Category: Free Advice

Concentration is Key in a World Full of Distractions

Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Free Advice1 Comment on Concentration is Key in a World Full of Distractions

A new year brings new challenges and resolutions for every one. With my long list of goals I wish to accomplish in 2013, one of the most important is to improve my concentration – whether in social situations or work-related assignments. To put it simply – I want to be more present in the now.

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While today’s world of new media and technology surely makes life much easier in many ways, especially by providing means of entertainment, it also enables us to become more easily distracted. Here are a few tips I have found to be effective in helping improve my concentration in a world full of diversions:

  • “Be a parrot” – Put what you hear or read into your own words. In conversations, repeat what the other person said into your own words. This will help clarify exactly what is being discussed. Likewise, when reading or studying, re-writing information into simpler terms will help cognition.
  • Limit distractions – Don’t constantly have your cell phone attached to your hip. Checking your Facebook or skimming your Twitter feed can easily eat up a large chunk productivity time. Be more conscious to set aside time for personal tasks after your work is completed.
  • Make a to-do list – It’s easy to become consumed and distracted with a day’s long list of tasks. Instead of worrying about what you need to accomplish in a day, it is much easier to write everything down by order of importance. Put the most important tasks at the top of your list and create a time frame for when each task should to be started and completed.
  • Highlight – Highlighting key points helps you engage in active reading. By focusing on the main points, you can more quickly understand and recognize purpose behind the material.

Do you have any tips to share?

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The Dads Behind the Clairemont Team

Dana PhelpsBlog, Free Advice, The Clairemont Team, , , , , , 3 Comments on The Dads Behind the Clairemont Team

With Father’s Day approaching, things I learned from my dad that apply to my everyday life and running a PR agency have been on my mind lately. I asked the Clairemont team what lessons they had learned from their dads. Now I know one of the reasons our team is so smart — smart dads! We hope you will enjoy the stories below. Oh yeah and Dad, I love you.

Dana

I’m a coal miner’s daughter. When I was six, the best part of my day was when my dad would come from working the midnight shift, and it would be time for him to go to bed about the time my day was really getting started. I would follow him upstairs and demand a story. No story for me meant no sleep for my dad. One time my dad told me a story that was absolutely hilarious. Things got easier for him in the weeks that followed because I just wanted to hear that same story again and again. In hindsight, that was probably the only easy thing about his day. I saw my dad work a variety of different shifts over the years, and he always came home tired and dirty. If you’ve ever seen a coal miner’s hands, you know that there’s really no nail brush tough enough. He always had a get it done attitude and took pride in his work. Coal mining is not for wimps. Neither is starting a business. I’ve been called a workaholic. I’m certain that’s not always a compliment, but I associate that word with my dad. So I just smile and say thank you.

Margot

“Margot, low man wins.” I have been hearing this from my dad since my days of playing basketball in high school. While this advice directly refers to sports and getting the better, lower position for playing defense and boxing out, it really can be applied to any life situation where a little hustling and a lot of hard work pays off for you. To me, “low man wins” really means being prepared and not afraid to do the extra work to put yourself in a place where you can succeed. You can’t expect to make a great defensive play if you’re not in a great defensive position, knees bent, low to the ground, balancing your weight on your toes. It’s not the most comfortable or easiest position to be in, but it is the position where you will be the most successful. This concept of putting myself in the best position for success, even if it’s hard or uncomfortable, has carried over from sports into my day-to-day life and has helped me pass tests, finish assignments and get jobs. Thank you, Dad, for teaching me your tricks to #winning.

Emily

Like most dads, my father taught me many things growing up. House rules included don’t wake up past 10:00 a.m., always finish food before it expires and do not wait until the last minute to do your laundry. Since going to college, I have, unfortunately, abandoned many of these anthems as I am now known to sleep until noon, throw out half full gallons of milk and fail to do laundry for weeks at a time. However, one of my father’s lessons has stuck with me: honor your commitments. If I have promised someone that I will do something, I have always followed up on that promise. When I was younger, that would mean if a fun pool party was scheduled during a softball practice, I would have to skip the party due to my prior commitment to the team. Nowadays, this means if I tell a professor I will help them on a project, meet peers for a group project or pull an extra shift at work, I will be there. This mantra has helped me throughout my education, extracurricular activities, friendships and other crucial aspects of my life. A flaky student, friend and worker is going to reap what they sow; people will not trust that individual to do meaningful tasks or be there for you when you need her. My commitment to my education, internships and friendships has led me to a wonderful network of people who trust my word as I much as I trust theirs.  So thank you very much, Dad. Without you, I would not have the wonderful priorities you have instilled in me.

