that eventually add up to a big win? Oftentimes, we fail to recognize and reward those small wins because we’re constantly fixated on something bigger and better. And believe me, I am included in all this “we” talk. I wanted to write about the importance of acknowledging small wins as often as we acknowledge the big wins because I’m not doing it enough.

Having an “always want more” attitude is both a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because people with that quality never settle for anything shy of great. They always push beyond the set boundaries, and they are never, ever complacent. When they accomplish goals, they barely let themselves soak up the rewards before they’re moving on to the next thing because they constantly aim to churn out great results. Employers want this type of mentality in their employees.

Five minutes isn’t a whole lot of time, yet there are many things you can accomplish in just five minutes. You can send an email, brush your teeth, make a sandwich or listen to a song.

We all wish we had more time each day to accomplish everything that needs to get done. But, we’re not getting more time. So what we need to do is spend our time wisely and do things that are productive and valuable.

While you may be thinking there’s no way you could possibly tack on a new task to your already hectic schedule, I’d like you to do just that. As often as possible, I’d like you to take five minutes to help someone else. This may not become a daily habit, or it may happen multiple times a day, depending on what opportunities come your way. But get it in your head right now that you have enough capacity to spend five minutes doing something that will benefit another person, whether you know that person or he/she is a complete stranger.

Let me tell you a short story that will hopefully prove why spending five minutes to help someone else is powerful. One of my clients at Identity is a large national corporation. We have a few contacts at the company who our social media team works with, and two of those are my direct clients. A few months ago, I learned one of my contacts was leaving the company, and I knew how important it would be to fill her role with the right person.

Since I’m the Michigan champion for Help a PR Pro Out (a movement that seeks to use social media to leverage relationships and help connect those seeking a job in the PR industry with employers), I make it a point to share job opportunities with my online networks whenever I can. Rather than sharing the job opening publicly, I decided to first share it with the other HAPPO champs in our private Facebook group to see if they personally knew anyone who would be good for this role.

Long story short, another HAPPO champ recommended I connect with her friend who was looking for a job because the position seemed like a fit for her. After a few LinkedIn messages between me and this person, I forwarded her resume to my client. A few months and interviews later, she now has a job, and we’ll be working very closely together. What I did to get her resume in front of my client took all of about five minutes of my time, and it resulted in someone landing a great job.

So, what can you do in five minutes or less to help someone else? Here are a few ideas:

• To go off my example, share a job opportunity with your networks or an individual who would be a good fit.
• Write a recommendation for someone on LinkedIn.
• Answer a question in a LinkedIn group.
• If a friend at work looks like he/she is having a bad day, send a private message (via whichever method makes the most sense for you and that other person) reminding him/her that you’re available to talk or help in any way you can.
• Do something unexpected that helps your significant other (fold laundry, make lunch for work the next day, etc.).
• Give feedback or a recommendation to someone who needs it.

The list goes on.

I hope you take on this small challenge because it will end up being as rewarding for you in the long run as it will for the people you help.

If you have a story to share about how you helped someone lately in five minutes or less, or if you have other ways to help in five minutes, leave your feedback in the comments.

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Creators, entrepreneurs, artists, designers, scientists, thinkers and doers will all converge on September 28 for the third annual TEDxDetroit conference, taking place at the Orchestra Hall at the Max M Fisher Music Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. What’s the goal of bringing this diverse yet interestingly similar group of people together for an entire day? To spread positive ideas for the world from Detroit.

TED (which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design) conferences aren’t like any other conferences I’ve attended. They’re eclectic and quirky, but in an engaging and inspiring way. While I’ve felt inspired after conferences like FutureMidwest and BrandCamp, TEDxDetroit conferences have produced a totally different type of creative inspiration in me. That’s why I’m looking forward to attending again this year.

To get an idea of what TED conferences are like, take a look at the diversity of 2010′s speaker lineup, which included poets, a chief science officer, a video producer, a belly dancer and a singer/songwriter. And, watch the below TEDxDetroit performance by David Blair, an amazingly talented artist who sadly and unexpectedly passed away this year.

So, what’s in store for attendees of this year’s conference? Charlie Wollborg, executive producer and curator of TEDxDetroit, was nice enough to answer a few questions about the 2011 conference.

How will the 2011 TEDxDetroit conference differ from past conferences?

