From the Classroom to Your Company: What PR Interns Bring to the Table
06.26.2025 – PR isn’t just about strategy or clever campaigns — it’s about connecting ideas with action. As a communications student at BYU — and now as an intern — I’ve studied the theories behind effective messaging. But what really matters is how those lessons translate into the real world. That’s where your business comes in. If you’re hiring interns or recent grads, it helps to understand how we’ve been trained to think, collaborate and communicate — and how that can add value to your team. As a business owner, this is VITAL to understand when hiring recent grads or interns.
Bigfoot Sticks Big Foot in Mouth
06.19.2025 – I was going to interview Bigfoot for this week’s message. But he told me he didn’t want to talk to me. In other words: “No comment.” Here’s the irony — this Bigfoot is the official spokesperson (ahem! spokesbeast) for a Spokane-based (NO can spoke??) company that helps businesses set up an LLC (limited liability company). That’s right. Bigfoot. The mythical forest-dwelling legend of the Pacific Northwest. Now sitting in front of a camera, wearing fake fur, pitching LLC services. I’ll give you a second to process that. Whew. Right? Let me explain how this all came about…
13 Songs with Horrible PR Advice
06.12.2025 – Touting your bad reputation. Using words that nobody is listening to. Disconnecting from your audience. All three can do serious damage to your brand or company’s public relations, which in turn can ruin your public perception — and ultimately hurt your bottom line.
Check Your Website Cookies, They Might Be Giving You Bad PR
06.04.2025 – How do you define a delicious cookie experience — whether it’s those on a website or baked in an oven?There’s one simple thing you can do to make your website cookies delicious to all those who visit (I’ll share that in a moment). But first, let’s address those we eat.
A Tale of 2 PRs
05.30.2025 – In sports, especially track and field, “PR” stands for personal record. When I started hearing that abbreviation on a regular basis a few years ago, it got my attention — considering I’ve been working in the “PR” industry since 1987. A PR is what every athlete chases — beating their best time, jumping higher, throwing further. It’s the gold standard of personal improvement.
The Story of a Major Jailbreak and Subsequent Communications Breakdown
05.20.2025 – Did you catch the May 16 presser (press conference) following the jailbreak at the Orleans Justice Center? I did. And I nearly broke out too… in laughter. I sat there absolutely incredulous as I watched this presser.
Being Authentic About Your #1 Best-Seller Book
05.14.2025 – This week I crossed something off my professional bucket list: Become a published author. I was honored to be invited to contribute a chapter to a collaborative book titled, “Cracking the Success Code: The Best Business Lesson I Ever Learned.”
A New Chapter is Written – Celebrate with Me at May 12 Book Release Party
05.09.2025 – Sharing a little something different this week… 🎉 I’m a co-author in a new book titled “Cracking the Success Code: The Best Business Lesson I Ever Learned.” It’s dropping on Amazon Kindle Monday, May 12. And it’s only 99¢ for the first 48 hours. You can pre-order now.
(If you can’t afford that, lmk, and I’ll find a jar of pennies in the attic to send you.)
Please register here to join me 4 p.m. ET Monday, May 12 for a virtual book launch party + meet the authors.
Not sure you can make it? Register anyway. It’s OK if something comes up. I’ll fill you in later how it went.
This anthology unites 10 professionals (yes, including me) — each sharing one hard-won, transformative business lesson. The stories are candid, real, and surprisingly relatable. (Mine includes a story about a boss from hell, a desperate career move, and the creation of a killer elevator pitch that changed everything.)
“Cracking the Success Code” — and Why I’m In It
This opportunity came thanks to my involvement in the H7 Network, a national group with headquarters in Cincinnati. It’s hands-down the best networking group I’ve ever seen. I joined because of my frequent visits to Cincinnati to see our oldest daughter.
Earlier this year, H7 invited me to be a contributing author to this book — and I said yes.
H7 was so awesome they even blogged about my chapter on their website. Read it here.
I’m also working on my own solo book: “61 Slices of PR Wisdom.” That’s coming later this year. But “Cracking the Success Code” is a great warm-up act — and certainly opens a new chapter in my life.
Meet the Authors
🗓 Monday, May 12
🕓 4–5 p.m. ET (1–2 p.m. PT)
🌐 Zoom
👉 Click here to RSVP
You’ll meet all 10 contributing authors, hear the stories behind the stories, and maybe even walk away with a breakthrough of your own. Invite your friends.
Besides me, here are the other authors you’ll meet:
Dan Casanta
Roy De Medeiros
Donna Grande
Greg Hess
Angel Hicks
Clay Hicks
John Kalusniak
Lori Karpman
Bill Walters
Download the Kindle version of the book beginning May 12 for only 99¢!
But remember — that offer expires after 48 hours.
What’s My Chapter About?
I share a brutally honest account of why — after a client stiffed me out of months of PR work — I moved from Utah to California. But in a sense, I went from out of the frying pan into the fire.
But there was a happy ending because I figured out how to tell MY story…
I went from working under a toxic, micromanaging, militaristic boss (other than that, he REALLY was a nice guy!) at a Southern California nonprofit to landing a dream job — all thanks to one powerful elevator pitch that told MY story with clarity, impact and authenticity.
Spoiler: I even beat out someone who’d already been offered the position.
Along the way, you’ll get the 7 (plus one bonus) strategies that helped me craft a pitch that turned heads, reversed decisions, and changed the course of my career.
If you’ve ever worked for bosses who were so continually stressed that veins popped out of their forehead — or you’re ready to level-up your personal elevator pitch — this story’s for you.
I’d love for you to check out this book. If something resonates, leave a review.
The 3 Big Takeaways:
Mark your calendar for May 12 at 4pm ET — Register for the author launch party and learn what makes this anthology tick.
Grab the Kindle book for 99 pennies — Beginning May 12 for 48 hours. What a steal.
Storytelling isn’t just for PR pros — Every business owner has a story. My chapter might just help you tell yours better. Hope y’all can join us for this exciting event. Stay authentic — in this chapter of your life and forever onward!