We were lucky to catch up with Mitch Leff recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mitch, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I look at every new client as new adventure. That starts with going back to the basics and working with them to understand the goals of their organization and what they hope public relations can do for them.
For each new project, we work to develop that “key messaging” that explains quickly and clearly who they are and what they do, be that a product, a service, a special event, or an issue they’re managing.
We’ll often implement creative sessions that break down the “we can’t do that,” or “we’ve never done that” walls.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Leff & Associates offers clients a full range of public relations services, focusing on strategic public relations counsel, program development, media relations, public affairs, crisis communications and media training.
We work with clients to tell their stories … to the audiences that can have real impact. Every client is unique, so every program is designed to meet specific objectives.
Our team offers expertise across a range of industries, including nonprofits, consumer products, business-to-business, professional services and entertainment.
We offer the Leff’s Atlanta Media web service, the most comprehensive database of Atlanta’s media community. It includes all the information you need to effectively deliver information about events, products or important issues to metro Atlanta’s many media outlets. The Leff’s Atlanta Media directory includes thousands of reporters, editors and producers in television, radio, newspapers, wire services, magazines, Atlanta-based national, ethnic niche publications and online media outlets.
Our Mitch’s Media Match (M3) links journalists with sources. We connect PR professionals, companies, non-profits, government and agencies with Atlanta and Georgia-based media. It connects reporters, editors and producers who rely on quality sources for news and feature stories. The service connects organizations whose employees can serve as experts for newspapers, TV, radio, wire services and web-based media.
Both of our online services (Leff’s Atlanta Media and Mitch’s Media Match) include our “Mitch’s Media Musings” newsletter, a blog and monthly publication that focuses on news about Atlanta’s media community.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
A key part of our work involves working with local and national media. To be as successful as we’ve been for more than 30 years requires building trust and partnerships with journalists. That’s not something that happens overnight. It requires patience and long-term perspective.
If you want to be successful, give back as much as possible. Participate in your industry associations, offer your time to mentor young professionals and students, and volunteer with a nonprofit whose work you love.
Stress the details and the big picture will take care of itself. That’s what marks a true professional.
My advice for young professionals: Be involved in your industry associations and get to know the media in your market by being involved with your local press club.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I’m feeling overwhelmed my go-to strategy is simple: Do the first thing. Then do the next thing. After that, do the next thing. At the end of the day, you’ll have accomplished most of your priorities. Don’t look at everything on your plate and worry that you can’t get it all done. It’s likely you can’t get it all done, but you can get done what’s most important.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leffassociates.com
- Instagram: @leffassociatespr
- Facebook: @leffassociates
- Linkedin: @leffassociates
- Twitter: @mitchleffpr
- Youtube: @mitchleff