Our mission remains the same. TEDxDetroit is a day for ideas, innovations and inspiration highlighting positive ideas from our city and state for the world.

Can you share any general information about the speakers this year?

The speaker names are starting to trickle out on social media and the press, but I actually like to keep them a surprise. I like folks to come in with an open mind and join us for a wild ride. This year’s program will feature Giant Robots and Tap Dancing and Cherries and Sword Fighting and Nuclear Super Colliders and Fine Art for Babies and a Gourmet Lemonade Stand run by a nine year old kid. I’m serious.

In your opinion, why is TEDx different from any other type of conference that exists?

The content. The speakers bounce back and forth between left brain and right brain. We alternate between academics and geeks and entrepreneurs and artists and inspirational human stories. It’s not a business conference, but we highlight many cool business leaders. It’s not a tech conference, but we showcase loads of interesting and innovative technology. It’s not a social media conference, but you’ll find Twitter, YouTube and Flickr ablaze with content during TEDxDetroit. Hell, we’re not even sure it is a conference. When you leave TEDxDetroit, hopefully your boundaries of possibility have been stretched and the fire in your belly has been rekindled.

What are the top reasons why someone should attend TEDxDetroit?

TEDxDetroit brings together the “charged particles” to encourage collaboration, optimism and a sense of what’s possible. I think it will ignite your passion, fill your Rolodex with interesting people, stretch your smile and give you a swift kick in the entrepreneurial ass to get moving on that big project you’ve been sitting on for far too long.

Interested in attending? You have to request an invite (don’t worry, it’s not an arduous process). Space is limited for the event because one of the goal’s of TED is to gather attendees who are as interesting as the presenters. While some may complain that this is seclusive and unfair, I’m OK with it. As long as you make an effort, you will undoubtedly meet some very interesting people at this conference thanks to the selective attendance process.

The cost to attend is only $26 (which includes lunch), and all proceeds will support charities opening children’s minds to art and technology in Detroit. More than $16,000 has been raised in the past two years from TEDxDetroit.

Seriously…why would you NOT go?!

If you’ve attended TEDxDetroit or another TED event in the past, share in the comments what you enjoyed most about the conference and why it’s worth attending.

Pura vida (pure life) – The signature Costa Rican phrase

I just returned from seven blissful days of honeymooning in Costa Rica. I had never been to Costa Rica before, and I quickly learned why people rave about this country. The scenery is breathtaking, the activities are limitless and the people are beyond kind. Costa Ricans have done an incredible job of using tourism as an economical driving force while still preserving the country’s beauty and natural resources.

Aside from loving that I had the opportunity to speak Spanish for an entire week, there are several other aspects of the country and its people that I love. As I started reflecting on all those things, I realized there are several ways people can apply the Costa Rican way of life to their own lives and businesses. So, here are some suggestions based on what I learned during my time in Costa Rica:

1. Be kind and helpful. This seems like such a no-brainer, yet too many people lack these simple attributes. Simple isn’t always easy, but as Chris Brogan states in his Salt and Pepper Simplicity post, “The more places in our life and our business where we can season with salt and pepper, the better life becomes.”

The natives we met in Costa Rica were some of the nicest and most helpful people I have ever met. Everyone greeted us with a smile and was willing and happy to answer any questions we had. Our trip was amazing from the second we set foot in Costa Rica until we left seven days later, largely because the people we encountered and interacted with were so pleasant. It set the bar high for trips to other countries.

Key takeaway – Whether you’re interacting with friends, coworkers, family, strangers or clients/customers, be kind and helpful. You always end up benefiting in the end when your intentions are genuine and meant to provide help to others.

2. Go above and beyond with customer service – The customer service talk has centered on the opportunities that social media creates for quite some time now, but nothing can trump excellent in-person customer service. A few examples from Costa Rica:

1. A few minutes after we checked into the room at the first resort we stayed at, the manager at the front desk called our room to make sure we were happy with everything. Completely unexpected, yet very much appreciated.
2. The restaurant servers were excellent. They didn’t hover or constantly interrupt conversations, but our coffee cups and water glasses were never empty and plates were promptly removed once we were done eating. Servers were always smiling. If you’ve ever had a horrible experience with a server at a restaurant (or, if you’re like me and spent several years as a restaurant server), you appreciate top-notch service at restaurants because it makes the overall dining experience that much better.
3. When we checked into the hotel we were staying at the night before we left to fly back home, someone called from our travel agency to ask how our trip had been and if there was anything else they could do for us. Again, a pleasant surprise.

