The idea is, that Michael Mittermeier, who is a famous German comedian with a Bavarian accent, drinks Rivella and suddenly speaks Swiss German (effect of Rivella?). Well his Swiss German is not really understandable, but I guess that also makes it even more funny. There are a few videos that where done with an iPhone or any other smartphone, which is typical for a viral marketing campaign since in the beginning it should come off as “real” – done by bystanders. One video for example shows Michael at a German Bratwurst Stand trying to order somethings in “Swiss German” – nobody understands him. Naturally. It´s really hilarious.

Now there also real Rivella Spots were released, which are in high Quality.

Policemen: Well Mr. Mittermeier, were you in a hurry?
Mittermeier: >>Swiss German<<
Policemen: Mr. Mittermeier – Did you drink something?
Mittermeier: >>Swiss German<< A little.

Well done, Jung von Matt Switzerland (advertisement agency).

• My website, which involved:
• shorten my motivation statement – Who wants to read a long text really?
• update my résumé
• update my links – which ones do I still read, new ones I began to read
• Google Reader: cancel subscriptions of dead blogs and organize my folders (That took some time, I can tell you)
• Professional Networks: LinkedIn and Xing – it´s up-to-date alright, but I am still reflecting on the right contents
• Personal Networks: Facebook and Google+ – since I use fb for most of my private communication, it´s always up to date, but I sure need to work on my Google+ profile
• Twitter: Yeah, yeah I am still working on that.

In case you seek to update your web presence and need some advice on it, here is a list of useful articles I put together:

• Facebook- learn about the new privacy features and how to use them on All Facebook,  explore the site for more input
• Xing – since you are most likely German speaking when you use this network, just learn from example: Profile of Jochen Mai of Karriere-bibel
• LinkedIn – for beyond basics advice refer to the Personal Branding Blog, e.g. this post
• Google+ - Watch a Video Guide on it!

I will resume to updating my internet presence later and will go out enjoying the sun now, but please let me know if you can add something to the list!

iButterfly

1. I wrote my bachelor thesis, which I handed in and already received a quite satisfactory grade for it.

2. I prepared and took my final exams, which I all passed… thanks.. thanks … he he

3. I graduated and thereafter needed to do some heavy celebrating.

That means I have my bachelor degree now and am searching for a job – worldwide. I experienced, that it is not that easy. The reasons for that are not only the still lingering economic crisis, but also my need for something truly challenging. After 3 years of studying, a lot of books, a lot of exams and projects I am very eager to put my full strength into a job. I guess that’s how almost every student feels after their graduation. Don’t you think?

Meanwhile did I apply for German unemployment benefit to finance this – hopefully short – transition phase. I can tell you, that the German governmental support system is pretty good, but also complicated. I feel like I filled out at least 50 pages of forms and I spoke to about 10 different clerks, just to get it all in order.

But this also has it’s upsides: I can help out my mum at home and spend some time with my family. I just hope that it won’t be too long before I can show my paces!

When I was a child I was the kind who drew a lot and whose parents would always be very impressed with their child’s drawing skills, which seemed to them beyond their kid’s age. So I got a drawing teacher, an art student from University, who taught me different techniques, like how to use oil paint, water colors or coal to draw or paint pictures. So when I was sitting in the heating room of our house, the heaters buzzing in the background, I was painting for hours without noticing how time passed by.
Back then I just needed a blank paper and a pen to fuel my creativity, but after I finished Junior High and studying became more important, the painting tools collected dust in a corner of my room.

Now when I take a blank page, I stare at it – not knowing what to paint, feeling the need of a creative genius to help me.

The creative genius is what the old Romans and Greek assigned to people, who where creative. That’s also what Nick Vasiljevic, managing director of the company pilotfish, mentioned in his presentation yesterday. “But today”, he said, “You are the creative genius”. You can not blame it on somebody else.
Nick sees creativity from a different point of view. He likes what Steve Jobs says about creativity. That it is like “connecting dots”. Steve Jobs also stated in this speech at Stanford University “Believing that the dots will connect down the road, will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path and that will make all the difference“.

So by connecting different fields of study, various industries and disciplines it is able to create new things. Jobs did it many times: connecting art (design) and state of the art electronics in Mac is just one example among others. But what Nick mentioned as well is, that today the education system is forcing us to make decisions. Do you want to study economics or art, social or political science? I myself chose two fields of study Chinese (language & culture) and business management, but would also have liked to learn more about web design and nurture my artistic nature. So is education actually constraining creativity?

The gist of the presentation was that creativity is not magic.
There are simple tools, which help to be more creative:

- listen
- be curious
- ask questions
- make connections
- observe

Now you might think: “well, that’s nothing new”, but do you really behave this way in life? Aren’t you sometimes finding yourself thinking of something else while the person in front of you is talking? Or do you feel too shy to ask a question, because you think it might sound stupid? I do admit all that, I also try to work on myself to reduce those occasions.

But what comes with creativity? It doesn’t mean that you just have to be creative to be successful. The presentation also stated, that you need to have other characteristics to use your creativity in a beneficial way:

- commercial sense
- strong morals

You need to know how to sell yourself and your ideas in a way that is creating additional value and is not harmful to society. Here you might excuse my rather intangible writing, but I am sure you can grasp my meaning.

Another premise for connecting the dots, when it comes to Nick Vasiljevic, is that you not only have a deep expertise, but also broad knowledge: T-shaped people. They are also often called Versatilists. Naturally, when you know more about different areas you can connect more dots.

All together it was a very inspiring presentation for me, so that I had to share these insights with you on my website.

By not only being an expert in one field, but also having interest and knowledge in others, you can be creative by connecting the dots via curiosity and attentiveness to the world around you to create value being both commercial and ethical.