FIR Podcast Network

A recent question on the PRSA member discussion forum came from a client who was looking for guidance on setting goals for their PR agency. The individual inquired if “3-5% [growth is] fairly standard.”

Chip and Gini tackled this question, along with the broader topic of aligning agency work with client goals. They also discussed how these goals might factor in to agency compensation.

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Many new PR and marketing agencies start out as “virtual” agencies where everyone works remotely and there is no physical office. But some agencies with their own office space have made the decision to swap leases for the virtual model.

Todd Zeigler of The Brick Factory in Washington, DC joins Chip on this episode to talk about how his agency reached the decision to go virtual and what steps they have taken to manage the transition with employees and clients.

Todd explains that it wasn’t really an overnight process, but rather an evolutionary one that eventually became the blindingly obvious path forward.

RESOURCES

* The Brick Factory

* Todd on Twitter | LinkedIn

[read the transcript]

Today we have a special episode of EE Voice: Mark Dollins (friend, comms pro and a former EE Voice guest) and I recently conducted a webinar to discuss the value of employee communications during COVID-19 — as well as share best practices and helpful hints during this crisis. We wanted to offer another way for you to access this information, so this is the slimmed-down audio of the main presentation. You can view the full webinar — including slides and audience polling — at biznology.com.

The webinar was hosted by Consultants Collective and moderated by its manager director, Jen McClure.

Please let us know if Sharon and I can provide any additional help or advice during this challenging time.

 

Create a people-centered company culture while maximizing the impact of social media using workplace intelligence. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert, Mark Babbitt (https://aha.pub/MarkBabbitt), President of WorqIQ, founder and CEO of YouTern, leadership and career mentor, blogger, speaker and author of “A World Gone Social: How Companies Must Adapt to Survive.”

Mark is included in Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers and he is among the “Top 50 Leadership Innovators” with his notable contributions in the business community that are mentioned in Entrepreneur, Forbes, Inc and HBR. He is very passionate in creating exceptional experiences at work, empowering professionals and leaders — including college graduates and CEOs — to improve their current levels and competitive advantages.

To learn more about Mark Babbitt, go to https://aha.pub/MarkBabbitt.  For more details about #WorkplaceIntelligence and Mark’s book about the impact of social and digital media on business cultures, visit his website www.worqIQ.com.

Here are a few AHA messages from this episode:

* Business leaders who know that at least an element of their workplace isn’t working, but don’t have a clue how to fix it, should reach out to Mark Babbitt. #WorkplaceIntelligence https://aha.pub/MarkBabbitt

* Through a series of assessments and interviews, I can help your organization figure out exactly what your work climate is and define what you would like the ideal climate to be. #WorkplaceIntelligence worqIQ.com @MarkSBabbitt

* My in-depth knowledge and understanding of social media and technology gives me the perceived credibility to mentor executives and other employees on how to know and connect with an audience in order to meet the business needs. Do you need an intervention? https://aha.pub/MarkBabbitt

* Are your people rewarded based on purpose-driven performance or are they just trading hours for dollars? With my guidance, I can help you improve the overall employee experience in your company. #WorkplaceIntelligence worqIQ.com @MarkSBabbitt

* How do your people get work done? What is it really like to work in your company? My role is to identify your existing company culture and match it with your mission in order to further your goals for the business. #WorkplaceIntelligence https://aha.pub/MarkBabbitt

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, visit https://thoughtleaderlife.com/.

Complement your work life and your personal life with a mission of doing more and not just enough. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert, Jeff Munn (https://aha.pub/JeffMunn), founder and CEO of Jeff Munn, LLC and a certified professional Presence-Based Coach who is passionate about creating extraordinary futures and maximizing endless possibilities for business executives and entrepreneurs and their respective teams.

Jeff spent 25 years in the corporate world as a lawyer, executive and consultant, so, he is well-versed in how CEOs and professionals can expand and rework their businesses in order to create new roles with a collaborative team that supports their greater meaning and purpose.

If you feel that your value is based only on what you do and what you produce in the world, and you desire to do well at work and still have a personal life, consider reaching out to Jeff Munn by visiting his website https://jmunn.com/ and going to https://aha.pub/JeffMunn.

