Showing posts with label maroon pr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maroon pr. Show all posts
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Meet Eve Hemsley and Kate Korson
Eve Hemsley is an Associate Account Executive at Maroon PR. Contact her at Eve@MaroonPR.com
Kate Korson is an Associate Account Executive at Maroon PR. Contact her at Kate@MaroonPR.com
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Are you Simply A Leader or Do you LEAD?
By Chartese Burnett
Today after our staff meeting at Maroon PR, we watched a brief poignant motivational video. I had an “aha” moment while listening to Simon Sinek share WHAT people do vs. WHY they do it and how businesses want to do business with people who believe what they believe. The point was that people make “emotional” decisions or purchases and create relationships based upon, not WHAT businesses do, but on WHY they do what they do. He cited various examples of successful entities, including Apple computer, which has enjoyed tremendous success because their “marketing” message is not based on product capabilities alone, but on the company’s endeavor to make the end user or consumer happy, satisfied, and/or fulfilled on a much deeper emotional level.
Nonprofit organizations that successfully communicate their message to demonstrate what they have done and what they are doing to positively impact society will create a loyal donor base – those who will fund and further the work of the organization. For-profit entities that operate according to their core values will garner business from and develop successful/profitable partnerships with those that share similar beliefs.
As insightful as this was, my second epiphany came when he explored this concept further, with a different “twist: using Reverend Martin Luther King, the great civil rights leader and orator, as an example of someone who LED people, black and white, to follow his movement. According to Sinek, the titles of “DR.” or “Reverend” were not the motivating factor in this demonstration of unity among masses. In 1968, hundreds of thousands of people came out to listen to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream speech”, not because of WHO he was, but because of WHAT he believed. In Sinek’s opinion, it wasn’t that Dr. King was the only person who yearned for equal rights and freedom from oppression, slavery, racism; nor was he the only great orator (although I’d argue that few could compete with Dr. King’s oratory gift back then or even ever), but the fact that the March on Washington was historical was because Dr. King INSPIRED others to act, to take a stand, to FOLLOW him.
The point was simply this: Being a leader is simply a matter of possessing a title, either one of privilege, position, or stature. However, leading involves movement. It involves moving others to action. Those who have led innovations, inventions, discovery, research, progress - -have been those whom we remember, not based on what came before or after their proper names, but based on what they believed and WHY they fought, pursued, pressed on. We remember the cures they have discovered for life threatening illnesses, the laws that have been passed in the name of equality, the advances made in science and technology, the trails blazed, and the difference it has all made in humanity.
Those who lead inspire us, motivate us, and nurture our loyalty in them. Those who lead have been very privileged to have recognized their “higher” calling; some would call it their “purpose”. When we understand what our purpose is, WHY we do what we do, and then communicate that to our constituents, clients and the world – we will attract and create a loyal following of those who believe as we do. Only when we relate on a “higher” and “deeper” level and commit ourselves to positive and meaningful core values, will we enjoy fruitful partnerships and successful endeavors.
Chartese Burnett is Director of Non-Profit PR at Maroon PR. Contact her at Chartese@MaroonPR.com
Today after our staff meeting at Maroon PR, we watched a brief poignant motivational video. I had an “aha” moment while listening to Simon Sinek share WHAT people do vs. WHY they do it and how businesses want to do business with people who believe what they believe. The point was that people make “emotional” decisions or purchases and create relationships based upon, not WHAT businesses do, but on WHY they do what they do. He cited various examples of successful entities, including Apple computer, which has enjoyed tremendous success because their “marketing” message is not based on product capabilities alone, but on the company’s endeavor to make the end user or consumer happy, satisfied, and/or fulfilled on a much deeper emotional level.
Nonprofit organizations that successfully communicate their message to demonstrate what they have done and what they are doing to positively impact society will create a loyal donor base – those who will fund and further the work of the organization. For-profit entities that operate according to their core values will garner business from and develop successful/profitable partnerships with those that share similar beliefs.
As insightful as this was, my second epiphany came when he explored this concept further, with a different “twist: using Reverend Martin Luther King, the great civil rights leader and orator, as an example of someone who LED people, black and white, to follow his movement. According to Sinek, the titles of “DR.” or “Reverend” were not the motivating factor in this demonstration of unity among masses. In 1968, hundreds of thousands of people came out to listen to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream speech”, not because of WHO he was, but because of WHAT he believed. In Sinek’s opinion, it wasn’t that Dr. King was the only person who yearned for equal rights and freedom from oppression, slavery, racism; nor was he the only great orator (although I’d argue that few could compete with Dr. King’s oratory gift back then or even ever), but the fact that the March on Washington was historical was because Dr. King INSPIRED others to act, to take a stand, to FOLLOW him.
The point was simply this: Being a leader is simply a matter of possessing a title, either one of privilege, position, or stature. However, leading involves movement. It involves moving others to action. Those who have led innovations, inventions, discovery, research, progress - -have been those whom we remember, not based on what came before or after their proper names, but based on what they believed and WHY they fought, pursued, pressed on. We remember the cures they have discovered for life threatening illnesses, the laws that have been passed in the name of equality, the advances made in science and technology, the trails blazed, and the difference it has all made in humanity.
