It's funny how we as humans tend to reflect and remember based key dates in our lives. Some of these dates, like New Year's Eve, are dictated to us by popular culture while others stem from our own life experiences along our own individual paths. As we wrap up 2013, I am jumping on the reflection bandwagon and reflecting on what will always be remembered as a year of change in my life. 
I love change! I thrive on change. Working at the same job and living in the same town in the same teeny, tiny condo for over five years was a record for me. Change was inevitable, yet I was scared to be the change I needed.  One thing led to another and I made the decision to follow my change-loving heart and leap. My leap of faith putt all of my eggs in faith's basket. I didn't know where I wanted to land, but I knew I would land. 
Fast forward seven months and I never would have predicted I would be where I am.  The improvements in the economy have resulted in business owners needing and wanting to review and evaluate their marketing programs.  
The change in marketing over the last five years has created a need for hands own marketing programs and tactics. Marketing is an ever-changing industry. Small business owners understand that they are unable to be expert marketers while maintaining their expertise in their field.  I spend time each day learning and growing as a marketer, branding expert and thinking with an analytic mindset. I have been fortunate to grow my business threw word of mouth and happy clients, and I couldn't be more thankful. 
As I sit here, on this New Year's Eve I can't help but wonder what 2014 has in store for me and Meisha Lawson Marketing Services. I'm confident that both on the personal front and the professional front I will continue to grow and develop. And, with that I wish you a happy, healthy, snow-filled 2014. 

Park City, the best place to live in America! And, the corresponding article that is a great case study for public relations!

Have you heard? Outside Magazine recently named Park City, Utah the best place to live in America. If you’ve read the article, you may agree that Park City is a wonderful place to live, but you may be questioning the tone of the article. If you haven’t read the article, check it out.

This article is a prime case study for a few public relations practices. Two political figures in Park City (both of whom I have utmost respect for) were published with some interesting quotes. This is journalism at it’s finest: taking a sound bite and spinning it to support the angle of the story. The headline of the article itself provides a premise for how the article is written, “There’s no better blend of small-town friendliness, absurdly easy access, and five-star culture than Park City—if you can afford it.” The article goes on to compare Park City to Telluride and Aspen, yet positions Park City as unaffordable?

The article and resulting media coverage in Park City made me think of a few simple techniques to share. A special thanks to my former boss Krista Parry for continuing to preach these techniques over the years, regardless of the context of the interview . If you are ever planning on speaking with media on behalf of your business, association or even yourself, there are a few simple precautions to consider and steps to take before each and every conversation.

1. Develop key messaging and talking points with a PR professional as soon as possible, meaning before you have a journalist knocking at your door. Why? This allows you AND your staff or stakeholders to be able to clearly communicate your key messages to any and all interested parties. Creating key messaging and talking points ensures your brand message remains focused and clear.
2. Once you receive notice that a journalist would like to interview you, ask for a list of the questions they would like to cover.  Why? To prepare yourself; if you know the direction of their story you can prepare sound bites that convey the true meaning of what you are want to say. This isn't always possible, but it is still a great idea to ask. 
3. Stick to the key messages and talking points you’ve developed. If you think the journalist is pushing the story toward an unfavorable direction, you should focus on reinforcing your key messages and talking points.
4. Consider and remember the audience of the publication.  Outside Magazine is not Forbes, which isn't a bad thing and to many that differentiation enhances the desirability, but it is a distinction to remember while chatting with any publication.
5. Remember, the job of the journalist is to write a compelling article that will sell magazines and ad space. While a picturesque mountain town in Utah is certainly beautiful, throw in a few key sound bites from respected political representatives in town, and now you have something to talk about.
   

As Andy and Dana have both mentioned, the important take-away is that Park City has been named the best place to live in America, which means it is also a wonderful place to visit! Sure it may be pricier than my hometown of Southaven, MS, but to me the quality of life and the outstanding community more than make up for it.

How do you prepare prior to interactions with the media? 

