Take Content Creation Seriously

Take Content Creation Seriously

Take Content Creation Seriously

October 16, 2020 | BY UKO

Why we need to take emerging careers more seriously

I remember computing lessons at school with desktops and monitors lined up in rows, set-up towering over the heads of the class seated in ‘computer chairs’. I’d spend most of the lesson trying to remember my password xhkejqc8976 of which I wasn’t allowed to write down because other students who might get their hands on my log-in and run a muck on Microsoft Paint. I remember Bebo and my Myspace bio with ‘Uffie’ playing in the background it read, ‘Howdy y’all, Libdog is the name, G-town is my turf […]’. Now this all seems like an absolute joke. However in late 2005 Uffie (singer-songwriter) wrote “Pop the Glock” and released it as a Myspace demo which launched her career (Wikipedia) the adoption of social media sites into the mainstream and their apps years later have significantly changed career pathways, how we connect and the way that people use the internet. The rise of social media also widened the divide between parents and technology during the noughties. It’s no wonder the gap between parents and the future of work…

After going through university and the entry level job ranks to middle management what I realise now is my English and Art lessons were the skills that I needed to make the most of technology, it wasn’t the skills I was learning in IT class in the 2000s. It’s now how we express ourselves and elevate our human experiences through these platforms. 

I’ve veered away from business operational roles to content creation which has questionable prospects. Yet more than 4.5 billion people now use the internet, while social media users have passed the 3.8 billion mark. There’s no denying the significance of social media. Although older generations may not be computer literate they’re likely to utilise social media platforms such as Whatsapp and Facebook to communicate, consume content and purchase goods and services. Social Media platforms and other platforms alike make the usability of technology now much simpler hence the adoption curve.

Nevertheless the social media domain still has a certain stigma and isn’t considered a career. It’s also often associated with fashion and art industries that make significant economic, cultural and political contributions to society. The idea that social media is just ‘fun’ is a short fall upon the impact that it has had over the past decade and is continuing to have. 

I used to have aspirations of working for an international not-for-profit or in foreign policy. When people’s careers are focussed around addressing important issues such as world hunger or homelessness you do question the importance of social media. After middle management, starting a concept called Libbation isn’t too far flung from my Myspace bio. I was a little embarrassed telling people when I started freelancing and building my brand because I didn’t have career ambitions beyond this; people didn’t think I was ambitious enough anymore or that I’d gone completely rogue. 

However, the power that you have in this realm to build brands, to inspire and to work with businesses that are providing solutions to real problems, means the work can be just as important. Social media has been significant in the past decade and it’ll continue on as essential onto the next. What I was learning during my early days of freelancing was that in every capacity that I was working in, content was driving the bottom line. It didn’t matter what organisation or industry I was in this type of marketing was what was needed and something that I could offer in a contracted capacity because of my writing ability and creativity not because of IT lessons. 

There’s still a lot of vagueness around social media. From a business perspective I see it as an evolution of sales; people used to call lead lists to see if anyone wanted to buy something, then came digital marketing and then partnerships upon the rise of social media and the usability of technology. How people are now gaining knowledge and consuming content is continuing to evolve. At school I should’ve known that I could’ve had a career in writing without working for a news room or writing a famous novel and that the skills were similar to creating my Myspace page. Education is yet to incorporate social media and industry is yet to consider the value of it. The generation of authentic and original content is essential for brands. Social media should be taken more seriously as it isn’t just fun and games. 

IMG

Value in A New World

Value in A New World

Value in A New World

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 | BY UKO

How valuable are the physical things that we strive to obtain and harbor in life? Converting to co-living.

My journey to co-living was in stages… the tipping point was when COVID hit Australia — who would’ve thought!

Coming from startup land in Sydney, I’m across new businesses and market entrants. My first impression of UKO was — a great concept… it embodies minimalist and flexible living, however, it isn’t quite practical for me right now. During this time two things were becoming apparent in my life:

Firstly, that my career would revolve around technology and my lifestyle would always be to a degree nomadic — traveling domestically and internationally for leisure, work, friends, and family. It wasn’t a stage or a once-off event like a uni exchange.

Secondly, my have for life admin became stronger— it’s boring and I see little value in it. I’m always looking for ways to eliminate it and I disagree with the notion that ‘it’s part having responsibilities’. I never liked signing any contracts (for example phone plans) because long-term commitment didn’t match the evolution in my life. Minimalism and the need for flexibility were emerging more in my life.

Converting to co-living

The first stage of converting to co-living was deciding to avoid real estate agents at all costs (the rental system is the worst system ever!). So, I sold all of my furniture and appliances — all of which I outlaid a cost of $4000 and gave away/ sold for 10% of the purchase price. I had no lease for the first time in a while, I went to Europe not having to pay rent back home for a month — great! When I came back to Sydney I stayed in an Airbnb until I found a place on Flatmates — no lease and not much furniture ($1000 worth) — great. I lost money again when I moved as COVID hit. I had flexibility but I still had to have some furniture.

