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Values: where it all begins

Public Relations

Public relations is about fostering positive, professional relationships with customers and clients, partners and employees, and even vendors and competitors.

Yet, PR has been given something of a bad name, associated with cover-ups, "spin doctors" and half truths. But is that how you create and maintain a good relationship?

Ethics

I started Borderland PR because I believe that the best practices are ethical practices. As a customer, I don't want to be lied to or manipulated, and I always reward honest, ethical behavior with repeat business.

If you're like me, you understand the power of basic human decency. You will go out of your way, drive further and spend more, all simply to do business with someone who you feel values you as a customer and respects you as a human being.

The Bottom Line

In most business settings, when people discuss the "bottom line," they are talking about profits and things that get in the way.

At Borderland, the bottom line comes down to a very simple test I've been doing since I was a young man: when I look in the mirror each night before I go to bed, I need to be able to look myself in the eyes.

When I can't pass that test, I know it's time to make a change.

Though my life has given me strong evidence that the most profitable path will always be the honest one, I don't walk the honest path because it is profitable.

Better Brand of Misery

I'm sure you've heard the joke in response to, "Money can't buy happiness," that, "Yes, but it can buy a better brand of misery." I can't say that's not true. However, I can say, for me, it doesn't matter.

I was brought up to value honor and integrity and with the idea that a good name is the most valuable thing to have.

When I do work for a client, it's not just their reputation that is on the line, but mine as well. And while my job is to help clients be successful, there is no price for which I would sell my good name.

Where the Line is Drawn

Borderland PR will always reserve the right to withdraw from a project if the client wants to take an ethically-questionable direction.

As a result, clients can be assured that no one will ever have an honest reason to doubt that a project is aboveboard when Borderland PR is involved.

The Promise

The values of Borderland PR are things that, I believe, should be a given. I shouldn't have to say that, "A good reputation is more important than monetary success."

Yet, we all know that honor, integrity and responsibility cannot be taken for granted. We all know that the temptation of immediate profits can drive even honest people to make compromises they are ashamed of later.

So, the Borderland PR promise is to never compromise these values, to live up to the highest ethical standards, and to hold clients to those same standards.

The latest from Borderland

Odierno tours Basra resiliency campus

Gen. Ray Odierno, United States Forces-Iraq commander, examines some of the books available to Soldiers in the spiritual section of the soon-to-open resiliency campus on Contingency Operating Base Basra Aug. 18, 2010, as Maj. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, United States Division-South and 1st Infantry Div. commander, looks on. The spiritual health section at the campus includes a small library of books covering various religions – from Buddhism to Wicca – and a room for meditation, with an atmosphere designed to encourage open discourse on spiritual subjects. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin R. Kibbey)

BASRAH, Iraq — One of the most under-exploited aspects of public relations is the use of a story format to create a message that engages the audience.

While the ideal is third-party dissemination of PR products, an engaging article can also serve as website or print content, doing a much better job of engaging the interest of your audience than a dry or non-conversational piece might.

...see the full article

Posted in MilitaryMilitary storiesThe latest from Borderland

Seeing to the future of Babylon

Musah Kattah, an archeologist on staff at the Babylon ruins who was previously the head of the Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar Museum and has done excavations at the site, holds up a piece of mud brick from the site that still has a bit of the naturally occurring tar used as mortar in the buildings attached, Aug. 5, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin R. Kibbey, 367th MPAD)

BABIL, Iraq — Iraq is a country where history going back centuries is at every turn, yet conflicts going back decades have kept many sites across the country off of the official UNESCO list.

In an effort to counteract centuries of neglect, the U.S. State Department provided the Iraqi government with assistance in order to help obtain UNESCO recognition for the Babylon ruins.

...see the full article

Posted in MilitaryMilitary storiesThe latest from Borderland

YSO: preserve past, prepare for future

A student member of the Youth Save Organization hands out programs to attendees at a ceremony July 22, 2009, at the Babil (Province) Convention Center in Iraq, that kicked-off the third four-day workshop the organization has held to prepare local students to be leaders in the tourist industry. The students put in 12-hour or longer days during the workshop, visiting historical and tourist-oriented sites around Babil, listening to lectures on developing tourism, holding planning sessions, taking tests and writing reports each night on their own time. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin Kibbey)

BABIL, Iraq — The Youth Save Organization is a local organization in Babil, Iraq, that seeks to provide for the future both of historic sites and young people.

Working with various national and international organizations and agencies, the YSO provides both training and perspective, giving the future local entrepreneurs and leaders of Babil tools they and their community will need.

...see the full article

Posted in MilitaryMilitary storiesThe latest from Borderland

US returns bases to Iraqi control

Sameer Alhaddad, the representative for receivership of the chief of staff of the Iraqi prime minister, and Lt. Col. William A. Walski, commander, 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, sign papers officially transferring Contingency Operating Station Hunter to Iraqi control, at COS Hunter, March 26, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin R. Kibbey)

BASRAH, Iraq — Ultimately even the most important moments — whether for a country or for a company — come down to boring paperwork and mundane number-crunching.

Yet, every story has a human element and impacts real people. Part of the key to good public relations is knowing how to present the human element in every aspect of what you do and telling that story.

...see the full article

Posted in MilitaryMilitary storiesThe latest from Borderland

Admiral Mullen visits Basrah

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discusses the importance of security and stability in Basrah, Iraq, with local civilian and military leaders, Dec. 18, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin R. Kibbey)

COB BASRA, Iraq – This short press release was done in order to provide local and international media with photos and brief information about a visit by Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Pictures and graphics are a godsend for media of all sizes. Even if the event doesn’t merit a full story, a good photo that catches the reader’s eye is always welcome.

...see the full article

Posted in MilitaryMilitary press releasesThe latest from Borderland

Borderland Public Relations, kibbey@borderlandpr.com (518) 618-2134