Business and Thanksgiving

Well, this is my last blog for November! I will be back with you on December 1st. I’m taking the next four days off as a way to be Thankful for all my hard work and that of my amazing staff! Plus, we are moving to a new office location in Washington, D.C. on Monday and it is a very exciting time for IME!

This said, on holidays it can be very hard to unplug from the PR business. We live in a 24/7 social media culture and non-stopping news media community. Unplugging, however, can actually boost productivity and no one expects you to work 24/7. So, if you are an entrepreneur- take tomorrow truly off!

In case you need help doing this, I have developed 3 ways to help you unplug this Thanksgiving holiday:

1. Leave your phone at home. What? I know, right! If you are going out shopping with your family, someone is bound to have their cell phone in case of a true emergency. Announce that you are leaving your phone at home and truly do this. I promise you that your business and clients will not fall off the face of the Earth as a result. And you will be surprised what a real conversation feels like without the distraction of all your cell phone and social media alerts.
2. Don’t sleep with your phone in the same room. This way emails and social media events are not the last thing you see when you go to sleep or the first thing you see when you wake up. Instead, you can just sit in silence and clear your head or engage in some mindful meditation.
3. Don’t watch the news. It may be tempting with all the events going on right now – especially surrounding the Mike Brown case. Instead, focus on holiday movies or the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. This will allow your brain a much needed rest from the news cycle most publicists work in the midst of.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving! I’ll be back with a new blog on the 1st of December,

Twyla N. Garrett of IME

How to Avoid Investing in Friends.

Have you ever been placed in an uncomfortable position by a friend? It happens a lot. And, it can cause the loss of a friendship. Many business owners and CEOs are often approached by friends and relatives with investment opportunities. You don't have to be uncomfortable anymore. You can say no and maintain the relationship.

I put together a few easy tips to help you say no to bad investments without becoming the bad guy.

1. Don't say no right away. If you say no right away your friend will resent you for not even considering the idea. Ask to see a presentation packet and take it home. Do look it over. Even if you already made up your mind and are going to say know. After all, this is your friend and he or she deserves an hour of your time. Jot down a few ideas where the presentation packet can be improved upon. The next time you see your friend, bring back the packet with the notes. Explain that you don't feel you are the right person to invest in this project. Provide your friend with your notes and suggest he or she keep trying to obtain other investors because the idea has promise.

Don't, whatever you do, blame your spouse. This will cause friction in the relationship with your spouse. You can tell your friend no without using your relatives as a scapegoat. Another trick is to tell your friend that you're not considering investments at this time but you will be happy to help him or her promote the idea to other investors via social media. If you can become involved with the concept by providing resources and not money, your friend will feel like you are investing in the business concept.

There is never a right or wrong answer when letting a friend know that you will not be forking over cash to promote their business concept. Remember, it is not what you say but how you say it!

Happy Saturday,
Twyla