There is always a bit of excitement in the air when starting to work with a new client. I began working for my newest client, CareerScribe, at the beginning of this month and I can feel anticipation building as the launch of the Alpha version of their Web site is quickly approaching. 

 

CareerScribe is the future of hiring and career management.  It leaps and bounds ahead of any other online job resource site. It has everything you like from other sites but brings the art of searching, interviewing and hiring into the digital age…the ‘YouTube generation’! And it’s launching right here in Indianapolis – recently ranked by Forbes as one of the hottest growing business communities!

To check out this site and/or create your own profile please visit: http://www.careerscribe.com/

The recent phenomenon and popularity of blogs, especially the extent to which they've grown in the past few years, astonishes me. The fact that something that never existed until very recently can provide a lucrative career for people now seems crazy. But that is the world we live in - where new technology is developed every day, and new developments very quickly become obsolete.

I vaguely remember becoming aware of what a blog was sometime when I was in college. A blog was then simply a means of online communication for friends, family or a group of people with similar interests. It was a simple forum for discussion, which until the past year I really had no interest in. But modern-day communication is constantly evolving, which requires everyone - businesses and individuals alike - to not only take notice of the trends but to join them. These days, you can find a blog on just about any topic you're interested in - from sports to politics, education to ice cream. Corporations and political candidates have their own blogs as do college students and retirees. Here at Dittoe PR, every account executive has her own blog for which she writes on a regular basis.

Online news sites have largely replaced print newspapers and magazines. While many people still enjoy picking up a hard copy of their favorite news source to read on a Sunday morning or when they're traveling on an airplane, it is far easier to read news on the computer - especially when so many people are in front of one all day long. Online news sites can still make money by selling advertisements on their web pages. Similarly, bloggers who are able to generate enough traffic to their sites can sell ads as a means of income - supplementary or even full time.

For example, I just read an article this morning in the New York Times on a woman, Heather Armstrong, who runs her own blog for other women - particularly mothers - called "Dooce." Her site has become so wildly popular that she's been able to sell ads to corporate giants like J.C. Penny, Crate & Barrel, Walgreens and Starwood. She's generating enough income through these ads that both she and her husband have since quit their regular jobs to focus on running the blog!

With forms of communication changing so rapidly - not to mention the other technological advancements that are constantly happening in our world - students in college today are likely to have a job in something that didn't exist when they were preparing for their careers. And for the rest of us - we'd better stay up to date with the changes, or we'll be left behind!

 Why do the fish at the Indiana State Fair ALWAYS die?

This week I went to the Indiana State Fair with my family and it was a blast. I honestly don’t think I have gone to the fair since I was six years old or younger. It was such a great way to spend time with my parents, grandpa and brother, and I recommend everyone in Indiana go for at least one night. Attendance records were actually set at this year’s fair.

One of the highlights of the trip for me was riding a train to and from the fair. Train rides were provided from the station near my house in Fishers, Ind. to the fair and back. I’ve never been on a train before, so it was a pretty cool experience. One of the conductors even came into the railroad car we were riding in and played railroad songs on his guitar for us. I wanted him to play Casey Jones by the Grateful Dead, but I settled for some more historic tunes I’m not familiar with.

Once we arrived, my first stop was at the corn dog stand, naturally. I am a huge corn dog fan and it was delicious. Then, we made our way through petting some of the animals, riding the carnival rides (I just watched everyone else) and playing games. That brings me to the purpose of my blog post…

My grandparents used to take me to the fair when I was very young and every time I would have to play the game where you can win a goldfish. You know the game- there are a ton of small fish bowls on a table and you have to throw a ping pong ball into one. Well, since I hadn’t attended the fair in so many years, I decided I had to play this game until I won a fish. And, I did! I was ecstatic! Seriously, I was so happy. But, that feeling was very short lived.

I remember many years back when I won a fish, by the morning following the fair it was dead. I was determined not to let that happen this year. So, as soon as I arrived home, I went to the store and bought fish food. I fed the little guy, who I named Phelps the Fish after the Olympic record setting Michael Phelps, before going to bed. Then, I woke up this morning, got ready for work and went to his bowl. I was going to make him the mascot of Dittoe Public Relations, but he was dead. Our time together was cut far too short.

Seriously, can someone please tell me what the deal is? I have NEVER won a fish from the Indiana State Fair and had it live longer than 12 hours. I have had goldfish as pets in the past that I did not win at the fair, and they lived for a very long time. Any insight you have is much appreciated. I need to know ASAP, so I can go win another one before the fair ends.

