What is your catalyst?
After spending eight years in the medical technology start-up world, six years in Corporate America’s pharma and consumer products sectors, and two years consulting, I founded the Ballast Group, an integrated communication strategies firm. I believed finally I had enough experience in many areas of industry and business that potential clients could gain insights from them. But I didn’t always have the guts to take such an entrepreneurial risk. My sailing partner and coach, a commercial real estate entrepreneur, was my catalyst. On...
read moreFire a prospect before hiring a client
Fire a prospect before hiring a client Recently I had an experience where I chose to pass on a prospect to avoid a nightmare client. This experience made me stop and think hard before going with my gut. Some would say that I passed up potential business. When a relationship is right, you sense it from the get go. The perspectives and education of both parties in their respective fields is clearly understood on both ends. The same goals are understood and shared; there is mutual respect, curiosity and the perspective education by both parties...
read moreVisiting Vietnam
“Traveling the country, delicacies always near” – eating our way from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi – a New Year’s adventure http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-trav-0325-food-vietnam-20120324,0,6406379.story
read moreStaying healthy on the road – http://www.robbreportcollection.com/Lasting-Impressions-0412
“Tracking Down Great Garden Fare” – my secret weapon for staying healthy on the road, at the office and when life gets challenging. http://www.robbreportcollection.com/Lasting-Impressions-0412
read moreRaving PR Fan on Groupon CEO’s 60 Minutes Interview
When I worked for a Fortune 500 company’s corporate communications department one of the few calls we wanted to take was from a CBS producer of 60 Minutes, the expose television news magazine. A call like that would make most CEOs cringe. It kept corporate communicators up at night for weeks preparing for the best interview possible. I’m not sure if Andrew Mason, the 30-something CEO of three-year old Groupon, cringed when he got the call, but his interview underscores the importance of media training. He may be cringing now. The...
read moreMy two cents on Cuban’s sense of PR firms for start-ups
After six years in Corporate America, eight years with medical and technology start-ups, and another six as founder of a boutique medical/technology PR firm, I know with confidence how much PR counsel puts start-ups on the map. With the economy in flux, layoffs and the reality of today’s business climate, I predict more and more entrepreneurs will be born. Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, is not exactly a fan of the mix of ‘PR Flacks’ and start-ups who hire their firms, as he notes...
read moreLessons learned in PR
My first quarter teaching is coming to a close this week at DePaul. I decided to ask on the final exam what was the most important thing the 38 students learned from our “Principles of PR” class. I imagined an incentive was needed to get the answers. So I offered an extra credit point. Twice a week for 12 weeks I’d seen them for 90 minutes. If I did not ask now, and they walked out of this room for the final time, I wouldn’t know the answers. Had I conveyed the most important concepts? Did those concepts...
read moreEight ways PR is like sailing (3 of 3)
Eight ways PR is like sailing Part three of a three-part blog series published as seen in PRBreakfast Club PR Pro’s: would you add anything? Sailors: what do you think? Other professions: how can you relate to these metaphors? 7) To tell a great story, as with sailing, you must always connect the dots. On the water, the sails are connected to the mast which is connected to the hull that is connected to the tiller and to the hand that steers the boat. That hand is connected to the eyes that are always watching the compass that is...
read moreEight ways PR is like sailing (2 of 3)
Eight ways PR is like sailing Part two of a three-part blog series published in PRBreakfast Club PR Pro’s: would you add anything? Sailors: what do you think? Other professions: how can you relate to these metaphors? 4) PR and sailing represent teamwork at its finest. Most boats over 15’ are best operated, but not required, with a team. Each person, when racing, has his or her role. If you are fortunate the team understands the bigger picture and moves toward the common goals of safety, fun and crossing the finish line first. The...
read moreEight ways PR is like Sailing (a 3-part series)
Eight ways PR is like sailing Part one of a three-part blog series published in PRBreakfast Club PR Pro’s: would you add anything? Sailors: what do you think? Other professions: how can you relate to these metaphors? 1) PR people, like skippers, tend to have a ‘Mother Nature’ resiliency. A PR person’s day can be planned with great predictability but each hour, let alone each day, can bring twists, turns and interview requests that become opportunities not to be missed. Whatever Mother Nature may throw your way during a 2-3 hour...
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