Coffee Coffee Coffee

Lauren Hannaford

I’ve written about the importance of taking brain breaks during work hours, so I thought a few recent articles about the health benefits of coffee and how to use it to your advantage were interesting, especially as it pertains to drinking coffee at the right time of day to give you that extra boost and not send you crashing into a sugar coma.

I’ve been a coffee drinker for a long time, so I appreciate all of the new research stating numerous health benefits! For example, coffee is now said to aid against Type 2 diabetes, cut your risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and lower the risk of several types of cancer. I’m glad the tables have turned in favor of a good old cup of joe.

So, what should you do after your first mug of coffee wears off? Take a coffee nap. Again, research shows that resting briefly during the workday coupled with a caffeine boost can make you a better worker.

But, how do you ensure you are reaping the many rewards coffee has to offer? Here are a few tips:

• Drink organic coffee!
• Grind your own beans.
• Drink it black.
• Beware of bleached filters and use BPA-free mugs.

Drinking the right type of coffee at the right time could help give your sluggish afternoon the kick it needs. If your daily coffee routine has lost its effect, try mixing it up with some of the tips above. If you’re a daring coffee drinker, you may want to give the next big coffee craze a try – bulletproof coffee.

Need ideas? Here are my favorite coffee choices:

• Everyday (grocery store) drip coffee – Starbucks French Roast
• French press – Lavazza, coarse ground
• Keurig – Caribou breakfast blend
• Specialty (my favorite fancy brand) – Café Las Flores

Do you speak CEO?

Kerri Guyton

Attend any PR industry meeting or conference and you are bound to hear grumbling about how PR doesn’t have “a seat at the table.” Many PR professionals feel like they are only brought into the C-suite conversations when there is a crisis or some other immediate situational need, rather than being a part of the ongoing conversations about the operation, reputation and future plans of the company. At Obsidian, we are fortunate to have a majority of clients who keep a seat nice and warm for us at all times. While some of our client liaisons include marketing or communication department heads, for the most part, we are in direct communication with the company’s CEO.

Through my direct experience in dealing with these super busy – and super influential – individuals, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to best communicate with them…how to speak their language.

Run the Highlight Reel

As much as we Type-A PR personalities love our details and strive to provide the most comprehensive update we possibly can, any CEO wants to hear the highlights: what have we done, what worked, what didn’t and what’s next. Sparing them the long, drawn-out report on all of our efforts and plans shows that we know what matters to the bottom line and respect their time enough to keep it simple.

Talk Numbers to Me

If your highlights don’t provide numbers showing results, you might as well be reciting poetry. Results are what matter most to CEOs. Think: How much did we spend and what response did it attract?

Catch Me If You Can

As I mentioned before, CEOs are super busy people. And, while it can be a fantastic thing to have a direct line of communication to the CEO of a company, don’t bet your bottom dollar that communication with him or her is going to happen whenever you’d like. However, understanding and respecting this is a key to keeping that seat at the table. There’s a fine line between following up and simply bothering someone, so while it’s necessary to keep trying to catch the CEO when there’s an important item that needs immediate approval, some things can wait until your next bi-weekly, sit-down meeting. Most super busy people appreciate when you’ve gone the extra mile to make sure they don’t miss a deadline or opportunity, but if they have to step away from a meeting to respond to something that isn’t all that immediate, it won’t sit well – I promise.

So, practice these steps, and you will be well on your way to speaking CEO.

Slow Down

Daniel Wade

If you’re like me, sometimes you just need to slow down. Are you kidding? Have you seen my To-Do list? While this might seem impossible, or better yet impractical on first glance, work with me here. I consider myself a recovering people pleaser and Myers-Briggs once called me an ENFP in high school. The nerve. Left to my own devices, my first response is “Sure, I can do that,” before considering the impact. It doesn’t take long before you are stretched thin, your blood pressure is up and you find yourself longing for even five hours of sleep. Oh, you’re married? Have a few kids? Try overcommitting for too long and let me know how that works for you.

