Professional Development Archives

Wendy's PR Crash Course
January 10-11, 2008
Orlando Marriott Downtown

It's official. After years of friends and clients asking why I produce killer seminars and conferences for other people and organizations but never host my own, I'm going to do so.

I've already lined up some of the top PR and business development experts in my personal database (developed over 20 years of actually working in the corporate world and PR industry, not just reading about them). From launching your own publicity campaign to streamlining your business, you'll hear from some of the best.

This will NOT be a "sit in your chair and listen to one talking head after another drone on about how they got super rich in just a few hours with very little effort" seminar. If you're looking to catch lightening in a bottle and get rich quick, this event is NOT for you.

Wendy's PR Crash Course WILL be a highly interactive, hands-on educational seminar from which you will leave with tangible results. You'll actually implement some of the tips and techniques we teach before you ever leave the event. That way, if you have questions, you'll still be in the room with the instructor and can ask questions RIGHT THEN to make sure you've got it.

Normally, I like to have every little detail finalized before I promote an event, but this is going to be so big, I wanted to let you know NOW so you can save the date and plan to make 2008 your best year ever.

For more details, visit our seminar page and look for Wendy's PR Crash Course

Lots of great events coming up, more details to follow, but mark your calendar now:

April 26, 7:00 p.m.
Journey to a Hate Free Millennium
A Community Conversation and Program
Apopka, Florida

Featuring Brent Scarpo, producer of the multi-award-winning Journey to a Hate Free Millennium documentary and educational program. A former teacher, actor and Hollywood casting director (Shawshank Redemption, Air Force One) Brent has presented the Journey to more than 1,000,000 in all 50 U.S. states and 12 foreign countries over the past eight years.

May 24, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
SMART Awards Luncheon
Hosted by the Association for Corporate Growth Orlando chapter
Downtown Orlando Marriott
Orlando, Florida

Featuring Wally "Famous" Amos, father of the gourmet chocolate chip cookie industry, and recognizing Central Florida companies leading our business community in financial strength, active social and community participation as well as appreciation for the company and its employees.

Nominate a client's, associate's or even your own company.
Register by May 11 to receive early bird pricing.

May 31, 2007 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
MEGA Book Marketing
A One Day Crash Course in Book Marketing
Hosted by Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprise
New York, New York
Seating is limited. Register today!

July 26-28, 2007
HDPR: Creating the Clear Picture
PRSA Sunshine District Annual Conference
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Orlando, Florida

Hosted by the Orlando Chapter of PRSA.

March 15, 2007
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
North Concourse
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida

Register now.

This year's keynote speakers include:

Marie C. Wilson, author of Closing the Leadership Gap: Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World is co-creator of "Take our Daughters to Work Day," and founder and president of The White House Project.

Barbara Corcoran, author of Use what you’ve got , is a self-made business baroness and founder of the Corcoran Group, New York's premier real estate company. She is considered one of the most powerful brokers in the nation.

Barbara Stanny, author of Overcoming Underearning, is a leading authority on women and money. She will share her unique perspective on women's financial issues.

The purpose of the Women's Leadership Summit is to motivate, inspire and empower women to assume leadership roles in business, politics and their community.

Register now.

MEGA Book Marketing University
Learn from the best of the best!
March 2-3-4, 2007
The Westin LAX
Los Angeles, CA

Register by Midnight PST this Thurs., Feb. 1 and bring a friend for free! Plus, you'll get the complete $349 home-study course at no additional charge.

One reason I recommend and attendees return again and again to MEGA Book Marketing year after year is the amazing faculty of best-selling authors, marketing mavens and publishing pros the MEGA team pulls together for each event.

It's an inviation-only event, so this is your personal invitation from me. Here's the catch, you have to register using this link so Mark will know I invited you.

Mark hand-selects each speaker, so you get a comprehensive education in everything it takes to become a best-selling author. Everything is covered… from how to get your book proposal noticed ... to cutting-edge marketing techniques ... to staying sharp mentally and finding the inner strength and persistence to never give up on your dreams.

This year, you’ll learn from not only Mark but his ”Chicken Soup” co-founder Jack Canfield...one-of-a-kind motivational mentor and “A Child Called It” author Dave Pelzer ... nationally syndicated columnist and best selling author Harvey Mackay...superstar literary agent Jillian Manus, and others.

You'll also have the opportunity to meet a variety of top agents and publishers that always say "yes" to Mark's personal invitation for them to come and scout for talent.

Read more about this year’s faculty and what you’ll learn.

Nothing can stall a project like the approval process. PRSA is hosting a teleseminar designed to help you run the approval process so it doesn't run you.

Only one registration per site is required, so register now and invite your colleagues to join you, all for one registration fee.

The one hour teleseminar is this Thursday, April 13, at 3:00 p.m. EST.

I just returned from my latest jaunt to L.A., which included Mark Victor Hansen's MEGA Marketing Magic conference. As usual, Mark tapped into his extensive rolodex and brought in a stellar lineup of industry experts, this time focused on marketing with particular emphasis on internet marketing.

Mark's MEGA conferences are high energy and high intensity. Days start with breakout sessions at 7:30 a.m. and end with special bonus sessions that run until 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. Mark definitely gives attendees their money's worth!

Normally I fly out the day before the conference starts so I can do a little pre-conference networking and get a good night's sleep before the complete immersion, but I couldn't miss FPRA's Roast of Fred Leonhardt Thursday night (more about THAT event in another post).

My flight didn't get in to L.A. until 9:30 Friday morning so I missed the opening session with Mark. I also missed Scott Hallman's Power Implementation session while Mark and I were off discussing a project on which we're working. Fortunately, Mark has Barry Ackerman record the entire three days of sessions and breakouts so I have already ordered cds for the sessions I missed.

I did take copious notes and as soon as I decipher them, I'll post them on my website. In the meantime, you can see photos from the event on my flickr site.

In an upcoming teleseminar, PRSA will examine the different technologies available to assist independent practitioners and
small firms in operating their business more efficiently and effectively.

The teleseminar will be held on Tuesday, March 28. Download the flyer.

Join us for the second annual Women's Leadership Summit, hosted by Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty.

Thursday, March 9, 2006
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida

Get more information, register online or apply for one of 100 full-fee scholarships that will be awarded.

The board and staff are exploring options for rescheduling the event in the near future. In addition to posting the latest information on their site , they have a conference hotline for updated information: 1-888-277-3926.

Now, from a PR perspective, the refund guidelines need help. PRSA is asking registrants to write a letter asking for a refund and include "the reason for your being unable to attend the conference." Worse, they post this directly under the hotel's refund policy, which states "The Fontainebleau Resort`s current refund policy allows Conference [sic] registrants to cancel their hotel reservation WITH NO PENALTIES. The number to call is..."

Sit up front.
You can hear better, you see what's happening on stage, and there are less distractions (they're all behind you).

Shel Israel, author of "Naked Conversations," says he plans on sitting in the second or third row at this week's Blog Business Summit.

Take notes.
Even today's top speakers follow this advice. Notes help you remember the less salient points post-conference.

I sat in the front row with Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul ) at a conference last year. There were nearly 2,000 people in the audience to hear Mark, and there he was taking notes on the speaker preceding his own keynote!

Edit your notes before you leave the session.
Fill in the gaps while the presentation is still fresh in your mind. It will be much harder to remember later. And, if there is a point you're unclear with, chances are you can catch the speaker and get clarification before he or she leaves the event.