In public relations, there is no better feeling than landing a great piece of coverage for a client. At times, I am convinced that I’m even happier about securing a story or interview than my client is. Not to say that the client isn’t thrilled, but it’s just an unbelievable feeling that never seems to get old. Regardless of the size of the media outlet, from a large national newspaper to a small trade publication, the feeling of accomplishment is exactly the same. The fact of the matter (and this is widely under recognized) is that a story in a small trade publication may bring a client even more business than a story in the Wall Street Journal or New York Times. It’s all about the audience and the message.

This week, one of my favorite things in PR happened. Actually, it happened twice. I was contacted by two media outlets that I last corresponded with three months ago about doing stories (one television and one print) on one of my former clients, Sonicu. It all goes back to the age old saying, “Timing is everything.” The bottom line is a great story will get picked up, but not necessarily when you expect it to.

As put best by the president of Sonicu, it is “Interesting how seed planted a while back can still grow.” Throughout this weekend, he will be appearing on Indiana's most watched weekly business television program, Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.  The first airing of the week’s show is on Friday nights at 10:00 p.m. CHECK IT OUT!

Probably one of the most important aspects of public relations is longevity.  Defined by the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, longevity is “1 a: a long duration of individual life b: length of life <a study of longevity>2: long continuance: permanence, durability.”

You want to work with a public relations professional and/or firm who you can stay with long-term not just because it adds stability and undoubtedly a continued stream of coverage – but also because you like calling one person, the same person, every time you need some PR assistance.

In my first job, I traveled across the country training businesses on how to use the computer software my company sold and supported.  Even years after I last visited a site, the managers or salespeople would call me asking for help with the software.  Why?  It was typically because every time they called customer support they reached a different technical specialist or their salesperson left their territory/region and they just wanted to talk to one person who understood their situation, not be passed around from person to person.

I was someone my former clients could call, no matter what, and they knew I would work to help solve their problem until they were 100% satisfied.

That’s what we do at Dittoe.  Every account manager deals with different clients, client contacts and media contacts on a daily basis.  Not only are we charged with telling our clients’ stories and getting them coverage in the media outlets they want to be in on a regular basis – but we work hard to ensure everyone we communicate with is happy.

Our clients know who their Dittoe account manager is.  We communicate with them multiple times a week and they know our mobile numbers – so even at 10:00pm, when someone gets an idea or a last minute decision is made, we’re on it.

I think our accountability and availability plays major roles in our longevity with many clients.  The proof is in the pudding…

We currently work with clients who were some of the first to try out Dittoe Public Relations back when Chris and Liza founded the company.  Clients don’t “come and go” here… they stay, and if they leave, they typically come back.

Longevity.  It’s a major key to the success of any company, whether you’re B-to-B or B-to-C.  You want to be good ole reliable.  You want to be the first name that pops up in your client’s mind.

“Failure is not an option.” Feels like I've lived my whole life by those words. But lately, I’ve begun to feel like it’s a flawed M.O., and I don’t think I’m alone.

 

I've mentioned before that I attended Butler University. It was my dream school. Busted my rear to get in there. Busted my rear, and sacrificed my physical well-being*, while there. When I graduated from Butler in May of 2006, our convocation speaker was James McBride. He’s the author of The Color of Water, a book that spent two years on the NY Times Bestseller list. Seems a guy that wouldn't know much about the topic of failure, eh? But that was exactly his point. McBride believed that fearing failure was, in itself, the ultimate failure, for if you feared what you didn’t know, you’d never push yourself to try the "impossible."

 

After graduation, my father came up to me, visibly irritated. “Who the hell encourages a room full of new graduates, and their parents who’ve scraped and sacraficed to educate them, to fail?!”

 

While my father may have** missed McBride's point, he articulates mine beautifully. Our whole lives we're taught that failing is bad. We play it safe because we're too afraid of what will happen if we step outside the lines to try what’s never been done before. But how are we rewarded? It seems that those people who do the “impossible” are the ones that reach their true potential, while the rule followers end up carrying out the dreams of others.

 

But as inspiring as pushing the envelope and risking everything is, sometimes we do fail. And it doesn't feel good. The inspiration for this post actually came from a blog post I recently read by Julie Wainwright. Wainwright was the CEO of Pets.com, the infamous company that suffered irreversibly after the dotcom bust. What's more, the very week Pets.com went belly-up, Wainwright's marriage of seven years did the same. She's had people laugh in her face upon introduction. She’s been called a loser and one of the biggest failures ever. On national media.

 

That's a hard burden to bear. But what her recent post and subsequent new venture smartnow.com, a Web site and community for women around 40, have taught me is that people can and do overcome mistakes and are often the better for it. Sure, feeling like a failure sucks. Failing sucks. But you know what sucks even worse than failing? The feeling of regret or what might have been. I can't say that I've been through something like Wainwright. I haven't even failed that much in my meager 24 years, but hearing the adversity that she overcame to become the woman she is today gives me the courage to say "Why not?"

