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Category: Blog

30 Goals By 30 Years Old: A Personal Challenge

Posted on December 14, 2021 | by Gavin Smith

I remember on my tenth birthday, it felt like such a big deal! From single digits to double digits, the world was mine to conquer. A few years later, turning thirteen meant becoming a teenager, sixteen meant I could get my driver’s license, and eighteen meant I was graduating from high school and headed off to college.

Twenty-one was a particularly exciting year. Yes, I could drink alcohol, but I was also knees-deep in some very heated political campaigns and enjoying every minute of it. Twenty-five, a less exciting but still important milestone, meant paying less for car insurance each month and finally being able to rent a car by myself.

Each of these milestones, the people I’ve met along the way, and the opportunities I’ve been afforded, have all led me here, staring down my next milestone – my thirtieth birthday.

It seems quite fitting, just as I mark being six months away from my thirtieth, that we’re amidst the holiday season and only days away from celebrating Christmas. A time of reflection and gratitude, I’ve spent a great deal of time jotting down some of life’s greatest lessons, reflecting on the many blessings I’ve been afforded, and plotting out where I want to be ten years from now.

With unlimited possibilities before me, I have a good idea of where I want to be in ten years. However, if I’ve learned anything about myself over the last twenty-nine and a half years, I’m more likely to accomplish big things when I set goals and divulge a plan on how to push myself across the finish line. Think, a road map, so to say.

That’s where the idea for this challenge came from – building a roadmap for the goals I want to accomplish in the next six months. More importantly, while this roadmap is certainly intended to help me accomplish goals before my thirtieth birthday, it is also intended to create habits that I’ll carry with me through my thirties and so on.

While this certainly isn’t a comprehensive list of everything I’d like to accomplish, the following thirty goals, are amongst the most important to me:

 

Personal Growth Goals:

 

  1. 30 Credit Hours – Finish Master’s Program

I’m just three credit hours away from my finishing my master’s degree, and all that’s standing between me and becoming an alumnus of Georgetown University is my capstone course.

Classes are only a few days from being over, and I expect to do great in the course. It’s been an amazing experience to bring all my studies from the program together and put them to work for an awesome client. Pending only a few more grades to come in, I’ll graduate with a Master’s of Public Relations and Corporate Communications. Hoya Saxa!

 

  1. Read 30 Minutes Per Day

I read the news every day, but that’s typically the extent of my reading. Rarely do I ever pick up a book and read for fun. It’s not that I don’t like to read, it’s just that I don’t prioritize it.

That said, science has proven that reading can increase empathy, relieve stress, and increases the strength of your brain. The average reader who commits to consistently reading 30 minutes a day will complete nearly 33 books per year – that’s incredible to me.

As such, I’m going to pick up a book for at least 30 minutes per day. It doesn’t matter what kind of book, whether it be biography or mystery – so long as I pick up a book and read for at least 30 minutes per day. By the end of this challenge, I’ll have read for more than 4,500 minutes, or 76+ hours.

 

  1. 30 Hours with Mentors

As an entrepreneur, I’ll admit I love to go at it alone and blaze my own trail. However, the reality is, truly successful people never have all the right answers and instead surround themselves with others who do.

From making business decisions to opening doors and offering personal advice, having others you can lean on for personal and professional advice is really important. In fact, I’ll go as far as saying if it weren’t for the mentors in my life, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Despite feeling that way, I’m not diligent enough about seeking out their advice. Rather than proactively asking for their help, I’m guilty of typically going to them in the heat of the moment.

This is a habit I want to turn around. To do so, between now and my 30th birthday, I plan to make it a priority to spend at least 30 hours with mentors. These hours will be spent developing myself both personally and professionally and will ultimately help me become the person I desire to be.

 

  1. Make 30 New Friends or Professional Connections

All kinds of people make the world go ‘round. Perhaps my most favorite thing about traveling isn’t the traveling itself, but instead, the people it’s introduced me to. I love meeting new people, and if you asked my grade-school teachers, they’d tell you I’ve been somewhat of a social butterfly my entire life.

While this admittedly got me into a good bit of trouble during my upbringing, particularly because I was more focused on talking than doing my classwork, it’s been a major strength for me in my adult life (see, I told you mom).

I love connecting with people from all walks of life. Whether it be building professional relationships or friendships, it’s my goal over the next year, to meet 30 new people. Regardless of how I do it or who they might be, I simply want to continue growing my network and being the best colleague and/or friend I can be.

 

  1. Write 30 Handwritten Notes Per Quarter

At a very young age, my parents, each Christmas, began to gift me custom stationary. I’ll admit that I wasn’t always enthusiastic about using it, but always got excited to see what design they had picked out for the year ahead.

This tradition dates back to my great grandmother, “Mama Dot,” who is 99 years young and still with us today. Mama Dot never misses an opportunity to write you a note, whether it be for your birthday or to say thanks for simply visiting her. Her notes are always warm and loving, and I’m so thankful it’s a habit our family has instilled in me.

Many people don’t know this story, but my fiancé wouldn’t pay attention to me and refused to give “us” a chance. No matter what I did, he didn’t take me seriously and thought we lived too far away to make anything work. That is, until I wrote him a handwritten note and had it waiting for him on his apartment island when he returned from a trip to Bali (to be fair, I paired the note with a bottle of his favorite wine). This note was the first step in what has become our life together.

For the entirety of our relationship, handwritten notes have been a cornerstone of our relationship, and are something I’ve also carried over to my friendships and professional relationships with others. Many of my friends, who I hope are reading this, have handwritten notes from me. Whether it be to say thank you or just to remind them I love them, there’s something more personal about a handwritten note

Despite loving to write these notes, I don’t do it enough, and want to do it more often. Whether it be to thank a colleague for helping me with a project, to congratulate a friend on their recent promotion, or just to say thank you for visiting me, my goal is to write 30 of these handwritten notes per quarter. Quite frankly, I think I should do more, but we’ll start here.

 

  1. Document 30 of Life’s Biggest Lessons

I was recently having dinner with a good friend I haven’t seen in a while. In the middle of a statement I was making, he interrupted and blurted out, “who are you and what have you done with Gavin?!” All eyes on me, we shared a good laugh while everyone else stared in confusion, until I exclaimed, “I learned my lesson.”

I’ll save the lesson I learned in this particular instance for another day, but moral of the story is this – life has taught me a lot. Some things I’ve learned the hard way, and others I’ve learned the really hard way. Nonetheless, I’ve been very fortunate, and I’ve learned a lot that I’d like to share with others. I guess the old adage goes, “to help others learn from my mistakes.”

Over the next year, that’s my plan – document, via this blog, 30 of life’s greatest lessons. Some may be failures I’ve experienced, and others may be successes. All lessons that I share will be intended to help others, and that, in the end, is what’s most important in my book.

 

  1. Listen to 30 New Podcast Episodes Per Month

I’ve never made a habit of listening to podcasts. It’s always something I’ve wanted to be more into, but I rarely pick up my phone and listen to a full podcast episode.

