Public Relations is a Lifestyle

One of the questions I get asked the most throughout my career is how I manage to achieve work and life balance. It’s not an easy question to answer, but I believe after working in broadcast news for 13 years and public relations for 20, I can say the key is melding the two together. For me, it’s not about separating one from the other. It’s about integrating who I am, what I do, and what I believe in to gain greater creativity and success in all areas of my life.

Relationships

I was once awarded a plaque at work that said, “Most likely to know somebody who knows somebody.” My colleagues gave it to me as a joke, but I took it with pride. I thrive in connecting the dots between people and how we can help each other out in the long run. Relationships are everything in my world. A common myth about relationships is that the hardest part is making them – that’s actually not true – the hardest part is maintaining and nourishing them so they grow into something meaningful and relevant. This goes for your child’s teacher or your neighbor to your co-workers and clients. For me, my clients are the media. Sure, it can be hard to find the right reporter, producer, writer, influencer, etc, to tell your story to, but once you make those acquaintances, make an effort to keep those relationships alive. For example, after being a TV news junkie for so many years, I still have the impulse to call an assignment desk when breaking news is happening or call a reporter friend to give them a story that has nothing to do with family theme parks, tourism or the travel industry. Those friendly outreaches not only give me credibility but also help fuel lines of trust and friendship I’ve already established. It’s shocking to me how many PR professionals don’t take the time to know the media to whom they are pitching. Research not only what they cover but how they cover it. Discover if they have children, what’s their own personal story and how you can tap into that to get to know them better and really pitch a well-crafted story.

"A common myth about relationships is that the hardest part is making them – that’s actually not true – the hardest part is maintaining and nourishing them so they grow into something meaningful and relevant."

Be Human

In this day of the digital revolution and AI, it’s amazing to me how so many common courtesies and personal touches have left the landscape. When was the last time you received a handwritten note? If you did, I bet you remember who sent it. Thank you notes have gone astray, but sending one will make you memorable. Try calling someone instead of texting, emailing or DM-ing them on social media. Remember the names of your colleagues’ kids, your neighbor’s dog, your mail delivery person or your flight attendant. Acknowledge a reporter’s birthday, a colleague’s anniversary or welcome a new neighbor.

Think Outside The Box

I was trying to promote a new LEGO Star Wars Miniland at LEGOLAND California Resort many years ago, and I had a life-size LEGO Chewbacca to take with me to different cities to try to garner media exposure. I fared well in most cities, but when I got to Sacramento, I had a few stations cancel on me or not even take my calls. I knew I had to get coverage one way or another. As a runner, I suspected there would be lots of joggers and other foot traffic along the Sacramento River, so I placed the giant Chewbacca along the walkway. I casually told one of the joggers who had stopped to take a picture of it that they should call a TV news station to let them know it was there. And yes, I supplied her with the number. Within a half hour, two TV news photographers arrived to take the video, and I gave them an interview on the spot. It made the news that night with the message that the new LEGO Star Wars Miniland was opening within months! At home, when I was a single mom for 11 years, I had to think out of the box many times when fixing dinner (who says you can’t have pancakes for dinner?), paying bills, getting my boys to different soccer tournaments that were across town from each other (I owed a lot of other soccer moms wine for their carpool help) or communicating with teachers when I couldn’t make an open house ( I reverted back to the old days of actually writing a letter to the teacher explaining how my son works best, what he needs to improve and asking how I could help). Applying the same tools and approaches across both my professional and personal lives has helped me find that work and life balance and a successful career.