 

There are of course times when failure is not an option*** but honestly, those times are few and far between. So I challenge you today to do something that scares the bejesus out of you, not with reckless abandon, but with a fearlessness and confidence that people will be given no choice but to respect. Chances are, you will learn something great, and if you fail, well, just remember, the opinions expressed (and advice given) by Laura Kassenbrock do not necessarily reflect those of Dittoe Public Relations.

 

* My average hours of sleep in college averaged five; the same as my average cups of coffee/day. And on many occasions, I swear I felt an ulcer coming on. I know, I know.  "Cry me a river, private school girl."

** OK, definitely. Love you, dad.
*** Bungee jumping, drug testing, defusing bombs (who are you, MacGyver?)

Last night, I was one of millions of Americans who I'm sure witnessed the amazing finish in the Olympic men's 400 meter freestyle relay swim race for the gold metal. The United States relay team, led by swimmer phenom Michael Phelps, was not expected to win the race. While commentators said that they had a shot if each individual swimmer put in a perfect effort, the general concession was that the French team would take the gold.

There was also mention of the French team doing some trash talking prior to the race. The Americans, however, focused only on swimming their very best in this race. As the race began, with Phelps leading off, the excitement started to build. Phelps swam his lap in record speed but was still behind the French leader. The second and third legs of the race went similarly, with the Americans remaining in first or second place throughout. Once the fourth leg of the race - swam for the U.S. by 32-year old Jason Lezak - began, the French had a considerable lead. Lezak swam hard but remained about 4 or 5 feet (I'm judging this simply by the appearance on TV; I'm no swim expert, so that might be a little off) behind Alain Bernard, the French anchor, until the final half length of the race. In what seemed like an impossible burst of speed, Lezak make up the distance, pushing just past Bernard, to win the race by a finger-tip.

The members of the U.S. team went crazy, celebrating their victory after it had seemed to have slipped from their grasp. American TV commentators roared with excitement and the crowd went wild. It was certainly a great Olympic moment for the United States. Michael Phelps was particularly excited, because winning this gold medal meant that his quest to win a record 8 gold medals at the Beijing Olympics was still alive.

I find it inspiring the way that Americans support their athletes at the Olympics on the world stage. I generally have no particular interest in many of the sporting events that our athletes compete in. I would usually never watch swimming, diving, fencing, or volleyball - they're just not sports I find particularly entertaining. However, when it comes to the Olympics - when U.S. athletes are competing for our country, against the greatest athletes in the world, and as part of an event where members of countries worldwide come together - I find myself drawn to watch and to cheer for the American athletes in all sports.

I also love getting to see the powerful stories behind some of the athletes competing. One example is of a gymnast on the German women's team. At 33 years old, Oksana Chusovitina is an Olympic veteran and more than twice the age of many fellow competitors. After winning team gold at the Barcelona games in 1992 with the Soviet Union, she went on to compete for Uzbekistan prior to 2006. In 2001, when her son was diagnosed with leukemia, she and her family moved to Germany to seek treatment for him. The treatments were successful, and his cancer is now in remission. Chusovitina went on to gain Germain citizenship and compete in gymnastics for the country that "saved her son." The Beijing Olympics mark her fifth time competing in the Olympic games. Despite wanting to see the U.S. do well in every sport, I think I'll be silently hoping for her to do well - after all that she's been through with her son's illness, she deserves it!

Have you ever used NO-AD sunscreen on vacation?  It's really good stuff... great value for the money too because the bottles are ginormous.  What makes this sunscreen really different than Banana Boat, Panama Jack and Coppertone is they don't advertise - hence the name "no-ad."

This company has relied on word of mouth marketing for years.  I first started using it when I was in middle school because I saw a friend with a hot pink bottle of 15 SPF.

While it makes for an interesting case study, NO-AD is also very unique.  Many companies are creating "word of mouth" marketing campaigns which rely heavily on social media sites like Facebook or MySpace, emails (like those sent out by Indianapolis-based ExactTarget), blogs (like your's truly here) and SMS text messaging.  NO-AD really relied on good, solid, old-fashioned word of mouth.

On the American Marketing Association's Web site, Marketing Power, they currently have a survey posted which I found to be extremely interesting.  They ask, "What is your most effective word-of-mouth technique?"  The responses are what got my attention:

• Social Media Sites - 22%
• Email - 54%
• Blogs - 16%
• SMS - 8%

Honestly, I voted for blogs.  I have experienced a great deal of success in gaining coverage for my clients in blogs.  Many blogs have a daily traffic snapshots reaching over 2.2 million making their online viewership greater than the printed circulation of the same company or other reputable media outlets in the same space.

