Pay it forward

Paying It Forward: How Appreciative Thinking Shapes Leadership in the fast-paced world at SCG Advertising and Public Relations

Pay it forward

 

In the fast-paced world of advertising, success often hinges not just on creativity and strategy, but also on the power of appreciative thinking and paying it forward. As the president of SCG Advertising and Public Relations, an ad agency in northern New Jersey, I’ve come to realize the profound impact that a mindset of gratitude and generosity can have on both personal growth and the success of our agency. In the 37 years of working in the industry, I have always used this forward-thinking approach to grow and achieve my position. At the heart of our agency’s ethos lies the principle of paying it forward – the idea that acts of kindness and generosity have a ripple effect, creating a culture of appreciation and collaboration that ultimately benefits everyone involved. This philosophy isn’t just a feel-good sentiment; it’s a strategic approach to leadership that has transformed the way we do business.

One of the most powerful aspects of appreciative thinking is its ability to foster strong relationships – both within our team, and with our clients. By taking the time to express gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our employees, we’ve built a tight-knit team that feels valued and motivated to go above and beyond for each other and for our clients. Our agency motto has always been to work as an extended family unit, holding on to employees and cherishing the relationship of those who have moved into new careers.

Similarly, cultivating a spirit of gratitude in our client relationships has been instrumental in our agency’s success. Whether it’s a simple thank-you note or a gesture of appreciation for their business, we’ve found that expressing gratitude not only strengthens our client relationships but also fosters a sense of loyalty and trust that is invaluable in the competitive world of advertising.

It might be a little old fashioned, but this way of thinking goes a long way.

Perhaps the most profound impact of appreciative thinking has been with my own leadership style. As the president of our agency, I’ve learned that leading with gratitude and generosity not only inspires others but also brings out the best in myself. By focusing on the positive aspects of our work and acknowledging the contributions of others, I’ve become more resilient in the face of challenges and more creative in my approach to problem-solving.

By promoting a culture of gratitude and generosity within our agency, we’ve not only created a positive and supportive work environment but also achieved remarkable success in our industry. As we continue to grow and evolve, I am confident that our commitment to paying it forward will remain at the heart of everything we do – driving us forward to even greater heights of achievement and fulfillment.

Working Mom, Mothers Day

Life Lessons from a Working Mom

Working Mom, Mothers Day

As Mother’s Day approaches here are some life lessons from a working mom.

First, I find myself thinking about the amazing mothers in my life: my own mother, grandmother and mother-in-law; the women in my family who are mothers; and my friends and colleagues who are mothers. They inspire me every day, and I’m constantly learning and seeking advice from them.

As a Senior Account Manager, Recruitment at SCG Advertising + Public Relations, and the mom of a vibrant 3½ year old girl, I find myself in a constant balancing act between my job responsibilities and career ambitions, prioritizing quality time with my daughter, taking care of my own well-being, household obligations, and finding time to sleep. Over the last few years, I have come to realize that there are surprising parallels between my business life and parenthood, and the valuable lessons I’ve learned apply to both areas of my life.

Here are seven lessons for parenting and business life:

  1. Ask for Help

There is a tendency to try to figure things out ourselves, maybe for fear of admitting weakness. But as the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and at times, relying on friends and family for advice, support and even babysitting, can make a difference. At work, there are times we need to collaborate, ask questions, and work as a team to provide the best solutions.

  1. Know When to Say “No”

Clients and children are both demanding. Whether it is an unreasonable request or a project that is out of scope, we need to understand that sometimes, it is ok to say no. In parenting, kids need to learn boundaries and that not everything is attainable, in order to grow and learn in a safe environment.

  1. Life is Unpredictable

With kids, much like in the fast-paced advertising world, we face unexpected challenges. Whether it’s a last minute request from a client or a sudden fever in the middle of the night, learning to roll with the punches, adjust on the fly and find creative solutions is essential. And the more prepared we are from the start, the easier it becomes to adapt as needed.

  1. Patience is a Virtue

Whether you are waiting out a persistent toddler or sending the ninth follow-up to a client, patience is essential to success. In both areas of my life, being patient helps me understand my client (or child’s) needs and make better, more informed decisions.

