In today’s Monday Minute, I discuss how you need to listen to yourself when doing work for clients and building your business.
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What I’ve Learned So Far
Over the last few weeks, I’ve begun to do some soul-searching. This has nothing to do with being unhappy or frustrated. It has everything to do with challenging myself to be better, to learn more and to understand the business I’ve started.
I was watching “Life After Top Chef” on Bravo the other night. Each of the former contestants have their own challenges in their life as business owners. Richard is balancing home life with his new restaurant opening; Jen is trying to find her way after her own eatery fell through, and Spike is balancing his new restaurant and his family having a part in it.
But, it was Fabio that really struck me. He likes to be in control, as do I. But, he’s attempting to delegate more, so he can have more time to look at his overall business. I thought to myself, “I figured these guys would have it all taken care of.” Not so. And that’s where my education began.
We never stop learning and shaping ourselves. I may feel like I’m doing great, but I still don’t know everything and I never will. I’m not a Jedi, guru, or ninja. I’m a student, always (as my friend Stephanie Florence likes to say).
See, what I’ve learned so far as a consultant, business owner and speaker is that everyday is an education. You make a mistake? Admit it, learn from it and press on. Use that teachable moment, not to sulk, but grow.
We as PR pros, social media managers, and marketers have undergone many changes. We are constantly evolving. In this evolution, we become more learned. But we also need to take stock in how far we have come.
It only takes a few moments to understand our growth. So, step back and realize how far you’ve come. It may be a chance to really help you understand your success.
Building the Bridge
This time last year, I put my daughter on the bus for her first day of kindergarten. Little did I know that the bus doors opening to her new beginning were a metaphor of what was to come for her father.
One year ago, I was let go from my job. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. My own “bus doors” were opening to the start of my consultancy, JRM Comm. The ride so far has been exciting, exhilarating, draining and stressful. Read those four words again. This was not something I ever expected.
I’m going to be brutally honest. There are days that I’m still learning about running my own business. Does this affect my work with clients? Absolutely not. But, I’ve struggled with the behind the scenes things. I want to be the best. But there are days that I’m not the best. As a matter of fact, there are days where my batting average is zero.
That is the biggest test for me; trying to understand the balance of success and failure. My highs are very high. When it comes to my lows, I let the little things get to me. Why hasn’t this mail come through? How can someone actually post that on Facebook? When is this potential client going to respond?
My wife said something great to me the other night. She told me, “You need to be real. Don’t be someone online and a different one off of it.” This is something I mention and talk to people about all the time, yet I’m not listening to my own (and my wife’s) advice. Well, that changes now.
I’ve decided to build the bridge. This phrase is something that New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin told the team prior to the start of the 2012-13 season. He said:
“‘Build the Bridge’ means to carry over all the good things that happened at the end of the season last year over into the new season. The qualities that allowed us to go forward and win the World Championship.”
While this may not sound like the most inspiring thing in the world, that phrase is key for me. By building a bridge from the good things that happened and eliminating the negatives, I can be a better business owner, PR pro and speaker.
I’m lucky to be in this position… and I’m thankful for the support I’ve had from family and colleagues. My advice to you? Build your bridge, but don’t try to do it in one day. You’ll find success over time, not overnight.
That’s reality and something I absolutely embrace.
What I learned from Tony Stark
“Jarvis… sometimes you gotta run before you can walk.“- Tony Stark
I am, at heart, a dreamer. My mind is always racing with new ideas and opportunities. I love to push the boundaries. However, I’m also someone who had to change who he was to survive in this new PR 2.0 world.
The other night, I watched “Iron Man,” the wildly successful 2008 movie based on the comic book character. Tony Stark is not only the man under the armor, he’s also a brilliant engineer. If you don’t know the story, I’ll recap: Stark suffers a severe chest injury during a kidnapping in which his captors attempt to force him to build a weapon of mass destruction. He instead creates a powered suit of armor to save his life and escape captivity. He later uses the suit to protect the world as Iron Man (got that?).
