More and more I am basing my judgement on whether the way a PR firm presents itself is an example of what it can do for me.

You know what?

Most PR firms, and I mean the big boys, are terrifying when it comes to their own personal self branding.

How can any self respecting PR firm claim they are going to work magic for me if they cannot even do it for themselves?

Maybe the big boys need to go back to school?

Maybe the big boys need the help of the little boys, or girls, playing in the sandbox!

Here is a perfect example of what I am talking about.

This is the PLUG design hospital.

I love the idea.

But what really catches my attention is the fact that they are doing for themselves what they can do for you!

There is a lesson here.

Probably half a dozen times this week alone.

So what is stopping you from taking the leap?

I had a wonderful conversation with Lucy Roberts of PLUG about her communication business and how it all started.

Lucy was irreverent and real.

The 1st rule of success is be true to yourself according to Lucy.

Through the Good Girls Guide, the uniforms, the unorthodox business organization and much more Lucy has fashioned a business that serves a need and a market.

You need to give this interview a listen because it is motivational, entertaining and maybe even educational!

And who knows, like Lucy, maybe all you need to do is follow your heart to success!

Be aware of the entire team and entire process, if you are not you lose!

BUT also be aware that if people drop out of your activity debrief them!  As questions and keep the door open, people love to be part of things!

Here is an example of the wrong way to do things!

I was asked to be part of a project for an agency of the Dubai Government, cool.

My job to help get the most out of a group of opinion providers.

Unfortunately the project timeline was not fixed and my time requirements required that I withdraw from the project.

I sent a letter to the head of the program outlining my regret.

No response!

Maybe there was anger.

Maybe disappointment.

Maybe indifference.

Neither the PR team, research team or quality assurance team has ever bothered to debrief me.

Hmmm… why not?

I have been in this situation and the first thing I have done is call the person in question, thank the person concerned for their investment of time, and offered to keep the door open for the future!

The result a happy colleague who I can call on in the future.

Result in this case?

Bewilderment!

Don’t take my word for the massive crash listen if you want to hear the pain, forward to hour 2.

But I did mention that one person who inspires me and has been a mentor, through books and action, is Sir Richard Branson.

Maybe we need to allow ourselves to be inspired and learn lessons form both the ordinary and the extraordinary these days? I think we are looking to hard for answers and miss most of what is being offered for free and on a exceptionally frequent basis.

Give this piece of audio a listen if there is any doubt that Sir Branson is a great mentor.

A conversation about dealing with Sir Richard Branson.

Maybe, just maybe we need to open our eyes and ears for a bit of mentoring to inspire us to see the best in ourselves?

Do you who know who they are?

Likely not.

AdAge has made it a bit easier by bringing the ideas of a handful of these cool people into one easy to read spot.

Perianne Grignon VP-Media Services, Sears Holdings Corp. has an interesting take on the media and business, I love the way she rounds out the industry in a sentence!

Why would you want to go into the media business?
“It offers so much,” says Ms. Grignon, 47. “The media field offers the art of the strategy and the science of the measurement, and, therefore, I think it has always attracted a great deal of diverse thinking.”

And I spend my day trying to convince business students about the role of communication in business.

Do you think my students are listening?