Writing

Instagram Retargeting FTW

/ Susan Scrupski / Leave a comment

It’s not the first time Zuck’s little project has changed my life or the life of someone I love for the better. The first time is admittedly better, yet this one is worth a mention. It started innocently enough.

As one does, I was sitting in my kitchen in my South Dakota apartment scrolling through my Instagram feed. I had retired and was living as the artist I always wanted to be. You can see blog posts on this site that track that journey.

Now, Instagram probably didn’t know that my life had changed so dramatically– that I no longer was the target for the ads they kept serving me. My income had contracted to a fraction of what I used to earn. I was no longer that devil-may-care shopper who would buy something “spendy” on impulse.

Taos, one of my favorite brands, kept serving me these boots that I had longingly muddled over a few times.

The sad reality that hit me in that moment in my kitchen was, well, all of the above. That I was no longer the person I used to be. I simply could not justify buying these boots at my income level.

It started to sink in.

I would live the rest of my life like this. I would be limited to browsing thrift stores for great finds, maybe handmedowns from my family.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with living that way, and I wasn’t exactly unhappy, but I realized in that moment: this was not me.

I actually had worked really hard in my life, and I deserved to reaquaint myself with the person I knew I was at heart.

Life’s circumstances prevented me from saving for retirement, and let’s just say a lot of eggs I had in baskets never hatched. But I knew I wasn’t completely irrelevant in the market. I started scouting around for opportunities on LinkedIn. I found one, or kind of created one, within a couple weeks.

Ultimately, that position did not work out, but the company relocated me to Austin, TX where I live today. And I was fortunate to find something else that I absolutely love. These days, I’m still careful about what I spend, but I’m in a better place economically. After the New Year, I’m meeting with a financial planner and will start a disciplined approach to contemplating retirement again.

There’s a lot more to this than an expensive pair of boots, Instagram getting it wrong (and ultimately getting it right), and me rethinking my identity.

It’s a lesson in not settling. So many times people feel they’re trapped in impossible situations with no way out. So important to know who you are. Bring your full self to every obstacle. Stay confident, regardless of the hopelessness of the situation.

I bought the damn boots a few months ago. I absolutely love them.

And the lesson they represent.

Merry Christmas to me.

Make ART!

/ Susan Scrupski / Leave a comment

 

I returned to South Dakota in May. Found a dreamy apartment nestled above a used book store in a corner of the city. For a few months now, until my lease runs out, I can still hop in the car and visit with my siblings out in the country.

I’ve already been on a photography binge, taking in the beauty of the summer landscape. I secured a small writing gig, and today I got word that I am going to receive a small grant I applied for a few weeks ago.

The grant is the big news in this post. I was uneasy about applying for it because of course there is that monster within telling me I’m not good enough, clever enough, talented enough to consider myself an artist.

Fuck that monster.

I applied and I got the grant.

A government agency has recognized me as an artist.

Therefore I am.

Squeeeee!

Swan Song: Sunsetting My Work on Domestic Violence

/ Susan Scrupski / 2 Comments
joanne swans

Photo: Joanne Rosanio, 2017. Seaside Park, NJ

I admit, at first, it began as a vanity project. I was high off the success of my two prior Internet-based startups and felt invincible.  I had a lot of friends.  I felt empowered that I could do this.  I brought a whole lot of arrogance and conceit to the fight.

Then, nearly as soon as I began, I got knocked off my my pedestal.  I had to learn how to really work… how to really do research, how to make a real relationship, how to inspire someone to work for me for free with no guarantee of any return at all.  I had to learn how to persuade people very different from me that I could be trusted and that I was sincere.  I had to learn how to accept rejection, in the face of all logical evidence to the contrary that what I was selling was highly effective and worthy of investment.

I was told, “YOU HAVE NO STANDING” to have conversations in this field.  In other words, GO AWAY.

Nevertheless, I persisted.  But maybe, (h/t Stevie Wonder), like I fool I went and stayed too long––  I actually made progress against my goals.  I believe what I’ve set in motion will pay substantial dividends in the future.  I’ve said it hundreds of times: The Answers are in the Data.  The problem in domestic violence is the offender, and we can identify, track, predict, and control their behavior with proper data analysis and monitoring.  I’ve even filed a provisional patent for a software tool that will save lives if implemented properly.

Yet, after three years, I’m quitting.  Maybe quitting while I’m ahead, but quitting nonetheless.  The reason is personal, not business.  You see working on domestic violence brings me to the front lines of my own personal horror show every damned day.  I simply cannot continue to work on this for health reasons.  Let’s call it a graceful exit.

I will leave behind the seeds of an important beginning conversation about the vast potential of data, and the powerful transformational story told by High Point, NC in our film.  We should have a final cut soon.  I wholly underestimated the toll this work would take on my mental health.  At my peril.

Over time,  I’m contemplating writing a short ebook about my experiences working in this field featuring what I learned–– the challenges and opportunities as I see it–– but there I go being thought-leadery again.  I may also consider doing some public speaking aligned to the film, but we’ll see.

For now, I’m going back to tech consulting, and continuing with my R&R time in the comfort of the Florida winter chillzone.

Namaste.  And a sincere thanks to everyone who helped Big Mountain Data and our ambitious goals.

###

Update 4/15/18:  I was asked to speak at a National conference in the fall and looks like the software tool is moving forward in the hands of some industry experts who can take it to the next level.  So, not exactly gone for good.  Plus, I have a meeting tomorrow with a  local data scientist who’s interested in our work.  There is that UPenn machine learning case study I’ve been interested to replicate on the assessed risk of DV bond hearings… 

Update 3/16/19: I still speak about this from time to time. I will be speaking Monday evening to an ACM-W group of students at the local university. And I did get to speak at the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence national conference in the Fall, and show our film. 

L – R: Me, Chief Shultz, Shay Harger, and AUSA Jennifer Wells. Special thanks to Bea Hanson, former Principal Deputy Director, OVW who took our photos with my phone.