“What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing; it also depends on what sort of person you are.” C.S. LEWIS, The Magician’s Nephew

With C.S. Lewis’ words in mind, we want to establish how New Mexico residents perceive the industries, people and professions that shape the 47^th state.

While everyone knows the answer to the New Mexico’s official state question (Christmas), how do people feel about the industry that provides us red and green chile?  Oil and gas tax and royalty contributions account for more than 20 percent of New Mexico’s general fund revenues, but does the industry have a favorable impression in our state?  Where professions and people are raised – do we trust our pastor or priest more than our physician?  How much do we trust family, relatives and friends?  Do New Mexico residents have more trust in lawyers or journalists? The answers to these questions help shape communication strategies for our clients.

Traditional news outlets have ruled the roost, shaping perception for decades.  How has the new media changed how people access news and information?  Is the Internet really changing the way we get information and what sources are viewed as trustworthy?

Those were just a few of the questions on our mind.  The answers might seem trivial to some, but to those of us who ethically shape perception, it’s gold.

Every aspect of this survey can be affected, positively and negatively, by public relation strategies.  Our clients will benefit from the full data and insight found deep in the details.  It is our hope that the larger New Mexico community will see this data as motivation and/or an affirmation that current approaches need to be tweaked or initiated.

Visit the Garrity Perception Survey and tap into what New Mexico residents think about industries and professions.

 Running a public relations firm is a tricky thing.  The first ten years were equivalent to teaching myself how to type; it started as “hunt and peck” then transformed into its own unique form.

In 2007, I participated in my first PRSA Counselors Academy event.  The opening session featured a speaker talking about this social media thing called Twitter, I was hooked.  Over the years, #CAPRSA programs have kept pace; addressing new technologies and ways to help connect my firm and clients with our respective target audiences.

The only thing that surpassed the programming was the networking.  There is nothing quite like working a room with all “Type A” personalities!  Conversations about how people manage their practices and teams continue to be one of the key reasons I return year after year.  For me it was like one beggar showing another beggar where to get food.  Each year I get a lot of great ideas about running a public relations practice from inspiring people.

So, what did I do with the information?  Well, I brought back the cool swag for staff giveaways.  Then I took bits and pieces of information and conversations to move my team and firm forward.  As a result of those discussions, a lot of faith and a talented team, my firm has seen a growth of 200% over the past three years.

So, what am I doing this May?  I’ll see you at #CAPRSA in Las Vegas.

 Click here for more information

There are a lot of people jumping on the Groupon bandwagon.  The discount service provides some tremendous value, helping businesses get rid of excess inventory at a substantial discount to consumers.

Is there something better than Groupon?

The record freeze hitting our country has left travelers stranded and many without heat and water.  In New Mexico, the Governor declared a state of emergency because of scarce natural gas supplies.  This created the perfect storm for price gouging in a variety of different sectors.

The Hotel Albuquerque took a different approach.  Seeing a community in need they offered rooms at $35 a night for families impacted by the natural gas shortage.  For those of you out of town, this is not a “no tell motel”.  The Hotel Albuquerque is an upscale hotel that is host to a variety of community events.

Yes Virginia, there is something better than Groupon and it is called charity.

One of the many perks of my profession is the opportunity to visit different parts of New Mexico and the United States on business.  Traveling means hotels and true to the code of road warriors, I have a list of “reward” numbers and personal preferences.  My patterns usually alternate between Hilton and Marriott, though I will stay in a B&B for a change of pace every now and then.

On a recent trip to Portales, New Mexico there was only one hotel option, a Holiday Inn Express.  I made the reservation using my Priority Club ® Rewards number and arrived about 9pm.  Upon checking in, I saw my original room number 223 was crossed out and my new room 328 was written and circled above it.

About 9:45pm, the “horror of the night” (thank you Jay Baer for the epic line) manifested itself, this hotel is located right next to the railroad tracks and highway.  Calling the front desk, I learn that the train comes through two/three times a night.  My room literally swayed and shook when the train passes.  When the third train passed at 3am, it occurred to me… the front desk actually moved me from the peaceful east side of the hotel to the Armageddon’esqe cacophony of the west side.

Why was my room moved?  My gold status was likely trumped by a platinum (which I am finding out is like getting an unbent fork in a cafeteria).  When I called the front desk, they were generally clueless and offered no words of consolation, no ear plugs, no floor stabilizers.  Maybe they were shell shocked by the regular rumbling of the train and blasting of the horn.  My guess is, I wasn’t the first to complain; the train tracks were there long before the hotel.

Lesson learned: have a customer service plan in place to address issues that are beyond the businesses control.  If you don’t then you are taking customers for granted and that’s the quickest and easiest way to lose future business.

One of the great things about our country is found in the peaceful transfer of power resulting from a free election.

One of the worst things about our country is seen in the political advertising that takes place leading up to the said election.