Admittedly, I did find one podcast series, 22 Hours: An American Nightmare, that I absolutely loved. I listened to the whole series (you should, too), and I enjoyed that time I spent decompressing and not focusing on the world around me. Another podcast I’ve been listening to recently – my friend Bakari Sellers’ podcast. Bakari is a rockstar and someone I look up to a lot.

I want to do more of this, though – without limiting myself to just one particularly podcast. Whether it’s a daily news or crime podcast, over the course of a month, I’d like to listen to at least 30 new podcasts. By the time I finish the challenge, I’ll have to listened to over 150 podcast episodes.

 

Personal Finance Goals:

  1. Grow Rainy Day Fund by 30%

When I was in my early twenties, I rarely saved a dollar. Pretty much every penny I earned was spent and I never prioritized building a savings account. It wasn’t until just a couple years ago (you know, the moment when I had a big “uh oh” moment), that I realized how important having a rainy-day fund is.

Over the last several years, I’ve built on my rainy-day fund, and I refuse to touch it. This money isn’t used for things I want around the house, new clothes, or even travel. This money is set aside explicitly for unexpected vets bills, trips to the emergency room (which are too expensive, by the way), or in the event I’m unable to work for an extended period, to pay the bills.

I can’t emphasize how important this type of fund is, and over the next six months, I’m going to work very hard to grow my fund by an additional 30%. To me, this is just more peace of mind – and ultimately, that’s what I hope my thirties bring to me.

 

  1. Reduce Spending on Dining Out by 30%

So, let’s be real – we eat out way too much. That includes me and my fiancé, probably you, too, and according to American Express, most adults in the United States are in the same boat as well.

In fact, recent data out from the credit card giant suggests that the average American eats out between 4 and 5 times per week. When doing so, data suggests that the average meal costs about $13 and, when it’s all said and done, Americans spend about $232 a month on dining out.

I’ll admit that my fiancé and I are guilty of this habit. Despite building a brand-new house recently with every possible gadget we could ask for in the kitchen, we’re always in the “let’s just pick something up” mood. Moreover, I’ll even go as far as sharing that we spend more than double what the average American does per month, each. Ridiculous, right?

But what’s done is and done and all we can do is correct the habit. So, that’s what we’re planning to do over the next 6 months. Paired with my goal to eat healthy, it’s also my goal to reduce spending on dining out by 30%. It isn’t realistic to say I’ll never go out to eat because I know I will. Instead, I’ll just set my eyes on significantly reducing my dining out spending over the next six months.

 

  1. Reduce Student Loan Debt by 30%

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average undergraduate student has about $36,000 in student loan debt. For those graduating with a master’s degree, the number soars to an average of $91,000. And, as for those who have earned a PhD, these individuals on average have about $160,000 in student loan debt.

There’s no secret that a college education is expensive, and while I could dive into a policy conversation surrounding education spending vs. outcomes, we’ll save that for another day.

Policy nuances aside, paying down student loan debt is a reality for me as well. I join so many other students across the United States who have had to take out a student loan to pay for their education and am now among those who are staring down repayment and dreading it.

Nonetheless, regardless of how I might or might not feel about it, it’s a reality and must be done. And while I really don’t like the idea of giving these companies any more money than I must per month, I’ve set the ambitious goal of reducing my total student loan by 30% by the time I’m 30 years old.

 

Personal Health and Fitness:

 

  1. Reduce Screen Time by 30%

According to the Statista Research Department, in 2021, nearly 50% of Americans indicated that they spend more than 5-6 hours on their mobile phone daily. Whether it be tapping away on iMessage or scrolling through social, only 5% of respondents indicated that they spent less than 1 hour on their phone daily.

Setting these findings aside, tech web site ZDNet found that the average American spends 5.4 hours per day on their mobile phone. While on their phone, Millenials spend 48 minutes each day text messaging, and baby boomers spend 43 minutes reading and responding to e-mails. The pair spend a collective 1.5 hours on social media

Call me old, but what in the world is so important on our mobile devices that we devote this much time to them? Granted, many of us use our phones for work, but these surveys only measured personal usage. Imagine how much time we’re spending on our mobile devices if we included our professional usage details as well.

Nonetheless, these stats got me curious, and I checked out my iPhone’s daily usage log. Currently I’m spending about 5 hours a day on my mobile device. These hours include my professional usage, and there’s no real way to exclude that from the results.

Throughout the day, my social usage times are high, and the time I spend on iMessage is ridiculous. And while I obviously can’t cut my professional usage, I can cut my personal usage. There’s nothing on my phone worth my wasting several hours a day staring at it.

So, all this said, between now and my 30th birthday, it’s my goal to cut my usage down from 5 hours to 3.5 hours per day. I’m sure there will be days where I average more simply because of work, but the overall goal here is – get off the phone and spend more time with those around me.

 

  1. Run 30 Miles Per Month

I played soccer my whole life. To date, I still enjoy kicking a few “PKs” and dribbling the ball around the back yard. What I don’t enjoy doing, and what I’ve gotten really bad at – running.

Running used to be an everyday thing for me. Whether it was a soccer game or practice, I was always moving. I could run distance or for time with no problems whatsoever. As priorities have changed and considering how immersed I’ve been in professional endeavors over the last few years, personal fitness goals have fallen to the wayside.

Now is the time to do something about it. Whether it be one mile per day, or two miles a day for fifteen days, I’m challenging myself to get it done and run at least 30 miles per month. By the time this challenge is over, I’ll have run over 150 miles!

 

  1. Put the Phone Down 30 Minutes Before Bed

Science proves that using our phones directly before we go to bed is harmful to our overall health. Whether it’s the effect that blue light has on our body’s melatonin production, or an unsettling post we see on Facebook, doctors agree that we should stop using our cell phones at least 30 minutes before bedtime.

Sitting the devices aside gives our brain a minute to wind down and prepare itself for a good night’s rest. Just as we cool down by stretching after a workout, the brain needs just a few minutes to decompress and get itself in the right headspace for a good night’s sleep.

Instead of peeking at Instagram or reading up on the latest news, I’ll be sitting down my devices at least 30 minutes before bed, and instead using this time to talk to my fiancé about his day, to read a book, or perhaps, to just take a moment and breathe.

By the end of this challenge, I’ll have taken back 4,500+ minutes from my devices, and quite frankly – that’s a win in my books.

 

  1. Exercise 30 Minutes Per Day

The minute I graduated from college, I stopped prioritizing exercise. More times than not, I blame this decision on my joining a Presidential campaign and traveling to a new state nearly every day. Admittedly, these travels did make a consistent workout routine very hard, and the days were often 18+ hours long.

However, despite my travels and eventually landing a Presidential appointment to a couple of federal agencies, it’s very important I recognize that not committing myself to some sort of physical exercise every day was my choice. I may not have had access to a gym, but that was no reason for me not to do an at-home workout or an excuse to not to go for a run.

Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day affords us so many benefits. Scientists and doctors link 30 minutes of exercise per day to increased heart health, weight loss, a reduction in stress, improved memory, increased productivity, and higher energy levels. In other words, these 30 minutes are really good for you.

