Finn Partners – Inspired

We at Finn Partners are Inspired by many things: A photo, a song, a news story, our clients - and each other. This blog is an opportunity to tell our story and to share our challenges, successes and motivations with you.

 

Add a commentRadical Openness, Intellectual Property, and the Brainstorm

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If you haven’t discovered Jason Silva yet, immediately look him up. I’m serious. Go to Google and watch one of his videos. A great starting point is his video on Radical Openness which was presented at last years’ TEDGlobal event. The concept of the free flow of information, its importance and by extension its problems, is one of the major conundrums of our time. The idea of intellectual piracy and its effects inundates us in almost every part of our lives. Music, movies, and e-books are all obvious examples of pirate-able material but, as legal acts like SOPA, PIPA and CISPA show, this can extend to our emails, our Facebook profiles and even our own images. How do we as a society define what is, in fact, intellectual property? Can a person or corporation own an idea? Or only a series of ideas in a specific order (all that a book or movie really is)? And at what point does defending one’s ideas actually hinder the flow of creativity?

History has shown time and again that the best ideas and discoveries come through collaboration. Silva states that this ability of ideas to combine and mesh in cyberspace is actually the next step in human evolution. Can we, as corporations and as a culture, find the line that protects our financial interests while still fostering the kind of creativity that made these technological discoveries possible in the first place?

I do not envy our government officials in their journey to pass viable piracy and protection laws. But I do think that the uproar over CISPA and the popularity of videos like Silva’s underline a pivotal, actionable point: the free flowing generation of ideas can exponentially improve the creative work of any company.

In public relations we have brainstorms to bring together people and build ideas, but this is very often only done for specific client needs. How often are we meeting simply to mesh ideas on interesting things we know and combine them into groundbreaking new angles to approach the media and consumers? Jason Silva’s idea landed him a National Geographic gig making a series of short videos called “Brain Games.” I’d wager he didn’t come up and implement that idea all on his own.

 
 

Add a commentThe Uni-Tasking Challenge

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I am an Associate Partner at Finn Partners and focus on consumer lifestyle clients, in addition to being the newly minted “Brand Leader” — which means I’m responsible for our agency marketing. I am also a new mom of two daughters — 15 months apart – and an avid mommy blogger on the side. And now I’m going to write a post about how you shouldn’t multi-task.

Laughable, right?

The other day I was inspired by one of the women who contribute to my blog. She wrote an article called “The Uni-Tasking Challenge.”

She references a piece in the Harvard Business Review called “How and (Why) to Stop Multi-Tasking” where the author lists the downside to multi-tasking. She goes on to say that some of the findings listed include such things as: drops in IQ percentage points when distracted and productivity decreasing up to 40%. In response to these findings, the author did an experiment where he only focused on one thing at a time and found he was happier, less stressed and more productive.

So, I wondered, could I do this? Could I stop multi-tasking and start uni-tasking? Even for just one day? Forget about at home, how about just at work?

Well that would mean I couldn’t write an email, on a conference call, while instant messaging someone, as I check my social media feeds and Google something else.

Truly, I don’t know if I could do it.

This means I have to do it.

So today, I’m taking the “The Uni-Tasking Challenge,” and I’m going to vow to do only one thing at a time, for one day only.

I’m OFFICIALLY inviting you, my fellow communications professionals, to do it with me! (And if you can’t do it all day, pick an hour … baby steps, right?).

Perhaps we will get more items checked off our never-ending “To Do” lists, contribute enthusiastically in meetings and produce the most creative ideas we’ve ever had!

If not, well then we’ll have only lost one day of our over-communicated lives. And we can resume living life like an RSS feed – skimming only the most important stuff – tomorrow.

Good luck!

 
 

Add a commentBrad Pitt and Me

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I am supposed to be writing this blog post on a technology related subject. But in the spirit of candor, I am drawing a complete blank. It would probably be more appropriate for me to write on this subject in a few weeks, after Apple’s annual WWDC conference.

So I am going to call an audible, and write on a completely unrelated subject, but one which has really grabbed my attention these past few days on a number of different levels: Angelina Jolie’s recent revelation that she had a proactive double mastectomy. If you happen to live under a rock and aren’t familiar with this news, you can read her New York Times editorial here.