But my career – I have to get that certification or I won’t progress at work! Of course, we have to sign up our kids up for every sport that’s offered; it’s the American way. Listen, I know it’s my fifth committee, but this one’s a church thing so it’s OK. While these examples can certainly be great things in and of themselves, what does your calendar look like when you’ve said “yes” to all of them? Oh, and don’t forget that work has you traveling three out of the next four weeks, so your “getting the yard done” weekend plans aren’t fooling anybody.

Here’s where it gets sticky: we’ve all met that guy or girl who was so incredibly driven that they accomplished everything we just listed above – all while brushing up on their German, right? I’m not against driven people; I envy them and often try to find their secret. I’ve perused the blogs on productivity, spent a dollar or two on an app for that and tried my best to perform the high-flying juggling act that is saying “yes” to everything.

Bottom line: I’m not making a declarative statement about your situation – I don’t know it. What I am offering is the opinion that purposefully slowing down, in whatever form that means for you, can be beneficial. Some considerations:

• Count the cost. Saying “yes” to these five things means I have to say “no” to what?
• Don’t skimp on what matters. [Insert important relationship here.] You’ve heard the example of the rocks and the jug, right? Insert the big ones first.
• Practice saying “no.” Sounds simple, but try saying “no” to every fourth thing you are asked to do. Practice makes perfect.
• Reflect. When is the last time you actually disconnected from the outside world? Smartphone included? Purposeful reflection without distraction can provide clarity.
• Add the accountability factor. This can be a relationship check or a financial incentive or whatever works for you. Get serious about it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go set my fantasy football lineup for the week…

The Best Form of Marketing

Kelli Eason Brignac

When I graduated from college, my first job was in the marketing department of a Louisiana-based restaurant company. Part of my job was to work with the general managers to plan and execute various marketing efforts in their areas. But no matter what great events or campaigns we had planned, the cardinal rule in our business was that the operations should never suffer in favor of marketing. Why? Because the best form of marketing is running a solid operation.

That little nugget is not just for restaurants. At Obsidian, we have had clients go “on hold” with us so that they could get their operations in order before coming back ready to grow the business.

Your personal experience                                  

Think about your own personal experience. Let’s say you see a hundred ads for a car dealer offering excellent service and unbeatable prices. You go to the dealership only to find that the salespeople are rude, they will not negotiate below sticker price and it takes them half a day to change your oil despite guaranteeing a 15-minute job. Not only would you ignore the next ad you see about the business, you’re likely to tell your friends and family about your experience, spreading the negative word. On the other hand, if you find a dealer you love, you’re likely to come back and to refer your friends and family.

Are you ready for marketing?

This is not to say that advertising, public relations or other marketing efforts are unnecessary if you run your business well. In fact, they are often imperative to letting potential customers know that your well-run shop is available to them. But if you are ready to market your business, it’s crucial that your operation be able to serve any customers your efforts may bring in – and serve them well! If you do that, you are unlikely to deal with the dreaded negative online review.

What about the second-best form of marketing?

There are lots of ways to market your business once the operations are in place. The second-best form really depends on the type of business you run. Should you use social media, advertising, media relations, direct sales or a mix of various tactics? My recommendation is to hire a professional to help build a strategy that works best for you.

The craze of pumpkin-everything and PR

Tiffany Cunningham

I love fall! My family, best friends and even my co-workers know this little fact about me because I share it constantly when a cool breeze hits or they see me get really excited from my first sip of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte. The love of fall started when I was very young and getting excited to go trick-or-treating or bake Halloween cookies with my mom. I’m a sucker for fall marketing madness (and any holiday really), but I feel like too-early marketing for fall has hit an all-time high this year. We’ve all seen Halloween candy in Walgreens and CVS for a couple weeks now, and Starbucks released its Pumpkin Spice Latte on Aug. 25! It’s a very exciting time of year as the season approaches, but why so early?

In PR, we plan. Actually, we plan really far in advance. We pitch holiday story ideas months early (three to six months in some cases) for possible editorial placement to tie into publications’ editorial calendars and to put it bluntly, because it’s a saturated time of year we have to get ahead of the game! This is acceptable in media outreach, but people would think I was crazy if I started decorating my apartment and entryway already for Halloween (I might have already bought a couple of pumpkins… #oops).