Getting back into a regular exercise routine is perhaps one of my biggest goals on this list. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve started a workout routine, done really well for a week or two, and then fallen right back into the habit of not exercising. That is not a habit I want to take with me into my thirties.

Therefore, I’m committing myself to at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. This exercise may double with my running goal of 30 miles per month, consist of weightlifting or an at-home workout, or simply be 30 minutes of walking the dogs on a day I feel I need to take it easy. No matter what it is or how I do it, I’m determined that by the day I turn 30, I’ll have exercised for at least 4,500 minutes. That’ll be a major win in my books!

 

  1. 30 Minute Lunch Breaks

Chaining yourself to your desk and scarfing down a sandwich in your office isn’t a recipe for workplace success – it’s a recipe for professional disaster. Breaks, particularly lunch breaks, are proven to create better employees.

A recent study from Tork revealed that nearly a quarter of American workers worry their bosses will view them as a slacker if they take regular lunch breaks. The same survey, which targeted both employees and employers, revealed that almost a quarter of North American bosses believe employees who take a regular lunch break are less hardworking.

This is a really bad mindset. Both statistics and science prove that employees who take regular breaks are more productive employees. Regular breaks help employees feel refreshed, and often lead to increased productivity, improved mental well-being, and contribute to a boost in creativity.

I’ll admit that I’m a victim of this mindset. More times than not, I grab a sandwich and head back to my office to continue working. I rarely take a minute to walk away from the computer and hardly ever step outside for a dose of fresh air. Even at the advice of my employer to do so, I still sit at my desk to “get things done.”

That stops now, and it’s time to break the habit of not taking a lunch break. Not only will it be good for me physically, but it’ll also be good for me mentally.

 

  1. Do At Least 30 Pushups, 30 Sit Ups, and 30 Squats Per Day

It seems easy, and quite frankly, I don’t expect this goal – 30 pushups, 30 sit ups, and 30 squats per day – to be very hard. In fact, for me, the hardest part about this is just going to be staying consistent and making sure that I get in at least 30 reps of each workout per day.

Additionally, aside from setting this goal simply to create a habit, I’m also challenging myself to do this because each of the workout sets target a key muscle group I’d like to grow and/or improve. Obviously, at a certain point, I’ll have to add weight or make the exercises harder, but, at first, it’s all about creating the habit and just being consistent with these 30 reps per day.

 

  1. 30 Days of Rest

There is rarely a moment when my mind isn’t working. Although I thoroughly enjoy my work and firmly believe that if you don’t enjoy your job, you’re probably not in the right profession, one thing I’ll admit is that I’m terrible at knowing when to slow down and take a break.

This work ethic, while admirable, also comes with its own set of downfalls. For me, amongst others and most of all, I’m convinced my unwillingness to slow down and take a breather is the very reason I’ve ended up in the doctor’s office more frequently than usual this year.

Despite being a very healthy kid and young adult, I’ve found myself on more prescriptions and feeling more fatigued than ever. This must change, and along with eating healthier and exercising more, I recognize that one thing I have to do to prevent these symptoms is simply slow down and take a break every now and then.

As such, between now and my 30th birthday, I’m going to slow down and take a break for at least 30 days. This doesn’t mean I have to take a full day off, but instead; it means sitting devices down, not working, and enjoying an evening with no work involved.

 

Professional Goals:

 

  1. Write 30 Professional Blogs in a Year

Just a little less than a year ago, I launched my personal web site. I launched it with the intentions of writing a new blog every week, mostly on communications and marketing topics, but I’ve failed miserably at that.

I haven’t failed because I dislike writing (I love writing) or because I’m too busy. Instead, I’ve failed because it hasn’t been a priority for me. Instead of writing a blog on how to communicate amidst a crisis, I spend too much time scrolling through social channels or browsing the internet.

If there’s anything I’ve learned over the last 29 years, it’s how fortunate I’ve been to be surrounded by individuals with incredible experiences and advice to give. At such a young age, I’ve climbed the ladder and communicated for some of our government’s highest officials. I’ve executed satellite media tours amidst a global health pandemic, and I’ve helped mom and pop shops turn their operations around by a few simple tweaks to their advertising plans.

All this said, that’s the purpose of my blog – to take my experience and share it. I didn’t get where I am today (and believe me, I still have a long way to go) without the experiences of others and their willingness to share. I want, and feel a sense of responsibility, to do the same thing.

No, I’m not saying that I’m some influencer you all should follow daily. However, I do believe, I, like many of you, have experiences we can all learn from. As such, by my 30th birthday, it’s my goal to have shared 30 professional or personal blogs on my web site that can help you grow.

 

  1. Grow My Company by 30%

For as long as I can remember, my parents have worked two jobs. During the day my dad works for an environmental company and my mom is a nurse. In the evenings, on the weekend, and yes, even in the middle of the night, my parents manage about 35 rental properties.

I’ve always admired my parents’ work ethic and will always be grateful for everything they’ve done for our families. My parents didn’t have anything handed to them and they’ve worked for everything they have. In fact, my dad instilled in us at a very young age – “if you want it, earn it.”

I like to think this mantra is why I’m not satisfied with working just a 9-5 job. Don’t get me wrong, for those of you who do that and are happy, that is perfectly okay and there’s nothing wrong with that. I, however, am just different and am always thinking about how I can improve or what the next big project is.

Some may view this as a flaw, but I love to work. Quite frankly, I think if you’re doing anything for work that you don’t love doing, leave your job and go do something that you do love doing. I am very thankful for my full-time job and love the people I get to work with. I also love the company I started several years ago, The Inspyre Group.

Since its inception, The Inspyre Group has served Fortune 500 companies and mom and pop shops. We’ve helped law offices turn their SEO around and an electricity company navigate a very public acquisition process. It’s been so fascinating to work with clients from different sectors and help them achieve their various goals.

I want to do more of this. With my master’s program winding down in December, I want to fill some of that time with growing The Inspyre Group. Realistically, I think I could do more, but by the time I turn 30, I’d like to have grown my firm by 30% – measured in revenue, of course.

 

  1. Publish 30 Opinion Pieces Across the Nation

I was recently named a Contributor for the Forbes Communications Council. In addition to my work with Forbes, I’ve also published, whether it be in my name or a client’s name, in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USAToday, Fox Business, and several other national publications.

In addition to my work with these media giants, I’ve written for print and digital publications in nearly every state. Typically, at this local level, I weigh in on topics such as politics, cybersecurity, education policy, and more.

Writing at a local level is something I thoroughly enjoy. Oftentimes, you can dig deeper into issues affecting the community, and, more times than not, receive some sort of feedback from local readers. Whether it be letters to the editor in response to my opinion piece or a local commentator challenging my position on television or radio, local opinion writing is something I really love.

Despite loving this form of writing, I don’t do it enough, and it’s my goal to change that. Regardless of the topic I’m writing on, it’s my goal to place 30 opinion pieces across the nation in the next 6 months. It’s an ambitious goal, but I believe I can get it done.

 

  1. Learn 30 New Words Per Month

It’s estimated that the English vocabulary is comprised of well over a million words. Of these, the average adult is suspected to know only about 20,000 to 35,000 of them, and rarely do these individuals learn more than one new word per day.