Now, my life is nowhere close to Tony Stark’s. Yes, I know what you’re saying, “Iron Man and Stark aren’t real.” You are right, they aren’t. However, in the number of times I’ve watched the movie, I’ve come away with a few thoughts that have helped me in my business and how I can deal with clients.
1. Dress for success- This is something I will believe until the day I die. I recently discussed this point in a post at Ragan.com. How you look goes a very long way to making a good first impression. I also think it helps your confidence when you rock a great suit.
2. Evolve constantly- Stark realized when he returned from captivity that he needed to change the direction of his company. As business people and public relations/marketing pros, we need to constantly be on our toes. By staying on the cutting edge and listening to what is being said, either online or in trades, we are able to stay relevant. It also helps to understand what your clients may want as well.
3. Your “armor” won’t always protect you- Iron Man is pretty strong, but without that armor, he’s only human. The same goes for public relations. We may have a strong crisis plan or even a solid campaign rollout plan, but you can only plan for so much. When your “armor” fails, you’ll need to be as prepared as possible for what may come at you.
4. Always have someone you can trust with your ideas- For Stark, it was his assistant Pepper Potts. I have one person that I bounce ideas off of, just to get a perspective. Don’t have someone you can trust? What about a family member. You may think they don’t understand, but you may be surprised. Trust your gut, but it won’t hurt to get your idea or plan backed up.
5. Embrace the past, grasp the future- As much as we think we can leave the past behind, we can’t. Sure, we move on, but past events have helped shape us and make us who we are. While you may want to forget about a mistake that you made in PR, don’t! It will make your future much better and stronger.
Remember… we all have a power inside of us to be great. It’s a matter of believing in yourself and knowing that you can do it. Others can tell you what you want to hear, but do you truly believe that you have the power? BELIEVE IT!
Monday Minute: The Solo Struggle
The real meaning of “The Social Network”
This past weekend, I finally watched “The Social Network.” By now, you know it’s the story of how Facebook came to be. I found it to be terrific and enjoyed seeing a platform that has changed the way we interact, highlighted in Hollywood.
Of course, there have been some detractors. Sean Parker, Facebook’s founding president, recently called the film a work of “fiction.” On the other hand, the movie’s main character, Mark Zuckerberg, hasn’t had anything earth-shattering to say about the portrayal of him in it.
When it was first released, it received a ton of buzz and folks flocked to theaters to see it. This month, “The Social Network” won four Golden Globes, including one for best picture. On January 25, it was nominated for a best picture Oscar and received a best actor nod for Jesse Eisenberg. For the folks that originally thought it was going to be a “social media” movie, it’s been more than that.
And that’s why I’m writing this post. “The Social Network” is more than just Eisenberg’s portrayal of Zuckerberg; the movie is about the entrepreneurial spirit. Sure, that spirit doesn’t always include hanging a zip line so you can do tricks into a pool (watch the movie to see what I mean). What the entrepreneurial spirit does is inspire us to create something that will help change the world, or at least help make it better.
Now, I’m not here to argue whether the idea for Facebook was stolen or whether Parker’s character in the movie is accurate.
What I will tell you is that anyone who works hard to see their dreams or plans come true, this movie will help inspire you to work harder. It surely did for me. Do I think I’ll be the next Mark Zuckerberg? No. But, who’s to say that I can’t make my blog something that people go to for advice and (maybe) inspiration.
And for that matter, who’s to say YOU can’t be the person that comes up with the next great idea in social media, PR, or marketing? No one. And if someone tells you that you can’t do it… don’t listen and, most importantly, don’t believe them.
You can be ANYTHING you set your mind to. Believe in what you know and put it to good use. You may not see it pay off (monetarily) at first. But the more you hone it and get the word out on it, you will see the results.
Right now you may be sitting at a desk, wondering how you can make that next great idea take off, so you won’t have to sit in your office for another year. Do something about it… Make your dreams happen now!
Did you see “The Social Network?” What were your thoughts?
