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Managing Public Image in a Technology Based World

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The art of maintaining positive public relations is an extremely important personal and professional asset. And while there have always been a focus on maintaining a positive public image, there have also been experts that specialize in reputation management and crisis control. With this in mind, it’s interesting to consider just how complicated public image aspects have become and how easy it is to compromise your professional image in today’s world of technology. This is easily recognized when it is placed in the context of social media websites like Facebook and Myspace, however there are numerous other ways that compromising personal information might manifest on the web.

At least in the past reputation management was restricted primarily to real time and life and the worse that could happen would be to have it spill over to television or radio , but that was extreme. Today’s perspectives make it possible to compromise your integrity in the morning and have it be viral by the same afternoon. It’s just not that easy anymore to hop in your car, squeal your tires and get out of the spotlight. And with the vigor in which most people publicize their personal information online, it almost seems as though the entire population is courting scandal. But then again, in order for something to be scandalous or controversial , it must be outside of the norm, and outrageous public behavior is becoming anything but uncommon or out of the norm. And with all of this in mind, it is still important, and remains fundamental to maintain a positive professional reputation, both on an individual basis and for businesses and corporations.

With the amount of information that is available and the speed in which it can spread, the reputation management profession is expanding and becoming more comprehensive as technology continues to interact with and change our daily lives. Every last bit of our daily business is making Internet headlines, and this is true weather we’ve just bought our weekly grocery supply, which happened to include wart remover, or if we spent the day shopping for discounts on rims for sale . We can watch everything from baby’s first birthday to our grandparents’ golden wedding anniversary on Youtube, and with the amount of video cameras that exist in the hands of the majority of the population at any given moment, via their phone of course, there is no doubt that any controversial public event, including the participants, will make its way directly to that great Internet outlet. Don’t let it be you.

Managing Public Image in a Technology Based World is a post from: PRSky

Disability Week & Denial

admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 07:00:00 +0000

One of the most essential elements toward healing comes early on, beginning a process that often takes lifetimes. Acknowledging and accepting the pain, or the problem, means taking it out of the dark so that it can be dealt with. Denial is one of the most destructive forces, and when it comes to healing, it can be the most difficult block. In terms of disability, and disability rights, denial comes in many forms, and most of these are related to the syndrome of invisibility, where cultural forces make it so that people pretend that it does not exist.

This can show its face in many forms, whether these be in accessibility issues, a unum claims denial , or even a thoughtless comment from a passer-by. The presence of denial can be overwhelming, and its effects can leave very deep wounds. The movement toward establishing a disability history week is one effort toward bringing the issue out of the dark and into the light. Although it has not taken hold on a national level yet, its presence is welcome, and its momentum is heartening. It’s not simply a chance to make the public aware of all of its citizens, but a chance for the ones who have made inroads in disability advocacy, and helped to stop the cycles of denial.

Disability Week & Denial is a post from: PRSky

Best Event Tickets in Ruling Russia

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:48:41 +0000

I was a foreign exchange student in Russia and I had a lot to learn, not academically, but socially. Like knowing and speaking the language and understanding a challenges of being right in the middle of a culture completely different than mine. For example, I was attending a lecture about Global Studies and the Professor talked about ‘laws’ and ‘rules’ in Russian society. Laws are what are known. They are a part of public record, plus they are changeable according to the climate of the people power.

He then explained that rules are different. Rules don’t change like how fast laws can change. Rules are not public, meaning that rules are not formally written. He told us if living in the Russian culture, I need to learn the rules and then this will help make all the difference. I can attest to that! I don’t know Russian rules. Earlier this morning, three friends and I went out to visit Peter the Great’s palace, the one where he lived before he died. We heard that this would be one of the Best Event Tickets to get during our stay in Russia.

We started out with a hydrofoil ride, which was cool. We travelled about 40 knots and the ride lasted around a half-hour along the Neva River which then went into the Gulf of Finland where the Peterof is located. Right away we could see that the grounds and the buildings were opulent. Deep green gardens, fountains and gold-plated statues were really magnificent. So, from the beginning to the end, we thought we were following the laws to the letter. First, we stepped off the hydrofoil and stood in line to show that we indeed purchased event tickets which allows one to enter into the lower gardens. We went over to a fountain where there were women and men dressed in period costumes. We wanted to take pictures, but according to the law written on a small sign saying that there is a fee to take photographs. We’re broke, so we ended up not taking any photos.