  1. Cut Yourself Some Slack

I admit it, I have closed myself in the bathroom and cried over my child. There are days when it feels like I can’t do anything right, both at work and at home, but then I remind myself that I’m doing the best I can and we don’t have to be perfect to be a good mom or good at my job.

  1. Try a Different Perspective

Sometimes the easiest way to peacefully end a tantrum is to redirect – offer a different toy, sing a song, or go for a walk. The same is true at work, as there are times I find myself stuck on a project or having writer’s block, and I find the best approach is to take a step back and try a new perspective.

  1. Carve Out Me Time

My child comes first. But in order to give her the best version of myself, I need to take care of myself as well, whether that’s finding time to exercise, relax or pursue a hobby. Work demands and schedules can make it difficult but it is still important and necessary to achieve work/life balance to recharge.

 

As a working mom, I’m proud to have the opportunity to care for my daughter and help provide for my family. I want her to grow up seeing firsthand that you can achieve as many things as you want in life. And at the end of the day, I shut down my computer and enjoy the moments with her. I know they will fly by.

Mental Health Awareness

Wherever You Go,There You Are

 

Mental Health Awareness

On January 31, 2024, Elmo said to followers via X/Twitter, “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” 

 One response was “Elmo, we are tired.” Another was, “Elmo girl… I’m having a quarter life crisis right now and I can’t get my stuff together to finish this last semester. I’m mentally burnout out and I have a lifetime of working to go.”  

 The fact that many social media users responded to a fluffy Muppet about their mental health struggles says something (very loudly, I’d suggest) about the state of America’s mental health. We’ve got a crisis.   

 According to shortlister.com: 

  • 21% of American adults (about 50 million people) are dealing with mental illness 
  • 5.44% report experiencing a severe mental condition  
  • 4.8% of American adults report seriously considering suicide  

As someone who has had their fair share of mental health challenges, which I addressed in my last mental health related blog, there’s much I’ve learned (and still am learning) about coping with mental health struggles. Here are a few highlights:  

  1. Never feel afraid to reach out for help and talk about how you’re feeling. Falling into hyper-independence may feel good for a while, but you don’t need to feel that the only way to deal with problems is to bottle things up. Remember – it’s better out than in.  
  2. Make time for “non-doing.” I recently started reading a book titled “Wherever you go, there you are”. The topic of “non-doing” is “the ability to simply let things be and allowing them to unfold in their own way.” Don’t sweat the small stuff, and if there’s big stuff to be sweating about, rest assured that it will all be figured out one way or another.  
  3. Let yourself be upset for as long as you need, but don’t dwell in the doom of it all. Life is very hard, and no one ever said it would be easy. But how we cope with how we’re dealing mentally and physically is how we build resilience so we can tackle the next obstacle in front of us.  
  4. Surround yourself with people who support you, rather than tear you down. Whether it’s your family, friends, or a romantic partner, being able to have people around who genuinely support you in your good moments and at times when you struggle makes a difference in your life. No one needs to be surrounded with negative put-downs, overly critical conversations, or unsolicited advice. Sometimes, we just want to air our grievances and move on and heal. 

And lastly:

5.You don’t need to get everything done in one day. Learn to delegate tasks in both your home life and especially your work life. While this can also prove to boost your mental health, it will also boost your productivity, which is a double win.  

 Social media is a great tool to use to communicate with loved ones and friends and even give someone a space to take away the stigma from mental health awareness.  

 I’m grateful I work in an environment where positive well-being and mindfulness are promoted. Happy Mental Health Awareness Month.  

SCG is an advocate for mental health awareness and supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. For more information on this organization, please visit https://afsp.org/. You are not alone.

Poetry Month

National Poetry Month: Our Favorite Books of Poetry

Poetry Month

New Jersey-based writer Amiri Baraka said, “Poetry is music, and nothing but music. Words with musical emphasis.” For this year’s National Poetry Month – also known as “April” – we’re examining a key commonality between poetry and music.

