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Bring to the table – all inspiring, nonstop action, excitement, hunger, passion and desires.  It is something which as a business owner I bring to work every single day and my 5WPR management team and I work hard to impart to our employees.

Jay Z has an inspiring song called “My 1st Song”. The song starts with an outtake from an interview with rap legend Biggie Smalls where he’s heard saying he “treats everything like it’s [his] first project. Like it’s your first day like back when you was an intern.” And Jay Z sings:  “Treat my first like my last, and my last like my first – And my thirst is the same as – when I came – It’s my joy and my tears and the laughter it brings to me – It’s my everything…The key to staying, on top of things is treat everything like it’s your first project.. Like it’s your first day like back when you was an intern..Like, that’s how you try to treat things like, just stay hungry”

Passion and the desire to win is vital for success, and the 1st day of school today made me re-listen to the song in the morning today. Our of the blue, I received the following email today from a former employee of my PR Firm, and with his permission I share it:

“It’s been a long long time since we talked but I wanted to write and say thanks for the influence you had on me many years ago from a professional standpoint.  As a youngin’ first starting out in the NY PR industry, the pressures you placed on us were huge.  As I’ve grown older and become a manager who now interviews for JR level staffers, a lot of the positive attributes I learned from you and your team no longer seem to exist.  Everyone seems a bit lazier, think they’re owed something, only want to email vs. making phone calls and don’t have the drive that was instilled in us.

With that, I very recently had an interview that got me thinking about writing this note to you, today.  Not only in this particular interview but all of my interviews over the years, one of the first questions to always pop up is “What was it like to work at 5WPR?”  Honestly I tell them the truth, it was 2 years of PR bootcamp; stressful, demanding, learn on the fly, fear, excitement of new business – but you know what, I’d never have it any other way.  You instilled a sense of hunger, entrepreneurial drive and eagerness to get ahead that has taken me to where I am today. I hope you’re doing well and best of luck today and in the future.”

Today he’s a Vice President at 1 of the 3 largest global Public Relations agencies, and I am proud to have created a culture where we inspire people and push them to fulfill their potential.  I like to know that employees realize passion matters and define our company – and its true. Very rewarding as an entrepreneur to receive this email… and we go to work every day with passion.  Passion and the desire to win matter – at our PR Agency and every single industry.

Ronn Torossian

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Ronn Torossian is the Founder & Chairman of 5W Public Relations, one of the largest independently owned PR firms in the United States. Since founding 5WPR in 2003, he has led the company's growth and vision, with the agency earning accolades including being named a Top 50 Global PR Agency by PRovoke Media, a top three NYC PR agency by O'Dwyers, one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces and being awarded multiple American Business Awards, including a Stevie Award for PR Agency of the Year. With over 25 years of experience crafting and executing powerful narratives, Torossian is one of America's most prolific and well-respected public relations executives. Throughout his career he has advised leading and high-growth businesses, organizations, leaders and boards across corporate, technology and consumer industries. Torossian is known as one of the country's foremost experts on crisis communications. He has lectured on crisis PR at Harvard Business School, appears regularly in the media and has authored two editions of his book, "For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations," which is an industry best-seller. Torossian's strategic, resourceful approach has been recognized with numerous awards including being named the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, the American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year, twice over, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist, a Top Crisis Communications Professional by Business Insider, Metropolitan Magazine's Most Influential New Yorker, and a recipient of Crain's New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Outside of 5W, Torossian serves as a business advisor to and investor in multiple early stage businesses across the media, B2B and B2C landscape. Torossian is the proud father of two daughters. He is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a board member of multiple not for profit organizations.