I’m not sure about you, and perhaps it’s because I’m a communicator, but that’s an astonishing statistic to me. Think about it – most adults don’t even know 5% of the English language vocabulary. Moreover, by middle age, they’re complacent and rarely learn one new word per week.

As a communications professional, it’s imperative that I have an exceptional vocabulary to deliver the best results for my clients. Aside from the professional benefits, a recent study also found that improving our vocabularies also correlates to long-term memory and brain health.

Between the professional and health benefits, that’s enough to convince me to improve my vocabulary. Regardless of how good it might be now, it’s my goal to learn a new word every single day leading up to my 30th birthday. By then, I’ll have learned over 150 new words.

 

General Personal Goals:

 

  1. Wake Up 30 Minutes Earlier than Usual on Weekdays

I’ll be the first to admit that I enjoy sleeping in. That said, I also enjoy not leaving the house in a rush, having a shower and feeling put together before the first Zoom call of the day, and taking a few extra minutes to make myself breakfast before my morning gets started.

Admittedly, this is one of the goals I’m looking forward to the least. Not because I’m not looking forward to the extra time I’ll have, but because I’m just not a morning person.

That said, I’m going to suck it up and do it. I need the extra time, and I’m convinced it’ll be good for me. It’ll force me out of bed earlier than usual, and cut down on the rush I feel like I’m always in each morning.

By the end of this challenge, in just six short months, I’ll have afforded myself an extra 4,500 minutes of extra time in the morning.

 

  1. Write 30 Journal Entries

Long before we started dating, my fiancé bought me a personalized leather journal. Truth be told, and I’d imagine he doesn’t really know this but, it’s one of my favorite gifts he’s ever given me.

Admittedly, I haven’t really used the notebook. I’m not sure if it’s solely because it’s the first gift he ever bought me and I see some sort of sentimental value in keeping it in like-new condition, or if it’s because I’m lazy and I just don’t keep a written-journal.

As I’ve grown in my profession, I religiously use a notebook to keep up with my to-dos and meeting notes. I’m an avid scribbler and write down more than I probably should. I do this because, despite my having an incredible long-term memory, I have a very bad short-term memory. This is the best way I’ve found to keep up with everything in the short-term.

Nonetheless, aside from to-dos and professional notes, I don’t keep a personal journal. I haven’t a central place where I write down memorable moments, nor a place where I reflect on all the opportunities I’m afforded.

With such a defining age approaching, where life is certainly bound to be full of many blessing and exciting moments, I want to change this. I’d like to keep a journal of life’s most important moments, both good and bad. I want to do this for more than myself, but so I can also share it with my children someday, and perhaps they’ll be able to learn something.

That said, between now and my 30th birthday, it’s my objective to write at least 30 journal entries. These entries can be about the big moments in life, or the littlest. Nothing is off limits, and all that is required is for me to put pen to paper and simply reflect.

 

  1. 30 Random Acts of Kindness

Can we all admit that there’s too much negativity in the world? Whether it’s the political divide in Washington or depressing media outlets, sometimes I wonder if people have forgotten what it means to be kind to one another.

I won’t pretend that my acts of kindness alone are going to change the world’s divide, but what I will commit to – bringing a smile to the face of at least 30 strangers over the next six months via 30 random acts of kindness. Change in the world must start somewhere, right?

 

  1. Visit 30 New Places

My fiancé and I love to travel. Whether it be to an international destination or be it to a local state park, we love to pack up the dogs and hit the road. We don’t get to travel internationally as much as we’d like (mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic), but we’ve done a considerable amount of travel over the last year and a half.

Amidst the chaos of working full time, planning our wedding, building our house, me finishing my Master’s, and opening our beer garden together, we don’t prioritize traveling enough. And, while the reality is we simply won’t be able to do much international travel between now and my 30th birthday, nothing is stopping us from a weekend road trip to visit a local state park or one of South Carolina’s quaint little towns.

Whether it be a day or weekend trip, between now and my 30th birthday, we’d like to visit 30 new places. These places can be in South Carolina or anywhere far and in between – the goal here isn’t distance, it’s new experiences.

 

  1. Reconnect with 30 Old Friends or Colleagues

Over the year, I’ve been fortunate enough to visit 48 of the 50 United States. Although most of my travel has been for work purposes, I’ve forged friendships, both personal and professional, across the nation and encountered some really awesome people

While I’ve done my best to keep in touch with these friends, I’ll admit I haven’t lived up to my expectations. Truth be told, I really hate being the guy that goes 6-months without talking to you, and then randomly hits you to see how you are and then asks a favor. That’s not a friendship, that’s just knowing someone’s name and phone number, in my opinion.

All that said, over the next six months and before I turn 30, I am going to prioritize reconnecting with 30 old friends or colleagues. Doesn’t matter where they are or how the reconnect is made. All that matters is this – friendships.

 

  1. Gives Back 30 Hours to the Community

It is never lost on me just how lucky I’ve been in life. I have a wonderful fiancé, two perfect dogs, incredible parents and family, and a close group of really amazing friends. I’ve traveled the world, worked for the White House and at the highest levels of the federal government, graduated from college and am attending another University to earn my Master’s, and have a wonderful job with great benefits and awesome co-workers.

The list could go on and on about how lucky I’ve been, but the point of this goal isn’t about me – it’s about serving others. I have been fortunate, but others aren’t as fortunate, and I believe it’s our responsibility, both as a community and as individuals, to love and support those who are less fortunate than we are.

Regardless of how I serve, it’s my goal to give back at least 30 hours to the community. Whether it be mentoring a less fortunate student, or serving a local foodbank, community service is important, and I am committed to doing my part.

 

  1. 30 Minutes of Piano Per Week

When I was in fifth grade, my dad passed down his trumpet to me. For the next four to five years, I took trumpet lessons, went to band class, and even placed second at a regional band competition.

Although I enjoyed playing the brass instrument, I gave it up early on in high school for sports and ultimately a job at my family’s restaurant. To date, sadly, I remember next to nothing about playing the instrument and doubt I could even play the scale.

Aside from the trumpet, another instrument that has always fascinated me is the piano. Only a select few students were allowed to sign up for the piano class, and for some reason, I never did.

Nonetheless, just because I didn’t learn to do it then, doesn’t mean I can’t learn to do it now. I’ll admit I’ve tried to download an iPad app and teach myself, but that didn’t work. Instead, between now and my 30th birthday, my goal is to take piano lessons from an actual instructor and dedicate at least 30 minutes a week to this new hobby.

 

  1. Try 30 New Recipes

Admittedly, I’m not much of a cook. Not because I can’t cook, but because the OCD in me can’t stand making a mess in the kitchen and then having to clean it up right after the meal is devoured. And no, don’t even think of cooking if you plan to leave the mess and clean it up the next day.

Aside from despising the mess that’s typically made while cooking, I really do like to cook. In fact, when we purchased our new home, I made a big deal about getting the nicest and best appliances we could, so that we’d cook at home more often. And while we haven’t done 100% better, we’ve definitely cooked at home more frequently than we used to

Despite cooking at home more frequently, one thing we don’t do is try new recipes. Very rarely do we try something new, and I’d go as far as saying that when we do, we rarely find one we don’t like. So, that begs the question – why don’t we do it more often?

