Quick, when you think of Nokia, what immediately comes to mind? Cell phones, right? Most of us would be surprised to know that Nokia didn't start out in the mobile phone business. In fact, its roots go back to 1865 when it was involved in the "original" communications technology: paper. Yes, Nokia began as a wood pulp mill in southern Finland. It then entered the rubber business in 1898 (even making rubber boots!) and it wasn't until 1968 that it entered the mobile business.
But Nokia isn't the only company to have such a story. Here we take a look at 11 other popular companies that all have one thing in common: Surprising beginnings.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tribune Co filed a reorganization plan late on Friday that will turn over control of the bankrupt newspaper publisher to its leading creditors including JPMorgan Chase & Co, Angelo Gordon & Co and Oaktree Capital Management.
The plan signals an important step toward the recovery of the media company -- which owns the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune -- from what Sam Zell, the real estate developer and architect of the 2007 leveraged buyout, called "the deal from hell."
Zell took the 163-year-old publisher and owner of 23 television stations private in a 2007 deal that loaded the company with more than $8 billion in debt. It filed for bankruptcy a year later, buckling under the weight of a heavy debt load and a severe decline in advertising revenue.
The reorganization plan was made public just hours after chief executive Randy Michaels, under fire from reports that he tolerated a sexist and hostile workplace, resigned.
Michaels was replaced by a committee of Don Liebentritt, the company's chief restructuring officer; Nils Larsen, its chief investment officer; Tony Hunter, the CEO of Chicago Tribune Co; and Eddy Hartenstein, the CEO of Los Angeles Times Communications LLC.
Larsen was also named chairman of Tribune Broadcasting.
However, the new management is unlikely to serve more than a few months.
Creditors have been in contact with media executives including Peter Chernin, former chief operating officer of News Corp, to become chairman, people familiar with the discussions said.
The new agreement combines two previously announced settlement offers from leading lenders and a group of unsecured creditors.
Some bondholders would receive $420 million, or 32.73 cents to the dollar, and interest in a litigation trust.
The plan requires the approval of the court and creditors.
The company expects operating cash flow for the full year 2010 to be $617 million, or $123 million higher than 2009.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Carey ruled on Friday to let a committee of unsecured creditors sue Zell, other executives and advisers.
Bondholders opposing the reorganization plan are girding for a fight.
Daniel Golden, an attorney representing hedge fund Aurelius Capital Management LP, said on Friday they planned to file a rival plan next week. Aurelius is among the largest holders with $1.3 billion of senior Tribune bonds.
(Reporting by Kenneth Li; editing by Jim Marshall)
Lesson 1:
A priest offered a Nun a lift.
She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg.
The priest nearly had an accident.
After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.
The nun said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'
The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again. The nun once again said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'
The priest apologized, 'Sorry Sister but the flesh is weak.'
Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.
On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, 'Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.'
Moral of the story:
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.
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Lesson 2:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.
They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.'
'Me first! Me first!' says the administration clerk... 'I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.' Poof! She's gone.
'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of pina coladas, and the love of my life.' Poof! He's gone.
'O.K., you're up,' the Genie says to the manager. The manager says, 'I want those two back in the office after lunch.'
Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.
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Lesson 3
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.
A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, 'Can I also sit like you and do nothing?' The eagle answered, 'Sure, why not.'
So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Moral of the story:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
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Lesson 4
A turkey was chatting with a bull. 'I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree,' sighed the turkey, 'but I haven't got the energy.' 'Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?' replied the bull. 'It's full of nutrients.'
The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.
The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.
Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree.
He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.
Moral of the story:
Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.
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Lesson 5
A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field.
While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.
As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was.
The dung was actually thawing him out!
He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.
Moral of the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(3) And when you're in very deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!
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Lesson 6
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor.
Before she says a word, Bob says, "I'll give you $800 to drop that towel."
After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob After a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.
The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs. When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, "Who was that?"
"It was Bob, the next door neighbor," she replies.
