20 15, I s s u e 4

The

N utrition
ntrepreneurs
E
T W ORK STUDENT NEWSLETTER
Lessons on Leadership

Welcome to the fourth and final

2015 installment of The
NEtwork, Nutrition
Entrepreneurs' student
newsletter! This issue is all
about one of my favorite topics
to discuss with fellow
#FutureRDNs, leadership!
We hear so much about the
importance of leadership
throughout our education and
internship experiences, but what
makes an effective leader and
how can you become one? How
can you
harness the
energy and
passion you
feel for the
field of
dietetics and
share that
with others?

even realize it about yourself, but

we all have the potential to
become leaders-the sheer fact
that you joined Nutrition
Entrepreneurs shows that you are
interested in an out-of-the-box
career experience.
In this issue we delve deep into
what it means to be a leader, how
to harness leadership skills in a
group, how to create your own
experiences, and how to lead
through listening. We touch on
how you can be a leader in the
field even as a student and we
also gain some input from RDNs
on how to lead on social media
platforms. And finally, we feature
one of my own nutrition mentors,
Carlene Thomas, and pick her
brain on creating your own path as
an RDN.

I hope that after reading this issue

you
are inspired to take on a
You may not
leadership position, start a club or
new
student group, or catch a
KRISTINA TODINI
spark of creativity that will lead
DIETETIC INTERN
you to start your own path to
NAPA STATE HOSPITAL
becoming an entrepreneur!
@KRISTINATODINI

H A V E Y OU J OI N ED N E
ST U DEN T ELEC T RON I C
M A I LI N G LI ST ?
SI GN U P ON N EDPG.ORG T O
ST A Y I N T H E K N OW!

IN THIS ISSUE
PAGE 1
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
KRISTINA TODINI
PAGE 2
STUDENT SUCCESS CORNER
COURTNEY WOO
PAGE 3
THE 5 LIST
WILLIAM BROWN
PAGE 4
FOCUS ON INTERNSHIPS
CARLY BOSSERT
PAGE 5
THE PULSE ON FOOD TRENDS
AMANDA VAUGHN
PAGE 6
ENTREPRENEUR LESSONS
NANCY SIDNAM
PAGE 7
EFFECTIVE YOUNG LEADER
TYLER ROLLING, RDN
PAGE 8
LISTENING CREATES LEADERS
TAWNIE KROLL

Wo u l d y o u l i k e t o w r i t e f o r T h e
N Et w o r k n e w s l e t t e r ?
We are happy to feature student members of Nutrition
Entrepreneurs in future issues. Send an email to Kristina
at studentnewsletter@nedpg.com.

PAGE 9
SERVICE TO OTHERS
OLIVIA BAKER
PAGE 10
LEADERSHIP MATERIAL?
TARA CONDELL
PAGE 11
RDN CHAT
KRISTINE BERUBE, RDN

STUDENT & RDN SUCCESS CORNER

How To BeA Nutrition

Leader on Social Media
What if I told you that you could be a leader in the nutrition and dietetic world
without even leaving your home? We typically associate ?leaders? with positions
like global speakers, presidents/board members of dietetic associations and
national committee members, however you do not have to hold a nationally
recognized title to be a nutrition leader. Why? Because there is no doubt that
social media has a powerful influence in society today, and you can effectively
promote the dietetic profession and evidence-based practice on social media.
According to WeAreSocial.com, there are 2.78 billion people who have social
media accounts, which is about a 30% penetration in the entire global
COURTNEY WOO, RD
population. This number has grown a significant amount (~12%) within the past
year, demonstrating the incredible reach of social media marketing. So, if you are active on
Use
social media, then you can develop your own platform to lead from!
h ash t ags
If you have a Twitter or SnapChat account devoted to nutrition, congratulations! You
su c h as
are halfway towards reaching your goal to be a nutrition leader. To complete the ?job,?
# r dc h a t ,
RDs/RDNs to provide tips to help you become effective leaders. To sum up:
# b u i l d u p RDN s ,
# r d 2b e , a n d o f
- Share what you are passionate about
c o u r se,
- Post relevant and informative content
# N EDPG!
- Present a mixture of your own and other?s thoughts
-

Be consistent with posts

Connect with other social media users and cross-promote
TAVIERNEY ROGAN MS, RD
@FUELYOURBESTRD

AMBER REYNOLDS, RDN

@AMBERRDN

I find a good mix of your own

thoughts on nutrition and retweeting
relevant research works!
SARAH KOSZYK MA, RD
@SARAHKOSZYKRD

Be consistent w/ posts &

connect w/ people

Be consistent and true to

your brand!
CARA HARBSTREET, RD
@STREETSMARTRD

Use social media platforms to connect.