I can’t say I have the answer to that question, but what I can say is this, between now and the time I’m 30, we’re going to try 30 new recipes, and finally take a step out of the comfort zone.

 

  1. Try 30 New Bottles of Wine + 30 New Craft Beers

Perhaps I’m just a creature of habit, but I’m always down for a sour beer or a glass (or bottle) of Pinot Noir. Aside from that, I rarely step outside of my comfort zone and try something new. Ask me why, I couldn’t tell you.

That said, if you’ve been following me for some time, you probably know that my fiancé and I, along with one of my best friends, are opening a biergarten. The biergarten will feature 72 taps and an assortment of wine and mixed drinks. We expect the biergarten, dubbed Navy Yard on Main, to open in Spring of 2022.

Before then, I’m on a mission to learn more about beer and to taste things that would normally be out of my comfort zone. Red wine, white wine, dark beer and ciders, it’s my goal to try at least 30 new bottles of wine and 30 new craft beers before my 30th birthday. Hopefully I’ll try more than this, but hey, it’s a start.

 

Internal Communications: 6 Steps Critical to an Organization’s Success

Posted on April 12, 2021 | by Gavin Smith

Here’s an idea we can all get behind – in an ideal workplace, everyone would get along and work together as a team. Information would flow freely and key players would be involved from the onset of the project. Questions would be answered in a timely fashion and projects would get done ahead of schedule. Essentially, everything would run like clock work.

That’s a nice idea, but it isn’t reality for most companies. In fact, in a recent survey conducted by Trade Press Services, 72% of employees responded that they don’t have a full understanding of their company’s strategy because of internal communications breakdowns.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over my professional career, high-performing teams aren’t built on the backs of miscommunication. Highly functioning teams are often built on the foundation of effective communication. Quite frankly, it doesn’t really matter how good of a manager you think you are, how “great” your product is, or what patent you hold – if you aren’t communicating well, you’re fighting an uphill battle that you’re ultimately going to lose.

Poor communication breeds a toxic work environment. People feel confused, left out of the loop, and forgotten. Good employees leave, and others leave every day feeling unnecessarily stressed out – all because of an internal communications issue.

Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way. Follow these 6 steps to foster communications and collaboration amongst your team and staff members:

1. Encourage honesty and transparency.

If you don’t trust someone, do you talk to them? Probably not. That’s the starting point with effective communications – you have to build trust. Of course, trust doesn’t happen overnight. Meanwhile, as you’re building trust, be open and transparent with your employees and encourage them to reciprocate.

Trust will take time to build, but over time, the effort you put into building trust will prove to be fruitful and fosters a culture where people truly feel as if their opinion and voice is being listened to.

2. Set expectations – both for your team and for yourself.

The majority of people can’t stand ambiguity. Yes, I’m aware some people out there don’t like specifics and instead like to figure it out for themselves. But, that said, most people prefer for expectations to be set and to understand what it is you’re expecting of them.

Looking for a media advisory to be written by 5pm? Set that expectation. Want 5 op-eds placed around the nation in the next 30 days? Set that expectation. Don’t just go out and ask employees to get you a media advisory or place some op-eds. Those statements offer no specificity and are so ambiguous I could essentially get away with doing them next Christmas and by your own words, you couldn’t be mad.

This isn’t the same as micromanaging. You can still give your employees flexibility, and I encourage you to do that. But, give them an idea of what you’re looking for. If you’re designing a graphic and want a black and white picture on the front, tell them that so they avoid bringing you a full color design that was essentially a complete waste of their time.

On the flip side, talk with your employees about their expectations of you. Yes, I said you. It isn’t always about managing down (even though I argue you should manage from beside your employees – but that’s a whole other conversation), but instead about allowing your employees to “manage up” and set expectations for what they’re looking for from you.

This is really important because every employee is different. Some employees prefer more management and others prefer a little more flexibility. If you ask those things and truly listen to them — you’re going to be a better manager.

3. Utilize the right tools.

Don’t use the excuse that “we’re remote working right now and it’s hard to communicate.” First, we’ve been doing this for a year now. Second, there’s eight million tools you can use to organize team communications — many of which are free.

Platforms like Slack allow you to chat and create working groups (channels, as they like to call them). Other platforms, like Monday.com, are project management tools that help track a team’s progress on certain projects and organizes all documents under one platform.

Of course, if you don’t have it in the budget for a tool like that, there’s no shame in using iMessage or GroupMe to communicate via your team. You can always hop on a Zoom or Google Hangout call, and you can store any and all documents on Google Drive.

There’s plenty of ways to stay organized as a team. Pick your channels and how you’ll communicate, get everyone set up, and utilize those religiously. Don’t waver and just use them when they’re convenient for you – use them always and set a good example for organized and effective communications.

4. Consider how your tone comes off.

I’m from the South and admittedly use the phrase “bless your heart” more frequently than I should. Truthfully, it has multiple meanings and there are many times when I mean it to come off one way, but it’s interpreted in an entirely different manner.

There are so many times when I read e-mails from people and think, ” you are so rude.” But, in all likelihood, they probably didn’t realize how they were coming off to begin with. That’s really important to remember when you’re writing an e-mail or Slack message, and is something you should always keep in mind.

To combat this, when writing a sensitive e-mail, or oftentimes even when I write an e-mail that divvies out deliverables, I write the e-mail and walk away from it. I wait for half an hour or so and then come back to it. Some people say this wastes time, but I say it saves me from a headache – and ultimately, that ends up saving me more time.

5. Get the team together regularly.

Anyone have a Carol in the office who LOVES meetings? Let’s be real – everything doesn’t need an e-mail. Most work can be done via Slack, GroupMe, or e-mail. If you need to chat, jump on a quick video chat or phone call and talk it out. You don’t need to fill people’s calendars up with meetings all week long.

That said, it is really really important to get your team together regularly. I’ve always preferred weekly check ins on Mondays to catch up with everyone and make sure we’re all the same page. So many times I’ve caught things in weekly Monday calls that I completely forgot about (get a notebook and write things down like me — I highly suggest that, too) over the weekend.

These calls don’t need to be long. Ask yours staff to take 2 minutes updating the staff, and allot extra time as needed for big rollouts, etc. Allow time for staff to discuss things amongst themselves, and most of all – provide some time to just talk about personal life and what’s going on in everyone’s “real-world.” This encourages communications as a team, but it also encourages staff to take conversations off line — thus building strongers lines of communications.

6. Be respectful of people’s time.

As mentioned in the last step, be respectful of everyone’s time. You don’t need to fill up calendars with an abundance of check in meetings. You don’t need to set up a meeting for every little detail. Instead, set a precedent for a routine meeting and stick to it. Don’t change the time constantly and expect others to shift their schedule because of you — set the time and stick to it.

Internal Communications Strengthens External Communications

A team that communicates amongst themselves is bound to communicate to external communities more effectively. While these six steps aren’t the golden spoon to an effective work environment, these six steps are a solid step in the right direction.