My teenage and early adulthood years were driven by high school cheerleading and sorority girl antics, which somehow evolved to an extreme devotion/obsession with the band Phish. I have since turned into an outdoorsy, adventurer with a passion for marketing and communicating.  It is fairly simple to see how each of these elements of my past have made an impact on who I am today.  The Meisha Lawson Marketing Services brand is a lot about me, which means these elements of my past and current self help to brand and position my business. 
Why am I writing about this? Over the last few weeks, I've spent quite a bit of time connecting with friends, colleagues and potential clients about Meisha Lawson Marketing Services, as well as their particular situations. The conversation is typically focused on marketing and communications many of these individuals either run businesses or work in marketing and communications; I've started to notice a trend. Often in business we are so busy activating, we forget to start with the basics.  If you are reading this, I want you to ask yourself, "who am I". If you are a business owner or marketing professional ask yourself, "who is my business". If you are a business owner, your business doesn't have to be driven by your personality, but it does need a personality. If you have answers to those questions write them down, humanize them and live by them.  If you don't have answers, I'd encourage you to spend some time thinking about it.  Why? This is the beginning of your brand positioning statement. 

•  If you don't know who your business is, then how can you meet and exceed your customers expectations. 
• If you don't tell your customer who you are, then why should they choose you over the competition? 
• A brand is much more than a logo. A brand helps to define you to your customer. 

As people, we all have something that makes us different, which is the same in business. Once you know who you are you are able to be true to your business is. 
In the spirit of high school cheerleading, "Who Are We? Who, Who Are We?" If you need help answering that question, let me know! 

The first month of entrepreneurship has been what can only be described as a whirlwind.  Making the decision to create a business, building a website, networking and applying for a business license were only the beginning. The important stuff like creating proposals, presentations, estimates, invoices combined with building and executing marketing and PR plans for clients has been invigorating to say the least.  From working with KCPW on generating media coverage for the Park City Cycling Festival to presenting the strategic direction for Historic Main Street, I have been able to reconnect with the wonderful SLC media and look forward to continuing to grow those relationships.   When I look back at all I've accomplished in the first month combined with the outpouring of support I have received, I am extremely overwhelmed. I have hustled and bustled, worked a lot and still found a way to have a lot of fun.  While I still have some serious room to grow, I can only hope the first month is a sign of what's to come. 

On a fun note, I've biked a lot the last few weeks including climbing Armstrong and talking the entire climb with Jessica Kunzer, officially incorporating unassisted pull-ups into my WOD's at Motion Crossfit and catching up with old and new friends.  Park City has enjoyed record temperatures (that enjoy is tongue in cheek) and what has to be a record lack of rain. It's shaping up to be a scorcher of a summer. Let's hope MLMS continues to sizzle as well. 

Below are a few pictures of the progress made in June 2013,  the first month of business for Meisha Lawson Marketing Services.  

Earlier this spring, I made a decision I'd been wanting to make for quite some time, I was going to resign from Park City Mountain Resort. After 5 1/2 years at PCMR and over a decade in the ski industry it was a tough decision, not only because my entire professional career had been centered around mountain resorts, but marketing for ski resorts is an amazing "career". How would I find a job that compared to that environment?  My career had somewhat defined the adult I had become, would leaving change me? I made this decision with these questions left unanswered, and I purposely left these questions unanswered for the last six weeks of my employment with PCMR. I left and went to Turkey and Bulgaria. I traveled, I spent a lot of time thinking and I realized I would create a job that compared to the ski industry environment. I would take the adult the ski industry had helped to define and further myself as an entrepreneur. 
I am thrilled to introduce Meisha Lawson Marketing Services (MLMS) to the world. I've spent the last several weeks working on creating my own brand, writing and submitting proposals and fortunately working with clients. Meisha Lawson Marketing Services is a boutique marketing services agency focused on creating and executing marketing projects for tourism, outdoor and lifestyle brands. With 11 years experience creating and executing marketing projects on behalf of ski resorts I am excited to partner with brands and serve as the marketing expert at the table or even the extra set of hands on the marketing team. I want to educate, execute and enhance marketing efforts whether it be a small project or an annual contract. 
Of course, I have to think my supporters who have given me the courage and support in making this decision. 

• Adam - I know you signed up for a sugar mama; hopefully this works out. 
• Mom, Dad & Justin - You have always supported my ambition from the day in 2002 I decided I was going to move to Colorado for a year, through my exotic travels and now this. Your support is so much of who I am. 
• Ian - Over the last few years we have grown to be a great team! You have been huge in this decision, and I'm so thankful to have you on my team. 
  
• Krista - Everything happens for a reason! You have been such a great mentor not only professionally, but also in day-to-day life. Your take on life is inspiring. 
• Lia, Mimi, Lorinda, Steph and everyone else who has had to listen to me fret over the last few months! I'm sure there is more to come, so please be patient!