But what has really impressed me lately is how active Diane is in the social media world. Just her Facebook page alone is impressive and interactive. Fans post photos of themselves in DVF outfits, and employees from stores around the country actually answer questions that fans post. Can’t find an item you want? No problem, ask on the DVF Facebook page and you will receive it. Direct access to customer service that matches the quality of the DVF clothing brand is very impressive.

DVF also uses social media to help promote the organizations that Diane supports. In 1999, the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation was established to provide support to various 501(c)3 non-profit organizations and each year four women are receipts of The DVF Award that aims to provide recipients with the exposure and resources needed to extend their critical efforts on behalf of women’s causes.

And what I love most about DVF’s social media presence however is ‘Inside DVF’ which really helps to give a personal connection with the DVF brand. Diane herself keeps a diary of her travels and you can follow all the latest news through photo diaries on her Web site. I will admit that seeing all that DVF does for others, helps to justify the price tag to me.

But I think the biggest lesson I have learned is that no matter how popular you become, how wealthy you are, you always have time to connect with your fans, make them feel special, answer their questions and keep innovating to keep your brand alive. It’s a general rule of thumb for social media and DVF is doing it well.

It’s true – email is a very effective and efficient way to communicate and is certainly the preferred method of communication these days for most, but I also think it has put a stigma on picking up the phone. Many people dread talking to people they don’t know. But as PR people, we pitch. We pitch reporters every day to share ideas for coverage. While we always believe our idea is the perfect fit for a certain reporter, the reality is that reporters get hundreds of email pitches a day and they often have specific assignments they are working on. We all know this, but how can we get our ideas covered if we don’t pitch?

Most reporters are pretty clear they only prefer to be contacted via email but I have to imagine they like to use the phone sometimes as well. It’s just like receiving a hand-written letter in the mail vs. an email – it’s personal and flattering. One of my colleagues sent around an email today saying that she had spoken with a reporter ON THE PHONE and he said “it’s nice you wanted to have a conversation with me.” It was so great to read this email and be reminded that it is ok to pick up the phone and call someone. What is the worst that can happen? Your idea is rejected – so you tried, you got feedback and you learned. Once you do decide to pick up the phone, just be prepared with your 30 seconds and don’t waste a reporter’s time. Just as you are short and sweet in email, the same goes for the phone.

So what do you think? How often do you call reporters? Should more reporters be open to phone pitching? I know that I will be picking up the phone more often…go on, challenge yourself!

Here are some fun takeaways from The Bachelorette this week you may not have picked up on if you weren’t paying attention:

Lesson One: Have a Purpose

Great reality shows have a single purpose – to generate ratings. And they will do whatever it takes, even if it is a little harsh, to get viewers to watch their show. For example; the producers had to put aside any personal feelings when they knew in advance that one of the final three contestants, Frank, would break Ali’s heart on national TV. Because they kept their laser beam focus on their purpose, they succeeded, and in fact, ratings went up and it was one of the most viewed airings of the program to-date. In the working world, it’s easy to stray from your purpose. Make sure to always outline your goals and mission, be clear about your purpose, focus your energy on that and stick to it. This will make you successful each day.

Lesson Two: Attitude is Everything

While Ali was certainly disappointed in Frank’s decision to leave the show, she took the news in stride after shedding a few dramatic tears. She didn’t dwell on Frank’s departure, but instead regained her composure, focused her attention on the remaining two men and honed in on the positive side of the situation. In the working world, a positive attitude means everything. It’s contagious. If you feel good about exceeding a metric or winning a new client, everyone will. If you are confident in your presentation, that enthusiasm and hard work will shine through. The reverse is also true – a bad attitude can fill a room with doubt and you’ll find your success slipping away. Keep your best foot forward and let your positive energy and attitude lead the rest of the way.

Lesson Three: Listen

Everyone wants to be heard, but it’s more important to listen. Ali spent most of her time on the show asking the men questions and listening to their answers. While she was trying to figure out if they were compatible and she had her own agenda, she invested time in listening first. The same rules apply to business. Information gathered in the way of feedback from colleagues, partners, clients, etc., is invaluable and should not be overlooked. Even when your own plan or agenda seems like the best path to take, be careful not to steamroll; share the floor and listen to each other – you could be surprised at the improvements made as a result. Keep your ears open at all times and make sure everyone knows you are always open to listening.

Lesson Four: No Egos Necessary

Many men came into The Bachelorette casting process confident they were the perfect match for Ali. Those who exuded too much bravado were the same men that walked out the door on the first night.  No one likes to work with egotistical co-workers or partners either. Their overbearing personalities are difficult to work with and make for an uncomfortable and non-collaborative environment. This certainly isn’t productive for anyone. Set the precedent for how you expect others to work and lead by example. You’ll be surprised to see even those with the biggest egos will follow suit to fit in.

Lesson Five: Hire The Person, Not The Position

While seemingly any attractive, semi-communicative woman without a criminal record could be cast as The Bachelorette, the producers did a good job of finding a person that ultimately had more than those qualities. Ali had natural chemistry with many of the men, wasn’t afraid of the cameras, believed in the role, and as a result, adapted to situations none of the producers could have predicted when they casted her. It works the same in business – while the people you hire need to have a certain set of qualifications, you can’t hire for situations you don’t yet know will occur. Hire the best person for the job with the qualities you most admire in a colleague and the rest will fall into place.

So what are your favorite business lessons from reality TV? Please share them with us. And, if you don’t watch Reality TV maybe it’s time you start. You never know what you will learn!

But one thing that has struck me about the World Cup this year is how football, or soccer as we say, has truly become a globally-uniting game. I was not in New York City on Saturday, but the quick glimpses the cameras provided of people – of all ethnicities and ages, packed together on the streets and in bars watching the game – was incredible. All brought together by a soccer game being played halfway around the world. Even if you are not a soccer fan, I bet that you will tune into at least one game over the next month. It’s a nice change from too much negative press these days – sports not only make us feel better but instill a sense of pride, enthusiasm and camaraderie in people – especially when you see fans from all over the world come together in harmony (even if it is just temporary).

I’ve also noted the use of social media in these games. Joseph Blatter, the president of FIFA, set up a Twitter account a few days before the World Cup started and told fans to send him comments and questions about football or FIFA’s work – and that he would answer as many inquiries as he could. While I am not sure he was ready for the uproar from fans wanting the vuvuzela banned from games, he did attach a human face and personality to the World Cup and this is sure to ring well among fans. @FIFAcom was also created to bring direct updates from South Africa. The response has been tremendous and it’s fascinating to see how fans are not only coming together in-person but online as well. If you happen to be at work during a game, you can watch the coverage online or you can follow a specific hashtag for your favorite team to get minute-by-minute, play-by-play updates – it’s almost like you’re at the game! It’s pretty spectacular if you think about how many different ethnicities and time zones are driving these conversations that so many are following. 

Lastly, the visibility inside the South African culture provided by the World Cup is really the most important aspect of this event. Less than 20 years ago, South Africa was banned from the World Cup because of apartheid, so to see a nation that has bonded together for the better is truly amazing. Even though Nelson Mandela was not able to make the opening ceremony due to the loss of his great-granddaughter, it was clear that South Africans are extremely proud of how far their country has come and were thrilled to host the World Cup games. 

If you didn’t get to see Saturday’s game, tune in this Friday at 10 a.m. ET to see the U.S. face off against Slovenia. Go USA!!!