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… 🙂