5 Olympic Sports that Exemplify Agency Life

My Eisbrenner PR colleagues and I have been watching a lot of the Summer Olympics these last two weeks and even hosting our own. Everything from soccer (football, to the rest of the world) to badminton (yes, that’s an Olympic sport) and we can’t get enough of the games. I think it’s because in many Olympic sports, the traits that define an athlete’s success are the same as those that define a PR professional’s success in an agency setting. Here are five Olympic sports that embody life at a public relations agency.

1. Diving
At Eisbrenner PR, interns are expected to “dive in” on account work. It can be intimidating, and downright terrifying at times to plunge headfirst into the deep end hoping you don’t slip and do a 10-meter-high belly flop. The pace of agency life is sink or swim, but that first time when you know you’ve done a superb job on an assignment feels like a refreshing dip in the pool on a hot summer day. (Did I go overboard with the water metaphors?)

2. Gymnastics
Gymnasts have excellent balance. So do agency pros. In the PR world, you need the skills to balance multiple clients and priorities simultaneously – and do it all with grace and style. You need to be flexible and ready to transition at a moment’s notice. Here, we represent good companies, and our belief in our clients and their work drives us to do somersaults and bend over backward to help them achieve their goals.

3. Archery
Accuracy is perhaps the most important aspect of effective communication. Whether the audience is media, clients, the public or agency team members (especially team members), we are always looking for ways to deliver messages with greater precision. An off-target pitch is the difference between no coverage and Olympic glory.

4. Triathlon
The most challenging and thrilling part about working in an agency is the variety of work we do. Writing, research, media relations, writing, event planning, writing – there are so many opportunities to demonstrate and hone your skills. Did I mention writing is involved? Agency pros are experts at multi-tasking and possess the endurance of triathletes. 

5. Synchronized Swimming 
Some people may dispute whether synchronized swimming is a sport, but regardless of your opinions on the matter, synchronized swimming squads (say that ten times fast) and PR agencies thrive best when team members work in tandem. Being in sync with your account teams and clients are crucial to your success at a public relations agency. Teamwork is the backbone of Eisbrenner PR, and open communication is its life force.

Have you been watching the Olympic Games in London? What qualities best exemplify your workplace? Let us know in the comments.

The Pillars of Our Firm

There’s a lot to learn as an intern at Eisbrenner Public Relations, from developing client strategy to the tedious-yet-necessary task of assembling a media list. But the most important things to learn, understand and demonstrate at Eisbrenner PR, or any company for that matter, are the core values of the organization.

At Eisbrenner PR, our core values define our culture. All of our actions and decisions are guided by these five core values:

Use individual curiosity to spur innovation
Work hard and have fun
Treat the world with respect
Be motivated to discover what’s next
Find the positive in everything we do

Two months into my internship, I’ve learned when people around here speak of our core values, they mean what they say. They are the essence of our agency. They are what drive us to go above and beyond for our clients. They are why we get out of bed in the morning and why we love coming to work (well, most days).

When working in a collaborative environment, sharing a common vision and attitude is not only important, it is crucial to the team’s success. Here are three ways you can integrate your company’s values into your everyday work life.

Know them
Even though our core values are on display on the pillars in our office and on company business cards, I still printed them out and tacked them to the wall at my desk, always within view. It serves as a daily reminder of why I am here and what I am here to do.

Incorporate them
Find your own unique way to incorporate your organization’s core values into daily activities. For example, one of the recurring tasks for Eisbrenner PR interns is to update the message boards outside the breakout rooms with the week’s meetings and quotations. The quotes I include generally are related to one of our five core values (thank you, Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations).

Believe in them
Core values are devoid of meaning if they are not appreciated and respected by employees. In the end, it is the people who are the true pillars of Eisbrenner PR.

Our core values are the pillar of Eisbrenner PR - literally!

(Left) My daily reminder of what Eisbrenner PR is all about. (Right) My defensive measures against intermittent koosh-ball-shellings, one example of how we work hard and have fun.

Pull Up A Stool

My first official pic at Eisbrenner PR

My name is Greg Melvin and I’m one of the new interns at Eisbrenner Public Relations. I will be your ‘tender for the evening. Not too long ago I was sitting on that side of the bar. I am a long-time reader, first-time writer of the SpeakEasy, and I couldn’t be more excited.

First, a little bit about myself. I am a recent graduate of Wayne State University, where I majored in public relations. During my senior year I served as chapter president of the James S. Measell Chapter of PRSSA, a position that allowed me to hone my ability to multitask and work in a team-oriented environment, both essential to agency life.