Tiffany's festive Labradoodle Blakeley 

From another PR perspective, while every company offering a product wishes they could predict the next pumpkin-like fad, there are a few concepts to incorporate into a media strategy including when to engage a stakeholder (or reporter), knowing who they are and what drives them and offering content that is relevant and that they can relate to. The same holds true when planning for the holiday season. While the overall public probably sees the Hallmarks and Mars Companies of the world starting their efforts a bit prematurely, media are already planning gift guides, event wrap-ups and topics for “best places to do [insert exciting activity here]."

In all cases of planning, it’s a good idea to have a strategy. In some cases, a SWOT analysis can help in creating a plan to gain a sustainable niche in your market. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. For more information about SWOT analysis, check out this Mind Tools article.

What are your thoughts on the holiday craze and planning for media outreach for the holidays? Comment below!

Project Checklist Time

Thomas Whitehead

Ask anyone who knows me, and you’ll hear that I am a very analytical person who asks a lot of questions. I have always believed in the value of questions. It is the only way you can have your thoughts and plans challenged. You should be able to defend your position, and if you can’t, then it is worth exploring how to improve it. 

There are many tried and true devices out there for ensuring you are on the right path – SWAT analysis, pro/con lists, plus/minuses, focus groups, etc. All of these have their own place in assessing the direction of a project, campaign or decision. 

Regardless of the tool your organization uses, I wanted to offer several universal questions that can be used at any time of a project. Sometimes, it is good to push pause and get a temperature check. A few questions that I use with my work team include:

• Are we on track with our goals? Sometimes, in the middle of a project, variables can change and the expected results of an operation may change as a result of unforeseen events. It is good to answer this question throughout because if it is recognized that you are, indeed, off track, then you still have time to realign and reach your goals. 
• What about this project has you most worried? This question allows you to pinpoint specifically what area you feel needs to have the most attention. If it is recognized immediately, you can be aware of this area and give it the special attention it may need. Verbalizing that area of concern in a group setting also generates a team awareness about it that can be communicated as a team. 
• Is there anyone else who needs to be aware of what we are doing? Internally and externally, are all those people who will have a vested interest in what you are doing aware? Or will they be caught off-guard. 
• Are we on track with our budget? Again, this is another one to ask periodically and not wait until it is too late. If you are able to see what financial challenges you may have, you can address them proactively. 
• Do we still feel good about this? Sometimes, it helps to have an honest assessment. If there are any concerns, speak now or forever hold your peace. 
• Is there anything we aren’t thinking about? Similar to the above, but this isn’t about doubt; this is about making sure you have covered all the ground that needs to be covered. 
• Is our expectation the same as when we first started? This is similar to what variables have changed, but it speaks more to the execution of the actual plan. 
• What measurements are we using to determine if this is a success? This question should absolutely be answered at the beginning of a project. However, it wouldn’t hurt to continue raising this question up to make sure you aren’t missing anything. 

This is not an exhaustive list. If you have your own, please feel free to share in the comments. But, the great thing about this variety is that it does address strengths, weaknesses, goals, challenges and expectations. These are all essential in any execution.

All career paths begin with an internship

Taylor Childress

Starting a career right out of college is getting more difficult these days. Figuring out where to start and who to start with are hard questions to ask yourself at 22 years old. When I graduated this past May with a Journalism degree, it scared me to the ends of the earth! But, this is where all my hard work and late-night studying comes to use.

It’s been an exciting time for me. I have had the chance to experience many different aspects of my career choice, and I knew exactly the direction I wanted to go. See, I have interned with four companies now since I was 19 years old – all in different cities with different audiences and different focus areas.

