That Solo Life: The Solo PR Pro Podcast

Episode 45: Leading through Crisis with Ken Byler of Higher Ground Consulting Group, LLC

As PR Pros, we’re used to managing crises. But COVID-19 is a crisis like no other, upending so much in our work and personal lives. How do we make sure we’re providing the leadership our clients, colleagues, and peers need from us while also practicing the self-care we need to keep going?

Ken Byler, a Leadership Guide with his own practice, Higher Ground Consulting Group, joins us to share tactics we can begin using right now as we make our way through this time in our lives. 

Ken has been coaching his clients to view this is an opportunity to define who you’re going to become as a leader. We’re PR people so this opportunity is exciting for us!

How are you using this time to help lead your clients? Please share with us at soloprpro.com and if you’d like to receive additional leadership information and news from Ken, sign up for his e-news.

Episode 44: COVID-19 Business Relief Resources for the Solo PR Pro

In today’s episode of That Solo Life, we discuss the various financial resources available to solos and small businesses with the CARES Act, including the Paycheck Protection Program, EIDL, Bridge Express Loans, and other programs from the SBA, and the expansion of unemployment compensation to include the self-employed. Regarding the latter, if anything, we hope this may bring the government up to speed with recognition of impact of the self-employed on the U.S. economy. This is especially true for our fellow solos affected by situations like AB-5 in California, which blocks their ability to access this relief.

Even in the timespan from recording this episode (Wednesday, April 8, 2020) to its release (Monday, April 11, 2020), the availability of these relief programs has been in a state of flux. The EIDL was supposed to provide a grant of $10,000 to small business applicants and now perhaps only $1,000 per employee. We expect that as you read this, things will have changed yet again.

So, what’s a solo to do?

• Consult with this resource from MBO Partners – The CARES Act: What Independents Need to Know
• Consult with your accountant on the best options for your business.
• Let your state and federal representatives know what you’re experiencing and the changes that might benefit your business. Do what we PR pros do best – raise awareness and educate.
• Map out a plan for your current clients. Be proactive as the resource to guide them through this situation.
• Continue to work on business development. Yes, you can still get new clients even in this time.

 Tell us your experience so far. Please share with us at soloprpro.com.

Episode 43: That Solo Life: Quarantine Pep Talk - How Are You Doing?

In today’s episode of That Solo Life, we want to know: How are you? Really. How are you doing? Life is a lot these days with the emotion and uncertainty around the COVID-19 crisis. Economic relief is starting to become available. If you haven’t had a chance, visit the SBA website with the COVID-19 programs.

It’s important to not allow this period of uncertainty to become paralyzing. Believe us when we say there is a way to cultivate business, even now. Be helpful, be empathetic, be open to new possibilities.

And please, please, please, practice good self-care. Be aware of your news diet. Stay informed but try not to marinate it. Get some physical movement in each day. Try an app like Headspace to calm your mind. And if you think you need someone to speak with for your mental health, please do so. There are many online resources available so that you don’t need to feel alone during this time of physical isolation.

We want to hear from you. How are you using this time in positive ways? Please share with us at soloprpro.com.

Episode 42: Quarantine Check-in

In today’s episode of That Solo Life, we are checking in with YOU! We hope you are well and enjoy this conversation about the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on our business lives, our personal lives, and the world. From the relief available for independent contractors and the self-employed to suddenly having co-workers in the form of spouses now working from home, we cover it all.

How are you navigating this new landscape? We’d love to hear your stories. Please share with us at soloprpro.com.

Episode 41: Working in a COVID-19 World

We remain in the thick of a COVID-19 world, where change comes by the day, even by the hour.

Many of us who normally work from a home office as solos have gained new colleagues, with family members working from home and children home from school. How’s that going?

We find ourselves busier than ever working to keep our clients’ constituencies informed yet with an eye on what this means for the economy and our businesses in the long run.

Self-care is more important than ever. Be conscious of your intake – mentally and physically. Let’s face it, we’re stuck at home with snacks. Treat yourself but also take time to get outside.

This is also the time to support our fellow small businesses. Buying gift cards or placing take-out orders is a great place to start. We are also conscious about looking out for our neighbors, especially the elderly.

We are realistic yet optimistic for what these new methods of work and communication might mean for the future. What innovation and opportunity might be in store where businesses can not only bounce back from this, but thrive at higher levels?

Time will tell but until then, we are here with you and for you.

We’d love to hear from you! Please share your experiences with us at soloprpro.com.

Episode 40: Navigating Business and COVID-19

The arrival of COVID-19 has brought with it unique challenges for the business world and our communities across the globe. What does this mean for our businesses? For the normality of our lives? As of the recording of this podcast (on Wednesday, March 11, 2020), we are in taking things day-by-day mode, dealing with the progressing scenario.

Rather than approach this event with fear, Solo PR Pro’s Karen Swim says, “Every challenge presents an opportunity for growth and improvement.” We hope this episode is helpful to you as we discuss ways to counsel our clients through this global crisis, demonstrating our value as PR Pros, and ways for you to maintain your personal and business health.

SoloPRPro.com is here for you, with the following resources and more to come:

COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 and Crisis Communications

How are you working your way through the challenge presented by COVID-19. Please share your experiences with us at soloprpro.com.

Episode 39: Corporate Speak. Garbage Speak.

Let’s circle back and level-set to reach the business-critical ask.

What?

Right.

Corporate speak. Why do corporations speak the way they do?

Two recent articles, which we've been discussing in the Solo PR Pro Members' Facebook Group, brought this to mind:

• Molly Young, Vulture.com: Garbage Language Why Do Corporations Speak the Way They Do?
• Olga Khazan, The Atlantic: Corporate Buzzwords Are How Workers Pretend to Be Adults

Why does the business world feel the need to complicate communication to this degree, and how can we, as communications pros, make sure that clarity wins?

We’d love to hear your take on this. Visit us at soloprpro.com.

Episode 38: Invest in Yourself with Professional Development

From webinars to conferences, blogs to heading back to the classroom, there are many ways for us to invest in ourselves and our work with ongoing professional development.

It’s important to remember:

• Don’t be deterred if you can’t afford an expensive conference right away. There are many smaller, more cost-effective opportunities, in-person and online.
• The professional development you pursue doesn’t have to be PR-centric. Maybe it’s a creative writing conference, or a series on digital marketing.
• If you and a colleague are attending different conferences, share notes.
• Follow conference or subject area hashtags.

What are your favorite ways to keep your PR tools sharpened? We’d love to know! Visit us at soloprpro.com.

Episode 37: Decision Fatigue

As communications professionals our workdays are full of decisions. From making decisions in the best interests of our clients to making decisions about our businesses, some days there is little bandwidth left over for the simplest of choices, like what to eat for lunch or what to wear on any given day. Is this you? Then listen so you know you're not alone and to get some ideas on how to evade this feeling.

How do you combat decision fatigue? We’d love to hear from you. Visit us at soloprpro.com.

Episode 36: A Conversation with Gene Zaino of MBO Partners on Navigating AB5 & other New Labor Legislation

Today, we are thrilled to have as our guest Gene Zaino, founder and executive chairman of MBO Partners, a company he launched to reinvent the way independent consultants and organizations work together. Gene is a nationally-recognized expert in the next way of working and he joins us today to discuss the impact of recent legislation -- in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and most recently the Federal level with the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 -- on the state of the independent worker.

Listen to learn what impact this legislation may have on your work as an independent contractor, the proactive steps you can take, and what’s next in a business reality based on the work of employees and independent contractors.

Stay up to date on this issue and all of the elements of working as a “solo” at soloprpro.com.