Blog: Public Relations, Writing, Small Business, Mental Health, Photography, Storytelling — Hourglass Media

Supporting Causes is the Hourglass Way

Supporting Causes is the Hourglass Way

If you’re a small business owner, you’re most likely in the trenches of daily business tasks, from sales to crafting messaging that will be seen, heard and acted upon by your client base. You may not have time to think about your own corporate social responsibility and how it fits into your business like your well-worn favorite pair of shoes. From the beginning, Hourglass Media has taken on projects that will benefit others in limitless ways, from establishing a good beginning for a child or ensuring the leaders of tomorrow have the insight and skill set they need to become successful in today’s world.

Business, Behind the HourglassKaylin R. StatenNovember 8, 2018Hourglass Mediacause, public relations, small business, hourglass omnimedia, hourglass media, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, maison de hourglass, kaylin r staten, kaylin r staten apr, kaylin r adkins

Mental Health Moments: Managing Negativity In Your Life

Mental Health Moments: Managing Negativity In Your Life

Spiraling into negative thought processes and supplemental behaviors can make even the most positive individuals break under the pressure. When you’re at your lowest of lows or are starting the process into negative thinking, how can you bounce back and begin to think positively?

Mental Health Moments, Health and WellnessKaylin R. StatenNovember 6, 2018Hourglass Mediamental health moments, mental health, health, wellness, negativity, positivity, kaylin r adkins, kaylin r staten, kaylin r staten apr, hourglass media, hourglass omnimedia, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, maison de hourglass

Supporting Causes Enhances Your Company and Its Culture

Supporting Causes Enhances Your Company and Its Culture

From a reputation standpoint, a company wants to be seen and heard as a good corporate citizen. A corporation could host a food drive during the holiday season to help local hungry people in need, host an employee giving campaign for a cause or protect the environment by decreasing its environmental footprint. How can corporate social responsibility benefit your own company?

Guest Post: Confessions of a PR Goal Digger

Guest Post: Confessions of a PR Goal Digger

With the rise of citizen journalists, influencers and social media platforms connecting 24/7 to ever growing niche audiences, smart communication freelancers and media companies have the opportunity to build an all-star content creation team that is on trend, on brand and on message. If you are a communicator with a public relations background, it is your time to shine, and the stars of today’s communication teams are content creators who set goals and understand their audience. Gina Collinsworth shows us why it’s a great time to be a PR pro in this guest post.

Public RelationsKaylin R. StatenOctober 25, 2018Hourglass Mediapublic relations, guest post, gina collinsworth, hourglass media, hourglass omnimedia, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, public relations society of america, content creation, communications, small business, communications business

Mental Health Moments: Cultivating Your Own Daily Doses of Self Empowerment

Mental Health Moments: Cultivating Your Own Daily Doses of Self Empowerment

I experiment with ways I can empower myself. It could be something minor, like enacting an innovative productivity hack or major or overhauling an entire line of nonconstructive thinking. Whether you have writer’s block, feel overwhelmed or just plain don’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning, it could be a challenge to feel empowered. In stressful and relaxing times, here are some ways to obtain your daily doses of empowerment.

Mental Health Moments, Health and WellnessKaylin R. StatenOctober 23, 2018Hourglass Mediamental health moments, mental health, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, hourglass media, hourglass omnimedia, maison de hourglass, kaylin r staten, kaylin r adkins, kaylin r staten apr, self empower, empowerment, health, wellness, positivity

Five Nuggets of Knowledge To Tell The Past You

Five Nuggets of Knowledge To Tell The Past You

Do you ever wish you could give insight to the past you? Whether you cringe at a statement you made in a meeting (when all eyes were inevitably on you) or wish you would have handled a situation differently, there are always items you wish you could check off your cringe list. There are also times you want to give the previous you loads of reassurance and a pat on the shoulder for a job well done -- even when you feel like you weren’t doing it “right.” Here are five nuggets of knowledge I’ve learned during my career.

Behind the Hourglass, Public RelationsKaylin R. StatenOctober 18, 2018Hourglass Mediapublic relations, small business, kaylin r staten apr, kaylin r adkins, kaylin r staten, hourglass media, hourglass omnimedia, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, maison de hourglass

Five Ways To Find Your Passion

Five Ways To Find Your Passion

Some of us may struggle to realize our passions. We know we have likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses and more, but we may not know how to leverage that in our personal and professional lives. In some cases, we may not even know we have a particular passion or could decide to build upon a childhood daydream. Here are five ways you can help build your passion.