 

 

Comms Must Have a Seat at the Table

Posted on April 1, 2021 | by Gavin Smith

Corporate executives frequently leave their communications teams out of the mix. Rather than involving these professionals from the onset of planning, some corporate executives are prone to looping in public relations professionals at the last minute, only telling them top line details, and leaving out anything they don’t want to see in the press.

More times than not, the communications team has to fight to even get in the door. Perhaps this is because the CEO or other executives simply think they know better or maintain the mindset that “I started the company, who better to speak on behalf of it?” More frequently, it’s because they regard the communications team as a so called “non-revenue producer.”

These are all bad ideas and are unquestionably the wrong mindset. We’ve seen time and time again examples of corporate responses that have yielded less than desirable results all because comms wasn’t involved.

Take for example, Chip Wilson, the CEO and founder of Lululemon. In the midst of a crisis, dubbed the “see-through yoga pants” crisis, he felt the need to go out and publicly state that their apparel “doesn’t work for some women’s bodies.” Adding more fuel to the fire, he went on to say that Lululemon wasn’t “a fat person brand.”

Now, let’s be real – had comms been involved in the company’s response, this would’ve never happened. Those words would have never been uttered by the CEO, much less anyone else at the company. And, likely, Lululemon wouldn’t have come under fire for “fat-shaming.”

This single example reaffirms why it’s so important to involve comms from the get-go. Rather than executives taking matters into their own hands, it is imperative that CEOs and other executives treat their communications head as part of the team – and involve them every step of the way.

As if the Lululemon example isn’t indicative enough, whether it be a new product rollout, a simple staff announcement, or as crisis breaks out, here’s three more reasons why communications should have a seat at the table.

1. They’re In Tune with Public Perception.

PR professionals deal with the public on a daily basis, and are likely the only ones in the room who aren’t drunk on the company kool-aid. As other executives in the room get excited over technical details and developments, PR professionals are trained to take a step back and consider how other key publics might perceive the issue at hand.

For example, say a tech company is rolling out a new product and it’s bound to be a hit. But, the language designed around said product is far over the heads of those in your target audience. This happens a lot, and that’s okay because comms will catch it if they’re involved. That’s what comms is for – to make sure your language resonates with the audience you’re speaking to before it goes out the door.

2. They Can Spot a Crisis Long Before Anyone Else.

As the individuals who speak on behalf of your company, whether that be to journalists or the general public, public relations professionals bear the brunt of crises.

It is because of this that public relations professionals know how to spot and navigate a crisis before it ever occurs. Perhaps this is because they’ve already dealt with a crisis at your company, or perhaps its become an instinct they’ve acquired from their education in PR or another job. Regardless, PR professionals are very good at spotting a crisis long before it occurs and steering your company in the opposite direction.

That said, for your comms team to be able to do this, it goes back to our initial conversation – executives must include them. Too often, communications either isn’t listened to or isn’t involved until after the fact. In both instances, CEOs, executives, and others come running to comms for help – all of which could have likely been avoided by just communicating.

3. PR Works Hand in Hand with Marketing.

Just because PR and marketing are two very different things, doesn’t mean they don’t work hand in hand. Truthfully, the best marketing campaigns employ a public relations component.

Each and every day, or at least for each public facing issue that involves your company, marketing and comms should interface. Nine times out of ten, there’s a component for each department to run point on and it’s best for both of the departments to work together from the onset.

In doing so, communications will be able to design earned media campaigns around product rollouts and their marketing components. On the flip side, marketing will get feedback from comms on messaging to ensure they’re talking with their audiences – not at them.

Give Your PR Head a Seat at the Table.

PR professionals could go on and on about why it’s so important to include your communications team in decision making from the very beginning. These three reasons only scratch the surface, but illustrate why your communications head should have a seat at the table.

Tuesday’s Tips: You Are Your Own Best Advocate

Posted on March 2, 2021 | by Gavin Smith

You Are Your Own Best Advocate

Ever feel like you’re being talked down to at work? Ever feel like you’re being treated as if you’re clueless and not a thing in the world you say, matters? Do you think that no matter what, you can’t stand up for what you believe in?

Something I’ve learned over the years is – you are your own best advocate. 

You must speak up for yourself. That doesn’t mean you have to be rude or abrasive, but it does mean you need to gather the courage and stand your ground. Be confident in what you’re saying and in yourself.

Now, let’s be clear, standing your ground also doesn’t mean being unwilling to reason or compromise. Instead, it means hearing other people out, and then providing your thoughts. Standing your ground doesn’t mean gossiping at the coffee pot (or perhaps via Slack these days), but more less, addressing the issue(s) head on.

In my experience, I have come to learn that letting tension fester and allowing issues to linger only creates more animosity. If you don’t address things head on, it usually results in a knock-down throw down argument where both you and the other individual are very unhappy and someone’s feelings gets hurt.

Whether you’re being micromanaged, treated unfairly, or overworked, the key here is to always remain professional. Forbes say it best when they advise individuals to “remain confident and calm, and to always choose their words wisely.”

1. Don’t Get Angry

I’ll be real honest – sometimes I have an attitude and I don’t even realize it. My mom, my fiancé, my business partner, they all check me on it sometimes. But, over the years, I’ve learned to reel that in a bit and pay more attention to how I respond in the moment.

I bring this point up because it’s important. Oftentimes our initial reaction sets the tone for the entire conversation. Think about it this way – if someone approached you mad as all get out, wouldn’t you consider yourself likely to fire back a not so friendly response or perhaps even just ignore them? Don’t be ashamed to admit yes – most people are.

Having said that, it’s important that you approach the conversation in a polite manner. If you’re upset now, take a minute to cool off and then address it. But, whatever you do, don’t go in guns blazing – that won’t get anyone anywhere.

2. Trust Your Instincts

You’ve been hired to do your job for a reason. Whether it be that you’re a financial analyst and you’re brilliant with spreadsheets and analyzing financial risks, or perhaps you’re a communications professional who specializes in media bookings – remember that you’ve been hired for your expertise.

Throughout my years in the industry, I’ve come to learn that my gut is almost always right. No, that doesn’t mean I have the answer to every question and every problem. Instead, that means when my gut has a very strong feeling about something – whether it be how to respond to a media inquiry or if and when we should issue a statement on something – my gut is usually right. Yours is, too, and you must learn to trust it.

Again, I want to reiterate that this doesn’t mean you should turn into the cocky know it all in the room who doesn’t listen to anyone else. Instead, what I’m saying is, learn to differentiate something you “think” from something you have a very strong “gut feeling” for. There’s a big difference and the more you pay attention to it, the more you’ll understand what I mean.

3. Be Assertive and Know When To Say “No”

There is nothing wrong with being assertive and saying “no.” Sure, in today’s politically correct society, some would say that being assertive and saying “no” is rude, but I disagree.

Of course, if you’re being rude in your approach, that’s one thing. However, being straight-forward and strong on a particular topic – there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Being poised and confident in what you’re saying will convey a message that you mean business and you’re not backing down just because they have a differing opinion.

