The PR Apprentice

Bad Timing

2009-07-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

This week, I learned a very important lesson: always be aware of deadlines. It all began on Monday, when I was assigned to put together an extensive contact list. I was taking my time doing some research to make sure I had all the appropriate contacts, and the list was coming along slowly but surely.

Fast forward to Wednesday afternoon. I sent in my progress and I was setting out to leave when my supervisor asked me if that was the entire list. I replied that I wasn’t quite done yet, and then something terrible happened: I learned that the deadline was that afternoon.

I thought I saw my life flash before my eyes. I quickly decided that I would stay a bit later to finish the list, and an hour later my job was done. Still, it was pretty horrifying to realize that I was behind schedule. So I learned that while it is important to make sure the job is done right, it’s also important to make sure it’s done on time! When in doubt…ask.

Rhyme Time?

2009-07-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

When coming up with a name for an event, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Should you rhyme, use alliteration or just try something catchy and clever with a “play on words.” These are hard decisions and ones I had to face this past week with Task 8. I had one day to come up with a name for an event a client is hosting, and to be honest, the majority of my original ideas are too embarrassing to repeat.

My best advice is this: You have to go through the bad to get to the good…it’s just like life. Write down everything that pops in your head (bad or worse). If it’s on paper, then it’s out of your head. Otherwise, you will just continue to think of it. It can be the worst rhyme you have ever thought of, like “Toast the Host with the Most,” but after a while you’ll run out of terrible ideas and finally create something amazing. So don’t stress and you’ll impress (I know…lame).

Like what you do? You deserve to love it.

2009-07-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

We are living in a society that prides itself on its capitalistic ideals. Working 40 + hour weeks with a few weeks of vacation per year has become the norm. We have become a workaholic nation. So when your employer gives you a break, you can really appreciate the people you are working for.

Kidd PR has given the 3rd of July off for an extended three day weekend to celebrate Independence Day. And, the interns were recently given a Friday off so I could attend a canoe camping trip with friends. These seemingly little gestures are what makes employees appreciate the company they work for and work harder because of it. So even when a company’s gesture seems small, it shows they do care about their employees.

I’ve heard horror stories from my parents of various companies they have worked for and the resentment and frustration they still hold is apparent. Finding a company that cares matters, period. It makes you want to go to work and pump out your best work every time.

Is this economy tough right now? Yes. And leaving a job sounds crazy. But honestly, I’ve seen what hating your job does to the spirit. It drains positivity and passion. Some people are at their job more than their home, and so if you don’t consider your work a home away from home, it’s not worth it. Everyone deserves to feel appreciated, and everyone deserves to love their job. So, do you?

Being a Kidd Means Rocking Out

2009-06-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

This week, I discovered the effects of playing music while working. I never listened to music in the past while studying or writing – I always found it distracting. Yet this week, I discovered that having some background music can be a fun way to keep my enthusiasm up and my mood lifted!

I remember my mother telling me of an old job she held that wouldn’t allow employees to play any music. As long as it’s not bothering fellow employees, I see no reason to cut this from the work day. I find that the right type of music easily lifts the mood of everyone in the office, even if it is one of Tom’s unorthodox mixes. You Kidds know what I mean.

Maintaining a spirited and enthusiastic atmosphere has added to the PR Apprentice experience as the interns and I adapt to Kidd PR culture. And I mean really, who doesn’t love a little country music in the afternoon?

Brain Coma? Listen to Music.

2009-06-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

Based on my first few weeks at Kidd, I have some advice to offer readers. One of our recent tasks was to write a news release. Easy enough…I have done about a million of them. However, we were also recently tasked with creating a plan for an online YouTube contest. I was stumped. What’s more is that we had to create brochure copy for GovLoop. For this task, I was even more confounded on what to do. When this happens, I call it a brain coma; it simply freezes and refuses to work.

I have found in past jobs, the best way to get my brain working again and remember it does have good ideas, is to listen to some music. You never know what some artist may be singing about to give just the inspiration you need. For myself at the moment, it is Joss Stone; she has that burst of oomph in her voice to get my brain out of its stupor. However, I would also recommend John Mayer or Jack Johnson for some quiet stimulation. Whatever works for you!

They say music stimulates the soul. Well…that may be true, but for me it stimulates my brain.

The PR Apprentice crosses borders

2009-06-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I wasn’t very excited about Task 6 at the beginning of the week. We had to send an article about the PR Apprentice and our participation to our hometowns along with a pitch e-mail. I just didn’t think that it would be something that Panamanian newspapers would be interested in printing.

So I e-mailed out my article and my pitch, not feeling very hopeful. But about half an hour later, I was surprised to find a reply from the editor a national Panamanian newspaper in my inbox! She congratulated me on my achievement and asked for a picture of me along with a link to the PR Apprentice website. I was on cloud 9, especially when I rang the Kidd PR bell!

This is a very big deal for me. ‘Ellas’ magazine is a weekly supplement of Panama’s biggest newspaper, La Prensa. It is geared at women, publishing articles on women’s success. It would be an honor to be featured; it would mean I am a successful woman.

It’s not just Sully anymore… it’s @sullymarie89

2009-06-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I am not a very tech-savvy kind of gal. For the past five weeks, I’ve had to become much better acquainted with the world of social media since our client, GovLoop, is a social network. However, I never thought I’d ever be very concerned by my own social media profiles. Like every college student, I have a Facebook account, but I’d never really understood the appeal of Twitter. That all changed last week.

It all started last Friday when we were visited by Justin Hancock, Kidd Group’s very own social media guru. He was determined to get all four PR Apprentices tweeting by the end of the day. He had to start our lesson on Twitter at the very beginning, explaining how to follow and unfollow people, because only Lynsey knew her way around the website. I’d created a profile earlier, but it was very lacking; I even still had the default background up (which I now know is unacceptable!). But an hour later, I was eager to send my first tweet.

I used to think that Twitter was just a tool to tell everyone what you had for lunch (which apparently is a topic you should never tweet about). But now, I realize that if it is used properly it can be a marketing tool. It has certainly raised awareness for the PR Apprentice. I’m a long way from having a big following, but at least I have my foot in the door.