Next we approached a solemn looking man in a dark suit, he definitely was an employee of the palace, and as we got near he yelled 2-o-clock, 2-o-clock! I wasn’t quite 2pm so we figured we’d come back in a half-hour. Long-story-short, we never made it inside the palace! The we couldn’t figure out which line to stand in, and no one spoke English. But, finally we managed to ask someone in Spanish why we weren’t allowed to stand in this line or that line and we were told since we weren’t a part of a tour group, there’s no chance in hell to go inside the palace. An unspoken ‘rule’.

Best Event Tickets in Ruling Russia is a post from: PRSky

The Need for Transparency in the Fight Against Corruption

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:43:25 +0000

Corruption is often defined as the abuse of position and of power, for individual gain. However, it is much more than that, for not is there just a gain involved. The gain involves and is a necessary element of the expense that it has on other individuals, companies, and even entire communities and countries. Corruption is socially, ethically, morally, politically and economically detrimental and impacts are sometimes so great that those involved can never recover. Corruption and deception have existed through the history of humanity, however they have become more prevalent beginning in the twentieth century. It exists in corporate business and finance, to education, and even the entertainment industry. All organized businesses or systems are susceptible to the illness. As, in the way an illness starts out slow, and then either gradually or rapidly affects the entire body, so too does corruption. One corrupt politician can create the reputation of an entire society as being corrupt, regardless whether or not that society does not support the corruption.

Many believe that the whole of the political realm is corrupt and that that is the root cause of all corruption, from that in police departments to the court rooms. These are three groups that most everyone assumes and believes to be corrupt. Throughout history, it has been found that in most cases where the political systems are corrupt, the people of those societies are generally living in poverty. Corruption affects the poor of a particular culture in the greatest degree. Politicians are supposed to act with interest of those they govern in mind. Politicians are among the most recognizable faces in a society, yet not much is known about their personal businesses affairs or transactions. The concept of transparency is one that has begun to be investigated, and the ideas that nothing should be allowed to be kept hidden. All actions should remain transparent. This is also true when considering the financial holdings of politicians, they must be held accountable for honesty and integrity, and by opening up certain information to the public this might serve to prevent politicians from activities such as bribery, extortion or other illegal activities in the realm of corruption.

The Need for Transparency in the Fight Against Corruption is a post from: PRSky

Compliance Regulation

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:45:31 +0000

The term ‘regulatory compliance’ refers to a set of standards, to policies and specifications that are clearly defined, in regards to how companies conduct their business affairs. Breakdowns in companies or scandals such as the 2001 case of Enron made presidents, CEO’s and the U.S. Government more aware that the previous set of standards were not strong enough. In 2002, the Senate and the Congress developed the Sarbanes-Oxley act. This act provided definitions regarding the responsibilities of members in the top managerial positions in the major corporations with regards to the accurate reporting of financial transactions and of the legal necessity of accurate book keeping. In the United States, this means that companies must comply with the regulations and the laws and that those who do not comply face civil or even criminal penalties and consequences.

Although the guidelines may be difficult to understand, small businesses can find help by going to a website set up in 2006 by the U.S. Government’s division of Small Business Administration. This site provides access to the information and the services provided by the government that will assist in those small companies and their compliance to the regulations. Other organizations provide information as well, such as HIPAA, FISMA and GLBA. Issues regarding health insurance and the release of information, which applies to many medical and mental health facilities have been the main topics in recent years. These issues are now a bit more difficult due to the electronic storage of personal information and just how secure that information is online. Businesses involved with such delicate material involving the personal information of their clients are becoming more aware of the need for the protections of privacy and the need to ensure that information is secure. These are just two simple ways in which each employee can be certain that they are complying with the regulatory acts and laws.

