We Are Exactly Where We Choose to Be

The idea for this month's newsletter came from an unlikely encounter: I recently had lunch with a new friend named Rick Rockwell. You may remember him as bachelor from first-ever reality TV show, "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?"

During our meeting, Rick described some of knowledge he gained from doing show, along with a few of past his experiences in business, ethics, and of course, primetime romance. The stories were fantastic, drama was riveting, and as Rick detailed his adventures with great humor, what impressed me most was what he wasn't saying.

You see, at no time did he dwell on misfortune of not finding love of his life or way media portrayed him. Instead, he said something along lines of, "You know, Greg,! short and simply put, our circumstances, good or bad, are a direct result of our own actions, and ultimately, only thing in which we are in true control of is our own (Attitude) towards them."

To which I agreed and responded, "You're absolutely right. We're are all dealt obstacles as well as good fortune in our lives-that's simply a part of life itself. Yet it's how we handle obstacles that shows world our true character as a person."

Rick and I sat there, just reflecting on impact of that message for a bit until idea of this newsletter popped into my head. I said, "You know, Rick, when it's all said and done, bottom line is . . .

"We are exactly where we choose to be."

Now, this is where I put question to you, reader: Isn't that true for all of us? Isn't that true for all those around us?

I'm sure you know people (or perhaps even yourself at times) who blame world for their setbacks and failures, then simply! credit "luck" for those who succeed around them. Yet, when we really examine our own lives, we see that we are exactly where we choose to be at any given moment.

How PR Helps Fiercely Competitive Managers

Fiercely combative business, non-profit and association managers use every PR weapon they can lay their hands on. Which means they employ strategic, rapid-fire print and broadcast tactics every day of their business lives.

Still, many realize they need more than that to win long-range battle. Fact is, they need a public relations budget that can deliver results far beyond publicity tactics.

The fierce and smart know they need real behavior change among their most important outside audiences that leads directly to achieving their managerial objectives.

So they make sure they persuade those key outside folks with greatest impacts on their organizations to their way of thinking, then move them to take actions that help their department, division or subsidiary succeed.

The really fierce use a public relations blueprint something like this one: People act on their own perception of facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action very people whose behaviors affect organization most, public relations mission is accomplished.

If that’s you, over time your results probably look like these: fresh proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; prospects starting to do business with you; welcome bounces in show room visits; membership applications on rise; customers starting to make repeat purchases; community leaders beginning to seek you out; capital givers or specifying sources beginning to look your way, and even politicians and legislators starting to view you as a key member of business, non-profit or association communities.

But fierce ones don’t go it alone. They make certain every member of PR team agrees that it’s crucially important to know how your outside audiences perceive your operations, products or services. Dig deep to ensure they REALLY accept reality that perceptions almost always lead to behaviors that can damage your operation.

Now it’s time to activate PR blueprint and monitor and gather perceptions by questioning members of your most important outside audience. Ask questions like these: how much do you know about our organization? Have you had prior contact with us and were you pleased with interchange? How much do you know about our services or products and employees? Have you experienced problems with our people or procedures?