30. Prioritizing Your Health as a PR Pro with Mark Mohammadpour

Mark Mohammadpour, owner and Chief Well-being Officer at Chasing the Sun

Public relations pros have a lot to worry about in their day-to-day. This means that most of the time, personal well-being falls to the bottom of the list. This week, Melissa passes the mic to Mark Mohammadpour to teach us how to healthfully manage the demands of a career in PR.

About Mark:
Mark Mohammadpour is the owner and Chief Well-being Officer at Chasing the Sun. After spending his public relations career as an executive at Edelman and Weber Shandwick, and after losing and keeping off 150 pounds over the last decade, Mark founded Chasing the Sun to empower businesses and their employees to prioritize their well-being so they can shine in the family room and the board room. Chasing the Sun’s team and enterprise-wide well-being programs deliver relatable, practical, and actionable solutions.

Topics covered:
- Benefits of employee wellness programs
- Trends in well-being
- Overcoming stigmas through communication
- How thinking like a PR pro affects your health
- Common mistakes
- The problem with hustle and grind culture

Actions to take:
- Change habits with small steps
- Have empathy for people in similar situations
- Be mindful about meetings
- Directness is kindness

Resources mentioned:
- Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know
- Chasing the Sun
- U. S. Travel Association
- MVW Communications
- PR Pro Gear