The reason I’ve been so taken with this announcement is because it hits very, very close to home; my Wife recently had the exact same operation in pretty much the same timeline as Ms. Jolie.

Jolie tested positive for the BRCA1 gene whereas my Wife tested positive for BRCA2. Her decision to do a mastectomy was proactive and based on genetic testing and the fact that her mother died of cancer at a relatively young age. My Wife’s circumstances were slightly different; in late November of 2012 we discovered that she presented a very early stage cancer variant known as DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ).

Under ordinary circumstances, DCIS would be treated through a relatively minor surgical  procedure and then, possibly, radiation treatment. Because my mother-in-law also had DCIS, our astute physician suggested genetic testing.   In an ironic turn of events, we soon discovered it wasn’t my mother-in-law who was the carrier, but rather my father-in-law. Men who carry BRCA2 are at an increased risk for prostate cancer.

My wife also had her ovaries removed, to reduce her dramatically increased odds of ovarian cancer. Based on the wording of Jolie’s editorial, it would appear that she hasn’t yet done this part of the surgery, but I suspect she will over the course of the ensuing months/years.

But I digress.

One thing that I think Ms. Jolie underplayed in her editorial, was the severity of the surgery. I can’t lie; it wasn’t easy. I’m lucky that I have one very tough Wife – maybe the toughest person I’ve ever known – but even she was rocked by the ensuing surgeries, which included reconstruction. It hasn’t been easy on me, our in-laws or my kids, but like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, together we got through it.

And we never, for one second doubted our decision. Once my Wife received confirmation of her BRCA2 gene, her odds of getting a recurrence of breast cancer rose to upwards of 70 percent and ovarian to about 50%. You don’t need me to tell you that those odds are pretty poor. In light of that, I find it astonishing that some people are criticizing Jolie for making this very personal decision.  I have to think that the naysayers simply do not fully understand the facts. If they did, they’d understand that it’s actually a pretty cut and dried decision.

So why am I going “public” (though I have shared bits and pieces with my West Coast staff) with all of this? I figure that if Angelina Jolie could go public and in the process help save lives, maybe I could do a small part too.

One of the key lessons in all of this, in my opinion, is that genetic testing saves lives. It arguably saved my Wife’s. This is one of the very rare instances where the dreaded “you have cancer” message set off a wave of events that over the long  run – and in some very twisted, almost illogical manner – may very well have been the best news she’s ever heard.

So my message to you all: if you have a history of breast cancer in your family, most especially a history that runs generations deep, please consider giving strong consideration to genetic testing (and even if you don’t have a history, women should not forget to do regular mammography). Like us, you might discover  that in a worst case scenario there is definitely a short term pain (in every respect of the word) that is mitigated by a long term gain.

 
 

Add a commentA Bold Choice

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News broke this week that Angeline Jolie chose a preventive double mastectomy after genetic testing revealed she carried the BRCA1 gene. Medical evaluation showed that the presence of this gene placed her at-risk for breast and ovarian cancer at 87 and 50 percent, respectively.

Those are scary numbers for anyone to digest. When you are a mother, as Jolie is, of six, those numbers are the stuff nightmares are made of. So she bravely decided to act. In her New York Times Op-Ed, published yesterday, Jolie shares the reasons for her decision (her own Mother passed away from breast cancer at 56) and the medical process (in broad brush strokes) of the procedures and the process she underwent.

There are bound to be those who read her story and think “good for her, but I have neither the resources, the time or the child care coverage to do what she did.” From that perspective it may look like one more example of someone who “has” demonstrating what is possible with money.

I don’t see it that way. I view her choice as a bold choice. A choice that demonstrates women can empower themselves. They can challenge destiny and live up to their own aspirations.

A preventive double mastectomy is an extreme example, for sure, but we have the opportunity to take this extreme example and apply it to the health challenges we all face.  Challenges that sound simple, really, but can feel complex and overwhelming as we live our lives. I mean:

  • Take care: Check-ups and self exams are critical to early detection of any number of illnesses and diseases
  • Be aware: We frequently “write off” changes in our bodies, our energy levels, our weight to stress, and most of the time that is true. Still, changes that persist over time should be checked out by a physician.
  • Be kind: Applaud yourself for baby steps, so when the time comes to face something really big, you have the strength and the confidence to face it head-on

That’s really the lesson embedded in Jolie’s message. Confront your reality and face your life head on.