 

For decades now, some popular musicians have focused as much attention on complete albums as on individual songs. A few of these – the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, NWA’s Straight Outta Compton, Nirvana’s Nevermind, and Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black come to mind – became signature creations, with levels of artistic and cultural influence that outstripped any of the included songs. With poetry, there have been books/collections with similarly huge impact. For the sake of clarity, we’re talking about groups of poems the poet intended would exist together and which were published during or soon after the poet’s lifetime. This is to differentiate from the type of “complete works” volume that’s essentially a publisher’s creation.

 

So, with that said, following are Lupe’s five favorite poetry collections.

 

  • On Love, Charles Bukowski, 2015
  • Rest in the Mourning, H. Sin, 2016
  • Nothing Memorable Stays the Same, Kyle Fasel, 2018
  • I Would Leave Me If I Could, Halsey, 2020
  • Love By Night, SK Williams, 2021

 

“I tend to enjoy a lot of free verse poetry,” Lupe emphasized. “It makes me feel like I’m reading a journal entry because there’s little to no structure to what’s being written. For a lot of authors, it’s to their disadvantage to have lack of structure, but not these authors.”

 

In chronological order, Kurt’s list of his five favorite poetry collections – those from the past century, at least – is as follows:

 

  • Death of a Natural Man, Dylan Thomas, 1938
  • Montage of a Dream Deferred, Langston Hughes, 1951
  • Howl and Other Poems, Allen Ginsberg, 1956
  • Paterson, William Carlos Williams, 1946- ‘63
  • Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head, Warsan Shire, 2022

 

“With poetry, I’m most intrigued by a work or works that broke figurative new ground,” Kurt explains. “I love the idea of a poet creating something that’s different in style or content – or both – than what’s been seen before.”

 

At SCG, we are – first and foremost – communicators. We exist and thrive in a realm of shared ideas, created visions, and directions changed. In a frequently black-and-white world, our expertise lies in countless shades of gray. And that’s why we so love brilliantly executed poetry.

By Lupe Dragon, Public Relations Specialist/Account Executive and Kurt Praschak, Vice President, Public Relations

Brynne Springer

The Importance of the Intern… from an Intern

Brynne Springer

Any student past or present understands the importance of internships. As an Advertising major concentrating in Art Direction and Copywriting at Temple University, internships are a great way to build my portfolio and strengthen skills needed within the field. This summer, I worked as an Account Coordinator Intern at SCG’s Haddonfield office and will be continuing my role during my senior year this fall. Through working at SCG, I gained valuable knowledge and practical experience in the advertising industry.

Since I started college a semester before Covid-19 spread into existence, I never had the opportunity to work in-office at any of my prior internships. From my first day, I felt at home right away at SCG. I was welcomed by the team and greeted with my own desk (which was very exciting). The open and warm attitudes of my coworkers helped acclimate me to my work as well. Coming into my position, I had little-to-no experience working in the hiring/recruitment space in advertising. At SCG, I was able to grow my experience not only in recruitment, but in copywriting, art direction, public relations, and social media. I have sat in on client meetings, created my own client reports and presentations, and even wrote my first press release. As a creative who loves to wear a lot of different proverbial hats, it is great to be immersed in so many different areas of work.

While I have heard plenty of internship horror stories from friends and peers, I am glad to say I am not included in that statistic. At SCG, my ideas and contributions are valued and recognized. SCG understands the importance of interns, and you should too. Here are some reasons why interns are an integral part of your company:

 

Excited Interns Make Excitable Work

Interns are excited to get to work and learn all there is to know about your field. Make sure to involve your intern in any way you can—whether that is asking them to come up with ten lines of copy for an ad campaign, drafting ideas for social content, or asking about their thoughts on a meeting they attended. When an intern knows their ideas matter, they gain the confidence to vocalize more of their ideas.

 

Fresh Perspectives

When you have been working in an industry for a while, you tend to stick to a specific way of thinking and carrying out your work. Interns, however, are looking at your client projects with a fresh set of eyes. Sure, not every idea will be one hundred percent doable (because, you know, legal) but new ideas can snowball into successful assets for your company.

