FIR Podcast Network

A recent post in the members-only forum of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) discussed the benefits of small versus large PR agencies. It stemmed from a remark an agency consultant made on a recent webinar where he referred to small ad agencies as “two guys and a bong.”

While we can assure you that Chip and Gini were not smoking anything when they recorded this episode (OK, at least we think we can), they do stand up for small and mid-size agencies. Not that there’s anything wrong with being big, since every size and shape of PR firm has its pros and cons.

Chip also reminds agency owners to understand the difference between punching above your weight and fighting in the wrong weight class.

RESOURCES

* InsidePR podcast

* PRSA

[read the transcript]

Agency owners need to keep tabs on the financial health of their businesses, but many lack the backgrounds to know the numbers that matter most. Darryl Salerno’s long experience in advising agencies on financial matters makes him an excellent resource on this vital topic.

In this episode, Darryl explains which numbers agencies should be focused on and what benchmarks can help them evaluate their own success. He takes the mystery out of money matters and provides practical advice that any agency leader can put to work today.

RESOURCES

* Second Quadrant Solutions

* Davis & Gilbert

* PR Council

* Gould + Partners

[read the transcript]

Thrive personally and professionally by living out your true calling. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert, James Woeber (http://aha.pub/JamesWoeber), bestselling author, international trainer, speaker, consultant and co-founder and CEO of the Art of Heartful Living Institute.

James helps thought leaders and entrepreneurs to align their gifts and brilliance with their true calling so that they can thrive personally and professionally. Through leadership, communication and human potential training programs, he assists clients to discover and live their true calling.

To learn more about James Woeber, go to http://aha.pub/JamesWoeber. To get in touch with him, visit https://artofheartfulliving.com/.

Here are a few AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of some thought leaders and entrepreneurs is that, despite their success, their souls yearn to discover and achieve their #TrueCalling. https://artofheartfulliving.com/ @JamesWoeber

* When you have a clear vision of your gifts, values and goals, you can get closer to discovering your #TrueCalling. Are your values and gifts aligned with your goals? https://artofheartfulliving.com/ @JamesWoeber

* #SoulSatisfaction involves using your brilliance to fulfill your #TrueCalling. Is your soul satisfied as you thrive professionally? https://artofheartfulliving.com/ @JamesWoeber

* More than 25 years of experience in helping leaders and entrepreneurs thrive personally and professionally by embracing their gifts can give one the credibility to direct people to their #TrueCalling. http://aha.pub/JamesWoeber

* When you don’t pay attention to what’s happening internally in your soul, you may end up doing more damage to the world than good. #SoulSatisfaction https://artofheartfulliving.com/ @JamesWoeber

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

Engage in collaborative conversations to get the work done. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Ken Homer (http://aha.pub/KenHomer), founder of Collaborative Conversations and developer of The World Cafe dialogue process. He is a seasoned organizational development practitioner, coach, communication facilitator, and process artist.

Ken helps management teams, organizers, and decision-makers develop a high level of conversational competence so their team can have more effective collaborations. He coaches them on how to listen and communicate in such a way that everyone in the conversation can contribute and bring out the best in each other.

To learn more about Ken Homer, go to http://aha.pub/KenHomer. To get in touch with him, visit https://www.KenHomer.com/.

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of management teams, organizers, and decision-makers is that only one in three projects comes in on time and on budget because they don’t know how to engage in #CollaborativeConversations. https://www.KenHomer.com/ @KenHomer

* Management teams usually have a hard time talking together in ways that can bring out the best in each other. This may hinder the team from accomplishing a goal. Are you having #CollaborativeConversations in your team? https://www.KenHomer.com/ @KenHomer

* Do you know how to listen very deeply to a person, so you get what’s being said, what’s not being said, and what’s really important? Consider learning how to acquire a high level of #ConversationalCompetence at work. http://aha.pub/KenHomer

* #CollaborativeConversations involve knowing how to be in the right conversation about the right thing at the right time with the right people. Does your organization collaborate effectively to accomplish a project? https://www.KenHomer.com/ @KenHomer

* When you have #CollaborativeConversations in your organization, you can tap the wisdom of your entire team. https://www.KenHomer.com/ @KenHomer

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

Simplify your message through the 3-1-3 Method® to create a greater impact. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Ryan Foland (http://aha.pub/RyanFoland), who helps executives, leaders, and salespeople simplify their written and spoken messages so they can communicate their brand in a way that people actually understand.

Ryan helps his clients narrow down their core message from a long and hard-to-digest description into three sentences, then down to one sentence, and finally into just three words. Through this 3-1-3® Method, he helps executives, leaders, and salespersons avoid the familiar situation of talking themselves out of a sale, a deal, or just about any goal every time they say the wrong stuff in the wrong order.

