The iPhone craze is hitting an all time high today as the first iPhones are going to be available for purchase tonight at 6pm. Some Sparksters, myself included, have gotten ourselves wrapped up in this craze and plan to purchase a phone tonight. We’ve had a fun day here at Sparkpr taking shifts going over to the iPhone line and passing out water (It’s a hot day and we’re nice people!). Spirits and energy are high as people all around San Francisco eagerly waiting in line for the common love of technology. Plus, there’s lots to do – even a mini golf peep show!

According to my fellow Sparkster Jeff, by around 10am there were already about 125 people in line! The line continues to grow and seemed to be over 300 people by the time I dropped in at around 1pm. Many people walking by the line kept asking him “What’s this line for?!.” Meanwhile, he overheard a troupe of second graders on a field trip loudly exclaim, “Look at all the people waiting in line for the iPhone!” I was happy to hear that the future generation has been well educated!

How much is that iPhone worth to you? One guy that Jeff met in line is being paid $15 an hour because his mom’s boss asked him to wait in line for him. Not a bad day job for a 12 year old! Which leads me to wonder how many people are waiting in line to purchase phones for themselves—I’m sure there’s at least a handful of people waiting in line hoping to buy a device and then sell it for twice the price on eBay tomorrow.

Did you wait in line today? Or go by the line during lunch? What did you think? If you’re desperate to cut in line this evening, never fear, you can always use Craigslist to find your very own “professional waiter”

Check back next week for full report of my first weekend with my iPhone…

Happy Friday!

Lisa

I guess everyone thinks about work-life balance at some point in their life – usually when they have none. Does anyone have this figured out? According to BBC News, UK lawyers are quitting in droves because of this issue. A Harris Poll recently pitted Moms against Dads to determine who could better handle career and family – apparently neither gender has it nailed. In Japan, work-life balance was cited as one of the most important issues in a recent draft of the country’s basic policies for economic and fiscal management, and structural reform.

Last week I was sick – I mean really sick, not call in sick and go to the beach behavior – and I had a lot of time to contemplate the great, ”what do I want to do with my life” question. At least between bouts of NyQuil-induced narcolepsy. What I realized was that like many, I LIKE what I do; I just sometimes find my successful life getting a touch one-dimensional. In the spirit of achievement and enjoyment going hand in hand, I have 5 tips that help me to maintain balance in the crazy world of PR. I’m no health guru, so feel free to disagree – but here’s what works for me:

1. Figure out what is important to you – The key here is to set some priorities and target them one at a time. When you are at work, focus on work; when you are with your kids, focus on them (OK, I don’t have any kids, but you take my meaning). This is also known as “Save the drama for your mama.” If you are complaining all day to your coworkers about your home situation, and then go home and complain about your boss, you’ll never get anywhere, and end up stressed out all the time. Focus.

2. Plan relaxation – Sounds a little contrary, and sometimes it feels that way too, but trust me on this. You have to schedule the weekend adventures and special Wednesday night dinners if you want them to happen. I know that if I wait until Friday to make a plan, that plan will be to sleep all weekend. Saturday morning brunch seems like a lot of work Friday night, but Saturday morning I am so glad to be there with my friends! If I laze around alone all weekend, I wake up Monday feeling like the weekend got away from me, and I get resentful because, “All I do is work.” Get out there.

3. Use technology and save time – OK, you knew this one was coming. I am in tech PR. Truly, I am not the techie-est person on the planet, but I don’t know what we ever did without mobile phones and Internet searches to save time and get me the information that I need, NOW. My favorite, life-changing and timesaving technologies? Most are pretty basic. Try Google’s search nearby function that enables you to find a restaurant or business near wherever you have to be. Get a cell phone with Web access that returns results in your lifetime – or use a service like Tellme to quickly get information in the most convenient form for you, be it voice, text or download. Shop online efficiently. Scrap the post-its and use your PDA – organization can really help reduce that stress level.

4. Learn how to say no – One of my favorites! This can be one of the biggest land mines to sustaining balance. Use your priority criteria to identify requests that simply aren’t worth your time. Your friends will understand, and respect you for it. Want more explanation? No. (See how easy that was!)

5. Get help – No, I don’t mean psychiatric help, though that may come in handy. I mean if you really can’t make time for yourself, talk to your spouse or partner. Figure out a way to redistribute responsibility, so that a little gym time or a guitar lesson will fit in your life. Or talk to your boss. Can your work hours shift an hour so that you can get to that yoga class? You never know unless you ask. Don’t suffer quietly. This is your life we are talking about.