 

Word of Mouth Advertising

Your interns matter, so treat them like it. The way you treat your interns reflects your company, and much like a consumer would review a company or product, your interns will too. If your intern had a nightmare experience, word-of-mouth advertising may not be in your favor.

 

Future Employees

Treating your interns with respect also affects your future hires. Students everywhere are looking for employment opportunities post-grad. If your intern was a hard worker who had a great experience at your company, there is a chance they will want to work for you full time. If they felt as though you gave them a negative experience for any reason, you just lost a potential candidate (and potentially more due to word-of-mouth).

Internships are preparing students for their chosen career paths, and your company is a giant part of that process. Your interns are unique individuals with valuable skillsets they can contribute to your company. Remember to treat your interns with respect and be open to their ideas—you never know where they may lead you, and they may end up becoming a full-time hire someday!

 

SCG Advertising + Public Relations is a woman-owned, full-service advertising agency headquartered in New Jersey.  We have had a robust internship programs for at least 20 years.

Celebrating Irish Heritage Month

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My husband is Irish. His grandparents were both born and raised in Ireland; his father born in Ireland before immigrating to America at a very young age.  So, of course, he has always been interested in his Irish roots.

To celebrate our wedding anniversary, we planned a 2-week trip to Ireland to dig deeper into my husband’s ancestry.  We finally decided on a bus coach tour to see all the sites starting in Dublin before traveling south along the east coast. We continued southwest along the south coast, north along the west coast and then inland to Ennis, where we spent our remaining days on our own tour of discovery.

Dublin was …. well, Dublin.  A fast-moving, busy city that was very similar to other large cities in the world — traffic, construction, crime and tourists!  But then traveling through the small villages of Ireland is where it all changed.  The scenery, the homes, the agriculture…simply beautiful.  I was slowly beginning to relax.

No ringing cell phones, no one with their nose to a tablet or laptop.  People were actually talking to each other at restaurants, shops and pubs – even on the streets! Television at the hotels was very basic and mostly limited to politics in the U.S.!

We didn’t bring a cell phone, tablet or laptop.  There wasn’t even a public computer in the hotels.  We had to talk and listen to people and we absolutely loved it!  I had forgotten what it was to like to really talk to people; to hear a voice instead of receiving a text, etc.  We found information we needed by talking to local residents, not by a Google search or Mapquest app!

 

 

By hiring a driver for the day, we were able to explore very small towns in the middle of nowhere.  Churches, cemeteries, castles, all just waiting to be enjoyed.  My husband was able to see and set foot on property owned by long- gone relatives.  Although I was just “along for the ride”, I found myself intrigued by Ireland’s history, food, people and scenery.

We’ve always celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with corned beef and cabbage (and of course, a Guinness and soda bread with Kerrygold butter!)  But knowing we were actually IN Ireland makes the meal so much more enjoyable each and every year.  This was definitely a once in a lifetime vacation and one I’ll never forget.  Hope to get back there ASAP.

 

SCG Survey

Poll: Employees consider company’s reputation, alignment with their own views more important than higher salary

SCG Survey

Views on vaccine also impactful, says nationwide, online survey of 1,500 adults

WHIPPANY, NJ (Oct. 20, 2021) – A nationwide survey of 1,500 adults indicates that 84.03% of respondents are willing to accept lower financial compensation to work for a company with a stellar reputation. A similar number – 79.59% – say it’s important to have an employer who shares their views. These results – from an SCG Advertising + Public Relations survey – seem to indicate that businesses and other employers ignore employees’ values and perspectives at their own peril.

 

Completed on October 12, 2021, the online poll also looks at vaccine policies, finding that 74.19% of respondents favor a position with a fair salary and vaccine policies they agree with, versus a higher salary and a vaccine policy in contrast to their own beliefs.

 

Full, sortable data from the survey is available here. Also included is a free, interactive white paper that features a downloadable infographic, as well as a “LISTEN” acrostic that can serve as a strong, visual reminder of the value of listening.