Getting goofy at The Henry Ford

Before coming to Eisbrenner PR, I spent eight months as the media and film relations intern at The Henry Ford. My experiences there were as fun as they were valuable – from giving media tours of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit, to HOUR magazine photo shoots, to the Trevor Bayne vehicle dedication and everything in between. 

The Driving America ribbon
 cutting ceremony

I interned while the museum was opening the new automotive exhibit, Driving America. Working on press materials for Driving America is what initially piqued my interest in the American automobile and how it has and continues to impact our lives. It was a good introduction to life at Eisbrenner, whose clientele is around 60 percent automotive.

My first month at Eisbrenner PR has been great! Sure, I had a Kevin McAllister moment or two that first week – there is a lot of new information to absorb and a learning curve with any new place. But when your first week includes a hula-hoop contest, a game of office baseball and Koosh ball fights (plural), you know it’s a cool place to work.

Outside the Book, Eisbrenner PR’s intern program, is designed for you to succeed as an intern, and everybody – from my OTB “buddy” to the firm’s president – is happy and willing to help you find success. Plus, I’m not alone on this crazy ride – this semester Eisbrenner PR has two interns! You’ll meet Jessica Postema soon.

Well, that’s a little background on me. I look forward to sharing more of my internship experiences at the SpeakEasy in the coming months. So pull up a stool – I’ll start your tab

Nailing the Interview

“Interview.” The word alone can spread fear through your body. It can make your face and neck turn red, your voice shake, your mouth dry and your hands sweat. But it doesn’t have to! With the proper preparation, research and confidence, interviews can be nearly painless – just take it from Eisbrenner Public Relations’ staff, somehow, we all passed the interview!


Research - Hit the company’s website. Get to know its customers, culture and capabilities and do a search for past news articles. We’re taking time to interview you, so be prepared to show you’ve taken time to make it a valuable meeting.

Prepare Questions - When we ask candidates if they have any questions about the internship or the firm, we’ve actually heard the response, “Dude, I don’t think so.” Wrong! Have a few thoughtful questions prepared. What are the company’s growth goals? How many former interns are now full-time? You should be interviewing us nearly as much as we’re interviewing you – you don’t want to end up at a miserable place or one that’s not a good fit; and we certainly don’t want to hire the wrong candidate.

Prepare for Questions - You’re going to interview with several people. And yes, you’re bound to be asked some stumpers. We’re not Google, so don’t prepare for –“you’re running for President. What’s your campaign slogan?” But have something ready for the dreaded ones. “So tell me about yourself.” “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?” “What do you think you will be able to add to our firm?” “Where do you see yourself in five years?” “Describe a challenge you’ve overcome.”

Confirm the Appointment - Call or email the day before your interview to make sure it’s still on, verify directions and ask any questions you may have. This shows enthusiasm. Preparedness. Anticipation. Thoughtfulness. Geez, when can you start?

What to Wear - Lose the Uggs and cover the navel ring. Got a suit? Wear it. Basically, leave the Thursday night bar gear in the closet and dig out the professional attire.

 What to Bring - Your smile, voice, enthusiasm and AP Stylebook.

Arrive on Time - Early isn’t a bad idea either.

And last, but not least – RELAX - Smile. Shake hands firmly. Have fun with it. Ask questions. Breathe. Be yourself. And don’t be nervous – we’re not scary, we swear! Oh, and don’t forget to send a personal and thoughtful thank you card or email. You don’t want to miss this final opportunity to stand apart from your competition.

Interning Ain't Easy

Well here it is, folks – the blog post you all have been waiting for! I filmed this little ditty before Christmas and looking back on it, I forgot how silly I look. However, it being my last day at Eisbrenner Public Relations, I think it’s only appropriate everyone gets to enjoy this insightful, delightful, all-around eyeful of awesome. I’ve learned a lot at Eisbrenner PR and I wasn’t just an intern; I was a part of the team. This one’s for all you Eisbrites! Enjoy!

Ode to Interns

What do I do all day in my cube?

You think because I'm an intern

I'm just a know-nothing noob

But I promise you this

My dear friend

I'm much more than a noob

On me, many depend

I don't say this because I'm conceited

If that's what you think

You better just beat it!