Behind the Hourglass, Mentorship and Coaching, WritingKaylin R. StatenOctober 11, 2018Hourglass Mediapassion, find your passion, behind the hourglass, hourglass omnimedia, hourglass media, #behindthehourglass, maison de hourglass, public relations, kaylin r adkins, kaylin r staten, kaylin r staten apr, business, small business, communications business

Mental Health Moments: What is Reassurance Seeking?

Mental Health Moments: What is Reassurance Seeking?

Chances are, if you have anxiety or another mental health disorder, you’ll have some type of reassurance-seeking behavior. The intensity of the reassurance seeking will vary with each individual and situation. As with anything, it is on a spectrum. So, what is reassurance seeking?

Mental Health Moments, Health and WellnessKaylin R. StatenOctober 9, 2018Hourglass Mediamental health moments, health, healthy habits, hourglass media, hourglass omnimedia, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, maison de hourglass, kaylin r staten apr, kaylin r adkins, kaylin r staten, mental health, wellness

Q&A: #behindthehourglass with our CEO

Q&A: #behindthehourglass with our CEO

I’m currently reading Grace Bonney’s In The Company of Women, a compilation of sage advice and inspiration from more than 100 women in various walks of life and careers. Reading this book has allowed for a certain nostalgia as I approach my tenth year in my chosen field. This milestone won’t officially occur until 2019, but since embarking on my Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) journey, I’ve been hyper-focused on my own successes and missteps. I chose my 10 favorite interview questions from The Company of Women and answered each with my own “spin” (not to use a cliche PR word).

Behind the Hourglass, Mentorship and CoachingKaylin R. StatenOctober 4, 2018Hourglass Mediabusiiness, small business, public relations, kaylin r adkins, kaylin r staten, kaylin r staten apr, hourglass media, hourglass omnimedia, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, maison de hourglass, behind the scenes, q&a, business, media company

Event Recap: Ethical Decision-Making in Times of Crisis

Event Recap: Ethical Decision-Making in Times of Crisis

On September 21, the Public Relations Society of America-River Cities Chapter hosted “Ethical Decision-Making in Times of Crisis” from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Marshall University with local professionals and students in attendance. Attendees listened to a panel of professionals discuss their own ethical experiences in the workplace and how having a crisis communications plan in place is instrumental during the pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis phases. Participants also underwent a mock crisis communications scenario in the workshop session.

Public RelationsKaylin R. StatenSeptember 27, 2018Hourglass Mediaethics, code of ethics, prsa, prsa river cities, benefits of prsa, public relations, public relations society of america, crisis communications, planning, kaylin r staten, kaylin r adkins, hourglass omnimedia, hourglass media, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, communications

Mental Health Moments: Panic Attacks Versus Anxiety Attacks

Mental Health Moments: Panic Attacks Versus Anxiety Attacks

Many of us encounter panic attacks and anxiety attacks due to our particular brand of mental health disorder or issue. For me, anxiety masquerades as perfectionism. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, panic attacks and anxiety attacks are two different occurrences. What are the differences?

10 Tips To Help You Tell Brand Stories

There's nothing better than reading, watching or playing a game with a good story. With your business, nonprofit organization, event or wherever you find yourself, you have to have a good story or your efforts will fall through the cracks. Whether you’ve just started your brand or are looking toward a refresh, here are 10 branding tips you can put to immediate use.

Public RelationsKaylin R. StatenSeptember 20, 2018Hourglass Mediapublic relations, brand, branding, rebranding, story, storytelling, kaylin r staten, kaylin r adkins, hourglass omnimedia, hourglass media, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, communications, communications business

A #behindthehourglass Rebranding Journey

A #behindthehourglass Rebranding Journey

There comes a time in every business’ lifetime when it’s time to make a change. It could be a major change, like hiring someone new in the C-Suite or changing physical locations. It could also mean something small, like replacing the broken paper towel dispenser in the bathroom or making sure every Friday is “Wear Your Graphic Tees To Work Day.” Other times call for changes in your business’ narrative. See which recent branding changes we’ve made to our company.

