Happy New Year

Yes, I know we're 21 days into the new year. Timeliness is not one of my New Year's resolutions! I have set some goals, and they are personal - they won't be posted here - but the process helped me come to some conclusions. When I selected my goals, I chose six areas of improvement. Narrowing down to only one goal in each area wasn't easy - but I did it! In doing so, I realized I would need to track my progress pretty carefully, and when I feel like I'm doing well on a goal, I can add another goal to that area of improvement. Life is all about Continuous Improvement folks! We're never done - and setting goals once a year isn't going to get us where we want to go. Especially if we don't even make it the first two weeks. (Sad - but common.) Write your goals down - include the steps you will take to meet the goal, so you know when you reach it. Celebrate attaining the goal - and add another one to your list. If you have as much to improve on as I do, I assure you there will be no shortage of goals to help you improve. Happy New Year!

OK, so that book I was writing? Did NOT get very far. It's funny how life happens and priorities change. This has been an interesting year, and I can't believe it's already drawing to a close. There have been so many changes in my life - both personally and professionally. It has been an extremely challenging year, and I believe next year will be even more so - and in a very positive way. My writing? Totally getting after it. My book? Might not happen right away, but I know it will one day. Meanwhile I WILL write something creative every day. In this month of gratitude, I am grateful for so many things. While I'm still allowing myself a few more days of mourning the positive changes I SO wanted to happen for my country, I am grateful that I do live in a free nation. Additionally, I vow to do something MYSELF to make my country better. Just wait and see!

Writing what I want?

New Year's goal - writing a book! Actually, committing to write 750 words a day - we'll see what it turns into. I have some notes about an idea I like and feel strongly it could be a good book. I'm excited to see how this evolves. I'll blog more about my idea as it matures. For now ...... it is an "Empty Nest" scenario. Something I'm learning a lot about ;)

Semester's end - Intro to PR

It has been fun - and challenging - to post to my blog several times a week for my Intro to PR class. Now the challenge will be to continue to post where no credit is at stake. And what will be fun - is choosing the topic! While much of what I blog about will likely still include Public Relations, because of my job, it will be more likely to be more personal.

I picked up the "2012 Writer's Market," and it has an entire section on blogging - intending to digest this tonight. I'm done with school! It's time to read and write what I want for a while, and that is the most exciting news of all.

Dates on your blog posts

Shel Holtz (of Holtz Communication + Technology) recently posted on his blog about "Keep dating your blog posts; it adds important context." I know this is a recent post because it is dated December 8, 2011! This is Holtz' point. Some bloggers feel if they don't date their posts, they get more views and more shares. I agree with Holtz that it is very nearly dishonest to NOT date a blog post. Readers reactions are determined, at least in great part, by the currency of what they are reading.

Holtz says, "Without dates, the credibility and validity of every post I see is suspect." I completely agree. How is a reader supposed to know if the post is current, valid or applicable if there is no date? I wouldn't cite a post that didn't have a date, because I believe it loses credibility.

There are six comments so far on Holtz' blog - all in agreement blog posts should have dates. One comment states, "The only reason(s) to have non-dated posts are selfish. They don't take the reader (today's or tomorrow's) into consideration." Amen to that. Readers have a right to know the timing of what's been written, to determine not just if the WANT to read it, but HOW they should read it. Without a date, there is very little context - and very little reason to read the post.

Accidental Tweet?

During a staff meeting at work today, we received exciting news that someone who has caused our company a lot of stress was leaving the position that allowed her to do so - and going to a company where she could cause us no stress. Sad that there were so many cheers and "Yahoo!"s at someone else leaving their job - but we were so excited. Several of us started sharing the news with others. I searched on-line, as a change in this high profile position should be pretty big new - but there was nothing. Should have clued me in.

Come to find out - the person was only VISITING the other company, but is expected to remain right where she is. Causing us stress.

The news initially stemmed from a tweet that was - most assuredly - a mis-tweet. Let that be a lesson - Twitter is a wonderful tool, but certain things you hear via Twitter may need to be verified elsewhere.

What do you do for a living?

Jeri Cartwright posted in her blog on Ragan.com about how frustrating it is to try and explain what she does in "Public Relations." There is such a mix of needs and skills - sometimes when someone asks what you do, you really want to respond, "What DON'T I do?"

On any given day at work, I will perform a wide variety of functions, beginning with internal communications, community relations, event planning and coordination, editing a press release or some talking points, and moderating several of our Facebook pages and one of our three Twitter accounts. And that's just for starters.

Cartwright ends her post with, "which of the following fall under public relations? Which ones should not? I can honestly say, I'm not sure anymore." In her compilation of responsibilities, she lists: PR, Media relations, Community relations, Government relations, Lobbying, Public affairs, Marketing, Advertising and Campaign strategy (elections). A pretty good list, and it barely scratches the surface. There are just too many things that fall under "other duties as assigned." All of which make PR one of the best jobs there is. Just don't try and explain it.