Here are a few AHA messages from this episode:

* C-suite executives who are stuck between making an impact and having a life should reach out to Jeff Munn. #MoreThanEnough https://aha.pub/JeffMunn

* Sometimes people who are part of the team, whether you are the leader or not, don’t recognize the big issue between making an impact and having a personal life that counts. Are you struggling with this conflict? #MoreThanEnough https://jmunn.com/

* Businesses have a mission to make an impact on the world. My role is to guide you in carrying out your personal sense of responsibility to make the world a better place while having a sense of comfort and joy. #MoreThanEnough https://jmunn.com/

* Society often dictates that you have to be working 24/7 with no time to relax in order to accomplish your work. I can help you to have more ease in your work life, and to be more effective in what you do and that means having a greater impact. #MoreThanEnough https://aha.pub/JeffMunn

* My 25 years of corporate life managing people with different roles in organizations gives me the perceived credibility to teach you how to achieve that and to believe you are #MoreThanEnough. https://jmunn.com/

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, visit https://thoughtleaderlife.com/.

Break free from the energy blocks in your life and fulfill your soul purpose. This episode features #TransformationalLeader and #HighlySensitivePersonExpert, Debbie Lynn Grace (http://aha.pub/DebbieLynnGrace), CEO at Debbie Lynn Grace International. She is a transformational leader, author and international speaker.

Debbie Lynn helps individuals who are highly sensitive and empathic from around the globe on a spiritual path, identify and remove the energy blocks in their lives that hinder them from fulfilling their greater purpose.

If you’re on a spiritual journey but have an energy block and need support, you should consider reaching out to Debbie Lynn Grace by visiting her website at https://debbielynngrace.com or http://aha.pub/DebbieLynnGrace.

Here are a few AHA messages from this episode:

* People who are on a spiritual journey but have an energy block in certain areas of their lives should look at the work being done by Debbie Lynn Grace. #TransformationalLeader https://debbielynngrace.com @DebbieLynnGrace

* When people walk on their spiritual journey, they feel in their hearts the yearning to have a greater purpose in their lives. Have you ever felt the yearning for a greater purpose in your life? #Transformationalleader https://debbielynngrace.com @DebbieLynnGrace

* People who are on a spiritual journey, but somehow have blocks in their lives and don’t know how to have the fulfilling lives that their hearts are yearning for, should learn how to remove those energy blocks. #Transformationalleader https://debbielynngrace.com @DebbieLynnGrace

* Blocks in terms of fears, programming or patterns of behavior hinder people from having fulfilling lives that their hearts are yearning for. #Transformationalleader https://debbielynngrace.com @DebbieLynnGrace

* I show people who have blocks in their lives how to remove and dissolve all those energy blocks in order to have a seamless integration between their everyday lives and their spiritual journeys. #Transformationalleader https://debbielynngrace.com @DebbieLynnGrace

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, visit: https://thoughtleaderlife.com/.

While many of us are under jurisdictional orders to remain in our homes, we can still get together socially. That’s just what Neville, Shel, and about a dozen FIR listeners did on Thursday, March 26, using Zoom. This roughly 30-minute discussion focused mainly on how work will change in the wake of the pandemic.

We are planning to host conversations via Zoom every Thursday at 1 p.m. EDT. Watch this space (or follow us on social media) for the URL and other details.

Grow your business with top talents through talent retention. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Roberta Matuson (http://aha.pub/RobertaMatuson), president at Matuson Consulting. She is also a strategic advisor and consultant, executive coach, public speaker, and author.

Roberta conducts leadership coaching for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies about top talent acquisition and retention. She provides customized solutions to meet the individual needs of her clients. She is dedicated to helping her clients become magnetic leaders who attract and retain talent.

If you’re a mid-sized to Fortune 500 company looking for top talent but also need help with #TalentRetention, consider reaching out to Roberta Matuson by visiting her website at http://www.matusonconsulting.com  or http://aha.pub/RobertaMatuson.

