Navigating Change Without Losing Your Mind

Lessons from my interview Casey Harrison, CEO of Polished Strategic Communication.

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Inside Today’s Episode:

• Casey's personal journey: From a teenage mom to founder of Polish Strategic Communications.
• Using PR data to showcase value: being prepared for a data-driven conversation.
• Understanding Project Capacity Management: How to ensure sustainable growth and avoid burnout.
• The Importance of Setting Realistic Goals: Achieving success through strategic planning and measurable objectives.

Welcome back to another edition of Expert Exchange!

Today, I am excited to share an inspiring conversation with Casey Harrison , founder of Polished Strategic Communications . Casey's journey from a teenage mother to a successful entrepreneur is a testament to resilience and determination. Her story is filled with valuable lessons for anyone looking to overcome obstacles and thrive in their professional life.

Overcoming Personal and Professional Challenges

Casey's story is truly remarkable. At 17, she was pregnant and balancing high school with caring for her son, who was born fifteen weeks premature. Fast forward to today, and Casey is an empty nester, celebrating the first anniversary of her own PR agency.

"The more people understand and have a dialogue around things, the more we can move forward even if we don't reach full agreement." - Casey Harrison

Casey emphasized the importance of communication and understanding in her professional journey. As the VP of Marketing and Communications at the Indy Chamber during the Roe v. Wade overturn, Casey had to navigate a complex and rapidly changing landscape. She highlighted the significance of forming relationships with key stakeholders and understanding the legislative environment.

Demonstrating the Value of PR: Preparation and Planning

Demonstrating the value of PR is like camping: almost anybody can do it. But the difference between doing it and doing it well is preparation, planning, and having the right tools. You need to collect data before you need to use it—like gathering firewood for a campfire. It's crucial to set realistic goals based on what's happening and what's possible, allowing you to measure progress effectively.

Casey uses PR data to demonstrate the value of her work to clients. She shared insights on how she measures success through various key performance indicators (KPIs) and how these metrics help in building trust and credibility with clients.

"Success for me looked like building processes that could adequately service all internal needs of the organization." - Casey Harrison

Balancing Personal Beliefs and Professional Roles

Casey discussed the challenges of managing personal beliefs while holding a professional role, especially during politically sensitive times. She learned to separate her personal opinions from her professional responsibilities, ensuring that her work remained objective and focused on the organization’s goals.

Embracing Entrepreneurship

Starting your own business is a whole different ball game. Gone is the security of a steady paycheck. Gone is the luxury of other teams and resources to depend upon. Now, you have to do it all on your own: attract clients, please clients, and retain clients. All while designing campaigns, executing campaigns, and measuring campaigns. You must prove value to the client, the media, and the client's customers.

"If you're not trying something new, you're missing an opportunity to be more efficient." - Casey Harrison

Ten months ago, Casey transitioned from corporate life to entrepreneurship, founding Polish Strategic Communications. She shared her experiences of managing social media content, leading web development projects, and navigating the challenges of running a business. Her approach to entrepreneurship is systematic and strategic, ensuring efficiency and scalability in her operations.

My favorite thing I learned from speaking with Casey

The project capacity management approach she uses to ensure she doesn’t over-extend herself. This approach ensures she is billing as much as possible while being sustainable and allowing her business to scale in a healthy way.

Conclusion

Casey's journey is a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience, adaptability, and strategic thinking in both personal and professional life. Her insights into using PR data, balancing personal beliefs with professional roles, and embracing entrepreneurship offer valuable lessons for marketers and communicators at Fortune 1000 companies.

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Thank you for reading this edition of Expert Exchange. Stay tuned for more conversations with industry leaders who share their wisdom to supercharge your marketing and communication skills.