Resilience, Reactions, and Rebuilding the Right Mixture in PR
On a bright Monday afternoon, our team was deep in conversation, discussing summer plans and dreams for our agency. We were moving forward. And a goliath client that was, by all means, keeping us fed.
But life always seems to have different plans, doesn’t it ?
About an hour later, a forwarded press release shattered that high. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe had issued budget vetoes. One of them? The $2 million budget for our biggest client, the Missouri Forest Products Association had been vetoed. It was gone. And for all intents and purposes, so was the client.
When the Mixture Shifts
Losing a major client is one of those agency moments you hope to avoid, but eventually, it finds you. However, agency life doesn’t allow you to sit still for long. Curveballs are part of the formula. And if you’ve been in the agency world for any length of time, you know this: change isn’t the exception, it’s the rule. Agency life is fast. You’re juggling clients across industries, reacting to news cycles, solving creative puzzles on tight timelines, and doing it all with curiosity and clarity.
If we were going to use the name “Chemistry,” it was definitely time to do what one does when your experiment explodes: get back in the lab and find a new solution. In fact, that’s what makes us professionals in the industry.
Running New Experiments
We didn’t panic. We focused.
Losing that big client felt kind of like losing a tooth as a kid — a weird mix of fear, anxiety , and the odd realization that something new might grow in its place.
So instead of chasing a quick fix we considered that long-term growth piece. We asked ourselves three simple but powerful questions:
- What are we most excited to build?
- Who do we actually want to work with next?
- What parts of the business have we been too busy to pursue, until now?
We leaned hard into the work we love: video production, crisis comms, messaging strategy, and brand reputation. We carved out time to tell our own story. And most importantly, we started practicing what we tell clients all the time: own the narrative, even when it’s messy.
We also got real about focus. When everything feels urgent, clarity becomes the most powerful tool in the room.
Resilience: The Most Underrated Element in PR
In PR, you are expected to stay ready. Your clients, their competitors, the entire media landscape — they don’t pause. So you can’t either.
This business doesn’t reward perfection. It rewards adaptability. And resilience? That’s our most undervalued, and most essential, trait.
Anyone can write a press release. Not everyone can stay calm when the client is having the worst day of his or her career or when your own team looks to you for reassurance that it’s going to be okay. That kind of steadiness takes more than experience. It takes accountability to step up, chemistry to stay connected, and a collaborative mindset to move forward together.
Resilience isn’t a buzzword. It’s a strategy. It is a strategy that thrives on being curious enough to challenge the brief, strategic enough to find clarity in chaos, and consistent enough to deliver, even when no one is watching.
It’s not about showing up perfect. It’s about showing up prepared, committed, and in sync. That’s what defines us.
Formulating What’s Next
The shake-up forced us to recalibrate. It cleared the clutter and helped us see what actually mattered.
Now, we’re building with more intention, and just as much heart.
We are still in the lab. Still experimenting. But our mix is stronger: more clarity, more creative energy, and a renewed focus on what we’re really good at. And we’re actively seeking partnerships that align with that.
Because the truth is, you don’t always need to reinvent yourself. Sometimes you just need to realign.
Let’s Mix Something New Together
So no — the last few weeks weren’t easy. But this is the job. And honestly? We still love it.
If you’re someone who thrives on creativity, quick thinking, and connection, PR might just be your kind of chaos. And if you’re a brand navigating change, we’re the kind of team that can meet you right there, in the mess, and help build what’s next.
Want to build something bold with us? Let’s talk.
We’ve got room in the lab.
Click HERE to explore Chemistry capabilities.
