One of the most stressful experiences I've had was holding press conferences alongside Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's CEO. Ryanair was my first job in Ireland, and at the time I only had an okay level of English. Despite this, I landed a managerial role as Sales & Marketing Manager, acting as the country manager for Italy, Ryanair's third biggest market. I was not prepared for the role and ultimately failed to pass the 12-month probation period, but I did learn one important lesson: how to manage pressure. Here's an example: I would wake up in Dublin at 6 am, catch a private flight with Michael to Bergamo, and then, a few hours later, hold a press conference with dozens of journalists in attendance, as well as live cameras. I was there to ensure everything was perfect - delivering the presentation, responding to journalists, and translating Michael's live interviews in real-time from English to Italian and Italian to English! The stress was unbelievable for someone like me who had just moved to Ireland with an okay level of English! Imagine translating something incorrectly… it would be picked up easily, and then how would I explain to Michael or Ryanair leadership that it was just an error in translation? I used to have a fever every time I returned home after one of those press events. The pressure and stress were so high that my body would just give up. However, I learned how to handle pressure and still deliver. Looking back, I cherish those moments and hope for more in the future. They truly shaped my personality and my future. I needed them.

PR tip: Something to consider when you're next organising a press trip. I turn many press trips down as I rarely fly for eco reasons and although yes, I'd love to visit New Zealand* to interview someone, I just don't think that I can justify that given we're living in a climate emergency and it's clear that carbon emissions need to drastically fall. But now some PR agencies are offering alternatives to flying. I was impressed when a press trip invite landed in my inbox offering to pay for journalists to travel to the Norwegian Presence exhibition in Oslo by train. Agency Zetteler emailed to say the team would be travelling to London to Oslo by train and invited journalists to join them on the adventure, throwing in a link to Seat 61 and outlining that from London it would be 3-day, 2-night stop-over journey via Paris, Brussels and Copenhagen. Flagging up that they had partnered with Byway Travel to manage the whole journey for everyone, no matter where they were travelling from (hey - not all journalists live in London), they even said if people wanted to come by any other means of public transport, they would cover that too. Bravo team Zetterler. I've flown once (when I suddenly had to leave Berlin when borders were closing in the midst of the pandemic) since 2018 (my last long-haul flight), when I really started to understand the climate emergency we're in. I understand this isn't possible for everyone (what with families and relationships abroad), but for me, I think my days of flying once or twice a year are over. Now I know many journalists will still fly to go on press trips but I do know some people are reducing their flights. I think if you're going to invite hacks abroad at least offer to cover alternative means of travel. There's lots of talk from companies about how they're trying to be green etc, and a lot of it is greenwashing, but actually stepping up and offering an alternative to flying proves otherwise. Also, I wrote about this initiative a few years back but while I'm here, it's worth mentioning Climate Perks, a scheme that works with climate-conscious employers to offer at least two paid “journey days” per year to staff who travel on holiday by train, coach or boat instead of flying. Perhaps one to encourage your company to sign up to. #PR #journalism #presstrips * a real invitation.

Have you thought about moving abroad?   Maybe you shouldn’t.   Here are three ways to know if a move abroad isn’t for you. 👇   You deeply desire to leave behind… long work hours, politics, money pressures, the competitive lifestyle – yet you don’t have a clear idea of what you would like to move towards.   You love your…streaming services, sports, next-day delivery, television and books in English, Tex Mex or Twinkies, [fill in the blank], and you aren’t interested in losing access to any of it.   You expect…things to happen on time, people to get to the point, the customer is always right, and to be recognized for your individual work. Bottom line, focus on understanding what you truly need for the life you want, from your surroundings to your values. Without clarity on the life you aim to create, knowing what you want to leave behind won't get you far. What else would you like to know? Drop it in the comments.