Case and point, today’s Albuquerque Journal featured a new front page “sticky” asking voters to elect the sitting Sheriff for another term.  It was placed right next to the lead headline, a story about one of his Deputies who was killed yesterday.

Really?

It is possible that the Sheriff’s campaign was given the option to pull his sticker.  If that is the case then his campaign deserves what it gets.

The lines between news and advertising are already blurred in some unfortunate ways, would it have been too much to pull the sticky ads for a day?

What responsibility, if any, does the newspaper have in showing some simple sensitivity when a public servant is killed in the line of duty by making an decision to pull a 25 cent political sticker from its front page?

Since January of this year (2010), I’ve been participating in the Team in Training program offered by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  As a result of their program, I’ve had a chance to raise awareness about blood cancers, generate some additional funds for medical research and complete a few memorable athletic milestones.

Participating in and completing the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon, Denver Rock and Roll Half Marathon and Day of the Tread Half Marathon, I’ve learned many things.  But none more important than “run your own race.”

I’ve had the opportunity to train with a lot of quality people.  Everyone is pacing around the asphalt jungle for their own reasons.

Watching, and running alongside the people I consider to be elite runners is really quite an experience.  By running vicariously through Jaynee, Chris and Javier I’ve run sub-4 hour marathons! 

The coaches are some of the best; Jeff, Michelle and Bryan.  They provide motivation, insight and encouragement.  There are a number of coaches whom I’ve only met on the race course, they provided a calming guidance that helped me to run my own race.

Even before this year’s training, the quote “Run in such a way that you may win,” connected with me.

Most of the people I train with finish their respective races. 

Surprisingly, despite the training, some runners do not cross the finish line.

Whether they finished or not, everyone “ran their own race.”

These are some of the great things about our team.  They set their own goals, their own pace.  They weren’t swayed by the elite runners or slowed by those of us on the scenic route.  They are comfortable in their own skin, know their abilities and limits (most of the time).  They feel compassion as they see runners bonk and are reminded that it could be them.  They push to do better next time.  While they are encouraged by the crowd, they aren’t guided by the drama of it all. 

They run for their own reasons, their own plan, their own goals.

They run their own race.

Ok, I admit, before January 31^st of this year, I didn’t think a lot about exercise.  On that day I put one foot in front of the other and started running.  Two miles became eight, then 12 then 15 and finally 26.2 as I finished the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon in June.  The coaches and mentors with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program provided the preparation and encouragement needed to complete this objective.

To be honest, before that first two mile run, blood cancers were about as top of mind as exercise.  On February 1^st of this year, my high school friend Pete had his first chemo treatment for multiple myelomas.   After a very grueling time, he was declared in “remission”.  Pete was one of my motivations to train and run the marathon.  The marathon training and long runs continue to be an easy way to lift up Pete and his family in prayer.

Thankfully, Pete is still in remission.

Coming up on October 17^th I’ll run the Denver Rock and Roll Half Marathon in celebration of Pete’s continued positive impact on our community.  On October 24^th it will be the Day of the Tread Half Marathon that I’ll run in honor of Neil Weaver, who fell victim to multiple myelomas several years ago.  Neil made a great impact on the Albuquerque community as a father, businessman and friend.  His son-in-law Ben, will also be participating in a Day of the Tread cycling event.

If you’d like to help fund a cure for blood cancers, here is the link: http://bit.ly/97O1ri

But, wait!  There is more!

A team from The Garrity Group will be running in the Denver Rock and Roll Marathon Relay!  I am proud of our team and this tremendous undertaking to raise awareness and funds to find a cure to beat blood cancers.  They are putting others ahead of themselves by raising awareness to fund a cure for Blood cancers.  Here is their link:

So like Forrest Gump, we run.

Go team!

Jimmy Buffett and LeBron James are an unlikely pair.  However, over the span of the past several days both have done their part to niche their place in modern culture and they both based it on their performance.

The now tiresome special and focus on Mr. James’ decision to leave his home of Cleveland in pursuit of a championship title (which he didn’t get in college because he went right to the NBA from an Ohio high school) has been bantered about by greater and wittier minds than mine.  But the announcement was a shunning of his home state and a promise of performance in the form of a championship ring.  

Contrast that with singer songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who embraces his gulf coast heritage, has only received two Grammy nominations.  But his following will be stronger than any NBA or other professional sporting figure, evidenced by his 40+ records that have gone either gold or platinum, sold out tour dates, and collaborations with the greatest voices in the music industry.

Jimmy Buffett, tonight, is hosting a benefit concert in Gulf Shores Alabama as a benefit to help the region plagued by oil and negative publicity from the gulf spill.  A long track record of doing things for the community that supported him for so long is why Jimmy Buffett reached icon status a long time ago.  Versus LeBron James, who like a prodigal son left home … yes, I think Ohio is bigger than LeBron to accept him back when he returns to the community with humility in his heart.