Personally, this project has allowed me to grow and learn the importance of communication, time management and organization. With both Michael and I being in different time zones, we had to manage our times very cautiously in order to work closely with the other group members.
I did this through a lot of planning and changing my personal habits in order to work at my best capabilities. Most of all, I was communicating with my group members as much as possible, making sure I was on track. We would call every week, sometimes three times a week to communicate our new ideas and to perfect current ones. After each group call, I would note down a to do list on what I needed to accomplish within the week. This was something new for me, but it is a habit I plan to continue as it kept me up to date with all my work. Also, by gaining new communication skills through this project, I feel confident in my abilities for the real work industry. I feel I will be able to communicate my ideas well, and making sure I am on track.
For time management, although it was a struggle, I managed to endure it well. Some days I would wake up earlier in order to participate in meetings and classes. Other days, I would converse with group members regarding progress. I am very proud that not once did I miss a group meeting, I attended all of our group calls and interreacted with everyone with enthusiasm. By doing this, it’s prepared me for future business projects. There will be times where I will be in a team, and the time zones won’t be the same for everyone. However, now having worked in a group with 3 different time zones, I know how to tackle this disadvantage head on without any setbacks.
My organizational skills have improved drastically after this project. I set daily reminders on what needed to be done work wise, with other deadlines also emerging, I had created a plan on how I would divide my time and work for each subject. Each day I would work on a specific subject, and some days I would do two subjects. For my sketchbook, I had planned out each page and what each page would obtain. I would do this by writing a title and notes along with brainstorming ideas. For my blog, I had pre planned posts and scheduled when they should be uploaded, allowing me to perfect them whenever I had free time. For my photoshoots, I had communicated with group members constantly and organized time slots which were best for everyone. I felt it was important for the entire group to be there as we did the photoshoots, that way I could receive everyone’s ideas and positive criticism.
Personally, this project has allowed me to mature and grow, I feel much more prepared for a real job. I am content with my work, and felt I worked to my best ability. I am very glad I was given the opportunity to have this project and understand the works behind creating a magazine.
