The novelty of living, working and exploring DC is rubbing off, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But I have quickly lost track of time, acquired several different demanding projects and feel the need to create 10 extra hours for everyday. Personally, my relationship with my roommates has continued to grow – I love each of them dearly and am so thankful for their support, humor and constant kindness. In the coming months, we have a birthday to celebrate, friends from school and home visiting, galas and receptions to attend, a ballet to watch and many other grand and exciting plans!
And thankfully, work is just about as exciting as my personal life. These past two weeks, the time between 9:30-5 has flown by and I have gotten up everyday excited for what I will be able to tackle next. Last week, I spent a lot of time creating media lists. A lot of time. A lot a lot a lot. The comprehensive program, CisionPoint, combined with a busy server meant that we were going at the speed of a limp turtle. However, there was a sense of accomplishment once they were finished. BUT there was also a sense of dread as it was time to begin making media calls. I tried to be as “cool, calm and collected” as possible going into the media calls but on the inside I wanted to crawl out of my skin and hide under a table. I wasn’t afraid of talking to people on the phone (although I do prefer talking in person) and I was confident in my ability to sell my story – it was all of the pressure associated with this being my first attempt at media calls and everyone could hear me when I mis-spoke, made a silly joke or just plain froze on the phone (due to the location of my desk and my booming voice, no had a choice but to listen to me while I was making calls – the other intern chose to move to another room – smart girl).
On my first day, I booked three radio interviews and by the end of the next day, I had nine radio interviews booked and one special interview set up with the Washington Examiner. I was pleased. I was actually more then pleased. I felt like I found my footing and now had concrete results to prove that my ability to communicate is as good as I tell everyone it is. I fell love with PR all over again – it isn’t an easy job. You have so many obstacles (people don’t want to talk to you, media doesn’t trust you, the public doesn’t trust you, they don’t see the story the way you see the story) but when you overcome all of that, it makes the success so much sweeter (started singing spoon full of sugar again….hopefully you have been reading my blog posts or you won’t understand my sense of humor at all). This past week, I switched clients and made more media phone calls for them on Monday. On Tuesday, I got to travel a bit – like to the Phoenix Hotel by Union Station where I helped interview advocates who here educating their member(s) of Congress about the need for education, training and funding to care for our aging population. These individuals had amazing personal and professional stories, which made their call to action not only believable but also heartfelt and very emotional. One woman talked about how she and her coworkers paid a special tribute to veterans by washing their feet and taking the time to talk with them on Veterans Day. Another gentleman talked about his fear for his 30-year old mentally retarded son. He looks beyond the immediate crisis he, as a 50 year old man, will be facing and said something like "imagine my 70 year old retarded son fending for himself in this system when I'm gone". His message really hit home for me and after I wiped away the tears and managed to take his picture without shaking the camera, I felt compelled to go up to the Hill myself and demand to talk to a representative from Massachusetts. And I hope I never lose that passion – the passion incited by people. People who I will represent and help make a difference (I still hold onto that ideal - I will make a difference).
The people I work with are amazing and I have a great relationship developing with each of them. Luckily, there are only seven people working in the Washington (Virginia) office of Tricom Associates. They are a family, most of them spend way too much time together and they are extremely talented individuals that feed off of one another to create amazing campaigns and projects. I really thrive in an environment where people can talk about anything (life, politics, family, news...) and where people enjoy a good laugh. I need humor to get through my day but I also need other people to have a sense of humor. Otherwise, I fear they will find my jokes too sarcastic and annoying - thankfully this isn’t one of those situations. I also work particularly well with people that enjoy collaboration. My ideal work environment would be were people strategize aloud and with each other. I subscribe to the belief that two heads are better then one and I know that allowing myself to think aloud and bounce ideas off of people will produce the best idea I am capable of coming up with.
I think my supervisor, Scott Triebitz, and I are still feeling each other out. He is a no-nonsense kind of guy and I know he has an infinite amount of wisdom and advice to pass down to me – I just have to tap into it. I don’t feel comfortable going up him quite yet but if I needed to, I would walk right in their and demand his attention, while he is on the phone and answering e-mail and signing off on the latest press release draft. And I think that’s where my hesitation comes from – knowing that he is such a busy guy, that if I am going to take up 30 seconds of his time, it better be for a good reason. I also fear his brain. There is so much history, politics and experience in there, that it is very intimidating. Additionally, after our program on Monday, I realized how little historical and political knowledge I have stored in my brain – something that I have been working on, this week I am going to memorize the first ten presidents and interesting facts about each of them. Baby steps, but it will make a difference in the long run.
