Jeff Hahn | Breaking Bad News: 10 Essential Crisis Communication Tools with the Founder of Apron Food and Beverage Communications

Show Notes

Jeff Hahn, the founder of Apron Food and Beverage Communications shares about how to Breaking Bad News: 10 Essential Crisis Communication Tools and why inspiration is for amateurs, but I just show up at work. 

Attached below is a copy of Jeff’s one-sheet, where you can learn about his achievements, his brand and more. I’d be thrilled to connect you if you believe Jeff would be a good guest to have on your show. 

https://breakingbadnewsbook.com/

https://apronfoodpr.com/

1. Yes, yes, yes and yes! Thrivetime Nation on today’s show we are interviewing Jeff Hahn who is the founder and principal of Apron Food and Beverage Communications…Jeff, welcome onto The Thrivetime Show! How are you sir?!
2. I know that you’ve had a ton of success at this point in your career, but I would love to start off at the bottom and the very beginning of your career. What was your life like growing up and where did you grow up?
   1. I was a farm boy in NorthEast Iowa
   2. In the 1970’s our farm got destroyed by tornadoes.
   3. I then went into the airforce.
   4. After that I started my career.
3. Jeff Hahn When did you first figure out what you wanted to do professionally?
   1. I was always fascinated with politics and the relationship part of that world
   2. I started an internship with a company called Motorola. The company was huge at the time. There, I knew there was a lifetime of work for me to do. 
4. Is the supply chain under stress?
   1. The supply chain is made to keep up with normal buying.
   2. When people go into a hoarding mentality, the supply chain stresses.
   3. The Supply Chain is strong but it is meant to be lean. 
5. Jeff Hahn When did you first feel like you were truly beginning to gain traction with your career?
   1. In the 5th year, I said, “I think I know what I’m doing here…”
   2. There is a set of boxes to be checked in this career field and I want to have all of them checked. 
6. What can Apron Food and Beverage Communications sell us?
   1. We work with retail brands and companies like WhataBurger.
   2. We do a lot of work on the reputations side of things.
   3. We are great at helping brands with crisis management. 
7. So Jeff Hahn, recently you decided to write a new book, titled, Breaking Bad News: 10 Essential Crisis Communication Tools…what inspired you to write this book?
   1. Crisis management has always been an important part of things for me. It has always been like a dark art and has interested me greatly.
   2. I recognize a pattern and I helped many clients make good decisions. 
8. At its core, what is your book truly all about? 
   1. Most brands are awful at doing crisis work.
   2. If you don’t have time to understand crisis communication, you should pick up the book because it gives you a 5 step process to overcome.
      1. Recalls are huge in the food business.
      2. Most small brands say the wrong thing the wrong way online and you have to be able to pull yourself out of that problem.
      3. Sometimes it’s good to just not respond.
   3. We use tools and give our clients options. 
9. Jeff Hahn, what are a few practical tools readers are going to find in your book, Breaking Bad News: 10 Essential Crisis Communication Tools?
10. Jeff, what does the term reputation management mean to you? 
    1. Reputation is built so it has to be managed.
    2. When it is ignored, it is open to attack and damage.
    3. Sometimes the attacks are not fair but that’s the way the world works. You have to be willing to protect your reputation. 
11. Jeff, from what I’ve researched it looks as though you always try to stay a step ahead of the game, and that you always try to stay prepared to answer the six types of questions reporters ask in media interviews…walk us through the 6 types of questions that reporters tend to ask during media interviews?
    1. Open enders
    2. Probes
    3. Proxies
    4. Hypotheticals
12. Jeff Hahn, I understand that both you and your team represent 36 staff members represent food brands and public infrastructure systems across North America…why are you passionate about what you do?
13. You come across as a very proactive person…so how do you typically organize the first four hours of your and what time do you typically wake up?
14. What are a few of your daily habits that you believe have allowed you to achieve success?
15. What mentor has made the biggest impact on your career thus far?
16. Jeff Hahn What is your favorite old school jam?
17. What message or principle that you wish you could teach everyone?
    1. Make Work Your Therapy…
    2. Persistence has defined my career.
    3. Work is what I can control and where I can make a difference.
    4. “Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.” – Chuck Close