I believe people are more likely to believe the word of a blogger than some group on Facebook or some email they've received.  Emails have a leg-up on blogs though... many campaigns are opt-in and all [should be] opt-out compliant.  To find a blog takes more effort than just checking your inbox - I'll give you that!

I am sad to see that SMS isn't appearing to catch on as quickly as I had anticipated.  I've yet to participate in any opt-in SMS campaign and I really don't think it's for me.  I equate it to receiving a phone call from a telemarketer right when I sit down for dinner.  There's never a good time to receive a random text message from a stranger... not for me, at least!

So what about you?  How will/would you vote?

This morning, I saw a video on Inc. magazine's website talking about "How to choose a PR agency." This was interesting to me, coming from the agency side, to look at what clients must think about in deciding to work with us. So I started thinking about each of the five "tips" given in light of Dittoe PR and our clients.

1.Use references.
Talk to friends and business contacts you know and trust to see what firms they think will be a good fit for your organization. I know we've gotten several of our clients through references and word of mouth. Since we're located in Indianapolis, it's easy for companies here to see our work and for Dittoe to attract the attention of more local clients.

2. Does a PR agency know your business?
Engage the PR agency in dialogue about your industry and business challenges. Ask them how they would likely approach your account. Dittoe works with a wide variety of clients but has particular expertise in the high tech industry. However, after working with several clients in the education industry recently, we've gained a great deal of knowledge about this industry over the past year. Similarly with working with other clients, we're continually learning as much as possible about the marketplace and various industries in order to be able to serve an increasing range of clientelle.

3. Test the chemistry between your company and the agencies that you’re looking at. Who do you think you’ll get along with best and be able to work well with? With any business partnership, it's very important to understand one another and be able to communicate well. Dittoe has a wide range of clients and therefore a wide range of client relationships. Some clients like to talk on the phone with us every day, while others will go days or sometimes even weeks between emails with us. It's our responsibility to understand our clients' needs and cater specifically to them, communicating in the method they prefer.

4. Be a partner. Make sure to let the agency know all the relevant information they might need in order to best tell your story. This is very important to a PR agency. Since what we do is "tell our clients' stories" essentially, it is critical that we have all the necessary information to paint a picture for the media. Clients who withhold information from us are doing themselves a disservice.

5. Define success. Make sure you and the agency have the same goals in mind. It is important for Dittoe to know what our clients expect of us and what will make them happy. That way, we can set our expectations - and help set theirs realistically. All clients usually say they want to be on Oprah, but unfortunately that rarely happens. Landing coverage like Good Morning America, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times is incredible and we're always so excited when stories like these run for our clients. Also, knowing where a client would most like to be featured is important. Some clients would actually prefer to be included in trade publications - written specifically for people in their industry - instead of national newspapers or magazines written for the general public.

Dittoe PR is very good at what we do, and we know how to achieve media coverage successfully for our clients. Anyone looking for a PR agency who would like national exposure should give us a look!

So this morning while I was getting ready to come into work (seriously, can you believe it's the last day of July?), I decided to wear my charm bracelet in a last minute grab for jewelry as I headed downstairs.

When I sat down at my desk today with coffee in hand, the jingling of the few charms I do have rattled against the laminate desktop and instantly I remembered the sound of this bracelet in high school and college.  Each time it seemed a little heavier -- and a little bit more "jingly."

It all started when I was 12 years old.  For Christmas my Grandmother gave me her mother's charm bracelet with one single charm on it... my Dad's silhouette with his name engraved on it.  She had one for every grandchild, I was told. 

After that Christmas, I began to receive new charms each year.  For my 13th birthday I got an ice skate since I had started skating lessons and surprisingly, was doing well at the sport.  For my 14th birthday a viola for the instrument I started playing at age 11 - and still play from time to time.  At 15, my mom gave me one of her charms for typing 60 words a minute - in honor of my own typing skills. 16 - a basketball hoop and ball to commemorate when I made the varsity basketball team that fall.  17 - a graduation cap and the number "2000," and at 18, the state of Indiana since I chose to attend Hanover College.

I didn't receive another charm after June 2000, until last year.  On the night before my wedding, my mother-in-law gave me a charm with my "new" initials on it, our wedding date and a special message just from her.

In a way, this charm bracelet is the story of my life and a continuation of my great-grandmother's. The jingling is a constant reminder of where I've been and what I've done.  I think for Christmas this year I'll ask for a new charm... maybe a telephone or a computer to mark my employment at Dittoe Public Relations?