I am just looking forward to the next couple of weeks and I know I will have plenty more stories and experiences to share.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Transition Period
I have had four whole days of work in D.C. (well technically in Arlington, Virginia) and everything has gone smoothly (knock on wood that my luck continues). I managed the Metro with no problems or delays, scouted out all the cool places to eat and attend happy hour around my workplace and arranged my desk so that it is distinctly mine. Unable to fit in a direct visit to my office before my first day, I arrived at my workplace a full 40 minutes early, not a bad thing but I definitely left later the next couple of days. Everyone (meaning the seven people who work for Tricom in the Virginia office) was very welcoming - I could tell this was going to be an excellent professional and academic experience. At 10:30, I attended a staff meeting and saw/heard just how busy the firm was going to be during the next three weeks - several different clients with a variety of needs, projects and concerns. I started to feel a little overwhelmed (I can't imagine what everyone else felt) and was thankful to move onto getting my computer set up and learning different programs. I left at five full of excitement for the future projects and opportunities I heard about. But for some reason, despite all of that, I felt like I as in a state of limbo. I worked in a professional environment all summer dealing with international demands, complex IT issues and marketing objectives but taking three weeks off from that fast pace has now put me slightly behind the eight ball. I couldn't seem to find my footing the first couple of days - like being back in a work environment was brand new to me. Even though most of the week was filled with formalities, introductory information and research, I was completely exhausted. I was constantly on my toes, looking for ways to show my employers how eager and talented I am while always coming up with the "RIGHT" answer for their questions. Having been warned about the "sacrifice by fire" mentality some organizations have during the first week, I think I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Nonetheless, I am happy with my workplace and the opportunities I will have during the coming months (especially in late September where everything seems to be happening all at once...and October...and November - so for the next four months). I will be able to do A LOT of writing, media relations, event planning, social media strategy, etc. Basically, Tricom does everything and that means I will get my toes wet in just about everything to do with PR. In the first week, I wrote two press releases, began formulating media lists and attended a webinar about the social media plan for one of our clients. I have had little practice with writing professional press releases or forming media lists so I was excited to jump right in and learn about these skills. I can already see the benefit of doing this internship before graduation in May - hopefully potential employers will see it as well.
My roommates and I were talking the other night about whether or not we feel like we have changed since arriving in DC. and I feel like I have changed a lot despite being here for only four weeks. Living in the city full-time has been a huge challenge for me. I have only spent long-weekends or vacations in a city - I have never had to commute, plan, survive or live in a city like this before. The experience has made me more responsible, conscious of my surroundings and confident in myself. I feel like a “big girl” taking the Metro to and from work with the 5 million other people who travel at peak hours, packing my lunch each morning and fighting to stay calm, cool and collected when people are grumpy and disrespectful. I feel like a “city girl” with my snazzy Smart Trip, Washington Examiner under my arm and high-heels in my purse.
My roommates have been a blessing in more ways than one. We helped each other navigate through the city and joked when we made a mistake. We listen to what each other have to say and work make one another feel comfortable in safe while living in DC. Even though we all came from TCU, none of us had never met or interacted outside the classroom. We bonded quickly over our two week Washington DC crash course and beyond - we eat together, drink together, watch movies together, joke together, vent together and even though I miss having my own room, I wouldn’t change my living situation for the world. I have already discussed my less then smooth transition back into the work force but I also notice a difference in working for a company that is solely a PR agency. I really wanted the opportunity to work for a smaller, PR firm because I have only worked for large corporations within their huge Marketing/Communication department. But I feel a lot of pressure to perform, to use all of the skills and lessons I have learned in three years of college and apply them to the real world. It is much easier seen then done and now I see the importance of having a variety of internships – you do need to figure out what you want to do but more importantly you need to figure out what you CAN do. I think I know what my strengths and weaknesses are – but I have a feeling that I could be wrong. Hopefully this internship will help me figure what I am really good at (and more importantly what my passions are) and then guide me to where I want to be in the future.