Get engaged, ask questions, start
conversations. It opens your network!
ALICE FAGUNDES, RD
@ALICEFAGUNDESRD

LINDSAY STENOVEC MS, RD

@REALISTICRD

Be yourself, be passionate about your

message, share what you know and lift up
other RDs & # rd2b too!
E.A. STEWART MBA, RD
@THESPICYRD

Share what you're passionate

about. Interact. Be real. Have fun!
MICHAEL DIBIASI, RD
@THEATHLETESRD

Check/ Google yourself to see

what is on the internet about
you; change it if it's wrong
BLAIR WIZE, RD
@BLAIRWIZE

Be authentic! Stay true to your

values. Learn more & be flexible w/
# socialmedia...it's always changing!

Post relevant, informative content, even if you may not agree!

Stir up convo to enhance each others knowledge!
Communicate your passions/ ideas, connect with experts,

THE 5 LIST

C H A RA C T ERI ST I C S OF A

ST U DEN T LEA DER

WILLIAM BROWN
DIETETIC INTERN
INGALLS HOSPITAL

Leadership: a trait so absolutely required for a rounded-out

rsum, yet so ambiguously defined. Every recruiter looks
for it, and it comes in so many different shapes and sizes.
Defined by dictionary.com as ?the position or function of a leader? and by
Twitter: @WilliamZolton
Merriam-Webster as a position as a leader of a group, leadership tends to be
maintained in our minds as a high-profile buzz word to describe a position of power.
However, leadership is so much more than just a title you were given in college. Leadership is a quality.
As Kevin Kruse of Forbes puts it, "Leadership is a process of social influence that maximizes the efforts
of others towards the achievement of a goal." Titles are not everything, so here are five ways to lead
from within your organization without being the one in charge:

DO A S Y OU SA Y Y OU WI LL

B E I N V OLV ED, B U T ST I C K T O Y OU R PA SSI ON S

B E GEN U I N E WI T H Y OU R PEERS

I cannot stress accountability enough. Your word and reputation are the most important pieces
of your character. Being able to actually follow-through with tasks that you sign up for shows
maturity, and your drive to ensure the success of your organization.

A lot of people get this one wrong. They see a cool opportunity that will look good on their
resume, and they try to get really involved in it. Do not make this mistake. This can be a
tremendous pitfall in your college career, because you will waste time doing things you really
don?t have any interest in partaking in. The right way to go about campus involvement is to
develop your passion, and find a way to get involved with that. It could be a student club that
has 12 students, or it could be one with 200 students. Once you find that passion, seize every
opportunity to become involved with it. Don?t just work for your rsum, life is far too full to be
able to capture it on a single piece of paper.

Maintaining a genuine character among your peers is the foundation of positive relationships.
Maintaining an interest in the passions of your peers helps show that you actually care about
your organization, not just how the organization can add to your professional development.
Leadership is all about how well you interact with others and how well you can foster those
relationships.

PA Y I T FORWA RD

LEA D B Y EXA M PLE

The younger generation of your organization is the lifeline to your group. Without them, your
club can be turned to nothing in a relatively short amount of time. Teach, mentor, and coach up
the classes below you and let them know they have a companion in you. They are very eager
to be a part of what you have helped mold, and molding those below you help to add valuable
experience in dealing with people that probably won?t find its way onto your rsum
This one encompasses the previous four suggestions. Be a role-model for the rest of your
student organization. By staying accountable, being involved in your passion, being genuine,
and investing in the new human capital within your group, other leaders and advisors will look
to you for your expertise as a leader as well.

FOCUS ON:

I nternships
Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Business
in Supervised Practice

Becoming a leader in the field of dietetics begins with the right internship. Each
issue of The NEtwork features supervised practice programs with a focus on
leadership and business so that you can make informed decisions about your future.