Those who lead inspire us, motivate us, and nurture our loyalty in them. Those who lead have been very privileged to have recognized their “higher” calling; some would call it their “purpose”. When we understand what our purpose is, WHY we do what we do, and then communicate that to our constituents, clients and the world – we will attract and create a loyal following of those who believe as we do. Only when we relate on a “higher” and “deeper” level and commit ourselves to positive and meaningful core values, will we enjoy fruitful partnerships and successful endeavors.
Chartese Burnett is Director of Non-Profit PR at Maroon PR. Contact her at Chartese@MaroonPR.com
Friday, October 29, 2010
Make sure your Vision Statement Means Something
By John Maroon
So many times we hear about companies going away for retreats and spending hours and even days trying to come up with a vision statement.
Vision statements define an organization’s purpose in terms of the organization’s values rather than bottom line measurements like a mission statement is supposed to do. The vision statement conveys the purpose and the values of the organization and most people believe it should be short, simple and impactful.
Last January Maroon PR held what is now an annual one-day company retreat where we all get together and set our goals for the year. Last year one of our primary objectives was to come up with a vision statement.
I, and I suspect others, was skeptical about the value of this. So many times things like this are written and talked about during a meeting or brainstorm session…and then never discussed again. We went back and forth and talked about all of the things that are important about our company and what truly sets us apart.
What we came away with was “We Drive Growth Through Relationships.” A year later I reflect on that and I am proud. These are truly words that guide us and our actions and not just a stale line that sits on our website. It drives all that we do and everyone knows what our vision statement is.
What does it mean? Simply that.
Relationships with Media… Many media members we call friends. In addition, we have a philosophy of not badgering media members to try to get them to cover an event or write a story. Not every pitch is answered or acted upon and we respect that completely.
Relationships with Clients… In April we will celebrate our fifth anniversary. Many of our clients have been with us nearly the entire time. In fact Ripken Baseball, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and the Babe Ruth Museum have been with us since the day we opened our doors (thank God!) and others for nearly that long … USA Football, Reading Is Fundamental, CRI Solutions, Renegade and Geier Financial Group.
Relationships for Others… When working with our clients we look at ways to effectively partner them with each other or other relationships that we may have. This is a powerful tool that helps everyone.
The bottom line is that a vision statement has to mean something to everyone and has to be reinforced and embraced. Ours has been and it has made a great difference for our business and for our clients.
John Maroon is President of Maroon PR. Contact him at john@maroonpr.com.
So many times we hear about companies going away for retreats and spending hours and even days trying to come up with a vision statement.
Vision statements define an organization’s purpose in terms of the organization’s values rather than bottom line measurements like a mission statement is supposed to do. The vision statement conveys the purpose and the values of the organization and most people believe it should be short, simple and impactful.
Last January Maroon PR held what is now an annual one-day company retreat where we all get together and set our goals for the year. Last year one of our primary objectives was to come up with a vision statement.
I, and I suspect others, was skeptical about the value of this. So many times things like this are written and talked about during a meeting or brainstorm session…and then never discussed again. We went back and forth and talked about all of the things that are important about our company and what truly sets us apart.
What we came away with was “We Drive Growth Through Relationships.” A year later I reflect on that and I am proud. These are truly words that guide us and our actions and not just a stale line that sits on our website. It drives all that we do and everyone knows what our vision statement is.
What does it mean? Simply that.
Relationships with Media… Many media members we call friends. In addition, we have a philosophy of not badgering media members to try to get them to cover an event or write a story. Not every pitch is answered or acted upon and we respect that completely.
Relationships with Clients… In April we will celebrate our fifth anniversary. Many of our clients have been with us nearly the entire time. In fact Ripken Baseball, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and the Babe Ruth Museum have been with us since the day we opened our doors (thank God!) and others for nearly that long … USA Football, Reading Is Fundamental, CRI Solutions, Renegade and Geier Financial Group.
Relationships for Others… When working with our clients we look at ways to effectively partner them with each other or other relationships that we may have. This is a powerful tool that helps everyone.
The bottom line is that a vision statement has to mean something to everyone and has to be reinforced and embraced. Ours has been and it has made a great difference for our business and for our clients.
John Maroon is President of Maroon PR. Contact him at john@maroonpr.com.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Meet Courtney Carey
By Courtney Carey; Interview by Abby Draper
Courtney Carey is Maroon PR's Project Manager. Contact her at courtney@maroonpr.com.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Meet Pete DeLuca
By Pete DeLuca; Video by Abby Draper
Pete DeLuca is an Associate Account Executive. He can be contacted at pete@maroonpr.com.
Pete DeLuca is an Associate Account Executive. He can be contacted at pete@maroonpr.com.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Video Blog: John Maroon Discusses Maroon PR's 4th Anniversary
By John Maroon; Video by Abby Draper
John Maroon is the President of Maroon PR. Contact him at john@maroonpr.com.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Video Blog: Thoughts from the Intern
By Chris Grant.
Interview by Stefen Lovelace; Video by Abby Draper
Chris Grant is the Maroon PR intern. Contact him at chrisg@maroonpr.com.
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