Behind the Hourglass, Public RelationsKaylin R. StatenSeptember 13, 2018Hourglass Mediabranding, rebranding, hourglass omnimedia, hourglass media, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, kaylin r staten, kaylin r adkins, story, storytelling, public relations, maison de hourglass

Mental Health Moments: What Are Unrelenting High Standards?

Mental Health Moments: What Are Unrelenting High Standards?

Your mind races, but at the same time, you can’t capture any one specific thought. Thoughts blast past all logic at record speeds, and you’re caught up in moments of your own personalized “What If” game. We may not be able to get rid of them completely, but these thoughts and unrelenting high standards can be managed.

How Ethics Shape A Public Relations Pro's Career

How Ethics Shape A Public Relations Pro's Career

September is Ethics Month, so our first blog of the month centers on ethics in public relations. If you’re a public relations practitioner -- or in any career field for that matter -- here’s to hoping you have yet to face an ethical dilemma in the workplace. It can be a challenge to read between the lines and see the gray areas outside of the ordinary black and white. That’s where the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)’s Code of Ethics comes in. We don’t have to spin our ethical wheels. Professional values and provisions are outlined for us as industry standards.

How To Become Your Own Mentor

How To Become Your Own Mentor

Whether you’re at the helm of your own business or have dreams for miles about starting one someday, having a mentor can help you wade through the ups and downs. If you don’t have access to a mentor, what are you to do? Mentor yourself. Here are five ways you can be your own mentor.

Mentorship and Coaching, Public Relations, Behind the HourglassKaylin R. StatenAugust 30, 2018Hourglass Mediapublic relations, leadership, mentoring, communications, kaylin r staten, kaylin r adkins, hourglass media, hourglass omnimedia, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass

Mental Health Moments: What Is Perfectionism?

Mental Health Moments: What Is Perfectionism?

What is perfectionism? I began to uncover the answer to that question with Australia’s Centre for Clinical Interventions’ “Perfectionism in Perspective” modules. This was one of the most helpful beginnings to my perfectionism journey. Not only did this resource fully define perfectionism in ways I could identify with, but these modules gave me more self-esteem and willpower to make the changes in my life.

Health and Wellness, Mental Health MomentsKaylin R. StatenAugust 28, 2018Hourglass Mediamental health moments, mental health, hourglass omnimedia, hourglass media, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, kaylin r staten, kaylin r adkins, perfectionism, the perfectionist papers, health, wellness, self-care

You Know You’re Meant To Be in PR When…

You Know You’re Meant To Be in PR When…

If you’re considering a career in public relations or are questioning your decision way back when to enter the PR field, here are 10 ways you know you belong in the world of RPIE, ROI and storytelling. No matter which characteristics you may or may not have, make your career your own. It's more fun that way!

Public Relations, Behind the HourglassKaylin R. StatenAugust 23, 2018Hourglass Mediapublic relations, leadership, leadership qualities, kaylin r staten, kaylin r adkins, hourglass media, hourglass omnimedia, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, pr, profession

How to Write Your Own Children's Book

How to Write Your Own Children's Book

Plastic Cupcakes is a reflection of that time period but with a next-generation twist. It’s a counting book for Aunt-Niece duos (or trios, etc.) that showcases the fun and unique bond between an aunt and her niece. When my niece, Aubree, was born on August 2, 2017, I knew I wanted to commemorate her birth by writing her a story. Thus, Plastic Cupcakes was also born. If you’re interested in writing -- and perhaps even self-publishing -- your own children’s book, here are some tips to help you throughout the process.

WritingKaylin R. StatenAugust 16, 2018Hourglass Omnimediaplastic cupcakes, hourglass omnimedia, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, kaylin r staten, kaylin r adkins, children's books, kids, books, book, storybook

Mental Health Moments: The Fear of Turning 30

Mental Health Moments: The Fear of Turning 30

Turning the Big 3-0 can be one of the most daunting milestones to face, especially when you’ve spent the majority of your 20s trying to avoid aging like the plague. You buy Olay face cream, take multivitamins and spend time, money and energy doing other proactive, preventive measures to develop your own Fountain of Youth. But, guess what? 30 still hits you like a ton of bricks -- or my preference, glitter.

Mental Health Moments, Health and Wellness, Behind the HourglassKaylin R. StatenAugust 14, 2018Hourglass Omnimediamental health moments, mental health, anxiety, turning 30, kaylin r staten, kaylin r adkins, hourglass omnimedia, behind the hourglass, #behindthehourglass, learning