I didn’t anticipate saying goodbye to my company as I have known it for seven-and-a-half years. I had been flirting with the idea of making a drastic change for a while, but I couldn’t jump off the ledge into the deep, unknown waters – the waters that gave way for me to begin my company in the first place. Here I am, sipping cold coffee at a mid-century modern desk with accolades, hourglasses, and clutter surrounding me. I have to wonder, “Where did I go wrong?” The answer is that I didn’t go wrong. I am just evolving, as most healthy, self-informed humans tend to do.
Read MoreI recently turned 34, and there is something about birthdays that invites moments of reflection – at least for me. I spent much of this year, and April onward in blog posts, mulling over what I want my career to look like. I’ve done a lot of work I have truly loved, with clients and partners that continue to do life-changing work in their spaces. However, you know when a change is afoot, and that change happened for me when my son was born.
Read MoreMy word of the year is “recalibration,” and I have been doing just that. If you remember the GPSes of yesteryear, you’ll remember that the AI voice always said, “recalculating” if you took another route. I’m currently on that other route. Here are some musings from this month that will carry over into Q3 and Q4:
Read MoreEP4 of The Wholeheartedly Podcast revealed something I am currently struggling with: purpose and change. I just don’t want my career to look the same way it has for the last 13 years. Realizing that is scary. It’s an internal crisis of the highest order, especially for someone like me, who has it “all figured out.” It’s hard to undo what you have been doing, to knock down the beautiful structure you constructed out of blood, sweat, tears, love, vision, and so much more. I know, deep in my heart (and even in the logical parts of my mind), that I have to pivot in my career.
Read MoreNot too long ago, I decided to break up with achievement addiction. In the second episode of The Wholeheartedly Podcast, I take a deeper dive into achievement addiction. I talk about how toxic positivity and other factors contributed to my plummeting self-worth and other negative factors. I define achievement addiction and discuss ways that help me move past negativity in order to harbor contentment.
Read MoreWhile I have had my fair share of successes, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing on the road less traveled. I cannot tell you the number of times I have told my husband I want to just give up, that I am not “good” at this, that it would be easier if I just got a “real” job. At the end of the day, I know that is not part of my narrative. I am not meant to give up a company that I have worked so hard to build. At the end of the day, there will be trials and tribulations, moments of success, and everything in between. Without this company and its kaleidoscope of moments, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. In my true reflective fashion, here are seven lessons I have learned in my seven years as CEO of Hourglass Media.
Read MoreWhile my career in public relations isn’t just writing, I use my written and other communication skills to build a company I love. I realize this process doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and I also know that a lot of us don’t have these aha moments at 13 years old. These five nuggets of advice will help you discover more of who you are so you can find or create a career you love.
Read MoreWhile I do not have recalibration figured out in its most cohesive form, it is the major theme of 2022. Whether you have a “Word of the Year” or not, it can be helpful to think about your work or an overall feeling you would like to achieve this year. What are some ways you can incorporate recalibration into your everyday life?
Read MoreIf we have learned anything in 2021, it’s that each of us has had to be flexible in our own ways. From hybrid events to the constant influx of misinformation, it has been a challenge to get past the fatigue and clutter to effectively communicate with our audiences. We are starving for in-person events but are also easily exhausted. Some of us have faced and conquered The Great Resignation, while others have stayed put to create lasting change in our own organizations. Here are five trends that we will continue to see in the new year and in the PR industry for years to come.
Read MoreWhile the pandemic and other factors have impacted our lives in and out of the office, Hourglass Media continues to meet opportunities right where they are. 2021 was no different. While we had a banner year and have met nearly all of our goals and objectives, we have learned just as much from our missteps (if not more, as it usually goes).
Here are five takeaways as we wrap up another year and look toward 2022.
Read MoreI will be the first to admit that acceptance is something that doesn’t come naturally to me. My entire life has been a kaleidoscope of dwelling on aspects of life I cannot change, wondering why experiences/people/places/things just can’t be different, and an entire host of other expectations. In short, I believe that most of my anxiety and depression lie in my relationship with acceptance. How can you learn to rewrite your own story and accept yourself more fully?
Read MoreSeptember is Ethics Month! Here at Hourglass Media, ethics are at the core of who we are individually and as a company. While everyone brings a unique perspective and morality to the PR profession, the PRSA Code of Ethics serves as a constant and consistent blueprint for us to follow. We adhere to the PRSA Code of Ethics, which is the highest professional standard of the public relations industry.
Read MoreOne year ago, my life completely changed forever. I do think my company was made for this moment. It’s the reason I created Hourglass Media: so I can live my own version of a successful life. What have I learned after a full year of being a new mom, the CEO of an always growing company, and a communicator (and human) in an ever-changing landscape? Here are three takeaways.
Read MoreI honestly wish I didn’t have to release this book. Today marks a bittersweet moment in my professional -- and personal -- life. It’s the release date for my latest book, Healing Your Heart: A Prompted Journal for Pregnancy Loss. I wrote this book because suffering two miscarriages has changed the trajectory of my life. The eBook and print versions are now available.
Read MoreSo, with all of that being said, should you devote time to finding a mentor? Like with all of my answers, I will say yes and no. Here are some things to keep in mind as you attempt to find a mentor or are in the midst of your own mentor-mentee relationship.
Read MoreThis week is the second part of our New Professionals series. As someone who was once a new professional myself, I struggled to find answers to these pressing questions. I want to ensure that you don’t have to spin your wheels like I did! While I don’t have all of the answers -- or even ones that will resonate with you -- I do hope that something will spark interest, action, or understanding for you along the way. This week, we’re delving into the deep waters of grad school and if it’s for you -- or if you should keep that $20K or so in your pocket.
Read MoreIf you’re a PR practitioner, small business owner, or just a human trying to convey a thought in any situation, using behavioral communication will create more comprehension and understanding. All of us have communicated a message and then witnessed it fall flat, offend someone, or be misunderstood. Here are three ways you can use behavioral communication in your work and personal conversations and messages.
Read MoreMay is National Mental Health Awareness Month. As anyone who knows even a small glimmer about our work knows, mental health is one of our main passions and causes. In addition to introducing mental-health habits in the workplace, we also want to give you some tools to use both personally and professionally. Here are five ways you can bring your mental health to the forefront this month.
Read MoreIt’s the beginning of a new quarter, and if you’re anything like me, you sit at your desk and wonder, “Where did Quarter 1 go?!” Each of us is busy trying to further our clients’ goals and objectives, grow our companies or careers in general, and attempting to achieve our own versions of work/life balance.
All in all, it can get relatively exhausting when you you’re grasping at straws with project management. This month, we’re focused on resources that will help you better plan for your goals at hand.
Read MoreOver a year ago, our lives collectively changed when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the world as we knew it. Since then, mental health issues have skyrocketed. Individuals may have new diagnoses or fall into the same issues they have known about and lived with for a while. No matter the onset, mental health has been at the forefront of many casual conversations to clinical studies.
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