CARLY BOSSERT
BS NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY

University of Maryland CollegePark

Most dietetic internships focus on clinical nutrition, community or food service management. However,
a few stray from this norm but they can be hard to come unless you search every available program.
The University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) dietetic internship is an outlier because of their strong
emphasis on ?Communication and Information Technology Management.? As social media becomes
more popular and technology continues to advance, it is a pleasant surprise to come across an
internship with such an interesting focus. The program?s mantra asks a very pertinent question every
nutrition student or dietetic internship should think about, ?If you have a message, but no one gets the
message ? how effective can you be??
UMCP interns are given the opportunity to train in ?nutrition, communication and information
management," which helps teach data management online and on social media platforms to get one?s
message across. ?This training includes measuring the impact of your message,? stated DI Director
Phyllis Fatzinger McShane, MS, RD, LDN. During supervised practice, ten interns are given the
opportunity to complete written or technology-based communication projects at the Center for Nutrition
Policy and Promotion (CNPP; MyPlate, SuperTracker), Wellness Corporate Solutions (WCS;
infographics and blogs), and International Food Information Council (IFIC; blogs, twitter chats, etc.).
?The University of Maryland internship prepares interns to be leaders in the area of nutrition informatics.
Throughout the year, interns are tasked with researching, identifying, and testing nutrition-related apps
and technology tools that could be of benefit to dietitians in a variety of settings,? said graduate
Kathleen Pellechia, RD.
Interns also advance into the field with technical skills which include how to design a professional
website as well as how to develop professional social media skills. ?Interns then present and blog about
these tools. This project enables the interns to develop the skills they need to be a 'voice' in their
organization for using technology to advance the field of dietetics,? Pellechia continued. ?Successful
interns in the UMCP DI program demonstrate strong critical thinking and problem solving skills
(essential for clinical rotations), are flexible and willing to adapt, and can communicate with diverse
audiences both orally and in writing,? concluded Director Fatzinger McShane.
For more information on UMCP, please visit http://nfsc.umd.edu/dietetic-internship
Check out UMCP dietetic intern Valerie Agyeman?s ?9 Keys for Dietetic Students Trying to Land an Internship?

LESSONS FROM A WANNABE ENTREPRENEUR:

Lead Yourself BeforeLeading Others

I?d like to argue that one of the most important parts of leadership is being able to
lead ourselves. After all, if we can?t do that, how can we expect to lead others
effectively? I have spent the past year turning my dream, The Wellie Project, into a
reality, with lots of sweat equity and countless hours of work. After doing so much
on my own, I now have the support of an amazing and dedicated team of bloggers,
which is so exciting! But the truth is, it?s also been a huge learning experience that
has helped me see where I need to grow.
Here are three big things I?m working on to become a better leader to
myself and my team:

NANCY SIDNAM, MS, RDN

FOUNDER, THE WELLIE PROJECT
WWW. THEWELLIEPROJECT.OM

GET ORGANIZED
When you start to lead others, all of a sudden you have more emails coming in, more documents
being created and downloaded and revised, and more phone calls scheduled. If you?re not organized,
this may be a wake-up call! Spend some time getting your personal and professional life in order and
figure out a system that works best for you. It may involve inbox folders and filters, task management
apps or even a filing system. I love making the next day?s to-do list before bed and setting calendar
reminders on my phone for anything important that?s coming up. If you know how to keep yourself
organized, it will be easier to keep your business and team organized in the future.

LEARN TO PRIORITIZE

In his book The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, Steven
Pressfield writes ?I?m keenly aware of the Principle of Priority, which states (a) you must know the
difference between what is urgent and what is important, and (b) you must do what?s important first.
What?s important is the work.? Often times, the seemingly urgent things ? an inbox that needs to be
cleaned out, social media feeds that need to be checked, messages that need to be answered ? are
really just distractions that can wait until later. Get in the habit of giving your best energy to the most
important tasks that need to be done first. It may not matter too much now, but it will matter later when
others are relying on you to get them done and do them well.

SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY

There are going to be days when you?re tired, days when you don?t feel inspired, and days when you
just simply don?t want to do the work that needs to be done. If you?re flying solo, it?s easy to let yourself
off the hook and say, ?I?ll do it tomorrow.? But eventually, when you have others who are helping you
work towards your vision, you need to show up every day, if for no other reason than to honor the work
that they?re doing. Start now by showing up for the homework, group projects and jobs you have to do.
If you?re not feeling motivated, you may need to rely on discipline and focus to get you through. They
are like muscles, and the more we practice them, the stronger they become. That way, on the hard
days, you?ll be able to do the work you need to do and can set a positive example for others to follow.