 

“It’s crucial that employers consider whether their organization’s beliefs align with those of current and prospective employees,” says Michael Cherenson, executive vice president for SCG Advertising + Public Relations. “The results of our poll are intriguing, and should be particularly resonant at a time when so many companies are struggling to attract and retain talent.”

 

Indicative of how serious workers are about being content with and comfortable in their employment is the most recent JOLTS (Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey) report, which shows that a record 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs during August. It’s a striking figure – which is equivalent to 2.9% of the entire U.S. workforce – and is made even more so by separate, recent research indicating that the actual cost to an organization related to an employee resigning may be as much as 50% of that individual’s annual salary.

 

Click Here For Your Copy Of Our Interactive White Paper

Another example of how important it can be to embrace positions valued by employees is United Airline’s recent decision to require all workers to be vaccinated. The move was extremely popular with candidates for employment, as evidenced by the airline having received 20,000 applications for 2,000 open flight attendant positions. For United, this represents a decidedly accelerated application rate, versus its typical, pre-pandemic ratio.

 

This said, Cherenson also notes that along with employees, business leaders must also assess the perspectives and values of other key stakeholders.

 

“While the survey data indicates the value of aligning policies with employees, organizations also need to be in sync with where their customers, clients, and society at-large stand on core issues,” Cherenson explains. “When there’s any sort of misalignment, an organization needs to work harder and smarter. To be clear, this survey’s results don’t suggest an organization should shrink from its larger obligation related to vaccines and the public health infrastructure, which a majority of Americans support. Rather, it indicates the advisability of organizations communicating as strategically and proactively as possible with their various publics.”

 

Viewing the poll results from a somewhat different perspective, only 7% of those surveyed said they would consistently choose the higher salary in response to all three questions. In other words, more than six in 10 would consistently follow their gut, versus unquestionably choosing the higher salary.

 

Of further note, in August 2001, SCG Advertising + Public Relations conducted a similar survey. It asked whether those polled would accept a lower level of compensation to work for a company with an excellent reputation. Fully 78% of respondents indicated they would.

 

“That initial survey’s results are in line with this latest poll, but it’s intriguing to see what’s changed in 20 years,” says Cherenson. “Back in 2001, 78% of those surveyed indicated a willingness to forgo a higher salary to be connected with a well-regarded organization. Today, in response to the same question, six percent more people express a preference for the company with a stellar reputation. View side-by-side, the 2001 and 2021 results appear to indicate an ongoing, societal shift – one that should substantially impact how businesses and other organizations present and define themselves.”

 

 About SCG Advertising + Public Relations

Headquartered in Whippany, NJ, SCG Advertising + Public Relations has organizational roots dating to 1958. The agency provides comprehensive communication services for a broad range of clients. Its satellite offices are located in the metropolitan areas of Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Diego, and Tampa.

 

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Parsippany Agency Captures Multiple 2020 NJ Ad Club “Jersey Awards”

Contact:               Kurt Praschak / kpraschak@successcomgroup.com / 973.992-7800, x.289

 

Parsippany-based agency captures multiple 2020 NJ Ad Club “Jersey Awards”

 

SCG Advertising + Public Relations wins pair of firsts, plus a second and third, during 52nd annual event

 

PARSIPPANY, NJ (Nov. 19, 2020) – For the communication professionals at SCG Advertising + Public relations, it’s quite a haul.

 

The ongoing pandemic forced this year’s 52nd annual edition of the NJ Ad Club “Jersey Awards” to be held virtually, but there was still plenty of talent on display across a total of 138 distinct categories. SCG – which was established in 1957 – was recognized with a pair of first-place awards, along with one for second-place and another for third. Specifically, these were:

 

  • First place        “Sell Sheets, Any Number of Colors” (for Michaels of Brooklyn)
  • First place        “Logo, B2B” (for Film Hunterdon)
  • Second place   “Trade, Any Size/ Number of Colors” (for Meridian Aircraft Management)
  • Third place      “Consumer Campaign, 3 or More Elements” (for General Plumbing Supply)

 

“The level of advertising creativity in New Jersey is stunning,” says Tom Marguccio, SCG’s vice president/creative director, and a 2016 Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey inductee. “That our agency was recognized to this degree is an honor, and I’m so proud of my colleagues and also the clients who are our partners in these efforts. And, because just a few months ago we lost our long-time president, Glenn Gershaw … well, I think all of us at SCG see these awards as a tribute to his leadership and support.”

