DISQUS

Kim Nielsen · 2 months ago

I love the angle here, Richie. It's amazing how well the things we learn in kindergarten really do transfer to the rest of life. Although I think these may fall into some of the broader categories you have here, I would add two things. 1) Be honest and 2) Learn from your mistakes.

Vedo · 2 months ago

Kim, I am so glad you added 'Be honest' as that was a glaring omission in my opinion and one that is definitely needed. I also like learning from your mistakes, that aspect for a professional is often overlooked. Thank you for stopping by and sharing.

kristieaylett · 2 months ago

Richie,
Another excellent post. Very thought-provoking. It's amazing how simple life can be and how complex we make it.
When I read "Don't litter," I thought of those who fill up reporters' in-boxes with trash. If we minimized litter, we would greatly improve how others perceive our profession.

marydemingbarber · 2 months ago

What a great post Richie. Sometimes talking with our children gives us such wonderful insight.

The biggest thing I see would love to see on the list, that's also included in the PRSA Code of Ethics, is telling the truth. I don't see how you could do the other things listed here without telling the truth and being honest but it's a critical component to the list.

Thanks for the reminder to listen carefully to what our children are trying to tell us.

jechakowitz · 2 months ago

Love this post, Richie!

I would extend the "say please" rule to say "use your manners". That means not calling media if their preference is to receive email; respecting media deadlines; not interrupting a journalist's day by sending an off-topic pitch that would be better served going to a different person.

Just my 0.02 cents worth :)

@JodiEchakowitz

Vedo · 2 months ago

@Kristie - I love the Don't Litter as a rule to not trash a reporters inbox with garbage press releases. Excellent point.

@Mary - I completely agree with you that telling the truth and honesty in general must be cornerstones for PR people.

@Jodi - You make a good point in using good manners in media relations. I think it works in tandem with what Kristie was pointing out.

Thank you all for stopping by and commenting.

Mandy Vavrinak · 2 months ago

One of my daughter's kindergarten rules was, "Be A Friend." It's different from being nice/polite in the same way that "Don't Hurt Others" is different from saying you're sorry. Being a friend requires thought and action. In PR, we sometimes overlook the action step. Calling someone to congratulate them on a promotion, great quarter, new opening (whether or not they're a client!). Sending a note to a media contact about a well-written, deeply-researched or otherwise wonderful story produced (when it wasn't for your client) goes a long way.

Vedo · 2 months ago

Mandy - What a wonderful rule. For me what stands out in the "Be a Friend" rule would be an element of being intentional with working relationships. (This is also true in your personal relationships.) Thanks for this reminder.

- Richie

ginidietrich · 2 months ago

I love this! It's so simple, yet we all forget the simple things in life are what gets us ahead. I'd add return phone calls and do what you say you're going to do. I love that picture of her list. Endearing!

Vedo · 2 months ago

Gini - It's funny how sometimes we forget that the funny-looking oblong thing on our desks with the cord attached to it is still one of greatest resources for relations. I also like the "do what you say you're going to do" sentiment. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Alan Underkofler · 2 months ago

What a refreshing post! Kudos to @ginidietrich for always sharing such wonderful links on twitter. I think this post should be changed to 9 Business Rules... as these could and should be used by all! Richie, thank you for your creativity!

Vedo · 2 months ago

Alan, thanks for the thought on the rename since these are some pretty good
rules for other industries. I appreciate you stopping by the post.

Grace Boyle · 2 months ago

This is so cute and so true! I love this list. Sometimes the "back to basics" is really the way to go ... thanks for sharing!

PRgirl · 2 months ago

I think the "don't litter" one can also be seen in a second way - don't indiscriminantly toss your materials about (mass emailing a press release to contacts that don't want it or aren't the right targets). Take what you have and put it directly in the right bin. It may be a smaller program you wind up having but you will have a more targeted one, which leads to a better overall result.

Name · 2 months ago

Richie,

This is absolutely beautiful in its simplicity. Thank you for taking words from the mouths of babes and translating them into tenets we can all use to be who we should be to all of those we serve.