 
 

Add a commentWhat Makes Finn Partners the “Best Agency to Work For”

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Within 18 months of our official launch, Finn Partners has been named the best PR agency to work for in North America by the Holmes Report. At our agency launch in 2011, I announced to our staff that this was one of our goals, and said up front that this would be an evolutionary process. It was something I aspired to, and I knew that the path was not an easy one. I never expected to achieve this goal so quickly, and the reality is that our work is far from done. It is much easier to lose this distinction than it is to win it. Our management team knows that we have to continue to earn and maintain the trust of our entire team and we have to continue to show them that we consider them true partners.

This award is about more than agency programs and policies; it is a reflection of every team member’s dedication and commitment to our clients, our craft, our agency and to one another. It is truly special to me that our distinction is based on direct input and comments from our team and is based on a survey of 5,000 employees from 60 agencies.

The “best place to work” distinction is important to me for two reasons. One, I care about every one of our employees, and want them to feel respected, inspired, that they are growing professionally and that at Finn Partners they are on a great career path. I love my work, and I want to do what I can to ensure that the others who work here love what they do too.

I also believe that if we create the best culture and work environment, we will attract and retain the best talent in our industry and we will do the very best work for our clients. This is the road to success for us all.

We all know what the workplace statistics say. Harvard Business Review reports that engaged employees are, on average, 50% more likely to exceed expectations than the least-engaged workers. And companies with highly engaged people outperform firms with the most disengaged folks—by 54% in employee retention, by 89% in customer satisfaction, and by fourfold in revenue growth.

Finally, success is not something we achieve by ourselves. It requires collaboration, a word that has defined Finn Partners from day one. That is why this honor really belongs to every single person that works at Finn Partners. That is why I would like to take this opportunity to say to every member of our staff: Thank you. Together, all of you made this happen. You make Finn Partners the Best Place to Work, and as our founding partner, I will never stop looking for ways to make our agency and employee experience the best it can be.

 
 

Add a commentBuilding a Digital “City on the Hill”

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Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet with Stav Erez, the CEO and co-founder of a really unique organization called Siftech. Siftech, (from the Hebrew word “Siftach,” which means beginning or start, but with an “e” to emphasize its technology focus) is a tech incubator headquartered on the campus of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

The incubator has graduated its first cohort of companies and is now in the middle of its second class. Unlike other incubators, Siftech does not take any equity from the companies accepted into its program, but does provide top-notch mentors and coaches from around Israel and the world, helping it attract a fantastic group of entrepreneurs/early stage companies to its program.

Stav also told me something else that completely surprised me. She said that many of the technology companies that applied to the incubator were focused on doing “social-business” – i.e. developing technology aimed at making the world a better place. Now, if Siftech was a nationally-focused incubator that encouraged tech startups to apply from across Israel, there wouldn’t be anything so unique about the fact that it received a much higher percentage of “socially-focused” applications. However, Siftech is based in Jerusalem and is committed to developing Jerusalem-based technology companies, with the hope that after launching and securing angel-funding, the companies in the program will choose to remain in Jerusalem and not leave for the country’s hi-tech “corridor” between Tel Aviv and Herzliya.

That being said, we need to ask what it is about Jerusalem that attracts a higher percentage of socially-motivated entrepreneurs to work on creating companies that will make a real difference in the world?

It’s a complex question with no simple answer. Maybe it’s Jerusalem Syndrome, but probably not. I think it’s because, deep-down, the city’s residents, of which I am one, like to think of Jerusalem as the romanticized “City on the Hill”, which, in its perfect form, is supposed to serve as a beacon to other cities and nations around the world. Technology has allowed us to put a 21st century spin on the story and gives us the ability to use innovation to improve our collective lives. The tech “do-gooders” applying to Siftech are a powerful example of this vision.

What do you think? And more importantly, what are your respective cities doing to encourage their own social-entrepreneurship initiatives? If the answer is nothing or not enough, I am sure Stav and her colleagues at Siftech would be happy to chat…

 
 

Add a commentNormal Signs of Aging: The Most Dreaded Phrase a 40-Something Can Hear

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I write a lot about personal responsibility and health, some things apply to us all – such as regular physicals and annual dental exams.  Other things are more applicable to us as individuals – I know, for example, diabetes runs in my family, so discussing signs of diabetes with my physicians is of critical importance in my wellness paradigm.