Compliance Regulation is a post from: PRSky

Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria Prepare for the World Cup

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:47:20 +0000

Joseph S. Blatter is the president of the Federation Internationale de Football Association, (FIFA) has been in support of the South African world cup from the beginning. To him it is the moral obligation, the responsibility of the rest of the world. He believes that it is very wrong that the rest of the world is to reticent in trusting the country, and that South Africa has much to the world of soccer, and to the entire world as well. This is to be a time of not only incredible games and the thrill of the World Cup, but a time to celebrate the country and the people who have struggled and who have been so strong and come so far in the short fifteen years that apartheid ended. It is time that the world views all people as equal, a belief that many South Africans have gone to jail for, Nelson Mandela and the current president Jacob Zuma included. Just a few things in this world bring people together without regards to race and culture, one of those being sports. Sports binds and connects people together in a single vision, and that is what Blatter has as his goal for the 2010 tournaments.&nbsp;

Blatter has become South Africa’s hero for his determined efforts in pushing for the rest of the world to see, that the Cup in 2010, belongs to South Africa. He is not blind-sided however, and in the wake of the very successful Confederations Cup that ended last week, he concludes that there is still work to be done for the coming World Cup. Accommodations will be an issue as more than three hundred thousand spectators will enter the country next year. Rooms are being added to the top Cape Town hotels, as well as those in Johannesburg and Pretoria. By the time the games open, more than seventy billion dollars will have been spent improving the airports, the roads, and other aspects of the infrastructure. This is one of, if not the most, popular sporting events in the entire world. And Blatter is there to ensure that while there is a feeling of euphoria in the air in South Africa today, this work must be completed by opening day. For not only will it prove to the world that South Africa can do it, it will ensure that in the years to come, the tourism industry and business investments that will follow, will serve to build this country up, to provide the people of the country with a better life, and will give the rest of the world the opportunity to experience the country first hand.

Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria Prepare for the World Cup is a post from: PRSky

Trance in Singapore

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:39:57 +0000

Savvy travelers know that when looking for a five-star hotel, Singapore is a paradise on earth. Singapore is a fascinating country, with a long history of cultural exchange with its neighboring countries. Malaysia, China, and India all have a strong influence in Singapore, and vice-versa. Because of this, there is a beautiful tradition of exchange and hospitality. This is palpable in the hotels, where the guests are attracted to the atmosphere of graciousness. There are also fabulous amenities here, that demonstrate a commitment to the best of tradition and the promises of innovation. Travelers here have access to the most cutting edge features in connectivity to global culture, and are also the lucky recipients of the most time-tested comforts and luxuries that hotels can offer.

Singapore is perhaps one of the most global cultures on the planet. The culture here is always tuned in to the latest and the greatest in world trends, and leads the world in fashion, technology, and youth culture. There is also a complex trance culture here. But here, we’re not looking at Trance music in Singapore, but dissociative Trance disorder in Singapore. There have been numerous interesting studies on the phenomenon of trance here. Trance in this sense refers to an altered state of consciousness where the person experiencing trance “goes away,” on a kind of mental journey, one that is characterized by catatonia, characteristics of possession, or deep relaxation.

Most of the studies on trance in Singapore relate it to the subject’s personality traits tending toward anxiety, problems in the military, marital discord, or religious or cultural conflict. But there are some studies that are sensitive to cultural ideas of trance, and in these studies, incidents of trance in Singapore are related to the subject’s previous experience with trance. There is a strong belief here in ancestor worship, and the idea the ancestral spirits affect the daily life of human beings. There are also a variety of goddesses and gods in the Taoist and Hindu pantheons, and some of the spiritualist traditions here look at possession as a rather natural occurrence. In these studies then, the idea that trance could be a manifestation of these spiritual traditions, is given weight in examining the subject’s sensitivity to trance. Whatever the conclusions that can be drawn from these studies, it is fascinating to look at how culture makes the world a more complex and interesting place.

Trance in Singapore is a post from: PRSky

Dubai’s Ikea

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:10:36 +0000

There is no question that, when looking for the perfect lodging, Dubai gives every other world city a run for the money. With its long tradition of hospitality and graciousness, there is something unspeakably pleasant about the stays here. Dubai is a fantastic city, with something to offer for everyone. The hotels are a reflection of the place, with a splendid mixture of old-world charm and absolutely modern amenities. Guests here will be treated to a sense of luxury that is rarely experienced. One can be completely connected to their lives outside of Dubai, or completely free of day-to-day responsibilities. The beaches are lovely, and the shopping is another world altogether.