At Tricom, I have a variety of responsibilities. I am there to contribute – help with media lists, press releases, determining client objectives and message, generate media attention, facilitate events, work with clients on their social media – I believe I will have the opportunity to do them all at some point, but nothing has been set in stone by my boss. Everyone came back from vacation the same day I started and I can already see that it was incredibly inconvenient timing. They are stressed, which means they don’t have time to talk to us, let alone teach us anything. But I know the time will come. Tricom has a lot of clients which means I will be able to work on a variety of creative and strategic projects. I also know that I will learn something – everyone has told me what an amazing mentor Scott is and I hope to just pick his brain and get as much information and expertise out of him as possible.
At the end of the week, Scott mentioned that we wanted us to work on blogs, the website and the Tricom social media presence. I was slightly disappointed to hear this because I have had the opportunity to do this type of work and I really would like to explore aspects of the PR field. I will wait a few weeks to really talk to Scott about the opportunities.
I have learned quickly that in order to succeed in this field and especially in the DC area, you need to form excellent relationships with members of the press. This includes TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, Internet and bloggers. Rooming with two journalism majors (print and broadcast), I can see the benefits – we can help each other out. I go to them first with news, they break the news first and accurately. When they are looking for information, I provide it for them and maybe get my organization a mention they wouldn’t have had before – it can be a mutually satisfying relationship or it can be detrimental if you don’t take care. I see the importance in networking and communicating and I hope to work on those skills while in DC where they expect such behavior from new-born infants.
Despite everything, I am anxious to start working with clients and long-term projects – something that will hopefully occur sooner rather than later. I will keep you updated.
My roommates and I were talking the other night about whether or not we feel like we have changed since arriving in DC. and I feel like I have changed a lot despite being here for only four weeks. Living in the city full-time has been a huge challenge for me. I have only spent long-weekends or vacations in a city - I have never had to commute, plan, survive or live in a city like this before. The experience has made me more responsible, conscious of my surroundings and confident in myself. I feel like a “big girl” taking the Metro to and from work with the 5 million other people who travel at peak hours, packing my lunch each morning and fighting to stay calm, cool and collected when people are grumpy and disrespectful. I feel like a “city girl” with my snazzy Smart Trip, Washington Examiner under my arm and high-heels in my purse.
My roommates have been a blessing in more ways than one. We helped each other navigate through the city and joked when we made a mistake. We listen to what each other have to say and work make one another feel comfortable in safe while living in DC. Even though we all came from TCU, none of us had never met or interacted outside the classroom. We bonded quickly over our two week Washington DC crash course and beyond - we eat together, drink together, watch movies together, joke together, vent together and even though I miss having my own room, I wouldn’t change my living situation for the world. I have already discussed my less then smooth transition back into the work force but I also notice a difference in working for a company that is solely a PR agency. I really wanted the opportunity to work for a smaller, PR firm because I have only worked for large corporations within their huge Marketing/Communication department. But I feel a lot of pressure to perform, to use all of the skills and lessons I have learned in three years of college and apply them to the real world. It is much easier seen then done and now I see the importance of having a variety of internships – you do need to figure out what you want to do but more importantly you need to figure out what you CAN do. I think I know what my strengths and weaknesses are – but I have a feeling that I could be wrong. Hopefully this internship will help me figure what I am really good at (and more importantly what my passions are) and then guide me to where I want to be in the future.
At Tricom, I have a variety of responsibilities. I am there to contribute – help with media lists, press releases, determining client objectives and message, generate media attention, facilitate events, work with clients on their social media – I believe I will have the opportunity to do them all at some point, but nothing has been set in stone by my boss. Everyone came back from vacation the same day I started and I can already see that it was incredibly inconvenient timing. They are stressed, which means they don’t have time to talk to us, let alone teach us anything. But I know the time will come. Tricom has a lot of clients which means I will be able to work on a variety of creative and strategic projects. I also know that I will learn something – everyone has told me what an amazing mentor Scott is and I hope to just pick his brain and get as much information and expertise out of him as possible.
At the end of the week, Scott mentioned that we wanted us to work on blogs, the website and the Tricom social media presence. I was slightly disappointed to hear this because I have had the opportunity to do this type of work and I really would like to explore aspects of the PR field. I will wait a few weeks to really talk to Scott about the opportunities.
