Nonprofit

Making up for lost time (and money)

Posted by Megan Neher —

I looked at 2021 and had one thing on my mind – how can I make up for what happened to my business in 2020? I’ve owned my own PR firm for almost 19 years now and NO surprise, 2020 was the worst year yet.

I didn’t really mind a little less stress at work as clients dropped like flies during the start of the COVID-19 outbreak because I was finishing my master’s degree and set to graduate in May 2020. But as the year dragged on, I set out to do whatever I needed to do to make up for the lost client work in the following year.

I was ready to be “on the clock.” And boy did I take that to heart.

When 2021 came along, I wasn’t the only one wanting to make up for lost time. It seems my clients were ready to do the same. Everyone wanted to throw a party, host a fundraiser, step up their PR planning and efforts and plan the grandest of grand openings. I couldn’t bring myself to say no to a single potential client and thus I found myself buried, overwhelmed and busier than I’ve ever been in the nearly two decades I’ve been in this business.

Oh COVID, how you’ve helped us learn many life lessons! (yes, I’m blaming COVID for this. How could someone my age continue to make mistakes?)

So, what do you do when this happens? Luckily, I was able to lean on experience and draw from good ole’ fashion common sense, but here’s a few suggestions I’ll share now that I can look back (and now that I have some breathing room) might be helpful as we go into 2022.

Set a plan.
Monthly, weekly and daily. Heck, hourly if you need to. Prioritize what needs to get done and create an action plan with a focus. It’s the only way to get through this period in your life. And look for the light at the end of the tunnel. Mine didn’t come until after Christmas, but it made my vegging on the couch that much sweeter.

Delegate.
Find reliable team members who you can meet with periodically and who do not need a tremendous amount of hand holding. This is not the time for new employees or interns. You need tried and true staffers who know you and you know them so you can get the job done. I’m forever grateful for my team during this time.

Busier = more organized.
I hate to even utter these words, but sometimes I get more done when I’m busier. Now, I never want to be as crazy as I was last year because I know I had to eliminate things that were important to me, but I also recognize that I am able to buckle down and be efficient when deadlines are looming. Remember, it turns out that the more you put something off, the less likely you’re going to do it at all.

Happy hour anyone?
I can’t say that I had a healthy work-life balance during the past 12 months, but I made time to have some fun, see friends on occasion and hang out with my husband and kids. This downtime is one of the only things that helps me to recharge and stop thinking about my to-do list. And when you’ve been working from home for as long as I have, you know you have to switch it off because there’s no physical distance between the office and home.

Never say never.
Oh boy this is a hard one! Repeat: I will not take on too much work ever again. This is a promise I have made to myself, and I must keep it. It is so important to my business, my current clients, my family and my health. That’s very dramatic, but let’s just say I need to do a better job of managing my workload.

And especially as we start the new year, I want 2022 to be a positive year for MNPR with a goal of actually achieving a work-life balance – ok, I realize I must set realistic expectations, but at least get a little closer to balance. Because I tend to be a bit of a workaholic (a hazard of being a business owner who truly loves her work), I have to constantly remind myself to find other passions.

My goals for this year are:

Learn how to say no
Get closer to nature. We have a new puppy who LOVES her walks!
Make time for myself!
Focus! Make sure I’m productive when I’m in my workspace

So cheers! Here’s to a fabulous 2022! I’m working to reclaim control this year! Wish me luck.

Dec
31 ^st

New Year’s Rear View Mirror

Posted by Megan Neher —

Last year I made resolutions. It’s not often that we are willing to talk about our resolutions from last year. Why? Because that means accountability and no one likes that word.

2014 was not a good year for me, and I knew that I wanted 2015 to “be my year!” So on New Year’s Eve I set some goals (I’ve been told that resolutions are lame because they usually fizzle out and that instead you should “set goals.”)

These were mine:

1. Invest in professional development – Despite the expense, I’ve wanted to go to PRSA’s Counselors Academy Spring Conference for a decade. And it turned out to be exactly what I needed. The professional experience was excellent and the comradery with old friends was even better. I needed a few days away to soak up my industry, remember why I do what I do and drink wine until midnight with an old friend I haven’t seen in 12 years. I wish I could go every year.

2. Be inspired on a mission trip – I reviewed my work calendar and found a short-term trip in October to Haiti with my church, Life Mission Church. It was an incredible 10 days to an orphanage with 100 children. I will be forever changed. I went on this adventure not knowing a single person in the group and ended with some great friends. How can I and my family be so blessed to have been born in this country? How can I help my children wake up every day knowing how fortunate they are? How can those amazing little children and teens be so lovely when they are suffering? I pray that I can do another trip or take my kids on a trip someday.

As I reflect this New Year’s Eve, I see a few things in my rear view mirror including inspiration for new goals for 2016.

Professionally: I want to continue to emphasize “communication for the good” for my business and my clients. I met a lot of very smart people at the Counselors Academy conference including one who coincidentally was a young woman from Overland Park but who now lives and works in Portland, Oregon at Prichard Communications – specializing in “communication for a better world.” I’m fascinated with that concept for my clients. At MNPR, we have some non-profit clients and work to implement savvy cause marketing campaigns for all of our clients.

Personally, my goal is simple: my family! They believe I’m a work-a-holic. So, I’d like to get better at balance and fun. I’m going to set specific goals for fun. (does that take the fun out of it? I hope not!) Easy things like dinners, movies, date nights, bowling, staycations.

Let’s see if a year from now I’m brave enough to look in the rear view mirror as we embark on 2017!

Happy New Year!

Jul
23 ^rd

Communications for the Good!

Posted by Megan Neher —

Someone asked me recently what my intentions would be if I started another new business. I knew right away that it would be to help others/communications for the good! Of course making millions of dollars would be nice too!

I’ve enjoyed being a part of several local organizations that are doing good for others in addition to owning my own business. Some of this is because of assignments from clients. And some is pro bono work I’ve volunteered to do as a way to offer my expertise to various organizations for which I feel a particular passion. I encourage any entrepreneur to loan their skills to nonprofits. Not only will the charity benefit, but you will too as you network and grow your expertise.

We are working on another charity benefit this month on behalf of a client and it’s very rewarding. It has been a pleasure to serve on this committee as a representative of my client, Zona Rosa. We have a long list of other nonprofits and clients for which we’ve helped organize charity galas and/or benefits including: River of Refuge, Ronald McDonald House, Infiniti of Kansas City, Synergy Services, Salvation Army, Hillcrest Transitional Living, Love Fund for Children, Wonderscope Children’s Museum and Harvester’s Food Bank.

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