On July 28, Laura Olson, a reporter from the Indianapolis Star wrote the article, "Indy-area volunteers not stingy with time." She stated in the article, "Indianapolis is one of the top 10 metro areas in volunteer hours per resident, according to a federal report released Sunday."

Many Indianapolis residents are always itching to learn more about where they can volunteer their time and services.  I know of a great volunteer opportunity that you can partake in at any time of the year and as much or little as you would like! 

Eagle Creek Park on the Northwest side of Indianapolis is looking for volunteers to help out at the park doing various activities.  Some of them include taking children on hikes, gardening, working at the marina, working at the newly built Discovery Center, answering phones, taking care of animals and setting up for art shows that exhibit four times a year at the Discovery Center.



If you or someone you know is interested please contact Rosie Johnson, the volunteer coordinator at Eagle Creek Park.  Her number is (317) 327-7148.

We've all done it. You see a homeless person on the sidewalk or at an intersection and you give them what little change or maybe cash you have in your wallet. Maybe you've even given someone your doggy bag from your nice dinner out. Ultimately you feel sorry for the person and try to offer assistance without really getting involved, right?

My friend Matt did this for an "amputee" and Vietnam War veteran who was seemingly down on his luck in Louisville. Hours later, Matt was astounded to see the man stand up out of his wheelchair and run off with some very real legs and with all of the cash he was given. Matt was upset and everyone who witnessed it commented they would never give money to a homeless person again. 

While finishing up her masters, one of my best friends worked for a company committed to helping homeless people here in Indianapolis. Sadly, one day her purse was stolen out of her office. Though it was later found, the man seen taking it was one of the people her company had offered its services to in the past.

It's hard to help people when you know the odds of them taking your help and actually using it to better themselves (buy food, clothes, etc...) are slim to none. A friend of my Dad's offered to take a homeless man in my hometown of Greenville, SC to McDonald's and buy him lunch - anything he wanted. The man stared at him in disbelief and said, "Just give me money, man."

Unfortunately, many people who are forced to live on the streets face addictions ranging from alcohol to gambling. Their addiction is a disease, and any money they receive goes to feed it. Other large portions of homeless people in the U.S. are victims of foreclosures, bankruptcy and sadly - many are mentally ill.

OK - so why my rant on homeless people? Here in Indianapolis, we have a problem. You don't see it every where... but downtown, especially at night, there are a lot of folks who have nowhere to sleep, no shelter and no dinner. The worst part of this mess is the city is forcing them to get out from underneath the bridges that provide them with the only shelter available and is not providing them with any alternatives.

Every city has a dark side - a side tourists/visitors never see. By placing nice hotels close to attractions like museums, malls, monuments, sport & concert arenas and convention centers most visitors never have to see the "bad" part of town. But what about those of us who live in these bigger cities? We drive through rough areas sometimes. In fact, we probably drive out of our way to avoid them. I say it's time we stop driving around the problems plaguing society and make a change.

Write to your mayor today if you agree with me, and ask them what their plans are to provide the homeless with shelter and increase safety for citizens throughout the city - regardless of race, religion and income.

For those of you in Indianapolis, write to Mayor Greg Ballard here.

OK, so is it bad that I'm already counting down until the Colts play the Bears on Sunday, September 7th at 8:15pm at the new Lucas Oil Stadium?

My excitement for this season is greater than it was last year when they were the reigning world champs.  I know... I didn't think it was possible, either!  Of course, you can imagine my excitement when I learned from MediaPost.com about Reebok's new commercial by Mcgarrybowen which features both the Manning brothers and other league stars like Chad Johnson, Vince Young and Brian Urlacher (all personal favorites of mine).

Of course, the commercial features several teams including the Colts.  By the way, where the heck are the Colts walking?  They look like they're in the swamps of Florida, not the fields of Indiana!? 

Check the ad out for yourself by clicking on the picture above and let me know what you think.  It gets me excited about football... not Reebok, but maybe that's because I'm a Nike girl all the way.  What about you?  Will you join the migration?

Last week, Dittoe's insurance company sent out a representative to our office to perform an annual "health screening" of all the employees ensured. We were informed that we would each have a finger pricked to draw blood for analysis and that we needed to complete surveys about our nutrition, lifestyles, etc.

During this process, I started thinking about how healthy I really am. While I feel like I've always been a pretty healthy eater and have always been involved in playing sports, I think I definitely owe it to myself to re-evaluate how healthy I currently am and to make necessary changes to my diet and excercise plan if necessary.

When I look at my diet, I know one thing I could stand to improve is eating more fruits and vegetables. I like the way I feel when I'm eating healthy, and I like most fruits and veggies. The difficulty lies in actually working these foods into my diet. I often seem to buy too many fruits or veggies which I'm not able to eat by myself, and they go bad. Or I won't feel like taking the time to cook or prepare veggies with dinner so I'll go without eating any. In taking a step back, though, I realize there are plenty of ways to work fruits and veggies into my diet fairly easily.

