Order Up! How Working in a Restaurant is Like Working at an Agency

Most people think that working in a restaurant is awful. There are rude customers, long hours on your feet, and of course, you have to deal with food. Although there are plenty of reasons why people hate working in a restaurant, being a server is very similar to working at an agency.

First, taking an order for a customer is a lot like taking on a work order. The customer will tell you exactly what they want, and it is your job as the server to make sure that they get what they ordered. At an agency, a client will tell whoever is in charge what they are looking for, and it is their job to make sure they are getting what they asked for.

The creative team is like the team of cooks in the restaurant. The server will give you a food order, and it is your job to prepare it that way. Working at agency is comparable because your boss will give you the work order, and it is your duty to give them what they asked for under budget constraints.

Teamwork experience is valuable in both the restaurant and agency settings. You need to know how to work together with your co-workers to get the best results. If you need help, just ask! It is not always best to do everything yourself.

Working at a restaurant gives you time-management skills because you are usually doing a million things at once. Likewise, in any agency job, it is likely that you will have to manage more than one project at a time. To be a successful in both a restaurant and at agency, you have got to be able to multitask and think on your feet.

Another part of being able to multitask is the ability to stay calm under pressure. Whether you are busy with multiple tables at once at a restaurant or swamped with several projects at an agency, take a minute to relax. Make a list of everything that needs to be done so you don’t forget anything, and take things one step at a time.

Finally, maintaining customer loyalty is the same in a restaurant as it is at an agency. If you give the customer or client exactly what they are looking for, then they are likely to keep coming back. As a server, giving a customer a great experience will result in better tips and the possibility that they will come back and request you again next time. If you give your client their money’s worth, it will provide your agency with credibility, positive word-of-mouth, and the possibility that the client will choose your agency again for its next project.

Written By: Rachel Ausperk from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

The Kardashian Effect: Building a Brand Out of Thin Air

Kim Kardashian and her raven-haired clan get a lot of heat for being untalented, famous for being famous, and addicted to the limelight. Business ventures, style, and scandals aside, the Kardashian Empire seemed to come out of nowhere and onto our TV screens, magazine covers, department stores, and... pretty much everything else. We sympathize with Bruce Jenner in an episode of one of their many reality shows when, looking at Kim on a magazine cover in his Dentist’s office, he says, “I can’t get away from these people.” Either can we, Bruce. Either can we.

What exactly makes the Kardashians have this unprecedented staying power? What caused them to be welded permanently into our brains, water-cooler conversations, and pop culture with no end in sight? A unique mix of craziness, Ryan Seacrest, and phenomenal PR.

Kim Kardashian can’t sing or act. We have her stint on Dancing With The Stars to remind us that she can’t dance either. What she lacks in traditional talent that typically wields her kind of celebrity and notoriety, she makes up for with “momager” Kris Jenner. In 2007, Kim was moderately known for being friends with heiress and socialite Paris Hilton. Then her 2003 home video with Ray-J went viral, and she was well on her way to becoming a household name for all the wrong reasons, never able to shake the stigma of her past mistakes.

Enter Kris Jenner. With the help of her mom, Kim was able to sue the company who distributed the video, resulting in a $5 million settlement in April 2007. In October of that same year, the Kardashian family premiered their reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Jenner took advantage of the momentum from the lawsuit and their new reality show to launch Kim and her sisters Kourtney and Khloé into the world as bona fide celebrities.

Never missing the chance to stamp the name Kardashian on a product, Jenner almost single-handedly created an empire of epic proportions, tirelessly promoting the Kardashian brand, and leaving no rock unturned. The Kardashians have their name on several television shows, boutiques, perfume, nail polish, and clothing lines. They maintain an engaging presence on nearly all forms of social media. They have completely revolutionized the reality show format and the pathway to fame, and demonstrate daily the sheer power of technology and social media.

Through dedicated PR and promotion, as well as unparalleled business savvy, Kris Jenner and her family created and monetized their public personas, building a brand with international influence and true staying power. They have proved time and time again that that the Kardashians are dedicated, real, and here to stay.

The Kardashians are living proof of the phrase “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” They may be the butt of many jokes, but with a collective net worth somewhere near $80 million, the Kardashians are having the last laugh. 

Written By: Kate Glending from Rebecca Adele PR & Events