I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
results for juliska/Two unabashed romantics, Capucine and David Gooding founded Juliska in 2001 with a collection of 40 historic Bohemian glasses – since then the company has blossomed to one of the leading home brands in America. Juliska is not about trends; it’s about loving life and living well. Juliska today is made up of an inspired group of individuals committed to providing beautiful things for the home. We are inspired by the gathering of family and loved ones over food, passionate artisans, and centuries of European design.
If you saw day one of our trip to Athens, you began to get a feel for how much we have fallen for this place, located just an hour outside Atlanta. In two short days, we set out to capture the magic of this small town, all while we enjoyed the most gracious southern hospitality from a handful of new great friends.
Our second day was one for the books. We started our morning on The Hill with the boys from Epting Events. The Hill is 20+ acres where all of Lee’s, the matriarch of the Epting family, homes sit. Yes, I said homes. You see, Lee collects homes. Extremely old, historic homes he restores to their former glory. And glorious, they are.
As we turned up the tree-lined dirt road that led to The Hill, I immediately felt transported back in time. From the smaller cottages, the grand homes and to the soft yellow plantation style Donald-Epting home, it was all pure magic. A vintage Chevrolet sat in the drive, and a large white tent was still standing from an event the night before. The boys, Lee, Ashley, Daniel and their video crew Grit Tree Productions for Black Tie & BBQ, greeted us with the definition of Southern Hospitality: mimosas, a four-course brunch, and a candlelit table set with the china that Lee’s collected over the years. I don’t know why I would have expected less, I mean Epting has been catering and throwing events for the creme de la creme for the past 40 years.
Upon hearing the Olsen twin’s response to (or rather, their shut down of) their recent intern lawsuit the other day, I fell down a rabbit hole reading about not only unpaid internships, but about entitlement in the workplace in general. Being only a few years fresh into the paid-working world and newly managing projects myself, I knew this was a discussion I wanted to dig into, and one that hit pretty close to home.
I began to wonder, in a world where participation trophies and extreme nepotism are becoming the norm, whatever happened to the idea of working for your place to kickstart your career? Internship lawsuits are being filed left and right against fashion designers, magazine publishers and the like, and with those filings come questions from all sides about work expectations of the younger generation in their attempts to gain footing in the workplace.
A very interesting excerpt from Richard Kirshenbaum’s book (which I urge you to read)“Isn’t That Rich?: Life Among the 1 Percent,” only fueled my food for thought. Kirshenbaum addresses entitlement found amount young people looking to land an internship or entry-level job simply because they believe that they deserve it (an epidemic that is not just rampant among the 1 percent).
“Entitlement is a contagious, insidious state of mind that has infected a whole generation of young people who feel they deserve things based on who they think they are or who their parents are, ” writes Kirshenbaum in his book. “Or who they’ve been told they are. Entitlement also affects adults, who feel they should have or get things based on their friends having them or just feeling worthy.”
Kirshenbaum recognizes that many young adults have the “idea that the world exists for them and owes them what they want when they want it.”
This topic is not only interesting but relevant to me. A mere five years ago, I began to put in my due-time running errands around town and answering phones at a handful of competitive internships (paid and unpaid) and then went on to do more for my entry-level job at a leading firm. I logged hours with data entry, I coordinated business meeting times (and messed that up too often to count) and I took notes and compiled presentations for supervisors. All of this work, though not my favorite, helped shape me into a communications professional that could hold my own in future positions in my career. Momentary frustrations about being at the bottom of the food chain were to be expected, but in the end, I learned my place in the company and understood the importance of humility and motivation in my career.
Though I got through the menial errands and mindless work, like so many others my age and younger, I admit that I sometimes felt fleeting tinges of entitlement too. It’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling like you just deserve that raise or promotion, as we’ve been taught to “lean in” and stand up for ourselves in professional environments. We think we’re being proactive and driven, when in fact it comes across as arrogant and entitled. Sometimes, we just need to put our heads down and hustle.
My hope is that in place of future complaints and lawsuits, the younger generation can focus their energy on understanding how to succeed in an internship and learn professional humility to do what it takes to get the job done. Understanding that this work will only serve them in the long run, providing invaluable lessons, and making that hard-earned success down the road that much sweeter.
But let’s talk about it! I’d love to hear your thoughts about entitlement in the workplace too. This post is intended to serve as food for thought, and I understand some specific situations regarding unpaid internships and entitlement deserve additional attention. Cheers, Kat
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On December 5th, I’ll be loading up the car (Addison included), and heading five hours East. The destination: Charleston for Garden & Gun’s Second Annual Jubilee. Jubilee is a “Made in the South” weekend full of sporting, shopping, food, music, and art, as well as special dinners and live entertainment on the grounds of the historic state park Charles Towne Landing. Attracting from all over the country, the three-day festival is a continuation of Garden & Gun’s commitment to celebrating the best of Southern culture. It’s G&G’s largest signature event and I couldn’t be more excited to be attending for my very first time.
I’ll be starting my Jubilee experience Thursday night with the Oyster Roast and spending all day Friday and Saturday perusing the Jubilee marketplace, pantry, tents and grounds. While I’m looking forward to meeting and spending time with all of the talent I must say there’s a few specific people I’ll be making a beeline for….
–Mark Sage, co-owner of Bobo Intriguing Objects. Bobo is always a stop for me during Atlanta Market and quite a few pieces found in my Shop and home have come from Bobo. Mark is an interior design guru and will be bringing a vast array of his original antiques and curios for all to peruse. Sage will set the stage in a 4,000 square foot tent filled to the brim and styled to inspire. 4,000 square feet!? I might need to bring a U-Haul with me on this little adventure.
–Three Brothers Boards. 2013 Made in the South Award runners-up Three Brothers will introduce a limited edition Jubille paddleboard along with their other designs. I’ve been wanting to get a paddleboard for over a year now so this may be the weekend I make it happen! The brothers, R.J. and Justin Murray will also share their tools, sketches, and stories inspiring their throwback designs.
–Hobnob Entertaining and Leontine Linens. Hobnob is a one-stop shop curating all things entertaining while founder Jane Scott Hodges of Leontine Linens will be showcasing all of her to-die-for linens. of New Orleans offers a couture service and product based on the belief that one’s linens should be a reflection and extension of the person’s personal taste and lifestyle. Founder Jane Scott Hodges will be showcasing her fine linens at JUBILEE as part of the Meet the Makers Trunk Shows, giving consultations and taking custom order.
–The Commons. Longtime friends, Erin Connelly and Kerry Clark Speake work together to curate a collection of American made goods for the home. Selecting hand made goods that are beautifully designed and thoughtfully made, bringing a soulful approach to home decorating and will be showcasing their collection in the Jubilee Pantry.
Also did I mention this will be my first ever trip to Charleston?! I’m taking my friend-ographer Kathryn McCrary to document our entire crazy journey and we’ll be staying at The Belmond Charleston Placein the heart of historic Charleston. If you’ve got any must see, must do, must eat Charleston suggestions bring em’ on. And please let me know if you’re planning on attending Jubilee so we can meet up for a toast. TGIF Loves! Truly, MKR
*This story is a collaboration with Garden & Gun Magazine, a magazine I adore and read every month. Thank you for supporting stories that allow WOM to keep chuggin’ along. Photos courtesy of Garden & Gun.