If you start cultivating the skills and habits of good personal leadership now, I guarantee you?ll be better
prepared to lead others when the time comes!

HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE

Young Leader

Being the ?new guy? in the professional world can be intimidating.

You are surrounded by others with more experience, along with a
resume to show for it. So how do you rise above and prove yourself
as an effective young leader?
One of the best pieces of advice someone gave me entering the field
of dietetics was, ?become comfortable with being uncomfortable.?
We become more confident by trying new things and overcoming our
fears. By stepping out of our comfort zone, we learn that we will
either succeed or survive the fumbles.
During my dietetic internship, I was asked to become the social
media chair for the dietetic practice group, Dietitians in Business and
Communications. I was honored to be offered the position, but also
extremely scared. I would be the only one on the Executive
Committee that was not registered. I was just an intern, right?
Well, no. I realized that this was my opportunity to express myself TYLER ROLLING, RDN
as a young, new, soon-to-be RDN. By stepping out of my comfort
zone, I was able to network with experienced RDNs of whom I admired and looked up to.
Just as important as taking risks is the ability to listen and observe. Pay attention to other
professionals?words, tone, body language and actions. By listening with compassion, you will be
able to recognize and understand others strengths, weaknesses and motivations. Good
leadership comes from a genuine human interest in others.
A great way to practice observational listening is by getting a mentor. Every great leader has
learned from having a mentor ? someone to guide them and offer valuable advice. During my
dietetic internship at Patton State Hospital, I decided to reach out to a mentor who was pursuing
the same career path I wished to be on. This experience allowed me to actively listen and
observe the actions and steps my mentor had taken to get to where she is now.

"Fi n d o u t w h a t
mo v es y o u so
y o u c an mo v e
o t h er s"

Finally, stay true to your sense of self and what inspires you. What
brought you to the field of dietetics? Enthusiasm is contagious and if
you stand strong in your beliefs and love what you do, you will
inspire those around you. Our actions and behaviors impact those
around us, so during your journey to becoming a young leader, ask
yourself, ?What kind of impression do I want to leave?? Find what
moves you, so that you can move others.

Listening Creates Leaders

Do you find it interesting how we listen selectively? What guides our
listening? Why do we attend the same lectures at a conference or a
motivational speech and often walk away with different impressions? It is
because we did not ?hear? the same thing.
Each of us uses different listening behaviors, yet there are a few common
listening behaviors that stand out. For example, one type of listening is
when an individual is speaking and outwardly the audience appears to be TAWNIE KROLL, RDN
listening, but may be disengaged from the speaker altogether. There is too
much on our minds from worrying about a paper due or what our plans are for the weekend. Sound
familiar? We fade in and out from listening to the speaker. Another
type of listening, which is powerful in becoming a leader, is listening to
Leader s
connect. If we spend time listening to engage with others and learn
k now t hei r
about other people we will make a lot of great connections. How we
l eader shi p i s onl y
listen impacts our performance in the dietetics field ? and all we do in
as good as t hei r
life. Listening is a dynamic process between people that creates space
abi l i t y t o engage,
for growth and engagement, sharing, enabling new ideas, and growth
l i st en and t o
act .
to emerge into a great leader. Leaders know their leadership is only as
good as their ability to engage, listen, and to act.
How do you engage yourself on a day-to-day basis? For some it might be sitting in the front seat of
the classroom. For others engagement could mean going the extra mile to be involved in clubs and
non-profit organizations. Sitting in the front of the class and being a part of clubs both takes a
personal strength ? listening. If we do not actively listen and engage in life, how will we ever reach
a goal? or become a leader? Many times in my life I have heard, ?I am so bad at remembering
people?s names.? No. This is false. You are actually just not engaging, being present in the
moment, or listening to the other person when they say their name. Dale Carnegie once said,
?Remember that a person?s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any
language.? Something as simple as remembering a person?s name can take you that much further
in life.
I challenge you all this month, the next month, and all of the months to come to be more mindful of
listening and becoming even more engaged in the act of listening. Do not simply pretend to be
engaged or listen, but act upon it. Remember someone?s name and listen to a story to connect with
an individual. These simple words or wisdom could become a pivoting point in your career and
future in dietetics.
Reference: Glaser, Judith. Leaders: It?s Time to Fix the Way You Listen.

