About ME

Forward: What is creativity? What makes good work? How does one utilize creativity to make great work?  These are questions I've often had trouble answering myself, and as I reflect on other people's work, whether it be from classmates, co-workers, professional photographers, painters, writers, or other ad agencies, I'm often left wondering with a choleric thought in the back of my mind; why didn't I think of that?

The great John Cleese once said that, "creativity is not a talent, but rather a way of operating". It is not something that can be explained, but we all possess it. It can be refined and exercised with practice and within the right environments. Cleese shares an insightful perspective on what it means to be truly innovating in one's mind and work.

One of my favorite concepts from the Monte Python writer, expresses that many of us in society operate and work under two modes: open and closed.  Closed modes are mindsets many of us often fall into when we work. When there is a deadline approaching and stress piles up, we often close off our minds in order to accomplish the task at hand. It is not a bad thing -rather an essential condition to being productive and purposeful in our work. 

Much of marketing and advertising involves solving business problems and creating brand experiences. The pressures of jobs and tasks can force any of us to go into this closed mode, and as a result, many settle for average work, or the first solution that may come to mind. It is important for us to go into an open mode and ponder a problem. Being able to step back, and give plenty of time to think about any situation, problem, or idea is essential to accomplishing a solution that is both innovative and satisfying.

A key trait to utilizing creativity and creating great work is knowing when and how to go into an open mode. And then once you have a creative solution, being able to stay focused on your task and go into your closed mode to accomplish the task. Going into an open mode is not as easy as it sounds. It requires space, time, time, confidence and humor (yes time is there twice). Often, it is the instances you are not working when you come up with your best work and ideas. A key function to creativity is knowing when to drop a subject, go away, and ponder. Trying to force yourself to be creative is counterintuitive to the idea itself. 

About Me: I am a 23 year old student in the School of Business at Portland  State University,  graduating in June, 2015 with a degree in marketing and advertisement management, and an emphasis on international business. At Portland State, I maintained a 3.6 GPA while learning skills critical to succeeding in a business environment. Communications, ethics, financial and fundamental analysis, market research, consumer behavior, problem solving, media planning and group management are just a few examples of the skill sets I honed while going to school in Portland.

My academics have taken me to Europe where I studied international marketing, operations management, finance, and international business at the Consortium Institute of Management and Business Analysis (CIMBA) in Paderno del Grappa, Italy. At CIMBA I received a unique learning experience, and through intense classes and exercises I learned how to analyze situations, and incorporate strategic thinking into problem management in line with Kepner-Tregoe analysis (or KT analysis).

Leadership Initiatives for Excellence (LIFE), is another rigorous program I took part in as a series of hands-on activities that taught me how to overcome barriers and perform as a leader, on teams, under stress and pressure, and in new situations. My experience taught me much about myself and helped me emerge with new perspectives, tools, a certificate, and lifelong partnerships. 

My Passions: Marketing and Advertising is a passion of mine that I wish to continue to grow and develop in the professional world. This passion has led me to pursue and recently complete an Internship at FIR NW, a small, non-profit agency part of the PSU School of Business. My recent experience at FIR gave me a learning experience that has made capable of adapting, leading, thinking strategically, and communicating effectively with and for my clients and team members. I have learned to be a jack of all trades, understanding in great detail what it is the account planners, copywriters, art directors, and media planners do, and being able to contribute if I am needed in order to run my team efficiently and effectively. There are three core components of my job as an Account Manager that I believe in, and will make me successful: I incorporate strategic thinking, relationship building and maintenance, and effective leadership into my skill-set.

Photography and Traveling have also been lifelong passions of mine, and I hope to keep pursuing as a tool for success and motivation. I believe these passions are key to influencing ideas, work and creativity. Being able to experience other cultures and the ability to reflect upon and understand connections made through traveling are major advantages in the ways of strategic thinking and account planning. I have explored Europe three times, and North Africa twice, just because I wanted to create connections with people and places different from my own customs. I plan on traveling to many regions of the world over, because such experiences make me who I am, and influence my life, work and attitude every day...

I love to hike, fish, hunt, sail, snowboard and kayak as well. On my off days, you will probably catch me playing a game of pick-up ultimate frisbee at Stotts field at Portland State University. It is important to have hobbies that you love, as they can be key catalysts to opening minds and sparking ideas.

My Work: My work includes my photography as well as my various projects associated with the Portland State School of Business. This work includes a representation of my writing, research, ideas, and motivation under various goals and objectives relative to each project. I am constantly looking for opportunities to improve and create better work that I can add to my portfolio.

Positioning Statement: I know how to build efficiency, and have even started my own business, selling high quality furniture on consignment at competitive prices. I was mildly successful, if not overwhelmed by what it took to manage operations (with just two other people). The reason I decided to major in marketing and advertisement was the realization that I needed to create a better business by marketing my products and company model better, utilizing segmentation, branding, product, advertisement and pricing to create a competitive advantage and thus be more successful. I would say I am uniquely positioned to be in the field of advertisement and marketing, being that I am social, but focused, and am able to see, meet and achieve long and short-term goals successfully.

My Tools: I can offer ideas, intangible and tangible skills (such as using research tools like ReferenceUSA, Mergent Intellect, Mintel, IBIS World etc. and can I also use programs like photoshop, excel, word, office, outlook QuickBooks etc.), and never fail to meet a goal or deadline, and will go to extremes to do so. I can adapt to fast changing situations under pressure, and am always driven to accomplish any task at hand. Overall I will be a great asset to any firm or company that wishes to hire a motivated relentless individual who will get any job done.

Strengths: My greatest strengths lay not just in my specific skill set, but my personality. I am constantly thinking up new ideas, and can harness my imagination towards success, innovation and efficiency. In addition I can create goals, and am relentless in achieving them. My motivation level is extremely high, as is my ability to adapt and run at a high gear.

My Goals: My ultimate mission and goal in life is to be a successful entrepreneur, however, after college I plan on trying to find a good paying job in a high profile marketing or advertisement firm.  Preferred career titles and goals include: Account Planner, Project Manager, Media Planner, Marketing Associate, Sales Associate, and Copywriter. 

My goal for a career is to work in a professional, high profile environment with individuals who share the same high-level sense of commitment to their work. All of the titles I listed above use skills and knowledge I have acquired both in the field and in school, which include: account manager, account planner, copywriter, product and business development, market research and planning strategy, sales, contract and product management, social media, accounting etc.… 

Once I graduate with two bachelor degrees, I will have gained sufficient knowledge in these areas to be able to list these skill sets confidently. However, in the field my experience is slightly more limited. I have worked as a wine-tender, waiter, barista, dishwasher, and stock associate at a retail chain. One could say I have seen the inner working of businesses from the bottom rungs.

-Ryan MacAusland