4. Be Prepared

Be ready to back up your position. Don’t just have “thoughts” on something – have evidence.

The best piece of advise I can give you here is – data, data, data. Data (I said it again) tells a story. If you’ve done a good job with earned media, come with the data to back up those claims. Prove that your AVE has improved or that the total number of placements has continued to climb.

Even more so, know what you’re going to say. Don’t walk in with a blank stare and think “oh gosh, I forgot what I’m going to say.” Instead, perhaps write down what your argument is and why you feel this way. This will help you sound even more confident and will further suggest you’re an expert on this topic.

5. Be Willing

Lastly, we don’t know everything – so be willing to listen and compromise. If you go in, guns blazing, unwilling to compromise, and expecting the worst outcome – you’re going to get that every single time.

Instead, be willing to listen to the other persons thoughts and try your best to understand why they believe the things they do, or act the way they act. Ultimately, they, too, believe they’re doing what they believe is best and likely have the same goal as you – success.

In my experience, particularly over the last few years, the more I’ve tried to find common ground, or some point of similarity, the more successful I’ve been. 9 times out 10, every time I’ve gone in hot and thought it was my way or the highway – I’ve lost. Compromise and being willing to listen gets you so much further than not.

Go Get ‘Em!

Having said all this, always remember that you are a valuable member of the team – and you do matter. Your thoughts matters, your work matters, and your presence matters. Take these 5 steps above and put them into motion – and I’ll bet you in no time, you’ll start to see the tides turn.

Go get ’em!

 

 

 

 

Tuesday’s Tips: How To Get Reporters To Read Your Pitch

Posted on February 23, 2021 | by Gavin Smith

You Don’t Say? Reporters Aren’t Reading Your Releases?

Let’s face it – the media as we know it has changed. The news cycle is shorter than ever, the press release is dying, and reporters, bookers, and producers find themselves overwhelmed by pitches from every “subject matter expert” and their mom begging for three to five minutes of air time on “this” or “that” topic.

During my time in the federal government, we rarely had to pitch for coverage. Instead, we’d just pop in a media release to Cision, fight their formatting tools a little (admittedly, they’re much better now), click on the selected audience we wanted to distribute to, and boom – inquiries galore!

That said, after leaving the federal space, I found myself at a crossroads. I was distributing media releases and my clients weren’t getting coverage. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why the system I had down to a science just wasn’t working anymore.

Then, it dawned on me. My clients weren’t federal agencies with budgets the size of the United Kingdom’s economy. Instead, I was pitching mostly local reporters and the occasional national publication for small and medium sized organizations.

What I realized was this – mass distribution just wasn’t going to cut it. Instead, I employed these 3 steps

1. Target Reporters Who Care

Let’s pretend I’m working for an automobile company and I’m trying to acquire coverage for our newly released pickup truck. Instead of jumping into Meltwater or Cision and simply targeting every reporter you can find who covers automobiles, take the time to look at profiles for reporters and determine those who cover the release of new vehicles. Perhaps there are reporters who cover your brand regularly.

Whatever it may be, don’t case a wide net. Instead, target reporters. Make sure what you’re sending them is even applicable to them. If the reporter covered only automobile accidents or perhaps solely your competitor, you’ve now wasted their time and discredited yourself.

Do your research. Take the time to look up reporters who will cover the information you’re looking to acquire coverage for. It’ll get you a lot further than casting a wide net.

2. Personalize Your Pitch

Say I’m working for the same automobile company and I’ve selected a group of reporters I want to get the information to. Before you do anything else – don’t click send on your standard media release.

Instead, personalize your pitch. And by personalize I don’t mean pop into Meltwater and utilize their  “Insert First Name Here” feature.

What I mean by this is really personalize your pitch. Rely on a personal sentiment, such as how their new dog is or congratulating them on their recent engagement. If you can’t rely on a personal sentiment, do some digging into their recent works and reference a recent article they wrote or show they produced.

This, often, can be the hardest step – but trust me, it’s worth it.

3. Get to the Point:

Pitches are too long these days. Sure, feel free to forward a media release you’ve prepared to a reporter – but also prepare yourself to be ignored 9 times out of 10.

Instead, take that pitch and condense it down into a 150-200 word pitch. After which, you can either include the full media release as an attachment or offer it to the individual you’re e-mailing should they like to see it.

Everyone has their own style of writing pitches, but I prefer bullets. I open up with a very short personal or professional sentiment, and then get right to the point.

Very rarely do I ever use more than three bullets, and I never write paragraphs. The less a booker or reporter has to read to understand our pitch – the better.

Less is more – remember that.

Pitching Is An Art.

Pitching is an art, truthfully. It’s all about giving the reporter or booker something interesting, easy to understand, and quick to read. If you can do that, you’re 100 times more likely to get the coverage you desire.

Other things I’d recommend, that we’ll address in more detail in the future, is building personal relationships with members of the media. You don’t always have to pitch them to reach out. Offer an off-the-record coffee or zoom-meeting. Ask mutual friends to introduce you or make the connection. Whatever it may be – personal relationships work.

Lastly, always be honest with reporters. The minute you even slightly stretch the truth with a reporter, just know, your integrity is compromised and that, therefore, has jeopardized the integrity of their reporting. One should never question the importance of telling the truth, as ultimately, the truth always prevails.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friend Friday: Stop Chasing Shiny Things

Posted on February 19, 2021 | by Gavin Smith

You can’t be a marketer unless you are flexible.  A bit fluid perhaps.  Marketers are always adapting to the latest trends, algorithms, and new platforms.  It is part of the gig, right?  Sure, but I want to talk about the latter — new platforms.  

Once we hear a handful of people, be it friends, colleagues, or even competitors mentioning a new platform our wheels start churning.  We begin to wonder if we too should jump in, and if so, when?  If we are too late to the game, it appears we are behind the eight-ball.  Yet, if we hop in eagerly at the sight of that shiny new marketing platform, we find ourselves treading water just trying to stay afloat.  

So, when is the perfect time to dive in head first?  

When you have the resources available to allocate the necessary time in order to succeed.  

What does that even mean? Let’s throw in a metaphor.  

Think of new platforms as the new car you’ve had your eye on.  It’s beautiful, right?  A stealthy black with nice rims, can probably drive itself…you know, all the bells and whistles.  

Why do you want this car so badly?  It’s simple, Janice Jones from down the street just got one; however, she only got the limited package.  You won’t make that mistake.  You’ll walk out of that dealership on cloud-nine, with a better car than Janice.  Maybe you’ll even pass by her house a few times on your way home just to make sure she sees it.  It may be nice for a while, but the reality is — Janice doesn’t care what kind of car you have.  Janice doesn’t pay your loan payment, insurance, or taxes.  In other words, Janice doesn’t have to allocate any of her resources to your shiny new car.  You do.  

New marketing platforms can be thought of in the same way.  You may see many of your competitors adding new platforms to their marketing strategies.  Just because they are doing this, doesn’t mean you should as well.  The only time you should hop on this bandwagon is when you have the resources available to allocate the necessary time in order to succeed.  Sound familiar?  It should.  