Career Paths: Rob Parkin, Bazeport - SAFETY4SEA Get to know our Business Development Manager, Rob Parkin. He has been interviewed about his career path: Here is some highlights from the interview: In highlighting the often-misunderstood nature of the maritime industry, Rob stresses that it is either overlooked, taken for granted, or misrepresented. He advocates for a concerted effort to improve the industry’s public image, urging a genuine interest in the well-being of the crew. SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically? Rob Parkin: After university I became a journalist, starting out at a local newspaper and then moving into music journalism for a national magazine. I didn’t know a thing about shipping until a chance meeting in Easter 1999 with a Polish friend who’s father was a seafaring Captain. This introduced me to the maritime industry and got me thinking how much we take shipping for granted. Shortly afterwards I applied to a job advert offering an “editorial role for a German-speaker” posted by an innovative company in Liverpool who specialised in making curated newspapers for ships (cruise guests and crew) and offering optimized email communications. I got the job and have worked in content and communications for ships ever since! S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why? R.P.: The relationship between content and communications is inextricable, regardless of user and context, whether on land or at sea. The exciting new connectivity technologies being adopted by shipping operators offer enhanced opportunities for digitalization that can enhance operations and crew welfare. S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why? R.P.: It’s so important that we improve the industry’s profile and general public’s awareness about maritime activities overall. Our industry remains woefully misunderstood, taken for granted, under-represented or simply ignored. And given how our entire way of life is only possible because of shipping, that remains an ongoing sad state of affairs. In terms of my specific field, it would be great if “crew welfare” attracted as much genuine investment from operators as it generates hours of discussion in conference panels and column inches in articles and publications! Read more at SAFETY4SEA 😀

Useful information before traveling overseas!!

Writer Annie Dillard famously said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” For many of us, a large portion of our days are spent at work. In fact, the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. As we go about our daily routines, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of work and forget what truly matters. I believe that loving your job is a game-changer. When you're passionate about what you do, you're more energised, motivated, and committed to delivering your best work. You're more likely to take risks and make a meaningful impact to those around you. Also, when you love your job, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled outside of work too! There is no better feeling that waking up and going to a job that doesn't feel like work! Don't waste your time and energy on a job or industry that doesn't bring you joy and fulfillment. Take the first step towards a new career with Ryanair. Find your next opportunity now: https://lnkd.in/d3FwHku #Ryanair #NewJob #Recruitment

Meet our new ad interim General Manager International: Tim Fleuren! 😄 What exactly does your new job entail? "Together with my team of account managers and customer support staff, I am responsible for the countries/regions the Nordics, Italy, Spain, the UK, Ireland and Poland. I always try to be customer-oriented, such as: which approach suits this customer best?" What do you enjoy most about your work? "The versatility! I also find the international aspect a huge plus. I am constantly in contact with people from different cultures. This sometimes presents challenges, but with constructive feedback I break through those cultural differences. We both want to enjoy working together and build a good relationship. And I try to play into that!" What are your hobbies? "Going to the gym and running, but also Italian wine and especially vineyards in Italy. I enjoy going on a holiday with my family to Italy to visit a local vineyard and of course buy wine!" What would you do if you had a year's salary without having to work? "Travel a lot. I have children, so then you can't go very far away. That's why hiring a van and travelling around Europe seems really cool." Which country is at the top of your bucket list? "I would love to go on a safari in South Africa, but travelling through Asia is also definitely at the top of my bucket list. Vietnam in particular seems like a great country to travel through!" Do you have a role model or someone who inspires you? "Not really. Or do writers count too? Then surely Yuval Noah Harari. Not in terms of the person, but the books he writes. Great books and beautifully written. Definitely highly recommended!"

Saudi Arabia welcomes record 62 million air travellers in first half of the year

I really love this medium of storytelling, and it is clearly quite effective with audiences. What we sometimes fail to realise as journalists is that we are often put in the unique position to experience things our audiences may never get the chance to, and in our storytelling, we're able to give them a glimpse into other worlds, be it hard-hitting, heart-breaking news from the frontlines of a genocide, or something as light-hearted as a walkthrough of an ocean liner. https://lnkd.in/dCTRk7iC

Let’s Talk Cruise PR! Cruise Community - Andrea Baigorria and myself will be hosting a virtual focus group! We want to understand the role of Public Relations and its opportunities and challenges specific to our industry - CRUISE! If you’re interested in joining the conversation with a small group of leaders, please reach out. We have 2 spots left! Send us a message , 😉 Lemoneight & The Tourism Lab #PublicRelations #Cruise #CruiseIndustry