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Tag: inspiration

Coping with COVID: Generous Interpretations

Coping with COVID: Generous Interpretations

June 5, 2020July 15, 2022 Cherith AndesBlog, Inspirational, The Clairemont TeamCoping with COVID, inspiration, Interpersonal relationships, professional development, Raleigh PR AgencyLeave a Comment on Coping with COVID: Generous Interpretations

A personal essay

“The new normal.”

By this point, the phrase isn’t so new anymore. In fact, many large brands quickly adopted this mantra (along with a pervasive “we’re all in this together” motif) within days of the COVID pandemic hitting America.

Normal. It’s not new. It’s not even normal. Stay-at-home orders and the ever-shifting pandemic has reshaped our society in ways we don’t even know yet. During this time, what lessons are you taking with you?

I’m not necessarily talking about new ways of doing business (although those are key), new work methods or new apps. (But can I get an “amen” from those of us that caved to TikTok?) I’m referring to personal learnings that can range from big light-bulb realizations to quiet, evolving resolutions.

How will you come out of this season changed as a professional, spouse, parent, child, student, leader or friend?

Generous Interpretations

Researcher, speaker and writer Brene Brown weaves a theme through much of her work known as “generous interpretations.” In her book Rising Strong, she defines this as the ability to “extend the most generous interpretation possible to the intentions, words and actions of others.” In essence, when we are hurt, angered, confused or simply rubbed the wrong way, we choose to assume that the other person is doing the best they can and extend the most gracious assumption about his or her behavior until we have more information. Surely difficult in practice, this ongoing art can alleviate much conflict and unnecessary judgment in both professional and personal dynamics.

While Brene interweaves this concept with several other larger ideas, generous interpretations can stand alone. And I’ve learned that during COVID.

A Not-So-Generous Example

Let’s go super simple on this example, shall we? Not too long ago, I was on a WebEx conference call. (Shocker, I know.) The speaker was trying diligently to run through her talking points while one of the 28 people on the call was typing away noisily — rather rudely, I might say. Seriously. If you’re going to multi-task, at least have the courtesy to put yourself on mute. How basic is this principle, people?!

I was starting to form a miffed grudge against one lady in the group — the clear culprit — … only to realize 60 seconds later that the culprit was ME. (For the record, I was taking notes. But regardless!) A generous interpretation would have been to assume the other person simply forgot the mute button and was taking good notes. (The added kicker, of course, being that I was said culprit.)

Generously Putting It into Practice

Brene does clarify that “generosity is not a free pass for people to take advantage of us, treat us unfairly or be purposefully disrespectful and mean.” But whether it’s the coworker that “dropped the ball,” the in-law that seems to overcorrect your parenting or the neighbor that never mows his lawn, extend your most generous interpretation to their situations. Perhaps the neighbor got sick and can’t get out. Perhaps the coworker is working feverishly and is in the midst of researching additional information for the project.

Start from a place of grace, because as Brene also says, “Grace will take you places hustling can’t.”

What learnings are you taking with you this season? 

Looking for more? We’re sharing our tips to cope with COVID.

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7 Insta Accounts You Can’t Miss

7 Insta Accounts You Can’t Miss

March 7, 2019July 15, 2022 Cherith AndesBlog, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, The Clairemont Teamdesign instragram, fashion instagram, inspiration, Inspiring Instagram, Instagram accounts to follow, social media marketing, travel instagramLeave a Comment on 7 Insta Accounts You Can’t Miss

The hues of a local mural. The strains of a blues artist in a music bar. Heck, even the copy on the back of a cereal box.

At Clairemont, we find inspiration in the darnedest of places. Lately, we’ve been lovin’ scrolling through our Instagram to uncover new ideas and helpful tidbits.

Looking for a few life hacks? A pick-me-up? Our team shared a few of its favorite folks to follow. Open the ‘Gram and check out these accounts!

Kelli Recommends: @EmilySchuman
For: Lifestyle, Beauty

Emily is founder of Cupcakes and Cashmere. I love her style, her tips and the fun activities she does with her girlfriends and family. She also has a great beauty routine (skincare and makeup), and I’m a huge beauty fan. So I often end up trying a ton of products she recommends — with great success. I’ve been a follower of her blog for seven years now, and her content just keeps getting better and better. 

Tracy Recommends: @Fashion_Jackson
For: Fashion

I love her style, and you can link directly to what she is wearing and purchase. #EASYSHOPPING, people.

Ru Recommends: @Nnekaj
For: Travel

My favorite personality on Instagram I absolutely adore is Nneka Julia. She’s a travel blogger who specifically chooses culturally rich destinations, ones that many have ignored. Not only will her photos make you antsy to pack your suitcase, but she also has a podcast called “Passing Through” that shares her revelations and wisdom collected through travel, conversation and self-education. Each episode is dedicated to a city she has explored, giving you insider tips and opinions. Her wisdom is beyond her years!

Cherith Recommends: @OakCityKitty
For: A Little ‘Tude

Meet Tucker, the mascot of downtown Raleigh and possibly the world’s driest pessimist. He keeps a first-person running commentary of life in the heart of the Oak City, peppered with his disdain of dogs, love of food and aspirations to be governor. You need this laugh today; I promise you won’t be sorry.

Alex Recommends: @HumansofNY
For: Life Inspiration

As a passionate people person and New York City enthusiast, I love connecting with stories of strangers from all over the world. You can find empathy, validation and a connection with a stranger all from a single Instagram post — that’s pretty inspiring to me! 

Dana Recommends: @Cottage_a_Day
For: Design

… because it feeds my visual house hunting hunger and is way cheaper than actual house hunting.

Dana Also Recommends: @SouthoftheBully
For: Your Cuteness Fix

… because, well, dogs.