Josie

Never complain. Life is going to throw you lemons – a lot of them. And of course it’s up to you what you do with them (i.e. make lemonade, squeeze them, paint them gold, etc.). But no matter what it is that you decide, don’t complain. My dad has had his fair share of trials over the past 20 years, but I cannot tell you one time where I have heard him complain about his situation. I, on the other hand, can sometimes find the silliest things to complain about, and I don’t like it (see, I’m complaining already)! So I’ve made it my goal to think more like Peter, my dad, each and every day.  It’s the patient, determined and keep-calm-and-carry-on types like him that make great friends, co-workers and parents. I am so thankful to have his example in my life!

Erica

A quote that puts my father’s mouth on repeat is, “If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” Growing up with parents who expect 101 percent on everything made me take this quote to heart. Today, many people approach goals, tasks or even their own jobs without correctly planning ahead. In order to advance, an individual should always know the background, present information and future purpose of an assignment. Before I came into my interview with Clairemont Communications, I prepared for a successful interview by researching the company and picturing how my specialities would be a good fit. Knowing the target audience and what they expect can help in situations such as presentations, speeches or even a debate. In PR specifically, it is important to realize how the company wants to be seen in the public’s eye. The work one puts in determines the amount of exposure. However, I’m sure my technological, dorky dad was not thinking about PR when giving this piece of advice. He just meant for me to discover that success goes hand in hand with dedication. So thanks, Dad, for advice that will help me prosper in the outside world that I am now entering and the high school world I am leaving. Have a happy Fathers Day!

(Editorial note: We are certain that Erica means “dorky” in the most loving way possible.)

Tracy

I can without doubt trace my perfectionism back to my dad. Looking back on my childhood, one of my most vivid memories is my dad helping me with my homework. I can’t say it was always a pleasant experience, but certainly one that taught me the importance of getting things right. One instance in particular I remember was in middle school – I was working on an essay, probably about two or three pages hand written. My dad always read over everything very carefully and after reviewing my essay he found two or three small spelling errors. Lucky for me, this was right around the time erasable pens were introduced, so I quickly erased and corrected the words and handed the essay back to my dad. At first glance, he demanded I rewrite the entire essay. He thought erasing and rewriting the words made it look sloppy and couldn’t believe I was ready to turn in that essay. I stomped back to my room yelling, “It looks fine, why do you care so much!”

Now that I am a parent myself I understand why it was so important to him that I not turn in anything but perfection. He was teaching me that we should never settle for good enough, but that we should always put our best foot forward. He was using the everyday to teach me life lessons. That trait has stuck with me and is so much a part of the person I am today, both in my personal and professional life. Whether I am working on an event for a client, planning a dinner party, taking on a new decorating project or trying a new recipe – I obsess over details and making sure everything is just perfect. I’m sure I’ll pass along what my dad taught me, and being a communications professional, something tells me my son has a lot of rewrites in his future 🙂

Erin

The easiest answer is not always the best answer. My dad is a Consumer Reports loyalist and will not buy anything without the magazine’s professional approval. While it’s easier to run out and buy the first new semi-decent electronic device I see, it’s usually not the best value. For life in general, it can be a hard lesson but a little extra effort really pays off in the long run.

Maintain friendships for life. It’s really inspiring that my dad’s best friend to this day, Jeff, is someone he met back in Rocky Mount, NC in elementary school. Jeff is now my godfather, and their friendship has stood the test of time. My dad also has fraternity brothers, professors from Wake Forest and past business partners he still keeps in touch with. By his example, I learned the importance of creating a solid network of people who care about you and vice versa.

Learn from everyone around you. My dad has always had a curious nature that motivates me to experience new things. He recently took a digital media class and even asked me to help him with social media. (I happily obliged!) Everyone has a story and some expertise and I’ve learned from my dad to recognize that in people. Life is about constantly evolving by simply taking the time to listen and learn new things.

Ris

My dad died when I was a teenager so he wasn’t around long enough to give business advice. But he did live long enough to teach us the value of family and sticking together – in good times and bad. We had eight kids, each with different ideas and priorities. But NOTHING could come between us. As a result, good times became fantastic memories for us. Bad times were bad but couldn’t destroy us. Business is tough enough out there. Drawing close to each other and sticking together no matter what creates a real culture. A culture for success.

I honor my dad for creating the kind of culture in which I could learn that.

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Putting on a Show… a trade show, that is

Dana PhelpsBlog, Free Advice, ,

With the trade show season upon us, today’s Free Advice Friday is focused on some beginner tips to making the most of exhibiting at an industry trade show. Based on Clairemont team members’ experience helping plan and conduct media outreach at shows in a variety of industries including building/construction, furniture, agricultural, lawn and garden, technology and telecommunications, below are a few tips to get you started. If you are already a trade show pro looking for some creative ideas for your next industry event or for an advanced trade show communications strategy, we’d be happy to discuss. Just drop us a line or give us a call!