My typical day is rather full

I write bios and releases

and that's no bull

If you need a media list

Just stop on by

I'll hook you up

With one on the fly

I research like a grad student

But spending that much time

Would definitely not be prudent

You have to be fast when you intern here

Switching clients and tasks

I'm checkin 'em out like a cashier

So the next time you're thinking'

Interns only handle the fluff

Stop by my cube

I'll call your bluff

Because a world without interns

Would be a sorry world indeeed

Who else could do what interns do

That's my intern creed!

Intern-al Journey

Just four months ago, I stood outside of my home as my parents snapped photos before my first day of work. Yes, I know it’s incredibly cheesy, but since my first day of kindergarten my parents have used these pictures as a way to mark the beginning of each of my new and exciting journeys.

The journey I embarked on this one particular morning was my internship at Eisbrenner Public Relations. Before that day, I had a small idea of what public relations was, and could only reference the knowledge I had gained from school.

Since then, my knowledge has greatly expanded. I’ve had the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in school to a well-respected practice. Not only have I learned a lot about my profession, but I’ve learned a lot about myself.

Now I understand the process involved with planning events, compiling media lists and even writing blog posts. I recognize the value of working with a team and the thrill of the results that follow. I’ve seen just how effective open communication can be and how determination can turn a good idea into a great plan-of-action.

I’ve benefited from teammates who have taught me by example. They’ve shown me the delicate balance between work and play, and even how to intermix the two. From them, I’ve seen how passion can transform your skills. I’ve found that passion motivates excellent results and drives a curiosity to learn more.

Looking back at the photos from my first day, I’m amazed to see how far I’ve come. I’ve gained an understanding and appreciation for agency life, public relations and myself. I’m grateful for the many opportunities and life lessons Eisbrenner PR has given me. This experience has helped me grow, and I’m excited to continue that growth well into my career.

I’d say let’s take a picture, but my Dad already made me pose for yet another snap-shot before I left for work this morning! He was right though, this is only the beginning for me.

Transparency

Transparency.

This word has received a lot of attention lately. Though, it hasn’t been so much about who is using it, but who hasn’t. From the recent sentencing of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to the controversy surrounding the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a lack of transparency may partially be to blame for creating bad reputations.

These cases and many others are creating a demand for transparency among businesses and organizations of every size. This thinking is establishing an environment of accountability and is encouraging open communication between all invested stakeholders, which in turn is creating a more honest, open approach to business practices. At the 2010 Public Relations Society of America Michigan Conference, Peter Shankman even said, “Transparency has become the new pink!”

I’ve learned this whole transparent train-of-thought can easily transfer to my day-to-day activities as I take on new projects at Eisbrenner Public Relations. In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve already found that open communication is vital to my team’s success. The dialogue between my teammates and I upon receiving an assignment must include the logistics (who, what, where, when and how) and also the obstacles I may need to overcome. Whether these obstacles include a timing conflict or difficulty comprehending something, they must all be addressed. Ultimately, a transparent discussion helps efficiently produce something everyone can be proud of.

As I continue my internship, I aim to carry this lesson out on a daily basis. I also pledge the counsel I provide to my clients and bosses during my entire career will reflect this lesson of transparency.

Do you have any life lessons or stories to share about transparency, or maybe some helpful articles?

From Textbook to Practice

I can see the lead on the press release now…

“TROY, Mich. – Recent college graduate, Lindsay Karpinskas, embarks on a new journey as Eisbrenner Public Relations’ newest intern.”

I have all the basics of public relations down; everything from AP style to writing an opening lead for a press release, but how well can I write a blog entry?

Here with my first post for the SPEAKeasy blog, I guess we’re about to find out. Having just earned a degree in public relations, I’m sure I can manage. I’ve taken the courses, attended the conferences and even discussed the mechanics with current public relations practitioners. Now comes the tricky part…applying what I’ve learned to the real world.

Before I get too far ahead, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Lindsay Karpinskas, a Troy, Mich. native and proud graduate of Grand Valley State University. While in school, I was an active member of my sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and the ski team.

During my sophomore year of college, I discovered an interest in communications and a growing curiosity for public relations. This curiosity was explored during my internship in the City of Troy’s Community Affairs Department. Through this experience, I began to see the true power of public relations. I found it holds the potential to build and strengthen a community. It was this realization and many others made during my undergraduate studies that have led me to where I am today.

Now I’m excited to learn more as I start my internship here at Eisbrenner PR. I’m eager to see how well my skills transfer to the real world and what new things I’ll learn along the way. So come join me in my journey from textbook to practice as I share these lessons with you!

Part three: The PR elevator speech

What is an elevator speech?

The elevator speech is the idea that in the short time spent going from one floor to the next, a person can share the important highlights of their company, product or service.

