Where do you reside currently?
Livingston, NJ
What is your professional role?
Amy Wachtel Delman founded her public relations consultancy and has been involved in public relations, marketing, and branding for almost three decades. Her expertise lies in using media exposure to raise awareness and increase revenues in companies where she has worked in-house or as a consultant. She has been mentioned in several publications over the years including The New York Times, The Star-Ledger, NJBIZ, Inc. magazine and the National Journal of Public Relations
What is your top personal value?
My top personal value is integrity. Integrity in myself, my services, and the clients I choose to work with.
What do you do when you aren't working?
Amy has been writing poetry since she was a young girl. Over the years, she has been published in a variety of outlets, including but not limited to, AUTHORITY magazine, The National Library of Poetry, various publications and in 2021 wrote the Forward as a poem for a consumer lifestyle book that sold over 1000 copies in the first quarter after publication. Amy has owned a customized poetry business for over twenty years and currently writes a poetry blog on Instagram under a pen name.
What is the number one goal you are trying to achieve in your professional life?
Helping my clients grow their business through the exposure that public/media relations brings.
Can you define the word Entrepreneur?
Entrepreneur means someone who has a passion to run their own business. That is not me! I am a corporate soldier who worked in corporate America for over 20 years! When work/life balance became impossible - I founded my own pr consultancy.
What did you do before you became an entrepreneur or business owner?
My last corporate position was Director of Marketing for a large accounting firm.
What happened to inspire you to start a business or buy one?
I went back to work when my twin sons were 4 weeks old. I used a combination of live ins, live outs, daycare, babysitters, etc. My family lived out of state. When my sons turned 14, they fired the babysitter and told me they were too old to have a sitter - they were going to wander the streets on their own and get rides from their older friends. Obviously, this terrified me - so I struck out on my own! Honestly, thought it was terrifying at first, I quickly developed a client base, and after 16 years, have never looked back!
How do you assess an idea, risk, or opportunity to ensure it is the right one for you?
I don't. I usually fly by the seat of my pants and hope for the best. I have taken on clients I never thought I would, I have turned down work that maybe I shouldn't have - because opportunities are everywhere - it’s what you do with them that makes it right for you.
What is the number one skill a successful Entrepreneur or Business Owner needs to possess to be successful?
I know I am good at public relations. It is my passion! So, the number one skill anyone needs to have is to be passionate. It sounds trite - but it's true - if you are passionate about something - you will never 'work' a day in your life!
When you started what mistake or failure taught you the most about running a business?
I was an English major in college and had never taken one business class. Pricing my services was my number one fear. I charged way too little for the first few years - then I learned that if I ever wanted to be hired by the type of clients I wanted - I needed to charge more - to show value in both myself and my services.
What support did you have?
Networking. I had a very large network from my corporate jobs and from my media contacts. Since networking is so enjoyable - I have never stopped. Giving help and asking for help have helped me build my consultancy.
How do you stay motivated to keep trying when there is a set back?
Motivation is easy when things are going well! There is a lot of rejection in public relations from the clients, from the media, from everywhere. I do not have a thick skin. I am sensitive and emotional. These are not traits that bode well when things go wrong. And they do! I have learned it is important to not blame myself for things out of my control, ALWAYS take a deep breath before responding and apologize when I act improperly. Don't get me wrong...there are days when I do just the opposite. Those days I remove myself from my office and take a walk, call a friend, or have a good cry!!
Share a success you are very proud of.
Over three decades of working there are so many - there has to be otherwise I wouldn't still be in business (LOL) Here are a few: • During a daily commute, noticing company trucks transporting buildings on flatbeds. Sent a resume to the name of the company on the truck, landed a job as their Marketing and Public Relations Manager, two years later an article I wrote for one of their trades brought in a $2M school project. • Re-branded a CEO of a small staffing firm as a Labor Market Futurist. Nominated the company in 1997 for the Inc. 500 and company was selected #480 on Inc. magazine’s list of fastest growing private companies in the nation. The ensuing publicity led to future awards and an immediate uptick in business. • Pitched a story on a ribbon-cutting to The Star-Ledger concerning the renovation of a mid-sized CPA firm. The Star-Ledger had no interest in the ribbon cutting but featured the accounting firm on their front cover of the Sunday Business section in July 2005 with the headline, “Why Accountants are Cool.” This led to higher recruitment of talent at a time when there was a shortage of accountants. • Unfamiliar with the legal community, used my contacts in the advertising/marketing arena to get the name of the editor of New Jersey Law Journal. Researched the publication and pitched a story written by one of the accounting firm’s Partners which was placed on the front page of the Business section of New Jersey Law Journal. Since lawyers are coveted referrals for accountants, for an accounting professional, to have an article published in a respected legal publication, brings untold credibility to the accounting partner and his firm. • Research local, state, industry, and national competitions. Have had several companies/clients picked as recipients. Creates widespread awareness, lends credibility, and opens doors not previously envisioned.
Amy Wachtel Delman has been involved in public relations, marketing, and branding for over two decades. Her expertise lies in using media exposure to raise awareness and increase revenues in companies where she has worked in-house or as a consultant. She has been mentioned in Inc. magazine and the National Journal of Public Relations. Learn more about PR and Amy Delmar - click button.
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