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* Mid-sized and Fortune 500 companies that need help attracting top talent who will stick around should look at the work being done by Roberta Matuson. #TalentRetention http://www.matusonconsulting.com @Matuson

* Attracting top talent and getting them to stick around is an absolute nightmare for many mid-sized and Fortune 500 companies. #TalentRetention http://www.matusonconsulting.com @Matuson

* Organizations should build workplaces where employees love to work and where customers love to do business. These two are related, don’t you agree? #TalentRetention http://www.matusonconsulting.com @Matuson

* When you have people on board who really enjoy their work, they’re more innovative. They’re more creative. They’re better customer service representatives for your organization. #TalentRetention http://www.matusonconsulting.com @Matuson

* Having been an executive at the age of 24 and now having more than 20 years of experience in the corporate world, Roberta Matuson is someone you can turn to for transforming your leadership teams to #MagneticLeaders. #TalentRetention http://aha.pub/RobertaMatuson @Matuson

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, visit: https://thoughtleaderlife.com/.

Find greater business opportunities through liquidity events. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Michael Roub (http://aha.pub/MichaelRoub), founder and managing partner at Inflection 360. He is a seasoned strategic consultant for healthcare practices, orgs, and companies.

Michael guides his clients through the most critical points of their business life cycle, particularly when looking for potential liquidity events to exit or get funding for their business. He specializes in helping his clients successfully outcompete in their markets, grow, and exit at significant valuations.

If you have a healthcare practice or company and are looking to do a #Liquidity event but need the help of an expert at an affordable rate, consider reaching out to Michael Roub by visiting his website at https://inflection360.com or http://aha.pub/MichaelRoub.

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* Healthcare practices and services looking for #Liquidity events should turn to Michael Roub to get the right advice they need. https://inflection360.com @Michael_Roub_

* Understanding what a company’s strategic needs are and helping tell their story are key parts in building up financials and projections, as well as how you present them to potential investors. #Liquidity https://inflection360.com @Michael_Roub_

* To help companies get to the next level, you must guide them on the path, from start to finish, to raising capital and looking at acquisitions. #Liquidity https://inflection360.com @Michael_Roub_

* My years of experience working with big firms as an investment banker has helped me build relationships and leverage my resources to help bring successful results to clients. #Liquidity http://aha.pub/MichaelRoub @Michael_Roub_

* Bigger investment banks certainly cater well to large healthcare orgs, but certain smaller healthcare practices may also able to get private equity investment. However, using an investment bank for these smaller practices isn’t feasible.  That’s where my expertise comes into play.  #Liquidity https://inflection360.com @Michael_Roub_

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, visit: https://thoughtleaderlife.com/.

Let your business thrive due to good financial control and information. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Jim Waszak (https://aha.pub/JimWaszak), an outsourced CFO, professional emcee, improv performer, career coach, and talk show host. He helps manufacturing companies reach sky-rocketing growth in a short period of time that results in triple their profit.

Jim’s recent success stories include turning around a manufacturing company and achieving 50% growth in 18 months and profits three times the best in the company’s 70-year history.

If you are a startup or small company struggling to grow and advance because of financial control and information, consider reaching out to Jim Waszak by visiting his LinkedIn profile at https://aha.pub/JimWaszak.

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* Companies that are too small to have a full-time chief financial officer and that struggle with good financial control and information should seek the expertise of Jim Waszak to optimize better results. https://aha.pub/JimWaszak

* It bothers me to see people put their heart and soul into something but not succeed in their business because they don’t know or understand the numbers. That’s why I want to make a difference in their lives by assisting them. https://aha.pub/JimWaszak

* My focus is to understand what’s going in a business, identify what’s stopping it from growing and thriving, and get it out of the way. https://aha.pub/JimWaszak

* Are you putting in the right mechanics and approach to figure out what your company needs to succeed? If not, let me help you. https://aha.pub/JimWaszak

* About 15 years before moving into the manufacturing world, I was exposed to various departments, like HR and IT. I am also a CPA. These connections stem networking for me, and I have found a great deal of business for people by just by making intros and referrals. https://aha.pub/JimWaszak

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, visit: https://thoughtleaderlife.com/.