Let’s practice by creating a public relations elevator speech.

As I look back at the last couple posts, and read discussions across the Web, there are a few key words that repeat: communicate; trust; relevancy; organizations; and publics.

When I put them together, I came up with this statement:

“Public relations communicates relevant information for organizations to build trust with the groups that are important to its success. This trust creates relationships that promote understanding between the company and those who interact with it.”

This statement is still a lot to swallow. I think adding clarifiers that fit the context of a conversation help it work more smoothly.

For example: “Public relations communicates information about new products and management changes, to build trust or confidence with a company’s investors, employees and customers that will promote understanding between these groups and the company’s decision makers.”

What do you think? I plan to try it over the holidays with family and friends. I’m hoping they might finally understand what I do.

Staying competitive in the job market

The public relations industry has always been competitive, but it may be now more than ever. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “[the] employment of public relations specialists is expected to grow by 18 percent from 2006 to 2016, faster than average for all occupations.”

Don’t let this statistic fool you! The report followed up by saying “keen competition likely will continue for entry-level public relations jobs, as the number of qualified applicants is expected to exceed the number of job openings.”

What does this mean for students and recent college graduates? Two words: get busy!

Here are few things I focused on that I feel have helped me stay competitive:

Lead - Employers are looking for more than just four years in a college classroom. Start leading in campus and community organizations. I served as president of Wayne State University’s PRSSA Chapter, and I gained experience I couldn’t have received anywhere else. I learned how to manage projects, hold meetings and build relationships.

Write - You’ve heard this over and over again, but writing is the absolute, most important skill to have for your career. To gain experience, I wrote for our PRSSA newsletter, guest posted on blogs, drafted press releases for local companies and wrote essays for scholarships. Each of these different writing styles have helped me improve my writing.

Read - You may be thinking you have enough to read with your textbooks, but it’s important to spend time reading outside the classroom. A broad reading list has helped me to stay on top of changes in the world and the industry. I like reading the New York Times, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Mashable, CNET and PRWeek. And, when I have extra time I add in a book, like The New Rules of Marketing and PR.

Build Relationships - Ever heard the phrase “it’s not what you know, but it’s who you know?” This is partially true. The relationships I’ve built with past employers, classmates and professors have proved extremely beneficial. I continue to build relationships by attending tweetups, conferences and PRSA Detroit events.

Nothing about getting an internship or job is scientific or fool proof, but you have to work hard if you want to be the best candidate. What things are you doing to stay competitive?

Work, Work, Work!

On my official second day as an intern at Eisbrenner, we had a staff meeting in the morning where we discussed company priorities and current statuses with clients. I learned a lot, especially that the staff here has a great sense of humor!

Following the staff meeting, I received my very first assignments. My first task was to research potential article topics for a newsletter the company would be creating. The difficult thing about this was that the newsletter would be released in September. A lot can happen in two months. I searched countless sites for interesting information on new and developing products. Finally, when I came across a few articles that I knew could be potential candidates, I submitted my topics to my mentor and she approved. I felt a wave of satisfaction fall over me. Little did I know, this assignment was not over yet.

After I finished my first assignment, it was lunchtime. Regardless of what anyone thinks, I still believe lunch is the best part of the day!

As the day carried on I received another assignment and continued to learn more about the company and public relations. Social media is a progressively expanding aspect of public relations. My job was to find local journalists on twitter that Eisbrenner could follow. I’d never used Twitter before so this was a great opportunity to become familiar with the site.

As I neared the end of the day, I was informed that tomorrow I’d be writing a small article on one of the topics I researched today for the newsletter. All that work in college was going to pay off and I couldn’t wait to start writing!

There's a First Time for Everything

My name is Angela Chupa and I’m a new intern at Eisbrenner Public Relations. I will be a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin – Madison this coming school year. I’m also on the women’s varsity tennis team. Many think playing sports at the collegiate level is very fun and exciting, which it is, but some people don’t realize that being rewarded in this way takes a lot of hard work, patience and sacrifices. Not to mention my oscillating stress level! Being a student athlete has not only helped me learn how to manage my time, but it has taught me a lot about teamwork and how important it is for success. I’m excited to apply my college learning experiences to my future responsibilities.

Today I started my first internship ever, and I was definitely nervous! I was unsure of what to expect on my first day at Eisbrenner. The last thing I wanted to do was to arrive late, so I left my house about 45 minutes too early. Instead of going into the office early, I decided to drive around town for about 30 minutes to waste time. However when I finally entered the office, I felt much more comfortable once I got settled in and started meeting people.