Recently, however, I had a different experience that has shaken me to the core. First my eyes started bothering me after I would spend a long time reading or working at the computer. Then I found myself squinting. Then I gave in and picked up a pair of magnifiers at the local dollar store.

Finally, when they stopped working I broke down and made an appointment with an eye doctor.

So I show up, check in and get quickly ushered into a treatment room. About five minutes later the doctor walks in and asks me the typical “so why are you here” question.  I respond, cheeks turning red, with an explanation about my seemingly overnight descent into visual murkiness.

He sits back in his chair, hears me out and nods at the appropriate moments. Then he pronounces the verdict – “Oh, don’t worry I see this all the time among people your age.  It’s a normal sign of aging and….”

The rest of the appointment is pretty much a blur as the phrase “normal sign of aging” reverberated in my mind. Adding insult to injury it came from the mouth of a man who looked 12, and could not have been more than a year out of residency. So, okay, he might have actually been 30.

In my numbed state, I was reminded of all the communication programs I had written through the years designed to raise awareness about any number of conditions whose incidence rates increase as people age. I considered how easily the phrase “part of the normal aging process” rolled off my tongue and my pen since I began my career in healthcare communication.  And then I promised myself, no, I vowed – actually I took a blood oath – that I would never utter that dreaded, but entirely useful, phrase again.

 
 

Add a commentDisenfranchised Offer Opportunity to Educate, Empower

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The law of unintended consequences seems to keep coming up with regard to the ACA.  In most cases, and as I’ve written about in the past, these consequences are primarily affecting people who have coverage and are historically content with it; but now face uncertainties because of the ACA.

We have a choice now: We must consider how we deal with this group of people – some of whom will come bitter and resentful to the exchanges for help. There is a recognized civic duty amongst us all to ensure that every person has access to the healthcare system.

This duty has a cost.

Given this, we must consider the many millions of people who are being forced into change that they did not want for themselves in the name of this duty. People who have historically been able to provide their families with employer-sponsored healthcare, but will lose it because employers will not offer it come January. Those who will find themselves unable to afford the cost for dependents via employer-sponsored programs. This is because the law does not put a cap on percentage of salary contributed to premiums for family plans, only those for individuals.

For or against, the vast majority of people have been so focused on the “idea” of HC change that we have likely not considered the true impact on real people who were comfortable and happy with their healthcare choices before the ACA, and are thrown into uncertainty because of it. It is up to us to ensure that those people feel embraced by their choices in the new system. That they feel supported, as they navigate it, albeit against their will at the outset. Treated well, this population could turn into some of the ACA’s biggest advocates.

The net/net here is that unintended does not have to equal disenfranchised, and it is up to those managing the new system to see that it doesn’t.

 
 

Add a commentWhat My Vacation Taught Me about Customer/Client Relations

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In the public relations industry, our job is all about client service. And through living and breathing PR for more than a decade, I’ve noticed that I critique the companies I encounter in my personal time based on how they treat me – and other customers.

Somehow, it seems like I’m most critical of my experiences on airlines. And my experience last week, traveling with my husband and three kids (including my 15 month old maniac) to vacation in the British Virgin Islands, became the perfect material for the following lessons learned.

Lesson #1 – Everyone Makes Mistakes. Own Yours.

Big Bird got it right when he sang, “Everyone makes mistakes oh yes they do.” We began the second leg of our trip with a two hour delay, which became a six hour delay. While the flight status boards were updated, there was no one at the desk to explain the situation to the fliers. Don’t hide from your mistakes. It might be uncomfortable, but call your client, and let them know what happened. It’s always best they hear it from you.

Lesson #2 – Tell the Truth.

We were told our plane would be ready in an hour… and then found as we boarded six hours later that the real delay was that they needed us to fly on a new, smaller plane brought in from Belgium. And since it was smaller, seat assignments had gone awry. Now, on top of being delayed, the airline’s customers felt misled. Not a good way to win back confidence. Trust is so important in a client/vendor relationship.  The truth always comes out in the end, so make sure it comes from your mouth.

Lesson #3 – Understand They Won’t Be Thrilled, and Deal with It.