To learn more about Ryan Foland, go to http://aha.pub/RyanFoland. To get in touch with him, visit https://www.RyanFoland.com/.

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of executives, leaders, and salespeople is that they struggle to explain what they do in a concise way and they talk themselves out of what they really want. #SimplifyYourMessage. https://aha.pub/RyanFoland

* When you learn how to #SimplifyYourMessage into three words, you can become a better communicator of your own brand. Are you simplifying your message? https://aha.pub/RyanFoland

* If you know how to #SimplifyYourMessage, you can figure out the box to stay in when talking to your prospects. Once you have those borders in place, you say less and let people engage more. https://aha.pub/RyanFoland

* Prospects don’t usually care about your story, but rather how they see themselves in your story. Consider learning how to portray your brand in a way that focuses on solving your prospects’ problems. #SimplifyYourMessage https://aha.pub/RyanFoland

* Have you tried sharing your whole self, both the good and the bad, when communicating your brand? Being authentic can lead to better relationships with your clients. https://www.RyanFoland.com/ @RyanFoland

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

Build high-performance sales teams through effective sales training programs. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Ray Makela (http://aha.pub/RayMakela), a business development executive, entrepreneur, and technology leader with over 25 years of management consulting and sales experience.

Ray is the managing director and CEO at Sales Readiness Group. He is responsible for managing profitable growth and client success. For over a decade, Sales Readiness Group has helped companies drive better sales performance by working with their sales teams, particularly the sales managers, to improve critical skills that are necessary for consistent and upward-trending sales. Ray is dedicated to helping mid- to large-sized companies build effective sales teams and equip them with the knowledge and tools to be successful in their sales performance.

To learn more about Ray, go to http://aha.pub/RayMakela. To get in touch with him, visit https://www.salesreadinessgroup.com.

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of mid- to large-sized companies is not having the knowledge nor the tools to be successful in their #SalesPerformance. https://www.salesreadinessgroup.com @RayAMakela

* Mid- to large-sized companies can benefit from equipping their sales managers with the tools and skillsets they need to run high-performance sales teams. What tools and skillsets does your sales manager have? #SalesPerformance https://www.salesreadinessgroup.com @RayAMakela

* An expert in sales can help build training programs designed to develop the sales and management skills critical to creating a high-performance sales team. Consider learning from one who can train your team! #SalesPerformance http://aha.pub/RayMakela

* Mid- to large-sized companies can increase their #SalesPerformance through effective sales managers who actively listen to their sales reps and help them do a good sales job. What methods do you use to help your team? https://www.salesreadinessgroup.com @RayAMakela

* Improving the skills of sales managers can help mid- to large-sized companies achieve outsized results for the investment because the entire team benefits. What skills does your sales team have? #SalesPerformance https://www.salesreadinessgroup.com @RayAMakela

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

Survive and thrive in the workplace through understanding diversity. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Michael Lee (http://aha.pub/MichaelLee), president of EthnoConnect, a company that provides seminars, training, consulting, and coaching on how to sell more products and services to the multicultural market in America.

Michael is a marketing guru who is the leading expert in selling to people from diverse cultures. He is dedicated to helping executives and men of all levels survive and thrive in this new world of diversity in the workplace.

To learn more about Michael, go to http://aha.pub/MichaelLee. To get in touch with him, visit https://www.ethnoconnect.com.

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of executives and men at all levels is not knowing how to interact appropriately with women in the workplace. #Diversity https://www.ethnoconnect.com @MichaelLee

* The right behavior can help executives and men at all levels feel comfortable interacting with women in the workplace. How do you interact with female colleagues? #Diversity https://www.ethnoconnect.com @MichaelLee

* An expert in #Diversity can help executives and men at all levels understand appropriate behavior toward women. Consider learning from one who can guide you! http://aha.pub/MichaelLee

* Executives and men of all levels can benefit from being sensitive to other people, including minorities and women. How sensitive are you toward #Diversity? https://www.ethnoconnect.com @MichaelLee

* Executives and men at all levels can survive and thrive in the modern world of #Diversity when they adjust their frame of mind toward women in the workplace. How can you thrive in your workplace? https://www.ethnoconnect.com @MichaelLee

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

Achieve wealth and happiness by leveraging passion and legacy. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Alicia Castillo Holley (http://aha.pub/AliciaCastilloHolley), the CEO and founder of Wealthing Institute.