For the past week, I've tried to make a conscious effort to do so, and I've been happy surprised by how well it's gone. I bought cans of V-8 juice that I can drink with lunch at work - that give me a serving or two of veggies in each can. I bought and made an effort to eat green pepper and carrots with several dinners. And when buying fruit, I doled out portions that I knew I could eat before it went bad. (For example, I separated a smaller amount of grapes to buy from the huge, family-sized bags they're generally sold in.) The best part of my efforts to eat more fruits and veggies though, was that I allowed myself to buy berries. I generally don't buy raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries at the grocery store because of how expensive they are - even though I LOVE them. But this week I decided I was going to buy them anyway - because they're healthy and provide a nice break from eating an apple with every lunch. Yum :)

The second part of my self-imposed health evaluation was my exercise schedule. Growing up I played sports year-round and never had to worry about getting enough excercise. In college, 90% of the people I knew were extremely sports-oriented. I participated in intramural sports, ran with friends, and played pick-up sports all the time. A group of us even had a routine abs class - which one of my friends, who we affectionately dubbed the "Minister of Pain" led - that we held 2-3 times each week. Now that I'm living on my own, though, the responsibility to excercise falls solely on me, and without sports to play or a running partner it's much less fun, and it's more difficult to motivate myself to exercise.

This past May I ran the Mini Marathon in Indianapolis, which was a great excuse to get myself on a strict training schedule. For twelve weeks leading up to the race I ran at least three days a week, cross-trained on the non-running days, did a core/abs workout twice a week, and lifted twice a week. I was in the best shape I had been in for years! Unfortunately, once the race was over I reverted to my typical routine of just running when I felt like it and when the weather was ideal and not lifting weights at all.

So this week I decided I need to make a concerted effort to keep a stricter exercise schedule - where I make working out a priority. Even though I really dislike running on a treadmill, when it's 90 degrees outside that is the only option I have. So I've been doing that for several days over the past week, in addition to lifting some light weights. I'm also trying to attend the spinning class taught by my co-worker Christy Oberley at least once each week. It's a GREAT workout and is a lot of fun - and I know Christy will give me a hard time if I don't work hard!

It feels good to be healthy, and I know I'm doing a good thing for my body by remaining conscious of my health. Eating well and exercising gives me an increased energy level, puts me in a better mood, and gives me concrete goals to work toward with regard to my health. So thanks, insurance company, for coming to Dittoe PR and getting me thinking about healthy living!

This past weekend I headed home to South Carolina for the wedding of my best friend of over 20 years. 

She was the first friend I made in Greenville.  Last year she stood with me as I said "I do," and this year I was there for her.  It was an emotional experience for me -- and a lot of fun as I was able to hang out with her all weekend long and meet some of her new friends.

After the rehearsal dinner the entire bridal party headed out to celebrate with a few drinks, fresh oysters and live music downtown.  While getting to know everyone I quickly discovered what a small town I'm from... and what a small world we live in.

One of the other bridesmaids is dating a guy who will be in Indianapolis this week working at the new Lucas Oil Stadium.  I gave him some tips on where to go for dinner (St. Elmo of course!) and told him where he could find a good drink or two.

Another bridesmaid is getting married to a guy who lived with one of my best friends from high school while attending Clemson University.  We called him together and laughed while telling stories about him and some other folks we both had in common.

It was wild to know that I had so much in common with people I had never met before!

Overall, the weekend was great.  My friend looked amazing and the reception was a blast.  We did a little dancing, even though the humidity had us all sweating from the moment we stepped outside!  It made me miss home and everything "southern" I've been missing out on since I left for college. 

Who knows... maybe I'll run into someone from home up in Indy now.  If I learned anything from this past weekend, it's that it really is a small world after all.

Last night, along with several of my co-workers from Dittoe PR, I attended a dinner with the Two Million Minutes team and some special guests. This client account of mine is unique in that we get to meet people involved in the film from all over the world. This week, the two Chinese students from 2MM, Xiaoyuan and Ruizhang, are visiting Indianapolis as part of their first-ever trip to the United States.

Since Xiaoyuan sat at my table, I got to talk to her about her education, extra-curricular activities and the comparisons between China and the United States. I was very impressed with her English, as I had shown up to the dinner expecting our entire conversation to be translated by a Chinese/English interpreter. We were, however, able to talk freely, and she understood many topics that were brought up.