We’re always looking for other inspiring accounts. Visit us on Instagram at @ClairemontCommunications, and tell us who we should follow next!

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Breaking Through Mental Blocks

Breaking Through Mental Blocks

February 25, 2019July 15, 2022 Cherith AndesBlog, Professional Development, Public Relationsbreaking through mental blocks, creativity, how to stop a creative block, inspirationLeave a Comment on Breaking Through Mental Blocks

Those who work in a creative field know the feeling — that hopeless frustration of staring at a blank Word document or design canvas … and nothing comes. 

You’ve turned the canvas upside down. Swiveled in your chair. Worn a path to the coffee pot. Secretly played a few minutes of Fortnight. 

And the inspiration is still somewhere in the Bahamas … without you.

In PR, part of our special sauce is the zany ideas that add a head-turning twist, the out-of-the-box solution that catches the attention of reporters and propels customers into action. So we’ve run into our fair share of mental blocks during the creative process.

We’d like to proffer a few favorite tips for sidestepping the brain freeze and jumpstarting your mojo again.

Get a Move on It.

It’s surprising how a brisk stroll (or an impromptu dance-off in the Clairemont Kitchen) can rejuvenate the brain. One of us has been know to run laps up the stairs while another one uses the time to jaunt over to Morning Times for a touch of caffeine/parfait/whatever is in the pastry case. Fresh air and movement can do wonders.

Crack a Book. Or a Stellar Blog.

When words are … just … not … there (see how I did that?), feed your brain with fresh input. Prime the pump with another author’s vocabulary, style and turn of phrases. The meatier, the better. We love to flip open a copy of Garden & Gun (editor CJ Lotz has some incredible pieces) or the Wall Street Journal. (Jason Gay’s sports commentaries provide insightful accounts peppered with hilarity — even for the non-sports fan, such as myself.)

Insert Off-topic Ideas.

In a similar vein, completely abandon the current task at hand to concentrate on an unrelated topic. The brain is programmed to create and follow patterns (And thank goodness. Can you imagine relearning how to drive every time you cranked the key? No. Just no. ), so a break in routine can allow for a new point of view. Pop over to Ted on YouTube, for example, and watch the first video that catches your eye.

Change Your Environment.

Photo courtesy of Vita Vite

Forbes highlights the positive impact that a change of scenery and travel — even domestic travel — can have on the creative psyche. While you may not have the leeway for a long weekend escape, a shift in your immediate environment can interrupt your mental cycle. Pack up and move to a coffee shop. Work from a park. Find a wine bar patio (like our beloved client Vita Vite) that offers fresh vistas and new interactions to spark thoughts.

Crank the Tunes.  

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

Plato

Forbes backed Plato’s maxim when it unveiled that listening to happy music may boost your creativity. Medical Daily even went so far as to suggest a few classical pieces. Music’s dichotomous blend of structure and expression targets both parts of the brain, often with an almost magical effect. Pop in some earbuds, take a walk, turn it on in the office, get up and dance. (Again, Clairemont loves us some dance parties. Care to join?)

Need a little more “oomph”? Check out Dana’s tips for encouraging creativity.

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Finding Inspiration

Finding Inspiration

August 30, 2018July 15, 2022 Cherith AndesBlog, Professional Development, The Clairemont Teamcreative marketing, creativity, creativity in PR, inspiration, Raleigh PRLeave a Comment on Finding Inspiration
I think it’s safe to say we all are in need of a little inspiration from time to time — especially those of us who work in the public relations field. Sometimes the secret sauce needs a little shaking or a  fresh ingredient. Our fabulous Clairemont team is no exception, so we wanted to share with you some of those golden gems that spark our creativity!

Tracy Lathan

I find that my kids are my creative inspiration. At just five and seven years of age, they already know the new technology, games, apps, movies and dances that are all the rage. They keep me on my toes and on top of what is trending. I also find inspiration from various blogs I follow on topics such as food and fashion. And I always make sure to stay up to date on industry trends in PR Strategies & Tactics and other outlets to see how other public relations pros are tackling challenging subjects.

Nathan McDaniel

I find much of my inspiration in the promise of the end result. I want to work hard towards a goal or task so that when it is finished, if done correctly, the satisfaction of doing a good job provides me with motivation. I take pride in my finished products; so when I am putting in the hard work I can push myself, because it will produce a better result. Creativity is a factor that often inhibits progress due to its ability to frustrate and confuse us. If I am stuck, I go completely outside of the box. Sometimes, a brand new style or an off-the-wire idea can generate the best work. Having a brainstorming session over fresh coffee is the best way for me to come up with ideas.

Yasmine Evans

Whenever I’m feeling like I’m in a rut, I switch it up with some music. The type of music just depends on what I’m feeling that day, but music can usually get the creative juices flowing. If I’m feeling like I’ve been stuck for awhile, I’ll try a change of scenery like going for a walk or hanging out at a coffee shop or library. That usually does the trick!

Cherith Andes

Grouch0 Marx amuses me with one of his hallmark quotes: “I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” I concur! The power of the written word can not only educate and entertain but also inspire and invigorate. From blogs, news stories and op-ed pieces to the back of a cereal box, creative copy reflects a different point of view that can often spark fresh ideas in my own work.

Dana Phelps

Inspiration is everywhere! Shelves of my grocery store offer innovative packaging and clever copy. Art work — whether displayed in The Prado or quickly sketched on theback of a paper placemat by a child — never fails to get my creative juices flowing. Possibly the best way to kick start my brain into idea generation is to first clear it, and nothing does the trick like nature. My favorite place to be is on a beach at sunset. When I can’t make that happen, simply pushing away from my desk and talking a walk around downtown Raleigh always puts me in the right frame of mind.

Looking for your own dose of inspiration? Check out the fun ideas in our case studies!
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