So, you’re a lifelong learner…
PR Gives Me Goosebumps
Stephen Whyte, Aaron (took professional headshots for everyone!), Emmy, Marlee, Britnee, Jake
Enjoy my PR Elevated recap below –
Keith Green – Vice President Marketing and Commercial Sales – Guinness World Records
- Reminisced about getting a Guinness World Record book growing up.
- Get people talking about your brand by doing something BIG and setting a world record.
- Ads need to entertain and inspire.
- Largest Zumba gathering, stood up and danced.
- Writing is SO important.
- Eight to Elevate
- Write, Start, Stop, Read, Listen, Ask, Smell, Give
- Learn to be a stronger writer and you will be way further ahead than others.
- Go with your gut in future career endeavors.
- Slow down and listen.
- Slow down and look up at the mountains. Stop and smell the roses.
- Hit 500 followers on Twitter during this presentation!
- If you want the job and like the job… ask for the job!
- Take time to read intellectually enlarging and inspiring material.
- If you want to be the best at something… of course the journey is going to be difficult.
Brandy King – Communications Director – Southwest Airlines
- Constantly be on the lookout for interesting stories.
- Stewardesses in “hot pants” and go go boots is what originally helped Southwest Airlines gain attention.
- Tell them in a way that reaches people beyond a surface level so that they stick.
- Care for your customers. If you can find a story that will connect, share it because you care.
- Learn to respond quickly and be a fire fighter.
- If you’re not telling your story… someone else will and you may not like what they have to say.
- A company’s true character is expressed by its PEOPLE.
- Don’t network, build meaningful relationships.
- Live the Southwest Way… Warrior Spirit, Fun-LUVing attitude, Servant’s Heart
- Have GRACE. Focus on others strengths, NOT their weaknesses.
- When the call comes, will you be ready to jump on board?
Boyd Matheson – President – Sutherland Institute
- If you create winning stories and connect consumers to the story, you’ll never have a problem finding a job.
- Why did some people see Titanic in theater multiple times and buy it when it came out? Because of the story and the people. Learn to create the story.
- Be a Disneyland street sweeper. It’s all about the experience and transformation.
- The guest’s only see magic!
- Everyone wants to be a part of a good story.
- Don’t become target driven. What is the punch through strategy? What do you want the headline to be after?
- If you really want to play the game… you need to play chess.
- Don’t live by a checklist. Be creative.
- KAIROS: Take a commodity, turn it into a product, make it a service, create an experience and become transformed.
- Are we willing and are we prepared for that tap on the shoulder to go and do something amazing?
- Things change and you have to be ready.
- Invest in time, money and emotion.
- Genealogy is the number one use of the internet.
- Be different.
- Ask questions in an interview.
- Love learning!
- Always ask. Always apply.
Goal: Read Influencer by Joseph Grenny and email Boyd my thoughts.
Karen Bybee – International Event Organizer and Independent Consultant for Sporting Events
- Look for opportunities.
- Take some risks.
- Be persistent.
- When the call comes, will you be ready to jump on board?
- Make decisions that open doors.
- Trust your gut and instincts.
- Build the team, share the credit and don’t burn bridges.
- Play nice in the sandbox.
- Perfect plans aren’t! Expect the unexpected. Always have a contingency plan.
- Know your resources.
- Be professional, organized, good communicator, hard worker, team player, be ready for a plan “B”.
Jill Chappell – Senior Editorial Producer – CNN
- Collect as many business cards as you can.
- Address book is key!
- People like to be remembered.
- Get your foot into the door.
- Internship, Humble yourself, Fake it until you make it, Don’t hold back
- Know your audience. Be concise. Pick up the phone. See them in person. Be reachable. Personalize subject line. Be happy and upbeat. Optimize your network.
Jeff Taylor – Executive Creative Director – Bonneville Communications
- Why not… take a crazy chance?
- “You see things: and you say ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say ‘Why not?’” – George Bernard Shaw
- Who knew you could feel the spirit so strongly at a PR conference?!
- Set a world record for largest nativity.
- #ShareTheGift
- Campaign to combat The Book of Mormon musical and show people what The Book of Mormon really is.
Matt Prince – PR and Brand Engagement Manager – Taco Bell
- Informational interviews are KEY.
- The single most important client in your PR career will be yourself.
- Personal branding is a garden, and you gotta dig it.
- Try and “be at the top of everyone’s ‘I Know a Guy’ list”
- Find a culture where it’s ok to fail. Just… fail smart, fail forward and fail cheaply.
- Live your life like you’re on a first date. Always.
Chris Bailey – Director of VIP Services – Utah Jazz, SLC Bees, Vivint Smart Home Arena
- Make a PR plan for yourself.
- Pick a field that you find yourself thinking about when you don’t want to think.
Lindsey Petersen – Director of Marketing and Communications – Imagine Dragons’ Non-Profit: The Tyler Robinson Foundation
- “I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.” –Ernest Hemingway
- You’ll never know everything. OWN IT.
- You’re always going to have to pitch yourself.
- Figure out a way to set boundaries so you don’t get burned out.
- We’re all in this together.
- Embrace that sincerity speaks volumes.
- Create your own brand.
- Plan stuff.
- Track everything.
- Become a marketer.
- Learn everything about FB ads. Step out of what you think is right and try new things.
Jane Dvorak – 2017 PRSA National Chair and Owner – JKD Company, Inc.
- Don’t worry about your dream job upon graduation, be patient and greatness will come.
- When you are patient, you’ll end up in your sweet spot. Let the journey move you forward.
- You don’t need to be afraid. Challenge yourself every day!
- Hope sees the invisible, it feels the intangible, and it achieves the impossible.
- Trust that you have some insight to bring to the table. It’s ok to fail sometimes.
- You NEED to invest in yourself. It’s your job to be smarter and more connected.
- Sit down and write a letter about why you love this career choice. When you get down, and question, read it and remind yourself.
- You cannot laugh enough in your day. When we laugh, we learn and create memories.
- Be open to let things happen.
- There is NOTHING stopping you from being a leader now and a leader 30 years from now.
- Bring in the dancing lobsters!
Jon, Colin and I were the top three people who were actively engaged on Twitter during the conference. We did a DANCE OFF to Bang Bang to pick some cool prizes. I got the prize below… 🙂