Key takeaway – In business, it’s all about making your customers and clients happy. Sure, people will still buy from companies who don’t provide the best customer service, but it’s very likely they’ll share their disappointment in how they were treated. I will highly recommend Costa Rica as a place to visit to anyone I know because the people there treated us so well and genuinely cared about us having a great experience in their country.

3. Care about the environment and make efforts to sustain it – I was really impressed with how much Costa Ricans cared about the environment and preserving their country’s resources. Many hotels worldwide now encourage people to not get new sheets and towels every day unless absolutely necessary. But the hotels we stayed at during our trip (Hotel Parador, Arenal Kioro and The Marriott in San Jose) have implemented several initiatives related to improving and sustaining the environment. They also do a great job of marketing their eco-friendly initiatives through signs around the hotel, brochures in the rooms and their websites.

We took two different hiking tours through the rainforest, and both our guides talked about how Costa Ricans value the wildlife, plants and trees that live in the rainforest. We were allowed to take pictures of the animals they pointed out, but they insisted upon not using flash on the camera and not getting close to the animals in order to not disrupt or bother them (more for the sake of not interrupting their daily lives than the risk of us getting hurt, although they of course warned about the dangers of getting too close to animals like snakes and poisonous frogs!). It was obvious that while tourism is important to this country and it’s what pays the tour guides’ bills, they cared most about preserving Costa Rica’s natural resources.

Key takeaway – Care about the environment and make efforts to sustain it. Simple efforts like turning off lights, recycling paper at your office and recycling unwanted household items versus throwing them in the trash can go a long way. Here’s a good article about surprising ways to recycle everyday items.

4. Show a genuine interest when having conversations with others – As with number one, this seems like common sense. But, since so many people are addicted to their phones and constantly check email and social networks, it’s not as easy as it used to be to get someone’s full attention when talking to them. I have been guilty of looking at my phone while talking to someone (MAL loves to call me out on this, as he should), and I’m very conscious about not doing that anymore because I hate when it happens to me. It’s not too much to ask someone you’re talking with to pay attention, ask questions and show an interest in the conversation, now is it?

Once they realized I spoke Spanish beyond the typical phrases most non-fluent speakers know, every single native person asked me where I learned Spanish. They inquired about my time spent studying abroad in Chile and complimented me on how well I spoke. I could tell they were genuinely interested in knowing how I learned their language, and it was great to have such interesting conversations with taxi drivers, tour guides and hotel personnel.

Key takeaway – Don’t act like you’re off in “I’d rather be somewhere else” land or totally bored when you’re having a conversation with someone else. Even if the topic doesn’t completely intrigue you or you don’t agree with what the person is saying, show respect and at least pay attention to what he/she is saying.

This is really crucial when it comes to having a positive relationship with coworkers and clients/customers. Think about it from a business perspective – Would you do business with someone who acts like they could care less about what you have to say, or someone who is constantly distracted and can’t even focus on a brief conversation? Those red flags would definitely make me think twice if I were in a new business meeting with someone who acted like that.

Also, make sure you ask about others’ lives more than you talk about your own.

Do you agree, and can you identify with these suggestions? Have you had a similar “lessons learned” experience while traveling?

Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts. – Arnold Bennett, English novelist

Change is inevitable. We all know that. Try as we might, it’s impossible to go through a significant period of time without experiencing change, whether it’s positive or negative.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that change occurs more frequently and unexpectedly. This is both a good and bad thing. Good because it keeps life fresh and interesting. Bad because we’re not always ready for certain changes when they’re dumped on us without warning.

My coworker, Sarah Collica, wrote a great post recently about how adapting and evolving are key to surviving change. And she’s absolutely right. We always have choices in life. No, we don’t have the pleasure of choosing how our lives shake out detail by detail. But we do have control of how we handle each new opportunity or challenge that we face. And how we handle change is the most important part.

