Pamela Kleibrink Thompson.

The holidays are just around the corner, which means shopping and spending, travel and holiday cards and parties. (Next month we’ll talk about how to party and have fun without negatively impacting your career.)

Advance preparation is key to making the holidays less stressful and more successful and meaningful -- for your career.

Shopping
Prepare for holiday spending by setting a budget and sticking to it. Budget not only for gifts, but also for other expenditures such as postage for holiday cards, travel, parties and holiday performances.

Make a list of those people you want to buy gifts for and list ideas next to their names. Also include the amount to be spent. If you start the gift buying early, you might get better deals on your gifts than if you wait until the last minute. Actors might want to give something to their agents and assistants as well as casting directors. Writers might want to give a gift to their agents and story editors.

If you have a large office, suggest starting a gift exchange this year in which you draw a name of a person and buy only for that individual. It will give everyone more time and less stress. Don’t buy more than you can afford (especially during this current economic downturn). And that means being able to pay off the item in the month you purchase it. Don’t carry any credit card debt from holiday gifts.

Keep a list of gifts you’ve already sent to be sure you don’t repeat gifts. And take note when someone mentions a special interest to you so you can find something with personal significance for that person.

Set aside some time or money and give to a charity. Make it a habit. You’ll see you’ll get back much more than you give. An excellent choice for charity is the Phyllis Craig Scholarship Fund which helps support talented young people to grow their creative talent. All donations are tax deductible. If you are interested in making a donation, please call the Women In Animation hotline at (818) 759-9596 or write to: Women In Animation, Inc., P.O. Box 17706, Encino, California 91416-7706. http://wia.animationblogspot.com/the-phyllis-craig-scholarship-fund/

Travel
Prepare for holiday travel by submitting your request for time off early (about six to eight weeks before you’d like it). Put it in writing and keep a copy. Your manager may forget a verbal request. Follow up one month before your requested time off with a reminder to your supervisor of your scheduled vacation.

You might be traveling on an airplane, train or hovercraft during this season. Who knows who you’ll meet or who you’ll be sitting next to? Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to the person standing near you or sitting next to you. Be ready with your elevator pitch -- a brief introduction. Make the first move. You never know who you’ll meet. My friend Tom met his wife Annie while waiting for a plane at LAX.

Holiday Cards