If you cannot commit the time to establish the brand, build an audience, and create quality content on a consistent basis — don’t bother starting.  It will fail.  

New platforms are always going to pop up.  Some will stick.  Some won’t.  When they’re new, they will likely experience a few kinks before they are optimized to perform as they are meant to.  You don’t have to keep up with the Jones’.  Give it time and determine if it is something you want (and have the ability to) dedicate resources to.  If you do, go crush it!

—

This post was authored by Kayla Elliott and was the first feature in our “Friend Friday” series. Kayla Elliott is the Vice President of Marketing for PC Matic and the Founder of Ell Consulting. 

 

 

Tuesday’s Tips: Have Fun with Social Media

Posted on February 10, 2021 | by Gavin Smith

Social media has been in the news a lot lately. Whether you love or hate the platforms, the reality is, when it comes to business – social media is absolutely imperative.

In fact, I’d even argue that questioning the importance of social media in a business environment is a bit like questioning a human’s need for oxygen. Social media isn’t an option – it’s a must.

Although social media is crucial to a business and its success, social media wasn’t actually designed for business. Each platform, whether it be Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, was designed with the individual user in mind.

Whether it be Facebook, whose objective was to create a way for people to interact with their friends and family, or Instagram, whose goal was to design a photo sharing platform, the common denominator amongst all of these platforms centers around one central idea – fun.

Social media wasn’t intended to be a vomitorium of political posts and news articles. Instead, at its core, it was intended to be a fun place to socialize with friends, family, and perhaps even professional colleagues.

All that said, this begs the question – if social media was intended to be fun, why has social media gotten so stuffy? Why has social media turned into what feels like another news organization?

The answer varies. But the good news is – it doesn’t have to be.

In fact, if you want your business to be successful on social media platforms, it shouldn’t be. Instead, take social media for what it is – social. Loosen up, have fun with it, and follow these three simple tips:

1.  Talk with Your Audience, Not at Them:

If you want people to engage with you, whether it be via a like, share, or comment, you have to be willing to interact with them in return. Social media is literally called social media for a reason.

Aside from the thumbs up that you’ll receive from Facebook or Instagram’s algorithm (which is a plus, but a conversation for a later post), interacting with your users humanizes you. Rather than being the unapproachable brand, you’re now a brand that talks directly with its users.

That said, there’s two parts to being social. The first being, respond to users “likes” and “comments.” You can’t expect someone to interact with your posts, tweets, etc., if you’re unwilling to acknowledge them. It’s important you always comment back, and “like” their posts.

Second, don’t leave people on read. If someone sends you a message on social media, reply back to them. Thank them for their message, give them some feedback, or assist them. It doesn’t take much effort to do this, and overtime, it helps you set your brand aside as one that doesn’t see their customers as just a number.

2.  Don’t Be Afraid to Post Fun Content

You shouldn’t sound like a robot on social media. Think about it, would you want to read content that sounds like R2D2 wrote it? I know I, and most people, wouldn’t.

Don’t be afraid to have fun with social. Again, that’s the point of it in the first place. Feel free to post funny (and relevant) memes, reply to your customers with GIFs, and write in a way that doesn’t sound like R2D2 is on the keyboard. You don’t have to sound as if you’re writing a formal letter on social media, but instead should sound approachable and easy to connect with.

Lastly, touching on grammar, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Some people might disagree with me on this but, as long as you’re spelling correctly and using grade school grammar a majority of the time – you shouldn’t be afraid to start a sentence with “y’all,” or “and,” when appropriate.

3.  Use Your Heart

 Just as people share content that they’re emotionally invested in – family, friends, pets, etc., – you’re emotionally and personally invested in your business. Don’t be afraid to show that. Your existing and future customers will value knowing that you love and are invested in what you do.

Don’t be afraid to get on the camera. Talk about how you founded the company, why you founded the company, and what your goals are. Share what you’re comfortable sharing with your audience, such as pictures of your family or pets. And lastly, don’t be afraid to show emotions.

Show gratitude when you want to give thanks. Be humble but excited when your business takes a big step. And don’t be afraid to share when you’ve messed up. Owning mess-ups and committing to making them right, especially when a customer tags you in a post about one, only makes you a more engageable and accessible brand.

Tuesday’s Tips: 5 Time Management Tips for PR Professionals

Posted on February 2, 2021 | by Gavin Smith

So let’s be real – I was supposed to launch this web site on New Years Day. Prior to said release, I built up hype on social media and asked people to sign up for “the latest updates.” I prepared a content calendar, polished the wording of a few paragraphs, and worked with my web designer to get this site ready for the public’s eye.

But, even after all the time and energy I put into launching on January 1, and even after the hard work of so many to pull off a New Years Day launch date – I still felt short and didn’t follow through.

I questioned for a few days why I put so much effort into something that I didn’t finish, and took a hard look at what factors contributed to the project not meeting its deadline. I knew this wasn’t something I wanted to make a habit of, and surely wasn’t a trait I wanted to be associated with my name.

With that spirit in mind, and in reflecting on this, I realized that we, as public relations professionals, are constantly “dodging” and “tackling.” A constant stream of media releases, rapid responses, pitches, media inquiries, and tweets consistently add to our “to do” list, and can oftentimes seem very overwhelming.

So, while I am admittedly a month late launching this web site, I figured what better way to make a splash than to address the topic head on. How do we manage all that comes our way? How do we better plan our time and in turn, ensure that we’re delivering on all fronts?

There’s no silver spoon to time management, but here are 5 tips PR Professionals can start using today to alleviate some of the stress associated with time management:

1.   To Do Lists

It’s as simple as it sounds – make a list of all the things you need to get done. Don’t worry about prioritizing them, just get them down on paper. You can do this on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis. In fact, it doesn’t really matter how you do it, it just matters that you actually do it.  Making a to do list not only helps you wrap your head around all you need to accomplish, but also serves as a foundation for the the tips that follow.

2.   Prioritize

Everything isn’t a priority. Let’s face it, some public relations initiatives are more important than others. Amidst the constant flow of content and a faster than ever media cycle, we often find ourself wondering “where to start.” After you’ve created your to do list, estimate next to each task how long it will take you to get it done and when that project is due. From there, simply map out a schedule that works best for you.

3.    Stay Organized

There is no need to be messy. Instead of leaving 50-million windows open in your internet browser, and never filing away and/or deleting e-mails, make better habits when it comes to these things. Close out of old browser windows as you go (that’s what internet history is for), and delete and/or file e-mails as you read them. These tasks only take a few more seconds of our time, but make it much easier to find things as we’re working throughout the day.

4.   Don’t procrastinate

Deadlines are deadlines for a reason. When you know something is due, don’t put it off until the last minute. Instead, as part of your to do lists, make sure you build in time to complete the tasks at hand. Don’t try to be superman and complete the task in record time. Instead, allot yourself a fair amount of time to complete the tasks you know you need to get done.

5.   Communicate

It’s at the very core of what we do – communicate. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, if you’re running behind on a deadline, or if you just need to take a minute, communicate with your clients or colleagues. We’re all human, and oftentimes the feeling of being overwhelmed can be quickly alleviated by simply communicating.

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