Don’t be fooled by the size of change when it comes to determining the magnitude of impact. What may be a minor change to one person is an enormous change to another. It was a big deal to me when I changed my Twitter handle to @nikkistephan from @EstrellaBella10. My friend, Elena Wollborg, just went through the same internal debate and transition (read her post for all the details). Now, if you aren’t on Twitter, you may be scoffing at the fact that we both stressed about this change. But if you are on Twitter, then you get it. We all perceive change differently. Once again, it all comes down to how we handle change and how we grow from each new experience – both positive and negative.

It’s obvious from my recent post that change is on my mind. I’m making a big change this Saturday when I get married. And I’ve been surrounded by changes for the past month. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about:

• One of my bridesmaids got engaged.
• A friend from high school had a baby.
• Another friend from high school shared news that she’s pregnant.
• A friend is dealing with a job transition.
• A friend ended a four-year relationship.
• A friend’s dad had a heart attack and learned he must change his lifestyle because he had 99% blockage in his arteries.
• Two friends who were supposed to attend my wedding moved out of Michigan in the past month and can’t make the trip back.
• My 96-year-old grandmother’s doctor told her she can no longer live on her own and must move from her apartment at a senior living home to a nursing home that provides around-the-clock care.

Some of these are happy changes. Others…not so welcomed. But they all come along with their own unique challenges and struggles. You know how we handle good and bad changes like the ones I mentioned? We persevere.

That’s really what it all boils down to when you put change into perspective. The best way to deal with change is through perseverance. I know it’s easier said than done, but it’s the wisest option. Keep charging ahead, and never look back longer than you’re looking forward.

And with that, I’m off to make the most of the last three days before I make a crazy big change! But, I’d love to hear your thoughts on handling change, how you embrace/fight it and how it’s made you a better person.

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Have you ever had an eerie feeling that someone was following or watching you? You whisk around quickly, or secretly peer through the curtains, but realize no one is there. You’re just being paranoid. You keep moving on with your life.

Sadly, stalking is a reality. Not just physical stalking…but also Internet stalking. Stalking is a terrifying crime that affects 3.4 million people in the U.S. annually.

This is a positive blog, and I’m not supposed to be talking about negative things, so why am I talking to you about stalking? If you don’t know Danny Brown (I have yet to meet him in person, but I’m sure he’s just as awesome IRL as he’s been through our online interactions), he created an amazing initiative called 12for12k – a social media led call-to-action with the goal of helping charities reach a wider audience through the power of social media.

Danny and his supporters have raised more than $100,000 so far, and currently, the focus is on supporting Jodi’s Voice. The purpose of the site is to provide an easy access point for information and links relating to Jodi’s Law and other stalking laws.

We live in a 24/7 always connected, always on, always “plugged in” world. If you’re a social media enthusiast, I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. You’ve probably slapped your own hand a few times for checking email during dinner, staying up way too late thanks to Facebook or tweeting too much during an event when you should be spending more time talking to people.

Many of us are so used to being connected that we find it hard to break that always available mentality when we go on vacation. Prime example: I was in Santa Monica this past weekend for a wedding, but it’s my one and only vacation this summer (not counting my honeymoon). Yet, I still responded to every tweet, email, Gchat, GroupMe message, etc. in a timely manner. I even took some time to campaign for me and my crazy kitty to win Identity PR’s cutest pet contest (give us a vote by leaving a comment!).

Did I enjoy my vacation and the wedding? Absolutely. But did I truly unplug during my vacation? Not even close.

That’s why I’ve decided us always on, always connected, social media enthusiasts need to take more road trips. Participating in the Chevy SXSW road trip with Team Motown was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. Yes social media was a huge part of our trip, but so was the bonding time we had while we were trapped in a car for five days on the trip to and from Austin.

I have a confession…

I have a perpetual fear of the unknown. Those “what if” questions nag at me constantly, and I hate not knowing what the outcome of something will be when I make a decision…particularly a big, important decision.

No, I’m not lucid. I know it’s never possible to know what will happen in the future, and we can’t live our lives in fear of making choices and decisions because we can’t predict what comes next. But I think long and hard about any big decision I make, and I do my best to make wise and strategic decisions. Naturally, I want to be sure any big decision I make will result in something positive happening in my life and/or the lives of others around me.

Perhaps my mindfulness has come back to bite me one too many times. I spend so much time weighing every option that I fear that ultimate point of decision time because there is no way to predict what will happen once the process gets underway.