My first internship was with a small media agency in East Texas. It was a great experience, and I got to learn a lot in just a short few months. I did all types of media relations work with all types of clients (tractor companies, churches, political campaigns, etc.) But, the small-town agency wasn’t for me. The second internship was in my hometown of Houston, Texas. It was one of the biggest agencies I have ever seen and was in the heart of downtown. It was great exposure to the PR industry. However, since it was so much bigger than most firms, there was more than one intern, which was challenging at times. Since there were so many of us, there wasn’t as much work to go around. My second internship was in New York. It was fabulous and the work was great, but I learned fast that clientele could differ from city to city in a huge way.

Obsidian is where I currently intern, and it has been great so far! I can truly say out of all the internships I have held, this one has been the most rewarding as far as learning and experience goes (and I’ve only just begun!).

I have learned many things by just working as a level two intern. The meetings and the media outreach are tasks I have always done, but with Obsidian, it is something that I can say has really affected my career knowledge in a good way.

Public relations as a field exists on a huge spectrum with many different audience types and focus areas. That’s the beauty of it all. You can work for one agency that is strictly sports and apparel or you can work for an agency that does it all.

Looking back to what I thought I wanted out of a career to what I want now is crazy. My internship opportunities have guided me to figuring out what I want out of a career, and I am very happy with where it has landed me today!

Want internship advice from Taylor? Comment with your questions below!

Coloring Outside the Lines

Mary Catherine Banister

There are an abundance of rules when it comes to working in the public relations field. Some are written and strictly kept inside of an ever-updating AP Stylebook, and others are unspoken and passed down from employee to employee in an agency. There are rules for writing, editing, formatting press releases, sending pitches to reporters and corresponding with clients. From both the outside and the inside, it seems as though everything must be done by the books.

However, as most creative people tend to understand, there are a few rules that are OK to be broken – in a good way, of course. For example, instead of always sending reporters extremely professional emails that could be from anyone, build relationships with them. Ask how their day is going, slip a joke into the conversation (as appropriate) and reference subjects you know they enjoy. Reporters receive so many emails every day, but if yours can stand out, both you and your client win.

Another “rule” that can be broken is the idea that interns and junior-level employees cannot be assertive in their positions. Of course, those at the senior level have been working in public relations for a long time and have in-depth experience. However, after taking some time to learn the ropes, interns and juniors should take the chance to dive in and explore their creative boundaries. Take the initiative to research and come up with a relevant, pitch-worthy story idea; reach out and introduce yourself to clients and the media; suggest ideas for how efforts for an existing account can be enhanced. The sky is the limit, as long as you keep your senior partners and supervisors informed!

My point is simple – coloring inside of the lines will keep you neatly on track for a fulfilling PR career. But why not let your ideas and creativity spill out and away from the traditional? Challenge yourself to embrace the road less traveled, and you will reap the rewards.

Punctuation Marks Exposed

Sarah Lichterman

From commas to question marks and lesser-used punctuation such as brackets and colons, TheVisualCommunicationGuy.com has put together an infographic that ranks punctuation marks based on how hard or easy they are to learn to use. As a public relations professional, I am constantly thinking about grammar and punctuation in my everyday work. However, I found some new ways to utilize punctuation that I frequently use in my writing.

The infographic ranks punctuation marks by how many rules or applications that they have. The comma has the most, so it is deemed the hardest punctuation mark to learn to use with 15 applications. The period is the easiest to use with only one application – to end a sentence.

There are a few punctuation marks listed that I am not very familiar with, for I rarely, if ever, have used them the correct way. These are the en dash, em dash, ellipsis and brackets. The applications for each are listed below.

En dash. Replaces the word “through” or “to” when suggesting a duration of time. Example: The instructions were written on pages 12-35.

Em dash. Expands with emphasis a main clause, separates and draws special attention to ideas, or suggests an interruption in thought or change in direction. Example: No one—not even the captain of the team—realized how good the opposing team was at penalty kicks.

Ellipsis. Indicates an omission of words in a quote or hesitating speech in dialogue, or it suggests that something is being left out. Example: I … tried to do what was best.

Brackets. Indicate editorial comments by someone other than the author or asides or other parenthetical information already in parentheses. Example: I don’t care what he [Poe] meant by it, the line sounds great but makes no sense.

These are just a few of the 15 punctuation marks exposed on the infographic. To see the full graphic, click here.