My first day of work consisted of meeting the staff and learning about the company and what they do. Everyone here is very friendly and easy to communicate with. I was able to ask a lot of questions throughout the day to get a better understanding of what public relations is all about. I didn’t receive any work today, but I’ve been informed I’ll receive some tomorrow.

I’m very thankful for this opportunity to work with the team and start developing useful skills for my future. I can’t wait to get started on my assignments!

PR strategies for PR

One thing I’ve noticed in my short time in the public relations world is there are never enough hours in the day. We spend a lot of time meeting deadlines, developing new strategies and pondering ways to makes things better. We rush to meet one deadline and then we realize another one is fast approaching. We are in a constant whirlwind of deadlines and ideas.

I love this about PR, in fact it’s one of the reasons I chose to go into the field. We are all very creative people who like to put our skills and knowledge to good use by helping others. We strive to be the best, as well as to be on top of the newest technology, news, products, etc.

The lack of hours in the day and the never-ending deadlines keep us from doing basic things that allow us to show the value of what we do, which upsets me because I know our work is invaluable and that we are leaders with great ideas to share.

I know most PR professionals wish they could wave a magic wand and everyone would appreciate the value of their work, but it’s not that easy. We have to work for it and spend time educating people, but with looming deadlines and clients and organizations to look out for, we put educating people on the back burner.

So, what is the best way to combat this? How can PR people continue to dream up strategies and execute them, as well as be completely in the know and further the education of the PR world as a whole?

I surely don’t know the answer, but I do feel that as technology increases and communication formats change, we are going to have to focus on educating people on what we do and why we do it. We have to start using our public relations strategies for public relations!

Have ideas of your own? Let me know below!

Inauguration 2009: Communication Galore

Yesterday was incredible. Not because of politics or the number of people who peacefully gathered in one place to be part of a moment in history. It was incredible because of the sheer volume of people who used new forms of communication outlets to watch the inauguration events and to interact with each other.

Long gone are the days of families sitting by the radio or the TV and simply talking about programs with their families and friends. From now on people will turn to the internet and social media sites, as well as radio and TV. There will be more two-way communication between people from across the globe and yesterday proved it.

People viewed the inauguration festivities from their TV and computer screens and listened to it on the radio. People tweeted about it, blogged about it and changed their Facebook and MySpace statuses to reveal their feelings or to describe what they were doing to celebrate the moment. These responses were in real time and allowed for communication between people from all over the world. To me, that is incredible!

The historic moment opened my eyes and revealed to me that new communication outlets will be introduced all the time and they not only influence how we communicate with each other, but it changes the way we do business and how we handle various situations. We are more interconnected than we’ve ever been and in the PR realm it’s so important for us to stay current with these changes because it will help us do what we do best – communicate and build relationships!

The Times Are A-Changin'

I woke up this morning with the perfect fall chill in my bedroom. It was the type of morning where the blankets felt just right and the thought of lifting the covers and hopping out of bed might just be the worst moment of the day. As I lay there wishing I didn’t have to get up, I remembered that I get to go to Eisbrenner for my first full week as their intern and from that moment getting out of bed wasn’t so hard.

I had an amazing introduction to Eisbrenner last week! I am so pumped to learn everything I possibly can about the agency, my co-workers, the field of public relations and most importantly to get a firsthand take on what life will be like once I graduate in April.

Wait, how rude of me! I haven’t even introduced myself yet. My name is Holly Myles and I’m a senior at Eastern Michigan University studying public relations and political science. I’m what many call the crazy busy bee that rarely takes down time.

I’m the secretary of the EMU’s Eleanor Wright Public Relations Student Society of America, which we are co-hosting the 2008 National PRSSA Conference with Wayne State University. The conference is going to be an amazing experience and I’m so fortunate to be able to be involved with some of the prep work, as well as some of the event management for the week.

Along with PRSSA, I’m the account executive at EMU’s student-run firm, ExPRessions public relations. Also, I’m the new program director of Toys for Tweens and Teens and the Student-to-Student Higher Learning Initiative, which is a charity focusing on foster children. Finally, I coach the Redford Union High School dance team. The busy life it is for me and I wouldn’t want it any other way. These activities provide me great opportunities and lifelong friendships.

Back to work it’s for me. Thank goodness I didn’t let the fall chill keep me in bed because it is going to be a great day at Eisbrenner. In fact, I’m positive the next couple of months are going to be an amazing ride, so jump aboard and follow my journey!