Stand Up for Diversity

We are all different. There is not doubt about that. We all have feelings, desires, passions and emotions. Amongst such a diverse landscape, it sometimes seems as if we don’t in fact have that much in common with one another. We go about our daily lives and don’t pay attention to the human rainbow that encapsulates us on a daily basis. The rainbow isn’t set to a specific number of colors and types; no, it is limitless and includes all people few and far between. We all have desires, passions, dreams, emotions and a desire to belong. Merely living in it isn’t enough.

With the world population approaching 7 billion people, the necessity for efficient and effective communication grows ever essential. Our lives are run by the way we communicate with one another. The problem is sometimes we feel like communicating with those so different from us is somehow wrong or unacceptable. If anything we should step outside of our professional boundaries and communicate with whom and what we believe in.

Sept. 20, 2011, brought a seismic shift in the city of New York – gay marriage was legalized. As important as that is, in the same year, a very important United States military official took his stand on the issue and stuck to his guns, causing an even larger ripple in the fundamental system of this country. Admiral Michael Glenn Mullen stepped up as the most influential individual within the ranks of the military to support gay rights.

During Mullen’s tenure as the principal military advisor to President Obama, the military fought multiple wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, pursued pirates off the coast of Somalia, participated in air strikes against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces in Libya, and helped kill Osama bin Laden. (1)

Among all these honorable accomplishments, Mullen’s impact on the 1.4 million men and women serving in the armed forces may be the most memorable.

On Feb. 2, 2010, Mullen became the first serving chairman to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee and call for the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that denied 13,000 troops from admission into the military in 2009.

Due to Mullen’s unwavering conviction and willingness to depart from the ranks, he helped enable the opportunity for gays to openly serve in the military without the fear of condemnation or dismissal. Mullen took a step back from the commonality of influential leaders who perpetuate the non-existence of diversity in the dominant culture.

Standing before the Military Leadership Diversity Commision, Admiral Mullen told a story about what he thinks non-minority leaders to understand. He recalled when he went to a naval conference to give a speech about diversity to junior officers. After his speech, he learned from the audience that although his words were inspiring, the diversification among his staff didn’t match. He had walked in with an all white male staff. Mullen went on to reform his staff by infusing it with diverse individuals capable of the same feats. (1)

On his final day, Mullen will stand like every other military official and decree a final salute during the chairman’s retirement parade.

Mullen should be an example for us all. As diversity becomes more prevalent in the professional realm, it is our duty as open-minded citizens to stand up for our beliefs and support those individuals who may not have as loud of a voice. We need to make it a priority to support the human rainbow and every peaceful color and dynamic within it.

As a public relations professional, my goal is to accentuate my personal beliefs through the mediums available to me. Just like Admiral Mullen, I will stand by my ethics and promote diversification and the chance of prosperity for all.  I will accept that it is not only my desire, but my duty to enable the spread of diversity within my networks and professional career. Although we are all different, we must stand as one.

This world needs its Admiral Mullens – when will you stand up?

Source: PRSA Diversity Page

1. http://diversity.prsa.org/index.php/2011/08/admiral-mullen-walked-the-walk-and-made-diversity-a-priority/

Dana Lewis Shares PR Industry Strategy

Dana Lewis, a young PR practitioner improving and evolving the face of Public Relations in the Health Industry, shared her knowledge today to a group of students eager to hear her spiel. She has utilized technological mediums in a way that maximizes the potential for patient, professional and community conversations through interactive social media platforms. Beginning her college career, Lewis followed her passion for communications strategy and began innovating.

Due to her interest in the health care PR industry, Twitter became her headway into the professional world, through one small step at a time. By utilizing Twitter to formulate conversation around the topic of healthcare, Lewis was able to rapidly expand up on and grow the conversation #HCSM.

From the beginning of the conversation, she emphasized the importance of recognizing and sticking to a purpose for social media. What goes on the internet stays on the internet, whether it is deleted or not. We live in a world where technology expands so fast that by utilizing in the correct manner we can increase our possibility for networking and success overall. Social media gives back to the user what has been put into it. For instance, the occasion twitter user will not understand enough or know how to operate Twitter in a fashion that can allow for networking and professional and social growth, not just one or the other. Through the implementation of strategy around our usage of social applications, the potential amount of assistance they can provide will be more than imagined.

Who remembers the list of terms from all the business minor classes? There is this little term by the name of return on investment (ROI) that any client is going to expect from you as a PR account executive to follow up on and prove the value of your work with. The ROI of PR work generally accomplishes some time saved, relationship development to leverage, and customers in the door. Being strategic and having good relationships is necessary to receiving any positive feedback based around the ROI of you work and the money to spent to accomplish your work.

About Me

Taylor Stafford is a highly motivated 21-year-old, young professional currently in his senior year at the University of Oregon, studying Public Relations and Business Administration. Taylor takes pride in his writing, interpersonal, and leadership abilities. He has developed professional experience through event planning, a corporate internship, and his current account supervisor position of the client NVC within Allen Hall Public Relations. Taylor believes the possibilities in front of him are endless; his mission is to explore, live, learn and thrive on a day-to-day basis.