  1. Start early. We recommend having an annual trade show plan in place so that you can compare and evaluate opportunities in a strategic fashion instead of on the fly with quickly approaching exhibitor deadlines. Select the opportunities that best match your business objectives, and start working with show organizers as soon as possible to get the best space and maximize all of the promotional opportunities available to you as an exhibitor.
  2. Have standards! We are talking about brand standards, of course. Make sure you are consistent with your company’s branding guidelines, and that your messaging is consistent at the show. Your booth graphics, your news announcements, your presentations, etc.  should all support the same message.
  3. Bring your A team.Think about who you need at the show and realize that different team members serve different purposes. If the focus of your booth is on products, the appropriate product managers should be available to answer questions. Making a big announcement? Consider a company executive or trained spokesperson. If you are doing media outreach, you’ll want your PR team there to facilitate interviews.
  4. Show me. After all, it is called a trade show, not a trade tell. Show how your products work. Demo your technology to show what your company can do that your competitors can’t.
  5. Go paperless.Trade shows are exhausting. Nobody wants to carry around a bunch of papers. Consider using flash drives or better yet, house your information on a branded url or driving participants to your social media channels for additional information and engagement.

Trade shows present amazing opportunities to meet with prospects, potential partners, industry influencers and members of the media. Hopefully the tips above, along with a comfortable pair of shoes, will have you on your way to a successful show!

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Free Advice Friday: Lessons from some of PR’s Leading Ladies

Josephine ButlerBlog, Counselors Academy, Free Advice, Public Relations, , , ,

For those PR professionals celebrating International Women’s Day yesterday, you may have stumbled upon the article below from PR Daily: 15 women share advice for success and happiness in PR. We’re proud that our very own CEO Dana Hughens was featured. We think there are some great tips here for both genders and wanted to share the article as today’s Free Advice Friday.

Regarding gender differences, PR has imbalances of population, power, and pay.

As much as 85 percent of the public relations sector in the United States is female, and that percentage will probably hold steady or even grow. A PR professor at one major university said nearly nine out of 10 students in his classes are women.

However, men in the industry earn more than their female counterparts on average, though the income gap has shrunk considerably. According to an infographic from PR Week, the average vice president of PR is female and earns six figures.

“Many don’t realize what a different world it was for women joining the workforce in the ’70s,” said Mary Deming Barber of The Barber Group in Anchorage, Alaska. “But we have come a long way from those ‘Mad Men’ days.”

It’s a good opportunity to mark such progress. Today is International Women’s Day, marking the 101st anniversary of the day men and women in Europe rallied for women’s rights to vote, work, and more.

“More than 100 years ago, women began to fight for the freedoms we have today,” said PR exec Gini Dietrich. “We’re lucky to be able to have a seat at the proverbial table and move our way up the corporate ladders. But there still are some things we can be doing to progress.”

PR Daily asked Dietrich, Barber, and other female PR practitioners what advice they would give to their female colleagues and competitors. Here’s what they had to say:

Gini Dietrich, founder and chief executive officer of Arment Dietrich:

“Be nice to one another. Women tend to be our own worst enemies. Rather than be catty, gossipy, and mean, work together, find common interests, and support one another.

“Learn the difference between business and personal. Men have this down yet we struggle with it. When things happen at work, they’re business. Don’t ever take it personally.

“There is no crying in PR. If you have to cry, go to the ladies room and shut yourself in a stall. We all have weak moments; just don’t let them show.”

Danya Proud, director of media relations at McDonald’s USA:

“Know your customers and know your audience. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risk. Change is often hard, but a necessity to stay relevant and keep your brand top of mind for consumers.

“That said, when big brands have been doing things a certain way for so long, change needs to be incremental. It has to be small steps, not wholesale changes.

“People often rush to the destination of where they want to be, without fully thinking through the journey of how to ultimately get there.

“Think of it as a constant state of evolution—like a book with multiple chapters. All the chapters have to flow and be sequenced, otherwise there’s no story.

“My boss, Heather Oldani said to me recently, ‘When you’re far enough along … the last 2 percent is always the hardest.’

“That rings true to me every time I come up against a hurdle.”

Abbi Whitaker, owner/president of The Abbi Agency:

“Balance. As women, we need to step back, evaluate our priorities and decide what is really important from both a business and a personal perspective. Ask yourself at the beginning of each day what the five most important things are that you need to do that day and do those first. And make sure they are not all business focused. A well-balanced outlook and life tends to lead to a stronger and more successful business.”