Pattie · 2 months ago

My first thoughts were on the littering comment also. If you send out too much junk, when you really need to make a serious point to the media, it may be ignored. Are we crying "wolf" by littering??? Also a long time ago, I decided I was only going to work with people who are kind. Don't know where that fits in, but it has made my life more stress free and enjoyable.

whatcanbeMR · 2 months ago

Even PR people can develop powerful lists of Shared Values. At CRT/tanaka the staff has adopted:

1. What's best for the group comes first
2. Always be open & honest
3. Have a passion for quality & learning
4. Work for & trust each other
5. Deliver more than promised
6. Seek responsibility -- and share recognition & rewards
7. Respect & value individuals -- and their differences
8. Keep a balance between family and work
9. Give without expecting anything in return

These seem to be simple, but impactful reminders for the workplace -- and life.

Mark

Ellie · 2 months ago

Don't Litter - Maybe another take on this would be not to throw press releases at every reporter on the planet. Instead, take the time to really learn a reporter's beat/interest and pitch quality stories to them. I dunno - just an idea.

Vedo · 2 months ago

Wow, I am truly grateful for the thoughtful comments and reactions via Twitter. I am also so glad more people are thinking along the lines of Rule #6 Don't Litter as a way to help crystallize the idea of not sending out mass press releases out hoping to see what sticks. Thank you for all who have stopped by my little corner of the social web.

TJ Dietderich · 2 months ago

This is adorable and so true! It really does come down to being nice, helpful, and polite, not just in PR but in pretty much everything.

christyking · 2 months ago

Say Thank you (and be grateful)

Kathy Meyer · 2 months ago

What a straight-forward article...simple, but succinctly put. It's the honest nature and innocence in children that has always had a special place in my heart...

Thank you Richie for this post!

lindabeltran · 2 months ago

So interesting, yet applicable! Thanks for posting/sharing!

Stephan Hovnanian · 2 months ago

my oldest started kindergarten too this year so I was instantly drawn to the title...reading the post, though, was the greater reward. I'm a fan of this type of down-to-earth fundamentals in business, PR, customer service and any other discipline that puts you in front of a stakeholder. Today more than ever, with so much of yesteryear's ego-based communication styles melted away, if you can be this genuine to others they're going to latch onto it. Great post!

Kristen Escovedo · 2 months ago

Definitely a great post, and I enjoyed reading the comments as well. I agree with Alan that this could be used in all areas of business. One thing I would add that I know our daughter's school (I'm married to @vedo) also expects is to always give your best work. At her school, it isn't about making a particular grade, it's about challenging yourself to always do your best work, and I think it should be that way in our career and our life as well.

We shouldn't only do what's on our job description (a pet peeve of mine) or exactly enough to make the client happy. Instead I think we should approach each day and each project with the same goal; that the end result will be the best work we have ever produced.

On the lighter side, my bonus rule would be keep your hands to yourself, especially if you've had a little too much of the kool-aide at snack time. Unless of course you married that cute boy who pulls your pig tails. In which case, it's perfectly acceptable to hold hands at recess.

ereleases · 2 months ago

This is my favorite PR article in a while. So many times people get caught up in the next big thing that they forget to address the basics.

mfcasper · 2 months ago

Hooray for common sense!

maitane · 2 months ago

I don't thinks there is much to add but that unfortunately many people forget those simple living rules we learned a long long time ago. Fortunately, we manage to make people remember, somehow and sometimes.
Thank you for the reading.

prats · 1 month ago

perfect ones ! and so simple to learn too !!

PR2010 · 1 month ago

As a student in a Public Relations course, who is about to make the transition from student, to PR intern, I found this list of 'rules' to provide some powerful insight. The simplicity of these rules is motivational without being overwhelming. It made me stop and think that sometimes it really is about putting simple things like this into practice, in both a person's professional and personal life that will help set them apart from all the rest.

I was especially drawn to rule #9 - Listen To others... It's definitely humbling to know (and accept) that Public Relations is an ever changing profession, and even when you think you know everything there is to know... You probably don't.

Thank you for the advice

Vedo · 1 month ago

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. It sounds to me like you have a firm
grasp of the foundations of a PR as well as continued education, growth, and
self-awareness. Good luck to you in your internship and beyond. I appreciate
you stopping by my little corner of the web.

lizhaas · 1 month ago

I enjoyed reading this post. I agree with the others that is was refreshing in a going back to the basics way.

Also, I was directed to your post via a Hennes & Paynter eNewsletter. Hope you and the family are all doing well.