Leadership:
SERVICE TO OTHERS
?Leadership is about being of service to others, not being served
by others?. This saying hangs above the desk of an RDN that I
recently was able to shadow. This quote embodies the true
OLIVIA BAKER
DPD STUDENT
meaning of being a leader: serving others instead of having them
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
serve you. True leadership is marked by a selfless sense of
guiding others towards success. As future leaders in healthcare,
we need to start acquiring the ideals of being a leader to prepare for our careers. How can you do
this? Find a leadership role! Taking on a leadership role while you are still in school is a great way
to start building vital leadership skills.
The first step to finding the perfect leadership role for you is to start looking around you-your
professors are your greatest resource! Many professors need students to help with research
projects or other academic endeavors. They may also be able to connect you to new opportunities
and or provide resources to help you find a position right for you. Your professors are there for you,
so don?t be afraid to reach out to them! Leadership positions may also
be found in clubs at school, around the community, and professional
organizations, so now is the time to start your search.
"Le a d e r s h i p
i s abo u t bei n g
o f ser v i c e t o
o t h er s, n o t
bei n g ser v ed
b y o t h e r s ."

What do you do if you are not able to find a leadership opportunity that
sparks your interest? Start your own! That is exactly what Christine
Bergene, a senior studying human nutrition at Arizona State University,
did when she noticed that her school did not have an honor society for
nutrition students. After researching honor societies that would include
nutrition students, she found Phi Upsilon Omicron, a national society
for family and consumer science majors. Along with the help of her nutrition professor and two
other students, Christine started a chapter of Phi Upsilon Omicron at Arizona State last fall and
served as president for the year. As she gets ready to graduate in December, she says that
starting and presiding over the club has taught her ?how to lead without being a boss?. She notes
that she ?personally found the most effective way is to lead by example and to get followers to
want to do things for you instead of telling them what to do. This allows others to feel a sense of
involvement, initiative, and accomplishment when they finish tasks?.
Taking on a leadership role as a student will help you as a future registered dietitian. RDN?s are
leaders in healthcare, food service, management, and countless other areas. Not only will it help
your internship application stand out, it will allow you gain valuable experience, build relationships
with your peers, and establish connections that will benefit you for years to come.

AreYou Leadership Material?

We have all dealt with the struggle of trying to stand out in a group of
extremely competitive dietetic students. You know, the type of students who
spend their mornings researching nutrition opportunities while reading the NE
Student Newsletter. Fortunately, each of us has a unique leadership gift
waiting to be unlocked. The same traits that separate you as a stellar student
will be the same traits that distinguish you as a leader.

What Sets You Apart?

Leadership can naturally flourish when rooted in passion. If you are
looking to stand out as a leader, then determine what is important to you
and how you can make a difference in that area. Your passion will
inspire others to believe in your vision. Furthermore, your
SH A M ERA ROB I N SON
personal strengths will unite those individuals to accomplish a
M PH / RD ST U DEN T
common goal. This goal can range from contributing to a DPG
U N I V ERSI T Y OF N ORT H
to creating your own organization. When you have confidence
C
A
ROLI
N A A T C H A PEL H I LL
in your ability to make a difference, it becomes easier for
others to trust your vision. Sonja Stetzler, MA, RDN, CPC, highlights trust and trustworthiness as the
foundations for effective leadership. ?Without trust, you cannot lead. Without trust, you can?t get people
to believe in you or in each other. Without trust, you cannot get your goals accomplished,? declares
Stetzler. While many characteristics are used to define leadership, trustworthiness is certainly at the
core of the term.

Whereto Start
There are a small number of people who have been passionate about one clear thing for their entire
lives. Now for the rest of us, discovering our passion may not be as simple. Much like finding your
niche, exploration is necessary to decide which area ignites your flame. Volunteering is a great way to
uncover your interests and begin taking ownership in those spaces. Twelve years ago, David Orozco,
MS, RDN, began volunteering with a local non-profit diabetes organization to provide support for people
in the community. He is now recognized as a leader in diabetes for that same community. ?Even if you
can do some volunteer work online for your DPG (NE shameless plug, of course), your church, a charity
organization, hospital, TV/Radio station, magazine, fitness center, WIC or senior center, get out and do
it,? exclaims David. Marisa Moore, MBA, RDN, LD, echoed similar sentiments. Her time as the Georgia
Academy president and as an Academy Spokesperson led to the development of vast skill set and
several leadership opportunities. ?It is clich, but you really do get out what you put in and often even
more.? And how much more are you willing to put in when doing something that aligns with your
interests?