"Great!" the husband says, "did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?"
Moral of the story:
If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders, in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.
THUS ENDS THE FIVE MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE
Public relations, often downplayed and misunderstood by the rest of the marketing community, has become a central part of most marketing plans. The sector is diverse, offering opportunities to connect the business with the public. It is also difficult work, with outreaches often leading to dead ends and strategies not panning out. But best of all, it's hiring.
Rising revenues and companies' growing realization of the importance of having a public relations team, whether retained or in-house, are helping that growth along.
Demand Growth
According to a survey by the Council of Public Relations Firms (CPRF), 65% of firms interviewed experienced higher revenues in the first quarter of this year compared to last year. "In January this year, business started picking up and all the positions that were frozen last year and in 2008 opened up again," said Lindsay Olson, partner and recruiter at New York-based Paradigm Staffing.
There is a general feeling of optimism among businesses, leading them to hire more PR professionals, either in-house or through agencies. That is having a trickle down effect on PR shops as well.
At Ogilvy PR, there is a general feeling that business is going to pick up. "Depending on your niche, companies are cautiously embarking on new campaigns," said Sheri Leonardo, senior vice president at the PR heavyweight. "Pharmaceuticals and healthcare are especially hot." Ogilvy current has 61 positions open, according to its careers page, from senior vice presidents to digital media strategists to account directors.
Since the crisis, businesses have also been increasingly interested in tapping into the value of having a public relations team. Gary McCormick, the chair and CEO of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), said that crises and social media are pushing businesses to pay attention to their PR budgets. "There are repercussions for businesses who used social media incorrectly, or didn't use it at all, and suddenly they're realizing a need for PR," he said. "We are the ones who understand how to build a relationship with a customer, and that's what they need."
Agency Jobs
Demand for social media capabilities is climbing at PR firms.
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the CPRF's survey of its members revealed that 82% expect to see social media PR demand increase in 2010. And another survey by the PRSA found that almost 80% of its member firms look for social networking capabilities when they are hiring.
Companies will often expect candidates to demonstrate the work they have done, or to propose an innovative social media tactic at the interview itself.
"Having a Twitter account is not enough," said Leonardo. "We want to see demonstrated experience in implementing social media tactics and blogger influence research, things like that."
At Fleishman-Hillard, Agnes Gioconda, chief talent officer, said her firm has around 100 openings in any given week, across all levels and regions. Generally, entry level positions come from the internship pool, while for more senior positions they will look externally.
Like at many other agencies, there is a behavioral interview process where candidates are expected to walk interviewers through recent projects, and those with social media skills have a competitive advantage, said Gioconda.
But if you really want to go where the jobs are, turn on C-Span, advised McCormick of PRSA. "Watch the Congress, and watch the careers," he said. "Anytime there is a public discourse on the environment, for example, public relations will need to be there, and will need to staff up."
Corporate Jobs
There is an increased demand for internal communications, according to Maryanne Rainone, a senior vice president at recruitment firm Heyman Associates who specializes in hiring on the corporate side.
The recession has made companies more eager than ever to reach out to their staff, and as the economy picks up, they want to make sure they're keeping them on board.
"They want to keep employees in the loop," said Rainone. "And many jobs are available at the director level."
There is also a lot of need for digital media specialists in-house. Following in the footsteps of Gatorade, every company wants a "hub" where they monitor and target social media to find out what is being said about their brands.
At the corporate level, subject matter expertise is not as essential as in agency jobs, said Rainone. "What they want is someone who can make a strategy around communications," she said. "They won't have to have that technical expertise."
A common career path is moving from an agency job, where you may get to try out all sectors and types of companies, finding your niche and then moving to corporate.
But according to Leonardo, it gets "boring" very quickly, and she'll often see people boomerang back to the agency. "There is a lot of movement," she said.
Write to Shareen Pathak
http://sales-jobs.fins.com/Articles/SB128578316844742183/Public-Relations-Hiring-Growth-at-Agencies-and-in-House