We talked about all the media attention Two Million Minutes has received here and how our national PR campaign has brought a lot of excitement to Dittoe. I asked about what she was studying in college and learned that she is a business major but also likes the arts. As a violinist and ballerina, she certainly has artistic talent.  

My favorite part of the night was when Xiaoyuan was asked to play her violin for the group. She had been asked to bring it with her from China and was happy to play a couple of songs for everyone. Now, let me preface this by saying that she had told me she'd been playing since she was four years old (she's now nineteen). Despite hearing this I didn't realize just how good she would be. The first piece she played was a fun, Irish dance song which made me want to go dance a jig at an Irish pub. I love Irish music, so I really enjoyed this one - and everyone clapped along as she played. The second piece seemed to be much more difficult and involved. It was a classical piece, and I was just amazed by how fast her fingers moved and the wide range of notes she was able to play.

It was pretty eye-opening to hear about China directly from Xiaoyuan as well. She mentioned the "one-child policy" which dictates that families residing in urban areas may only give birth to a single child, in order to curb the population growth. She also talked about how much more crowded it was in Shanghai than in Indianapolis.

Despite living across the world in a very different place, she also mentioned being familiar with American television shows such as Friends and CSI as well as some of the same athletes from around the world whom Americans watch. She mentioned that she loved to watch Rafael Nadal play tennis, her favorite sport.

It was definitely an interesting experience having dinner with these visitors from China. I learned a lot, and I hope the other Dittoe girls and I helped make their first dinner in America an enjoyable one!

They finally get it. I've tried to explain to my three best friends from college what the term Public Relations  means and what a Public Relations Practitioner actually does.  I've explained, given examples, had them meet my fellow peers in PRSSA and even brought them to my the PRSSA Relay For Life event(thanks again Ginny!).  As a teacher, nurse, and dietitian none of them have stepped foot in the communication school. 



I knew what my friends were going to be doing in their future careers but their lack of knowledge about my career choice was frustrating for me. Then I started to tell them what I do all day for eight or nine hours a day, and they all seemed interested in all the projects I presented to them. Then one night I asked them, do you really know what I'm talking about?  They told me the truth- "not...really."   

When I told them about my new client Katrina's Children, they began to understand the practice of Public Relations. Katrina's Children is a new documentary featuring nineteen children from different neighborhoods in New Orleans. The film examines the impact of Katrina on their lives and is told ENTIRELY from their point of view.  It is such a powerful documentary, and I encourage everyone to at least check out the trailer of the film.   





 It was a client that hit home to my college friends.  We attended college at The University of Alabama, so our school was canceled for a few days when Katrina made her way up through Mississippi and then upward through Alabama. 

We actually had a pretty sweet 'hurricane party' to make things a little bit better. I never thought I would really experience or come close to experiencing a hurricane due to the fact that I lived in Indiana my whole life- a state with NO BEACH!  This was my first time experiencing a hurricane- or the aftermath of one. We did get released from school for Hurricane Rita- but I played it safe and drove back to Indiana.

Back to the point- thanks to Katrina's Children, my friends from college have finally figured out what I do "in life" as we say.  I work at the best Public Relations firm in Indianapolis, specializing in high tech PR. 

An expert is defined as a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field; specialist; authority. Every day I pitch some journalist or blogger on speaking with a client, an expert in mobile technology, networking, social media, 3PL, etc… who can provide a perspective relevant to a story or unique enough to qualify as a story in and of itself.

I suppose I’m expert violist, field hockey player and dog trainer since I do possess special skill and knowledge in each field – but I don’t go around claiming to know everything about any of these skills. I consider myself to be an amateur at everything I am skilled at since I don’t quite have the tenure required to be taken seriously as an expert. 

The people I promote each day are referred to as experts because they know their business better than anyone else, bar none. In many cases, the experts I work with are founders of multiple organizations and all of them have taught me so much about their business and industry.

I’ve come to learn so much about the experts I work with and represent. So much that it’s difficult to present media contacts with all of the reasons why they need to speak with someone in the first place. I wish I could just label my clients as experts with stickers on their Web sites or foreheads, whichever they prefer, letting the world know that they are skilled at what they do, the best in fact.

Unfortunately, we all can’t walk around with signs letting the world know who we are – unless you’re into wearing a nametag for the rest of your life. That’s why PR is so important. As hard as it is to get the attention of the media, when I do it is a major adrenaline rush.

After reaching out to someone numerous times over a period of time and receiving no response, no inkling of interest – to get that one phone call or email asking for more information and to speak with the expert is the reason why I come into work every day. That call or email is how I earn my nametag: a Public Relations Account Executive.

With tomorrow being the Fourth of July, it makes me think about past celebrations for the Fourth and summer activities that I associate with this holiday.