What This Means

Distinguishing yourself as a leader means being wise enough to understand your strengths and
weaknesses, while being bold enough to follow your passion. We each have the power to make a
meaningful change, and THAT is leadership material.

RDN C h a t :
DIETITIANS IN OUT-OF-THE-BOX CAREERS
The Boss Lady behind HealthfullyEverAfter.co, a lifestyle blog and company which
showcases ?living a healthy curated life? Carlene Thomas RDN, LD, is a name I?m sure
you?ve heard before. Carlene is not only a RD superstar, but she?s also hardworking, sweet,
and creative...she's pretty much killing it on all fronts. Carlene's innovation takes
determination and hard work, and even RDN superstars have faced their fair share of
obstacles. If you have any moments of doubt ? I challenge you to channel your inner Carlene
and her self proclaimed stubbornness! Realize (as she did) that you have the power to
create your own path. Stay positive and look to RDN superstars such as Carlene for
KRISTINE BERUBE, RDN
inspiration and proof that anything is possible!
What lead you to the Nutrition & Dietetics field?
Growing up, I thought I wanted to work in health care. My
grandma is a physical therapist and personal trainer. Her
father was a doctor and her mother was a nurse. But the
reality is I grew up in a foodie family and and that was
my real passion. When I found out
that a dietitian was an actual job
that combined the two thanks to a
high school nutrition chapter in a
physical education class, I applied
declared a dietetics major to
college.

"wasn't done." Or I couldn?t do it until I was 40 and had

been in a hospital for a decade plus. I let that negativity
linger.
Describe a typical day: It depends on the day! I try to
map out my days so I can maximize the
time. So for example, one day might be a
"meeting/call" day. While another day is a
'procurement' day for props and food. Or it
may be all day on a photo-shoot!
What does ?success? mean to you? I
think for my personality, at first it meant
"recognition," but the reality is success for
me feels like freedom.

What inspired you to go down the

non-traditional dietetic path?
What do you love most about your
Necessity. I knew I wanted to do
career?
The creativity and figuring out how
something "non-traditional"
to bridge a message, science or marketing
eventually, but after my
with imagery.
internship, a job offer I had fell
CARLENE THOMAS, RDN, LD
through. The effects of the
What do you like to do for fun? I love to
recession were still lingering and
go
antiquing. I love to hike. And I love to
"t h e
NO ONE wanted to hire a fresh out of
go
and
eat.
Can that be a hobby? My ideal day
r eal i t y i s
school student. Eventually, after
would be sitting outside and just
su c c e ss f o r me
months of applying places, friends and
f eel s l i k e
eating/drinking with a book.
mentors told me I needed to focus on my
f r e e do m"
What is your favorite kitchen gadget? A really,
own business where I had been consulting
really
good knife. Followed by a Vitamix.
in the communications world and blogging
since college.
What is your favorite food or meal? I love breakfast. A
To what do you attribute your success? Being
stubborn and having a great support system. There are
so many times when you want to quit or become
frustrated, but pushing yourself to keep going and having
someone(s) who you can talk to to help you get past it.
What qualities do you feel helped you to become
successful? Being a go-getter is the biggest thing for
me! And being a reader...so many things require
research/learning as a business owner that you aren't
taught in school.
What was the biggest challenge you overcame on
your path to success? Feeling like I wasn't good
enough to do whatever it was. Unfortunately, as a
student, I was oten told that what I wanted to do just

poached egg with toast, a fruit salad, coffee and a little

salmon is perfect.
Can you describe your creative process? I start with
the project query and figure out the '"must haves" or
"must completes." Once I have the hard edges of the
project figured out, I pick my theme and mood based on
season/product and how it would exist in real life. I also
look at images/ideas I have stored away to see if I can
draw anything from those things I thought were important
enough to set aside and revisit. From there I create
production lists of what needs to get accomplished with
due dates and get started! When I write it all out it
doesn't sound creative at all...only like a big "to do list!"