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It’s All About the Hustle

Share the goods.

A black mug that says "Hustle" sitting on a table.

This post comes to you directly from Kim.

PR seems like a sexy field, am I right? If you’re older like me, then you think of Samantha from Sex in the City and her high rolling lifestyle. She got into all the best parties and represented the coolest people. Maybe you’re thinking more along the lines of Olivia Pope. She was a wizard at getting her clients out of sticky situations—plus, have you seen her wardrobe? If these were my only examples of publicists, I would pursue a career in public relations as well.

Let me introduce to you to Harried Harriet, a true representation of a PR pro. She was nice enough to spend a bit of time answering our questions.

Time you wake up:

I don’t sleep

Amount of hours on Twitter stalking reporters:

I stopped tracking at 10

Pitches sent during the week:

Is this even a legit question? Like there is a set amount.

Emails sent per day:

1,000—is that a lot?

Media lists in Muck Rack:

55…for one client.

Last time you showered:

Luckily, hygiene doesn’t impact my effectiveness.

Who is a realistic representation of publicists? Olivia Pope or Samantha Jones?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

How often do you have to explain how PR works to clients?

Every single day of my life. Get two pieces of coverage, and they want four. It’s never good enough, and they don’t seem to understand the time that goes into building a media list, researching reporters, reading past articles, engaging on social media and creating individual pitches for EVERY single reporter you reach out to. If you sent 50 emails in one day, how long would that take you? Now imagine having to customize every single email, track it and plan for follow-up.

What is one thing you want people to know about working in PR?

It’s hard, like really hard. This isn’t a new number, but less than 2% of pitches are picked up. The current media landscape is COVID, election and politics, so it’s even harder now.

How do you stand out?

You hustle harder than anyone else. Is it hard as hell? Yes. Is it rewarding? Hell yeah. If you are drawn to a 9 to 5 job, this ain’t the right field for you.

What is the current industry like?

Journalists have fewer resources to do their jobs and are pulled in multiple directions. PR pros are often not viewed in a favorable light and instead of treating us with respect, as we do them, responses are often argumentative, combative and rude. You need to have tough skin to work in this industry.

What are you reading?

I follow Gini Dietrich, Michael Smart and every major news source to stay up to date.

Any other words of wisdom?

Don’t give up. It can be frustrating at times, but perseverance is key.
Still want to be in the PR field?

This post was originally published on SmallBizMusings.com.

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Every WOSB deserves support, access, guidance, and a network, because when they have it, they’re unstoppable.

Just because you be small, does not mean you are not mighty. The Women’s Owners Network will accept its first cohort this November. Applications are due October 1.

Thank you to @lakemichigan_cu for partnering with us to provide this program. Their support means we can offer this at a significantly lower cost to business owners.

Go apply at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18247359124310352
Every WOSB deserves support, access, guidance, and a network, because when they have it, they’re unstoppable. Just because you be small, does not mean you are not mighty. The Women’s Owners Network will accept its first cohort this November. Applications are due October 1. Thank you to @lakemichigan_cu for partnering with us to provide this program. Their support means we can offer this at a significantly lower cost to business owners. Go apply at the link in bio.

Introducing our second speaker for Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause, happening this Thursday.

Meet Cheryl Bergman, Executive Director of the @miwomenscomm.

Cheryl is a statewide policy leader driving economic opportunity and better health outcomes for women across Michigan. Appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2019, she brings together employers, healthcare experts, advocates, and policymakers to tackle the issues that actually move the needle - economic security, affordable childcare, and midlife women`s health.

Before this role, Cheryl helped elect Michigan`s first woman U.S. Senator and first woman Governor, and served as Senior Advisor on Governor Whitmer`s 2018 campaign.

She`s exactly the voice this conversation needs.

Join Cheryl and our powerhouse lineup of industry experts at The Pause on September 24th.

Link in bio to register - spaces are going fast.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17876488173630026
Introducing our second speaker for Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause, happening this Thursday. Meet Cheryl Bergman, Executive Director of the @miwomenscomm. Cheryl is a statewide policy leader driving economic opportunity and better health outcomes for women across Michigan. Appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2019, she brings together employers, healthcare experts, advocates, and policymakers to tackle the issues that actually move the needle - economic security, affordable childcare, and midlife women's health. Before this role, Cheryl helped elect Michigan's first woman U.S. Senator and first woman Governor, and served as Senior Advisor on Governor Whitmer's 2018 campaign. She's exactly the voice this conversation needs. Join Cheryl and our powerhouse lineup of industry experts at The Pause on September 24th. Link in bio to register - spaces are going fast.

We love this trend, so we thought we’d jump on it and ask the team some “hard-hitting questions” to end the week.

We’re a team made up of Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Find out who knows the most about the classics. Any guesses?

45 4
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17917175178450239
We love this trend, so we thought we’d jump on it and ask the team some “hard-hitting questions” to end the week. We’re a team made up of Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Find out who knows the most about the classics. Any guesses?

We`ve received so many questions from new grads about breaking into a competitive market as a young professional. It starts with one thing according to @bodespeaks: being the salesperson of YOU. Emulate the leaders in your industry and show up where they show up.

It`s not who you know, it`s who knows you
Use the playbook of people you admire
Show up consistently and be seen
A handwritten note beats 100 LinkedIn messages, always.

See more Bode wisdom at her YouTube channel linked in our bio.

12 1
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18092872106558307
We've received so many questions from new grads about breaking into a competitive market as a young professional. It starts with one thing according to @bodespeaks: being the salesperson of YOU. Emulate the leaders in your industry and show up where they show up. It's not who you know, it's who knows you Use the playbook of people you admire Show up consistently and be seen A handwritten note beats 100 LinkedIn messages, always. See more Bode wisdom at her YouTube channel linked in our bio.

Meet our first speaker spotlight: Dr. Karen May, DC, CCSP, CCIP.

Dr. May owns and operates @mhneuropathycenter, and she`s joining us for Uncomfortable Community Conversations: The Pause on September 24th to talk about something we don`t talk about enough.

Her career has spanned from elite sports medicine, including a stint as team physician for USA Bobsled and Skeleton as well as caring for pregnant moms and newborns and helping women navigate life’s transitions, always grounded in a belief in food as medicine and the body’s own capacity to heal. In 2017, that expertise was tested when a rare surgical complication left her fighting nerve damage in her own body.

Drawing on decades of clinical practice and training, she rebuilt her health from the ground up — and has since helped thousands of people do the same. With over 20 years in holistic health care, she speaks today as both physician and peer.

Join us for The Pause on September 24th. Link in bio.

3 0
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17891917860673621
Meet our first speaker spotlight: Dr. Karen May, DC, CCSP, CCIP. Dr. May owns and operates @mhneuropathycenter, and she's joining us for Uncomfortable Community Conversations: The Pause on September 24th to talk about something we don't talk about enough. Her career has spanned from elite sports medicine, including a stint as team physician for USA Bobsled and Skeleton as well as caring for pregnant moms and newborns and helping women navigate life’s transitions, always grounded in a belief in food as medicine and the body’s own capacity to heal. In 2017, that expertise was tested when a rare surgical complication left her fighting nerve damage in her own body. Drawing on decades of clinical practice and training, she rebuilt her health from the ground up — and has since helped thousands of people do the same. With over 20 years in holistic health care, she speaks today as both physician and peer. Join us for The Pause on September 24th. Link in bio.
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