PRessing On: Real Life in Public Relations

As a public relations professional, you may have given some thought to maintaining your full-time communications job as well as launching a passion project. Hear how Robin successfully balanced her PR day job while writing and publishing a book.
GUEST: Robin Rockey, APR, Communications Manager for the City of San Marcos and author of 100 Things to Do In Orange County Before you Die
As an award-winning communications leader, Robin brings more than 16 years of diverse experience in public information, journalism, internal communications, and digital media management to her role as the City of San Marcos’ communication manager.
In 2019, Robin also published her first book: 100 Things to Do In Orange County Before You Die, which has been featured on KTLA and KDOC as well as several publications throughout the California.
She caught the So Cal travel-writing bug while on staff at California travel-and-lifestyle bible Westways magazine where she ran the popular Go Southern California Instagram and Twitter accounts. Additionally, she has freelanced for publications including Sunset and TravelAge West.
Robin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Northern Illinois University, Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), and certificates in public information, advanced social media strategy and digital marketing.
She represents the California Association of Public Information Officials on the Universal Accreditation Board, which oversees the APR credential, and has previously served on the Board of Directors at the Public Relations Society of America’s Orange County chapter.
FIND ROBIN ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Insta: @orangecounty_100
Facebook: @robinarockey
Linkedin: @robinarockey
WEBSITE: RobinRockey.com

Podcasters, Rachel and Liselle, share true and somewhat embarrassing stories of their personal experiences as interns many moons ago. Their lessons-learned are mentoring moments for others starting their careers. In celebration of National Mentoring Month, the PRessing On podcast celebrates the learning curve that takes place for everyone starting their career. This podcast episode was featured on Good Morning San Diego.
www.PRessingOnPodcast.com
Insta: @PRessingOnInPR
RMG Communications
www.RMGComm.com
DeGrave Communications
wwww.DeGravePR.com

Thinking about starting your own business, but don't know where to begin? Rachel and Liselle share about how they started on their own business journeys in public relations. In Part 2: these two dynamos share some additional simple steps to get you started!
PRessingOnPocast.com
insta: @PRessingOnInPR
RMGComm.com
DeGravePR.com

Thinking about starting your own business, but don't know where to begin? Rachel and Liselle share about how they started on their own business journeys in public relations. In Part 1: these two dynamos share simple steps to get you started!
PRessingOnPocast.com
insta: @PRessingOnInPR
RMGComm.com
DeGravePR.com

How to collaborate with the competition.
On our first episode of PRessing On: Real Life in Public Relations, we discuss our career paths that led us to become entrepreneurs as well as how we work with the collab-etition.
Our Journeys
We’ve known each other for nearly 10 years after we met working in public-sector communications for a government agency in Southern California. Being just three months apart in age and holding very similar values and work ethics, we hit it off immediately.
Liselle’s journey to owning her own business started more than 15 years ago when she started DeGrave Communications, Inc as a side hustle. Since then, she also worked for an international public relations firm and for two government agencies. In 2015, she decided to pursue her business full-time and now has a thriving award-winning public relations agency focusing on government clients.
Conversely, Rachel has always worked in government from even before she graduated from college. She really enjoyed working in government but always knew that there was something more that she was supposed to do and in 2018, she decided to hang her own shingle and start RMG Communications. Not even a year later, her business continues to grow and flourish.
Collaborating with the Competition
Otherwise known as collaborating with the competition, this concept offers the opportunity to work with others doing similar work as you to help grow and scale your business.
Top Tips
1. Proceed with Caution: Be Selective on Who You Partner With
Are the values and work approach of the person or business you have been approached by in line with you work ethics and values? If not, it is ok to say no.
2. Set the Ground Rules Up Front
Nothing ruins a business relationship or friendship faster than business/money issues. Make sure you have a contract up front and decide how to handle finances. Also, decide what projects you want to collaborate on up front. You will need to decide which agency/person will be the project lead. Not every project is going to be a fit for this work model.
3. Maintain Open Communication
Communication with the team you are working with and your clients is key. Let your clients know who they will be working with and what role that person will be taking on so nothing falls through the cracks.
4. Have Fun
Don’t forget to have fun. Business should excite you – not leave you feeling drained and uninspired. Be sure to authentically share your journey on social media. And remember: Teamwork makes the dream work! You can accomplish more together than on your own.
Follow us:
PRessingOnPodcast.com
insta @pressingoninpr
Visit us:
degravepr.com
rmgcomm.com