I have learned quickly that in order to succeed in this field and especially in the DC area, you need to form excellent relationships with members of the press. This includes TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, Internet and bloggers. Rooming with two journalism majors (print and broadcast), I can see the benefits – we can help each other out. I go to them first with news, they break the news first and accurately. When they are looking for information, I provide it for them and maybe get my organization a mention they wouldn’t have had before – it can be a mutually satisfying relationship or it can be detrimental if you don’t take care. I see the importance in networking and communicating and I hope to work on those skills while in DC where they expect such behavior from new-born infants.
Despite everything, I am anxious to start working with clients and long-term projects – something that will hopefully occur sooner rather than later. I will keep you updated.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Reality Check
Today was the first day of work. Today was the first day of work. Today was the first day of work...
Reality hit hard when I realized I couldn't wake up whenever I wanted to, see whatever amazing monument, museum or events that I wanted or finish off the day at some amazing restaurant. Now I have to do what I really came to D.C. for…bummer.
This weekend made it even more difficult to go back to work - it was an extension of the amazing week we had off. We went to see Arlington National Cemetery, walked around Old Town Alexandria, ate at an amazing restaurant by the water, watched TCU win their season opener at Cowboy stadium, worked on my paper (a little), had a movie night, went to a National’s game and finally, ate at Ben’s Chili Bowl (everything is covered in chili, which means everything was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G). All of these experiences made today a difficult pill to swallow…but hearing about all the amazing opportunities I will have was like a spoon full of sugar (Mary Poppins reference…everyone get it??).
Tricom is an amazing PR firm. I think of it as the little PR engine that could - the Arlington office has seven people...so you can put extra emphasis on "little". They produce quality work and provide personal support to a variety of different clients with different needs, wants, objectives and budgets. This is all done with small budgets and an even smaller staff base – but it is all about quality over quantity. I learned about one of our clients today and was blown away by what they are trying to do:
The Eldercare Workforce Alliance is advocating for education and support of professional and non-professional workers who take care of aging Americans – something everyone should think about as almost all of the baby boomers are now over the hill. The most interesting part of their mission is how they want to educate and support non-paid caregivers (family, friends, spouses, etc…) – empower them to care of their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and so on. It is such an interesting stance and if you want to learn more visit their website (click here). Tricom will be doing a lot of work for them (especially at the end of this month, wink wink) so keep your eyes peeled.
I am truly looking forward to work tomorrow…even though as we speak I am fighting to keep my eyes open. To see any of the work I do – follow Tricom on facebook and twitter (their links are on the left side of this blog) – the more followers the better!!
Reality hit hard when I realized I couldn't wake up whenever I wanted to, see whatever amazing monument, museum or events that I wanted or finish off the day at some amazing restaurant. Now I have to do what I really came to D.C. for…bummer.
This weekend made it even more difficult to go back to work - it was an extension of the amazing week we had off. We went to see Arlington National Cemetery, walked around Old Town Alexandria, ate at an amazing restaurant by the water, watched TCU win their season opener at Cowboy stadium, worked on my paper (a little), had a movie night, went to a National’s game and finally, ate at Ben’s Chili Bowl (everything is covered in chili, which means everything was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G). All of these experiences made today a difficult pill to swallow…but hearing about all the amazing opportunities I will have was like a spoon full of sugar (Mary Poppins reference…everyone get it??).
Tricom is an amazing PR firm. I think of it as the little PR engine that could - the Arlington office has seven people...so you can put extra emphasis on "little". They produce quality work and provide personal support to a variety of different clients with different needs, wants, objectives and budgets. This is all done with small budgets and an even smaller staff base – but it is all about quality over quantity. I learned about one of our clients today and was blown away by what they are trying to do:
The Eldercare Workforce Alliance is advocating for education and support of professional and non-professional workers who take care of aging Americans – something everyone should think about as almost all of the baby boomers are now over the hill. The most interesting part of their mission is how they want to educate and support non-paid caregivers (family, friends, spouses, etc…) – empower them to care of their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and so on. It is such an interesting stance and if you want to learn more visit their website (click here). Tricom will be doing a lot of work for them (especially at the end of this month, wink wink) so keep your eyes peeled.
I am truly looking forward to work tomorrow…even though as we speak I am fighting to keep my eyes open. To see any of the work I do – follow Tricom on facebook and twitter (their links are on the left side of this blog) – the more followers the better!!
Off to bed - First night of class tomorrow, first night of class tomorrow, first night of class tomorrow…
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