Alicia is a strategist at the intersection of science, technology, capital, and humanity. She is also a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, scientist, academic, and angel investor. Alicia is dedicated to working with individuals who are creating wealth but are not very happy with the process and are seeking an alternative to profit-only business models.

To learn more about Alicia, go to http://aha.pub/AliciaCastilloHolley. To get in touch with her, visit http://wealthinginstitute.org.

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of individuals who are #CreatingWealth is not knowing how to find happiness in that process. http://wealthinginstitute.org @AliciaCastillo

* Sharing wealth can be a more powerful approach for individuals who are #CreatingWealth compared to seeking profits only. How are you sharing your wealth? http://wealthinginstitute.org @AliciaCastillo

* An expert in #CreatingWealth can help individuals align both wealth building and a meaningful life. Consider learning from one who can help you achieve both! http://aha.pub/AliciaCastilloHolley

* Individuals who are #CreatingWealth can find meaning when they leverage what they are passionate about. What is your passion? http://wealthinginstitute.org @AliciaCastillo

* A systematic approach to #CreatingWealth can benefit individuals who are looking for financial, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual rewards. What is your approach to building wealth? http://wealthinginstitute.org @AliciaCastillo

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

I once worked with a business coach who told me I had to stop smiling at men during meetings because it could be interpreted as me flirting with them.

Yes, you read that right.

What kind of world do we live in when a smile is misinterpreted as flirting in the business world?

You probably don’t need to guess that coach wasn’t around for very long.

Women get a lot of advice about how to succeed at work.

Not only is much of it conflicting, but it’s also extraordinarily offensive.

And, even though we’ve come pretty far—even during my career—we still have a long way to go.

Women Have Pancakes, Men Have Waffles

A few weeks ago, someone in our Spin Sucks Community posted this article from the Huffington Post about how women working at Ernst & Young are instructed to behave, dress, and act.

As of 2018, Ernst & Young didn’t have very many women working for their organization.

As a way to  “empower” the women who do work there, and possibly build morale and an inclusive culture, and attract more women, they created an internal program called: Power, Presence, Purpose.

The purpose of the PPP program is to help women learn how to grow their networks, negotiate, and build stronger, high-performing teams.

Unfortunately, it has done the exact opposite of what they intended because of the “advice” they provide.

Let’s take a look at some of the quotes from the unbelievably misogynistic presentation that was obtained by the Huffington Post:

Women’s brains absorb information like pancakes soak up syrup so it’s hard for them to focus. Men’s brains are more like waffles. They’re better able to focus because the information collects in each little waffle square.

PANCAKES.

That tidbit and more about how women should behave in front of their men coworkers were included in the presentation.

Not only does it enforce outdated stereotypes and hold women to an impossible standard, but it also completely ignores other areas of privilege such as race, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

That’s why we’re taking a closer look at diversity issues in the communications industry.

The Spin Sucks Podcast on Diversity Issues

In this episode of the Spin Sucks Podcast you’ll hear about:

* Why equality isn’t a reality yet

* How the communications industry struggles with diversity

* A case study on diversity

* How to improve diversity and inclusion at work

Your Turn

What’s your experience with diversity in the workplace? How did you handle it? Are there certain situations you look out for now because of your experiences?

The comments belong to you.

Increase revenue and hit sales targets by optimizing your sales process. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Michael Griego (http://aha.pub/MichaelGriego), a world-class sales expert, trainer, speaker, and author.

Michael is the president and founder of MXL Partners, a provider of high-impact sales process consulting, sales messaging, sales management, and sales organization effectiveness training. He has conducted sales management consulting for companies around the world and has led sales training for thousands of salespeople in companies ranging from Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 500 firms. Michael is dedicated to helping high-growth companies hit revenues they cannot afford to miss.

To learn more about Michael, go to http://aha.pub/MichaelGriego. To get in touch with him, visit http://mxlpartners.com.

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of high-growth companies is not knowing how to hit revenues they cannot afford to miss. #IncreaseRevenue http://mxlpartners.com @MikeGriego

* High-growth companies can #IncreaseRevenue by developing effective sales and management teams that are highly motivated. How can you develop your teams? http://mxlpartners.com @MikeGriego

* An international sales expert can help assess high-growth companies and optimize their selling engagement process. Consider working with one who can help you! #IncreaseRevenue http://aha.pub/MichaelGriego

* Optimizing the articulation and communication of their messaging can help high-growth companies #IncreaseRevenue. How are you communicating your message? http://mxlpartners.com @MikeGriego

* Equipping high-growth companies with practical and flexible tools for compelling sales messaging can help #IncreaseRevenue. What tools does your sales team use? http://mxlpartners.com @MikeGriego

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.