The Decoder

Meet the Pro

Name: Tim Rush

Title: Partner
Company: SNG PR

Area(s) of Expertise: High Tech, Green Products,  Financial Services, Consumer

It’s Business Time

What advice would you give to people just starting out in the PR field?
Have a vision.  Try early on to decide who, what, and where you want to be - and WORK to make it happen (and remember that the “who” part of the equation is much more important than “what” and where.)

Be kind to those around you.  Understand that compassion is not weakness, even in business.  It requires tremendous inner strength, power, and unflinching courage.

Don’t be afraid to slug it out in the trenches, get dirt under your fingernails, and pay your dues.  If you work as if you are not entitled to anything you don’t actually earn, you will be more effective, more appreciated, and better positioned to grab that corner office when the time is right.

What are some common mistakes you made as a younger PR professional, and how do you suggest people avoid them?
Spell-check is not necessarily your friend – proofread everything you write. One time a product I had shipped to a reviewer in the UK was delayed.  I e-mailed the journalist apologizing for any inconvenience the delay might have caused…I misspelled “inconvenience” and spell-checker changed it to “incontinence.”  His reply was simple:   “No problem, I can wait until next week…and don’t worry my bowels are just fine.”

What is your favorite part of your job?
Being in public relations provides an environment where there is an absolute and complete lack of boredom.

Just For Fun

Home state: Utah
College: Brigham Young University

Favorite thing(s) to do when not at the office:
Fundamentally, spending time with my family takes up most of my time.   However, I have a voracious artistic side that I let out to do oil painting and other sundry creative activities.

What’s the last book you read?
For business:   The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn.
For fun:  The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson

If you could travel anywhere, where would go you, and why?
Mars.  Less noise pollution.

If you were to describe yourself as an ice-cream flavor, what flavor would you be and why?
Chunky Monkey.  Why?  Well, that’s a little personal, isn’t it?

Tags: how to start in PR, pr pros, pr tips, Snapp Norris Group, SNG PR, tech PR, tech PR pros, Tim Rush