Through successfully balancing professional and academic growth with social and personal happiness, Taylor is a well-poised individual who has the drive, potential and ability to accomplish anything.

In the last three years, Taylor has acquired a high quality skill set through professional work experience and internships. During his sophomore and junior year, Taylor worked in the event scheduling and planning department for the University of Oregon as a team leader and event manager for a variety of small and large campus events. In the summer of 2010-2011, Taylor worked directly with Rocky Mt. Power’s mid-size business manager out of its headquarters in downtown Portland, Ore. During that time, his work had a lasting positive effect on the Mid-Size Business segment operations and his work is still being used by the corporation to this day.

Taylor presently is an Allen Hall Public Relations account executive working towards the successful execution of the New Venture Championship business plan competition, one of the premier business plan competitions in the country. He is currently involved in multiple campus groups including the American Marketing Association, The National Society for Leadership and Success and the Public Relations Student Society of America.

Taylor spends his off time playing basketball, lifting weights, listening to music, reading and enjoying the company of friends whenever possible. Taylor believes the possibilities in front of him are endless: his mission is to explore, live, learn and thrive.

24. Time Flies…

From the beginning of this term till now, I couldn’t tell you how much I feel like I should remember or how much I should have taken away from this term that I cant seem to fully grasp or remember.  When time flies, like it does faster and faster every term that graduation draws nearer, I feel as if I am getting older than natural laws allow. Being a senior with the world ahead of me is not scary per say, rather intimidating because I am still at a loss for what I desire to do with my creativity and my worldly desire to succeed.  There is much to think about in between class time and homework, but one constant has remained true throughout my 2012 winter academic term and that is, J456 Creative Strategist taught my Deb Morrison has taught me a lot about myself and where I stand with my creative desires.  Although I am a public relations major, this course did much more for me than just teach me about advertising… It taught me about my creative process.

I now understand that if I want things to become beautiful, I have to get out there and make them beautiful.  If I want something that nobody has created, then get out there and make it. The world is my oyster… As corny as that cliche phrase is, it rings true to the depths of my soul.  I would like to thank Deb Morrison and Erica for a great term in J456.  Although not over yet, and with the best part of the class to come (the final project), this class has been a big mentor on my road to greatness.

23. The Gorillaz New Music Video – Artistic or Just Plain Weird?

There is not much one can say about the Gorillaz new music video that would make much sense in common language. This video is the epitome of weird while also countering as the epitome of creative.  Sometimes the weirdest things are the most creative and vice versa. I strive on a daily basis to embrace my own personal weirdness and use it towards a creative means that helps to expand my horizon through which I see the world.

21. The Most Interesting Man In The World Brought Spark Desperately Needed to Dos Equis

The worlds most interesting man was not always so interesting… In fact, Johnathan Goldsmith was not much more than a non desired actor in need of work living in Los Angeles. When the opportunity presented itself during a casting call for Dos Equis, Goldsmith not only hopped on it, but he absolutely owned it and brought everything and more to the character that Dos Equis storyboarders had in mind.

As the campaign enters is sixth year, a new side of the most interesting man will be exposed to promote a darker lager by Dos Equis.  In the last year Dos Equis gained 15.4% in U.S. shipments vs 2.7% average growth for the other top 10 imports, according to Beer Marketer’s Insights.

In the beginning Dos Equis had no idea that they were holding viral gold when they first launched the campaign. The campaign’s initial ads originally aired in only a few select markets in the West and quickly went on to gain international attention in 2006. Goldsmith said, “Basically it was just a cattle call. I got into the room, and there were hundreds of people and a big crowed waiting ouside, and everybody looked like Juan Valdez. And I said this is crazy – they are not looking for me. I went in when it was my turn and all I could think about was, “My God, I’ve got to move my car by 4 o’clock or I’m going to get a massive ticket.” “

Dos Equis was looking for something different than the normal cliche mid twenties male prevalent among beer commercials. They were looking for a lead actor for a campaign that would break the advertising mold among beer companies that is currently dominating the tube. While many current beer spots feature hot women, fancy cars and exotic locations, Dos Equis discovered that more than anything else, drinkers really want to be seen as interesting by their friends.

The strategy behind the campaign was to market the most interesting man in the world as an older, worldly and cultured protagonist. By doing so, young men would not view him as a threat or having accomplished more then them while being the same age which can be a turn off to young males. He needed to be someone to work toward, vs a mirror of themselves.

20. Throwback Orbit Commercial…Keeps Me Laughing

 

“What the french toast!?” This commercial is a perfect example of reaching the consumer through an all to human emotional experience… aka humor.  Many commercials and advertisements today feebly attempt this daunting task but only few successfully accomplish it. This post is dedicated to all those gut busting ads that make this world a brighter place. Cheers!