Issue 4, October 2002

Welcome to m-news. M Power's monthly e-newsletter. M Power is a consultancy which empowers organisational and individual performance. m-news covers related themes – six quick snippets about business, organisational and individual effectiveness, communication and public relations. Communication empowers. Karen Morath, managing director, M Power The ‘quick six’ for October are 1. PR budgets soar according to US report 2. Characteristics of success 3. A quote we like 4. Work we're proud of 5. Directors defined 6. This month's magazine review


1. PR budgets soar according to US report PR budgets in America are up 21% on last year, despite massive cutbacks in above-the-line advertising spending and an economic downfall. The average annual PR budget is US$2.7 million in 2002, up from $2.25 million last year. Corporate media relations is the largest budget item followed by product media relations, investor relations, community relations and research. The increases are thought to be the result of professional communicators being enlisted to restore consumer and investor confidence and assist with altruistic needs. M Power believes the industry follows the US trend. Australian public relations consultancies are reporting an upsurge in business with a real buoyancy surrounding the last quarter of the year. Source - PR WEEK, US. September 30, 2002.

2. Characteristics of success
US personal success guru Jeff Mayer has identified 13 characteristics of successful people. They Have a dream Are ambitious Are highly motivated toward achievement Are focused on goals and objectives Learn how to get things done Take responsibility for their actions Look for solutions to problems Make decisions Have the courage to admit they have made a mistake Are self reliant Have specific knowledge and training or skills and talents Work with and cooperate with other people Are enthusiastic

3. A quote we like
“If you find something in your life you’re passionate about, you’ll succeed in it.” Steven Bradbury, who says he is basically lazy, yet managed to win at 28 a gold medal in speed skating at his fourth winter Olympic Games. Source - Steven Bradbury was speaking at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind’s ‘See the World Through Their Eyes’ corporate breakfast as part of ‘For Sight Week’ on October 11.

4. Work we're proud of
M Power is running a three hour letter writing workshop at its office on Thursday, October 31, from 9.30am. For bookings or information, call 9817 7522 or press reply.

5. Directors defined
Ever wondered about the difference between directors and senior officers of a company? According to David Watson of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, directors are formally appointed and officers are not formally appointed but participate in significant decision making for a company. Source - David Watson was speaking at a function held by the Institute of Company Directors.

6. This month's magazine review
Yes, we know we usually review a book, and it is usually a business title, but there is an exciting new non-business magazine this month which has captured our imaginations. Melbourne magazine, Edited by Steve Harris and published 10 times per year by Viamedia Melbourne Pty Ltd. Tel 9429 8866 www.melbournemag.com Melbourne magazine is a glossy monthly which purports to be ‘the magazine Melbourne lives by’ and covers all facets of Melbourne life in well written stories and beautifully shot pictures. You have got to love an editor who leads his first editorial with a line as good as ‘premier city, premiere issue’ but all those years editing The Age have to teach you something! The first issue (October) includes features on the people who run Melbourne, how Myer Melbourne lost the plot, what’s at Federation Square and 148 pages of arts, sport, design, travel, food and wine, festivals and everything that breathes life into Melbourne. (A girl can’t read business books all the time!) © M Power 2002

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