I think the real key is to put yourself in an environment where the people you work with care as much about you as they do about the company. If you like what you do, and who you do it with, balance is possible. I promise. More on these ideas, as well as additional thoughts (from real experts in this area):

5 Tips for Better Work-Life Balance

10 Tips for Getting Your Work/Life in Balance

Need work-life balance? 7 tips

Five Sensible Tips for Achieving Work-Life Balance – CIO.com

Work-Life Balance Defined – What It Really Means!

-Syreeta

Your phone rings. You receive a “new e-mail” notification. A new blog entry has just been posted and beckons you to read. The brief moment of euphoria that follows these occurrences is often overlooked, yet unmistakable; your heart quickens and blood rushes to extremities. You’re hooked!

The first novel written by Matt Richtel, a journalist for The New York Times, Hooked is a technological thriller that elucidates a new genre of addiction that has already engulfed millions in capitalist nations worldwide—the technology addict. Doubtlessly, if you are reading this blog you are indeed guilty of what Richtel describes in his book: aimlessly perusing through the internet, checking compulsively for a new e-mail or something of the like. This, Richtel argues, is all part of the addiction. These cravings we eventually satisfy, by means of technological and thus psychological and physiological response, only to have the stress arise once again.

In contemplating this hypothesis, we can only wonder “is this real?” along with a question that Richtel himself asks, “What can V.C. people do with this information in the non-fictional world?” Richtel proposes a startling possibility, but you must read to find out!

I myself had been separated from electronics for the duration of a near 6.5 hour flight from New York. There was no time for a technology fix between my arrival and Richtel’s book party, and my stress was compounding due to lack of exposure. Luckily, walking into the Hooked party proved to be the perfect cure. A 19-year-old intern straight off the plane, in the presence of Wall Street Journal and New York Times royalty was the prescription that replaced the drug. No one told me that the prescription was addictive too! Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one on sensory overload.

Richtel was a CPU at full capacity, buzzing from journalist to V.C., even making a stop for this meek intern! When Richtel learned that I had read his book, he was mock-ecstatic: “You and my family are the only ones who have read this book!” He then signed my book, “Welcome to the biz! Please forgive me in advance if I don’t answer your calls.” I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this, but as I spoke to more people at the party, they seemed to be giving me a similar message.

Back to the book:

I thought that the ending of the book was somewhat disjointed, and asked Richtel’s wife Meredith if she could tell me anything about it, Richtel busy with the big guys. Interestingly, there was a story behind it, and this had not been Richtel’s original ending. When Richtel submitted his book to friends, publishers and peers, it was suggested that he change the ending.

It isn’t difficult in this day in age to feel as if technology is the fuel that runs life. But who is to blame? As you take a break from modern technology and read Richtel’s book, step back and contemplate: Would it make you feel less anxious if the book was in pdf form?

Sarah

Working in this biz means you are often called upon to do REALLY STRANGE THINGS with your coworkers. To wit: we are deep in the throes of pitching how cool the free business search service from Tellme is now that it is summertime, and when you travel across the country you really *do* need to know where the best pizza joint is located. The sophistication of the service is hard to explain over email or on the phone. So what does a poor PR person do? Make a video and throw it on YouTube!

For a few chuckles, check out the little scenarios we scripted and shot to show off the Tellme service. We have gotten major broadcast interest from making these part of our pitch so laugh all you like, people, it worked!

The First Date
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhdo-bRpdws

Mommy Feed Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PIMAOQiGHY

Mani/Pedi Date
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjroDj1Tle0

-Candace

Working in the mobile market, it’s hard to blog about anything but iPhone. And I’m incapable of resisting temptation. Much of my iPhone insight comes from an expert from one of my clients, Yahoo! Tech.

Let’s start with what we know. iPhone is beautiful. As much as any device, it is the epitome of sexy tech. Unlike any mobile device to date, it brings together more of the entertainment features consumers value than and Nokia, Samsung or LG combined. It is also blisteringly expensive – $600 for the high end model.

As Yahoo! Tech’s Chris Null notes, it’s amazing how Apple has built so much good will that the exorbitant price is a non-issue. Also working in the gaming market, I can’t help but recall the backlash against PlayStation 3 for its $500-$600 price tag. It’s important to remember that PS3 features a BlueRay player and remarkable power, whereas the iPhone could be a goner with one slip of the hands. Consumers don’t seem concerned.

I don’t know whether iPhone is going to be the next greatest thing, or the most notable flop in consumer tech history. I’m not even going to try. I am, though, excited for what it will do for the mobile entertainment industry. Regardless of the outcome, it will bring a new level of consumer awareness to the mobile entertainment category, which will only benefit Sparkpr clients EA Mobile and Thumbplay.

At least one Sparkster (not me) is committed to camping out at the local Apple store to get her hands on an iPhone day one. Will you?