When I was growing up, my town always had a Fourth of July parade that anyone could participate in - called the "Horribles Parade." People dressed up in costumes, built props, and sometimes even constructed their own floats for the parade. I remember one year (I think I was around ten) when the summer Olympics were happening. My family and some of our family friends dressed up as Olympic athletes. My sister was a track star, and my parents held a bamboo "hurdle" about two feet off the ground that she jumped over. I was a soccer player, and practiced juggling as I walked down Main Street in the parade.

As I got older, cookouts and fireworks started to be the theme for the Fourth. I always enjoyed eating hot dogs, hamburgers, and watermelon and then walking to the fireworks display at dusk. One year, I remember going up to Maine with my family and watching Fourth of July fireworks on the beach. That was pretty sweet.

Last year, my first Fourth of July since I moved to Indiana, was also my first experience with people shooting off their own fireworks. Since it's illegal in Massachusetts, we had always just had sparklers at our house and then watched the town's big fireworks show. So families actually buying and shooting off their own fireworks was new to me. When I visited the store to look at the wide variety of fireworks available, I was amazed. I just didn't know so many brands and types existed! The night of the Fourth, when it came time to shoot off the fireworks, I was somewhat wary of how safe this actually was, especially since there were a lot of small children around. I was assured by everyone that "we do this all the time - it's completely safe." OK... Everything was fine until one of the kids got too close and did actually get hit by an out of control firework! Luckily, only his hand was burned and he didn't suffer any permanent damage, but the poor kid was scared to death! So, the one experience I've had with shooting off fireworks in a backyard ended with someone getting burned. I think I'll stick to watching fireworks shot off far away from now on.

Although I have many memories of past Fourths of July - and it's always fun to enjoy these summer cookouts and celebrations - I think I too frequently lose sight of what we're actually celebrating on this day - our nation's freedom. Initially, when the Declaration of Indepence was signed on this day in 1776, declaring independence from Britain - and beginning the Revolutionary War - our forefathers fought against oppression, unfair taxation, and rights for Americans. This was the first time we thought of ourselves as a separate group of people - Americans. Over the past 232 years since then, many have had to defend our country and our people in various wars, struggles, etc. Even today, thousands are overseas serving the United States - risking their lives and being apart from family and friends for long periods of time.

So when I'm enjoying a hamburger and watermelon at a cookout tomorrow, I'll have to step back for a moment and realize how lucky and grateful I am for all these men and women thoughout history who have defended our country and worked to maintain our freedom. God bless America!

This November we’re electing the next president of the United States. Whether you’re a democrat or a republican, this election is important. Now more than ever, the U.S. is in desperate need of some good international public relations.

Now I’m not volunteering my services to Senators Obama or McCain (however if they are interested in working with Dittoe PR all they need to do is call) but it is very clear we not only need a change in the Oval Office but also in the news. 

Back in October of 2003, PBS’s Online NewsHour posted a very interesting article which I recently ran across by accident. In it, the writer makes a point which is still relevant today:

“The United States must dramatically transform its public diplomacy system to overcome growing anti-American sentiments abroad, according to a report released Wednesday by an advisory group appointed by the Bush administration.”

Public diplomacy is really very similar to public relations but on a much higher level. After all, we are talking about the international public perception of the United States of America. It’s just a little bit bigger than most PR accounts.

Regardless of who you are pulling for in this year’s election, we must vote for the man we believe to be the best representation of the United States and all the good we can accomplish in the world. We don’t want the European Union glad to see him leave office and we certainly don’t want our president to be thought of as ignorant or stupid.

Unfortunately, President Bush’s administration has a cloud of disapproval hanging over it and at this point in time it remains to be seen if any positive things can ever be attributed to his terms in office. It seems every beneficial act he has been involved with is overshadowed by multiple examples of poor judgment or accusations of weak leadership.

Approval ratings are important in the U.S. and abroad. Not only do they indicate how well a government official is liked but that is directly related to the success of foreign diplomacy efforts and support in Congress.

Additionally, the study performed by the advisory group appointed by the Bush administration back in 2003 found “in this time of peril, public diplomacy is absurdly and dangerously underfunded.”

Funding alone will not make diplomacy efforts more successful (however it is needed very badly), thus I’m back to examining the candidates. Both are very different but have the same objective: to be President – to be the Spokesperson and CEO of the United States.

OK, so for my two cents: Regardless of whom we elect come November, as a nation we need to pay very close attention to our approval rating overseas. After all, our president represents us. We should be very concerned when countries don’t want to participate in diplomatic talks and even more concerned when our so-called allies leave our side whether in battle or on paper.

No matter who gets elected this year, I hope they know a thing or two about public relations – for their sake and ours.