Listen, if you make a mistake, you’re likely going to hear about it. Whether it is a passive aggressive comment or a loud earful, it is your job to listen. They get that right. In the case of the airline, they actually did a good job (once they showed up) just listening to people, and biting their tongue when they needed to do so. The same is true in our industry. If you mess something up, and your client has concerns, it is your job to listen to them, no matter how they are delivered.

Lesson #4 – Don’t Deliver Bad News without Saying What you are Doing to Make it Right.

This is perhaps the most important lesson learned in this situation, and one the airline failed miserably. As I said, nobody’s perfect. But when you come to someone to tell them you screwed up, whether it be your client or someone you work with, be prepared to address how you are ALREADY fixing it. Don’t just dump the problem on their lap. How are you solving it and preventing it from happening in the future? Also, what are you going to do to make up for your mistake? In the case of the airline, free snacks on the plane, vouchers for food at the airport, free headsets would be a step in the right direction. When it comes to clients, extra hours of your service at no charge to them to clear up the problem is a good start.

As I said, no one is perfect. We all make mistakes. It’s how you face them that determines how long they will mar your reputation. Use your mistakes as ways to learn and grow. Go to your client with the truth, an apology and a plan, and you’re likely to escape with only a few bruises that will heal in the short term. The airline didn’t fare so well. I won’t be flying them again anytime soon!

 
 

Add a commentPR Lessons from the Cyber Attack on Israel

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A couple weeks ago, the media was abuzz about a massive wave of cyber-attacks against Israeli government websites, local banks, as well as numerous smaller websites and networks.

Although cyber-attacks on Israel are not new, they still send shockwaves through the Israeli government and security community, as they have the potential to be very damaging and costly. Thankfully, due to Israel’s awareness, preparedness, and network of cyber defenses, the country was able to thwart the majority of the attacks while reassuring the Israeli public and communicating the event to the world.

In response to the attack, Israel’s National Cyber Bureau (INCB) issued a press release stating that the INCB “coordinated protective measures and activities before and during the attack, among the various agencies in the country engaged in cyber defense,” and that they also operated a national situation room while it was taking place. Additionally, the announcement discredited the attacker’s claims of success and assured the public that there was “no publication of leaked data on any notable or potentially highly damaging scale.”

By attacking our physical networks, hackers also attack our brands and reputations, creating a serious public relations challenge. This event comes to remind us that businesses should not only take steps to protect themselves from being hacked, but must also be prepared to handle the fallout. Here are a few take-away lessons:

  • Invest in Security Solutions – It almost seems like a no brainer, but many companies still do not take proactive steps to protect themselves from infiltration. Naturally, Israel is one of the world’s leading producers of cyber security and network analytics solutions. Companies like CheckPoint, Allot Communications (client), and Cyvera, offer companies arounf the world with a wide range of tools and capabilities to help keep their networks and data safe.
  • Develop a Crisis Communications Plan – You never know when disaster will strike, be it a cyber-attack, a negative allegation, or otherwise. Having a clear and actionable plan is essential to take immediate steps to shape the message, inform your customers and successfully regain trust. Keep in mind that in order to be successful, the plan must be a collaborative effort between all company departments including communications, investor relations and legal counsel.
  • Be the First to Respond – Whether through an official announcement, media interview or other channels, you want your customers to hear the news directly from you and not from an external source. This will also help prevent rumors and other assumptions from spiraling out of control.
  • Proactively Address Missteps and Highlight Actions Taken– In today’s digital world, news, especially negative news, spreads extremely quickly. Companies that are transparent and honest, admitting any mistakes and acknowledging they have improvements to make, fare far better in the long run. Additionally, when appropriate, taking the opportunity to outline how specific actions prevented or helped mitigate damage can also ensure that the company’s side of the story is heard, helping to maintain its reputation and positioning.
  • Leverage Social Media – Websites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are important tools that can be used to communicate official statements and updates in real time. These sites also offer an open platform for customer engagement, and a place where concerned individuals can voice questions and receive support. (Interestingly, in this case, the hackers themselves communicated through Twitter and gained support for their “cause”, and the site was flooded with tweets relating to the attack.)

Crises can be both complicated and damaging. However, as seen with the Israel cyber-attack, crises may actually be turned into great PR opportunities. Through a potentially very harmful situation, Israel came across as well-prepared and was successful in assuaging fears, turning a threat into an opportunity to shine.