Jayme Soulati, president of Soulati Media:

“Use the gifts you’ve been given; I learned my smile was one, but didn’t know that out of the gate. Develop a thick skin, but don’t let the lessons roll off too quickly because these are teachable moments (yes, that cliché still has merit). Glom onto a mentor who is always interested in giving back (ahem, hi!). Don’t be shy; step out of your comfort zone. Lastly, never, ever be embarrassed to call yourself in PR. After 27 years, I’m still proud.”

Laurel Moffat, communications specialist at Southwest Airlines:

“If I could give two pieces of advice, the first would be to just be yourself—know who you are and own it. The workplace can sometimes feel like a competition; focus on one-upping yourself instead of others (men or women). When you take on a project, find a new and innovative way to approach it every time. You’ll learn more about whom you are and challenge yourself in the process.

“The second comes from my mom who reminds me that I need to stop saying sorry all the time. Why do we always apologize for everything? Only say sorry when you have truly made a major mistake.”

Donna Vincent Roa, managing partner and chief strategist for Vincent Roa Group:

“For success in the workplace, I have five maxims:

1. Never underestimate the power of initiative and innovation in playing the impossible;
2. Be known for your creativity;
3. Abandon fear, outdated ideas, bad bosses, and procrastination;
4. Wholeheartedly embrace the role of change agent and ‘why not’ thinking;
5. Always work to position communication as a key enterprise asset that buttresses business goals.

“Everything in life, and in the workplace, is about the choices we make and how we execute those choices. So, in practice: determine your passion, build meaningful relationships, and always deliver outstanding results. These, too, bring success.”

Stacey Acevero, social media community manager at Vocus/PR Web:

“Success in the workplace really comes when you work outside of your job description. Don’t be afraid to be creative and try new ideas or create something new—they’ll push you over the edge and get you recognized in your workplace, as well as in your industry.”

Dana Hughens, CEO of Clairemont Communications:

“The best advice I can give a young woman starting a career in PR is to surround herself with other supportive, professional women. One way to do that is to join a communications association. I started with the Public Relations Student Society of America, continued with the Public Relations Society of America and now PRSA’s Counselors Academy.”

Deirdre Breakenridge, CEO of Pure Performance Communications:

“One of my most important lessons for success as a senior executive and a woman in business is to find the perfect balance between boardroom strength (being tough when you need to be) and showing compassion for people (being in tune with your human side).

“When you can strike a balance, you will be appreciated for your strategic and critical thinking, and also for your ability to stay human and build great relationships with your employees and/or your peers.” Continue reading “Free Advice Friday: Lessons from some of PR’s Leading Ladies”

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Social Suit? Think Before You Post (and before you sue…)

Dana PhelpsBlog, Free Advice, 3 Comments on Social Suit? Think Before You Post (and before you sue…)
Junior High Margot rockin' the side ponytail.

Despite the fabulous advice of Ashley Huteau in her blog post a few weeks ago, Facebook mishaps happen to everyone. As today’s Free Advice Friday post, Clairemont intern, Margot Horgan asks the question: would you sue over a Facebook photo? Read Margot’s advice below for an alternative course of action that is likely less stressful and certainly less expensive than filing a lawsuit…

Whether you are in the background of a picture acting in a less than socially acceptable behavior, or, cringe, are photographed with not one, but two chins, as Forrest Gump says, “S***t happens.” We can untag these photos or beg a friend to take them offline, but would you sue a friend or family member to get an undesirable photo off Facebook?

Well, that’s exactly what Aaron Olson of Chisago City, Minn. did when his uncle refused to remove an embarrassing childhood photo of Olson from Facebook. After his uncle told him that if he didn’t like the photos he “should stay off Facebook,” Olson sued his dear old Uncle Randall for harassment.

However, Judge Natalie Hudson from the Minnesota district court ruled that, “To constitute harassment, words must have a substantial adverse effect of the safety, security or privacy of another. Comments that are mean and disrespectful, couple with innocuous family photos, do not affect a person’s safety, security or privacy—and certainly not substantially so.”

So after this ruling, we are all forced to accept that family-teasing and ridicule is fair game at the dinner table—and on Facebook. Our advice? Take it in stride. If you can’t laugh at yourself, what can you laugh at? If someone posts an obscenely embarrassing photo, be the first to make a joke about it, and that picture won’t be nearly as bad.

Besides if you wage war against a friend or a family member, you might end up being described like this in that person’s obituary.

What do you do when an embarrassing photo is posted on Facebook? Untag it and beg for it to be taken offline, or make fun of yourself? If your sense of humor allows for the latter, let’s see those links to G-rated embarrassing photos in our comments section… after all, I’ve already shared mine!

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