The second stage of converting to co-living was when I flew to regional Australia for a couple of months, I was considering joining a local co-working space however in COVID, I couldn’t justify the value anymore. I was confused about what I should be doing.

When I returned to Sydney UKO was the solution. It could accommodate my 2 suitcase concept, I didn’t have to outlay costs for furniture and appliances and I could eliminate life admin through UKO’s subscription modesl — an all-inclusive price — Amazing! I subscribed in 15 minutes. #signmeup

COVID — the tipping point

When my world became 100% online and there was no physical reason for me to be in Sydney, this was an exciting concept. However, I didn’t expect to find it as challenging as I did being outside of a city. I took lockdown as an opportunity to focus on a project that I had running in South Australia. What I was lacking was a network and connectedness to a community that could support and enhance my lifestyle.

Contrasting the UKO community with being in Adelaide — a regional city, it’s clear how important a role co-living has in shaping this new world. I struggled to work in Adelaide as COVID presented a huge challenge for how we are to now engage with people and expand our network to generate value.

Thinking about lifestyle and how far mine is adapted — value now really is in the non-physical things; when driving a car, owning a fridge or a TV has no relationship to my work… it’s all just stuff. And more, all of this stuff becomes a liability when you’re stuck with it — like a rental lease with a bad housemate. Co-living becomes an asset.

How we create our lives and what we fill it with is so important. With systems designed for a new world that’s shaped around both technology and the knowledge economy, why use services or commit to responsibilities that aren’t suited to this new world? The physical things that we aspire to, and harbour so closely, we should perhaps think quite differently about.


defineyourself

Give Up Defining Yourself

Give Up Defining Yourself

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 | BY UKO

Harnessing Opportunities in a Digital Age

MONA WATERFALL X V

Image: Fall by Julius Popp, MONA. Popp’s work often uses technology, resulting in interdisciplinary ventures which reach across the boundaries of art and science.

An old-world told us to stick to a single discipline but also that we’re likely to have multiple careers within a lifetime. In university, we studied in the one faculty and at careers fairs, we were segmented to aim for a single career to gain market entry. This is paradoxical to market prospects.

From what I’ve seen studying in institutions and engaging with the corporate sector, following definition is limiting; and it has been those that haven’t wanted change who’ve been afraid of growth because of how it might disrupt a system that defined them. That’s right — there’s growth in change and learning in adaption.

During a time where a virus outbreak has upended systems that these mentalities were built around, any definition has to be erased and we have to start thinking differently about our lifestyles — how we live, work, what the growth industries are, and how we apply our education. Give up defining yourself, you won’t fail you’ll come to life.

How people in co-living are working

UKO is a collection of unique co-living spaces in Sydney comprised of remote workers, freelancers, startup founders, and recent grads breaking into industries… it’s global and it’s diverse. Within co-living, the people that you share your resources with are not just neighbors. They’re family at group dinners, friends for weekend adventures, and your inspiration for your next business idea or a collaborator on a project.

How people in co-living are learning

There’s an approach from a co-living community to design lifestyles as a collective. With such ambition, it’s essential to be a problem-solver and to think a bit differently. The collective is reflective of a growth mindset and full of inspiration.

A friend that I’ve made within the UKO community exemplifies this mentality… I met her as a digital marketer however discovered her background as a fashion designer. In her case, although educated and experienced in the discipline of fashion design, she was using digital technologies in her work which translates to digital marketing. It’s a world defined by social media — it’s full of content — visual imagery — like fashion design. In marketing terminology, the imagery is known as ‘assets’ in and messaging is how you communicate a brand…wow, how value is changing and existing virtually! Her education is applied in a new profession which adds value. Design is an interesting angle to work from within digital marketing, a profession heavily focussed on analytics and performance indicators and return on investment.

This is the importance of developing diverse networks. Wherever there’s different knowledge and experience to what you have there’s so much to be learned. Don’t be bound by what you perceive as your limits… to the contrary always think about how to push them further. I see that now is not the time to back down from evolution but to pursue it. The value in a lifestyle built around community amplifies the opportunities and ability to create such networks.

The future professional

As COVID has upended the systems that we were indoctrinated into, there’s the opportunity to create new ones in a community that supports the adaption of work and life. Co-living is shaping the future professional and there’s no better time than now than to contribute to creating this.

If you’ve defined yourself — give it up. Lean into a community such as a UKO and investigate the ‘how’ in terms of addressing challenges and understanding the ways in which people are freelancing, consulting, working from home, and building side hustles. If you’re wondering how to get started, watch this space as we look further into the specifics. Breaks in the system mean the opportunity to create something new — old ways won’t open new doors.