Quotes from Judy Smith

'Scandal' is soooo Hollywood. It's not me.

Protect yourself by always having a record of what transpired or was said in any situation that might be considered sensitive.

Make sure you are clear about the expectations your boss has for you.

I charge by the hour, or I am on a retainer. We try to work with the client.

When times are good, a CEO should remain poised and composed. When times are difficult, a CEO should remain poised and composed.

We all make mistakes, and sometimes the difference that we forget is that the people we read about in the paper and on the Internet and see on TV, behind that is, at its core, a mistake.

I love what I do, and to be able to see a show that is inspired by my life's work is exciting because it exposes people to what a crisis manager does.

A crisis, by its very nature, is a negative event.

When clients are involved in a crisis, we often start at the end. When this is over, where do you want to end up? What's your endgame? We try to start from that and work ourselves back.

There's always an opportunity with crisis. Just as it forces an individual to look inside himself, it forces a company to reexamine its policies and practices.

Allegations become facts, and facts become truth in the eyes of the public, whether they are true or not.

Most of the time, you think the problem is not as big as it is - because it says something negative about you or your company or your leadership. Face the reality: The facts are not as you want them to be.

Look at the facts as they truly are, not as you want them to be.

If I'm really telling someone what's coming ahead of them, then I'm going to say it, and I'm going to own those words.

I will say this about the truth - that it's one of those crisis rules, whether you are a client or someone who's living their life just every day - is that the truth has a funny way of not going away, and telling the truth is extremely important in dealing with any problem or crisis.

Above all else, protect your brand. If you or your company doesn't live up to your brand's promise, own up to your error.

The ambition and focus that propel you to success can also be your downfall.

I think that scandal and intrigue and all of those sort of things that occur behind closed doors - whether it's on the Hill or in the White House - people all find intriguing.

My experience at the White House was invaluable.

I remember having lunch with a friend who worked at the White House. I'd just graduated from law school but kept telling my friend what they needed to do and weren't doing right about the Iran-Contra affair. The next day, I got a call from the White House, offering me a job.

While it may be tempting to bask fully in the glory of success, remember: When a CEO takes too much credit for the good, they will receive far too much criticism for the bad.

I think, sometimes when we face problems and issues in our life, we have a tendency to really deny that a problem exists. Or sometimes we say, oh, it'll go away, or we can handle it. It's - you know, don't worry. I've got it covered. And a lot of times, that's not the case.

When you're working in crisis situations, people have a tendency - particularly the media - to stake out your house.

Establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers. You don't have to be friends, but you do have to be friendly.