In Festival City, with some of the most modern shopping experiences anywhere, there is a terrific Ikea, which is always bustling with human energy. Ikea first came to Dubai to Zaabeel Road with a showroom in 1991. In 1995 it had a store at Deira City Centre. This store closed in 2005, so that the current store in Festival City could open. This store is four times the size of the one at Deira City Centre. There is a definite trend toward making things bigger than before in Dubai, and with a population increase of around 10 times what it was just three decades ago, bigger is certainly a good idea, as the population supports it.

There are interesting UAE touches to the Dubai Ikea, where local businesses are involved in making it run smoothly. The local Bosch Security teamed up with Al Ghandi Electronics to install the store’s loudspeaker system. And there are 50 foot preserved date palm trees planted in the Dubai Ikea, giving it a certain local flavor and charm. Sweden meets the UAE, and offers its usual affordable style to furnish the world’s living room.

Dubai’s Ikea is a post from: PRSky

Delhi’s Experimental Art Gallery

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:05:15 +0000

There are absolutely wonderful five-star hotels in Delhi, one of the major, truly global cities in the world. The hotels here are a reflection of the city, with an admiration and reflection of both tradition and innovation. There is a fantastic sense of contemporary urban design, and also a finely-honed inclination toward hospitality and grace. The hotels have up-to-the-minute technologies to keep the guests well-connected to the world at large. There are also ample amenities to keep guests happy as clams, and if the purpose of the visit is to hide from the world, the hotels are very inviting. There is no doubt that one will find a great sense of renewal of spirit and body and mind here.

Delhi itself is a city that is constantly renewing itself. One of the longest continually-inhabited places on the planet, Delhi holds a vast sea of human nature, displaying its ongoing drama in all its vividness. One excellent reflection of the human spirit is the art that we make. In Delhi, there is a deep appreciation for art, and artists, and ideas. The Experimental Art Gallery in India Habitat Centre is a fantastic example of this.

India Habitat Centre is a large umbrella organization designed to link individuals with organizations. There is a wide range of facilities with numerous connected organizations, initiatives, a film club, learning centres, and an arm that produces publications for the public. Educational initiatives are one of the core values of the Centre, and there is a promotion of ideas sponsored by individuals and collective organizations. The Experimental Art Gallery is an initiative by the Visual Arts Gallery. Its aims are to display and promote works of new media that include digital art, video, and virtual art forms. The high-tech sensibility comes from the notion that these new forms are the future of art, or at least one road of the future of visual art, and it deserves a place in contemporary Indian culture.

Delhi’s Experimental Art Gallery is a post from: PRSky

Start a business if you’re bored

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:26:05 +0000

There is really nothing worse than being bored. Being bored is one of the most common complaints of people in their job. Or an excuse used widely by teenagers to justify indecent behavior.

Anyways, due to the current economic climate there are currently people out of work who have not been so since maybe they were first looking for a job after graduation. Or there are young college graduates who are unable to land themselves an entry level job in the field of their choice.

With all that sitting around, perhaps you should decide if you have an ounce of entrepreneurial sense and think about starting your own business.

Sure starting your own business is scary and it can require some startup capital, but it’s a hell of a lot better than sitting on your rump BORED!

Ask yourself if there is something that you have wanted that you were unable to get. And it doesn’t have to be something you necessarily have to invent either. Take Steve Barbarich for example. He was in the market for a hot tub Jacuzzi and he bought one online. When the hot tub Jacuzzi was delivered to his house he found the size of it to be much larger than what he thought he was buying. When he tried looking to the company for help, they provided basically zero customer service.

There was a void in the market for an online hot tub Jacuzzi distributor that offered good prices and excellent customer service. So customhottubsdirect was born out of this and Steve filled the void.

Look to fill voids in areas of service just like Steve. If you have not been able to find the type of service you want when buying a product think about how you can make it better. The internet has allowed for entrepreneurship to be a little less scary.

Start a business if you’re bored is a post from: PRSky