 

About SCG Advertising + Public Relations

Founded more than half a century ago, SCG (Success Communications Group) provides 21st-century communication services highlighted by creativity, passion, and innovation. With specific expertise in advertising, marketing, public relations, social media, digital marketing, and recruitment, SCG is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, with regional offices in the metro areas of Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Diego, and Tampa.

 

Additional information is available at www.scgadv.com, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

 

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Dillon Del Rosso

Boonton resident named to senior sales post by SCG Advertising + Public Relations

Parsippany-based agency hires Dillon Del Rosso to support new business development

Sales background with NFL’s Jets, University of MarylandDillon Del Rosso

 

PARSIPPANY, NJ (Oct. 27, 2020) – Boonton resident Dillon Del Rosso has been named Vice President, North Regional Sales by the Parsippany-based communications agency SCG Advertising + Public Relations.

 

Del Rosso – who joins SCG from a premium partnership sales post with the National Football League’s New York Jets, in Florham Park – is responsible for supporting new business development efforts, with an emphasis both on advertising and public relations, including social media.

 

“In the agency environment, growth is in large part based on the ability to consistently develop new client relationships,” explains SCG Executive Vice President Michael Cherenson. “This will be Dillon’s focus, and we’re confident he’ll establish and cultivate the individual relationships that are the hallmark of successful business development efforts.”

 

A graduate of Misericordia University, Del Rosso also has professional business development experience with the Aspire Group at the University of Maryland. At Misericordia, Del Rosso played baseball for four seasons. A long-time northern New Jersey resident, he graduated from Hopatcong High School in Hopatcong.

 

About SCG Advertising + Public Relations

Founded more than half a century ago, SCG (Success Communications Group) provides 21st-century communication services highlighted by creativity, passion, and innovation. With specific expertise in advertising, marketing, public relations, social media, digital marketing, and recruitment, SCG is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, with regional offices in the metro areas of Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Diego, and Tampa.

Additional information is available at www.scgadv.com, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

 

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Tobi Matthews

Tobi Matthews joins SCG Advertising + Public Relations

Contacts:

Kurt Praschak / kpraschak@successcomgroup.com / 973.992-7800, x.289

Alexa Cangialosi / acangialosi@successcomgroup.com / 973.992-7800, x.172

 

Stratford, CT resident appointed director of new business development

by New Jersey-based communications agency 

Tobi Matthews joins SCG Advertising + Public Relations

 

Tobi Matthews

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Click here for high-resolution image)

 

PARSIPPANY, NJ (June 25, 2020)Stratford, CT resident Tobi Matthews has been appointed director of new business development by SCG Advertising + Public Relations, a full-service communications agency based in Parsippany, NJ. In her new role, Matthews is focused on developing client relationships, with an emphasis on consumer marketing.

 

Matthews joins SCG with more than two decades of advertising and promotional experience in the consumer packaged goods arena. In supporting a wide array of leading brands, she has been particularly active in branding and shopper marketing initiatives.

 

“Tobi’s background in cultivating new business relationships is an impressive one, and we’re excited she has joined our team,” says SCG Advertising + Public Relations Vice President / Creative Director Tom Marguccio. “As an agency, we pride ourselves in providing a wealth of different communication service to clients in many sectors, and I’m confident Tobi will help us to further broaden the range of clients we serve.”

 

A graduate of Post University with an MBA in marketing, Matthews also holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Post.

 

About SCG Advertising + Public Relations

Founded more than half a century ago, SCG (Success Communications Group) provides 21st-century communication services highlighted by creativity, passion, and innovation. With specific expertise in advertising, marketing, public relations, social media, digital marketing, and recruitment, SCG is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, with regional offices in the metro areas of Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Diego, and Tampa.

Additional information is available at www.scgadv.com, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

 

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