Blog Archives
Blog Series: Re-invent Yourself Often
In 2008, I came to the realization that public relations was changing. Facebook was just starting to make an impact; Twitter and YouTube were still fairly new. I noticed that more and more forward-thinking PR pros were adapting these social platforms into their thinking. It was going to be the future.
What was I to do though? Should I just forge ahead with the old ways or should I start integrating them into my practices? I chose the latter, thankfully. Those months of changing my ways and learning more about social media led to me re-inventing myself. It also helped me move on to a new agency job a year later. Ultimately, it was also the building block to my business, JRM Comm.
Here is what this should mean to you. While you may feel like you are good, you can always do more and be more. Every single day, you can look at ways at being better and being more than you are already.
1) Don’t fall into the comfort zone- I mentioned this in part two of my blog series. The more comfortable you get, the more we become lackadaisical. Find ways to learn something different to make yourself unique and resourceful. This will not happen in one day. Over time, your peers and co-workers will see you are the “go-to” person for new, fresh ideas.
2) Challenge your own mind- I worked in television and radio for years. I knew after a while though that it wasn’t going to give me what I ultimately wanted: Control. So, I challenged myself to do something different. Sure, many TV/radio folks transition into PR nowadays, but I still knew it was going to be a different way of life. I dove in head first and immersed myself into learning as much as I could. I wanted the challenge… and so should you.
3) Risk… understand it- By re-inventing yourself, you are taking a risk- calculated or otherwise. Understand that by trying to change-up what you’ve done for years isn’t exactly something you flip the switch on. The risk is that it may not work, but how many times did Steve Jobs try before he became successful. Believe that risk is part of your plan and you’ll have a better grip on your future.
Remember, change is good. But you have to believe it. Don’t think you can be this new, re-invented person overnight. It may take a few months or up to a year to really feel comfortable. BUT, if you believe… it WILL HAPPEN!
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.
Working with Doubt
“What’s the long face, what’s all the crying for… Didn’t you expect it when you opened your door.” – Bruce Hornsby
I’ve been a solo PR/social media marketing pro for nearly a year now. I chronicled my feelings as a new solo pro in May for Kellye Crane at SoloPRPro.com. It’s been such great ride to help clients shape their vision and put it into action. But I need to admit something and I think it can help you, too.
I doubt myself every single day.
courtesy: Wondering Fair
So, how can a solo- or any PR/SM/Marketing pro, for that matter -actually effectively work for a client to help them solve problems, create plans, and implement a campaign, if they doubt? This answer is simple. It’s the doubt that helps my creative and analytical mind.
If you, or I, thought everything was the best damn idea or plan out there, one of two things would happen: We’d be short of clients or unemployed.
I never want to be the person that just nods his head to every idea. That’s being a “yes man” and you can forget about that ever happening. I would rather jump in with, “I think we need to re-think this because I have a little doubt about it working.” Having some doubt about a specific plan or campaign is welcomed by clients and colleagues. They want your opinions. If you doubt that some figures aren’t right or that a social campaign doesn’t have enough engagement, this is great.
I’ve doubted my own plans and asked for advice from trusted colleagues. Remember, despite this social world of ninjas, Jedis, and gurus, we don’t know everything. Even in running my relatively new business, I’ve had doubts. Will it work? Will people work with me?
Self-doubt is something you can use to fuel your success and help you become the best you can be. Take a moment and focus on what has worked for you in the past. I’m sure you’ll see that you had some doubt surrounding it.
And that isn’t a bad thing.
Monday Minute: Game Planning
Whether you are a professional sports coach or a public relations pro, you need to plan. There are so many similarities between the two. Today’s Monday Minute explains why.
How do you game plan for success? Let me know in the comments.
Just keep livin’
Right before Christmas, I was watching a Food Network special with Guy Fieri. His guest during the entire hour-long program was actor Matthew McConaughey. It was a fun show filled with food and good times, but one thing caught my eye more than the recipes.
McConaughey was wearing a shirt that said “j.k. livin.” I thought maybe it was a new brand of clothing, so I looked it 
up. j.k. livin’ is actually McConaughey’s foundation (the j.k. stands for “just keep”) that is “dedicated to helping teenage kids lead active lives and make healthy choices so they can become great men and women.”
But McConaughey added on the show that it’s also his state of mind to “just keep livin’.” This got me thinking as well because of another event that occurred on Christmas Eve. A young girl in my area by the name of Meghan Redenbach, lost her battle with cancer. She was only 15-years old.
The Buffalo News did an amazing story on her and I couldn’t help but tear up when I read it. Redenbach never stopped living, even when her battle became very tough. She believed she would make it to the next day. Then, when that next day came, she believed she would make it to the next one. Redenbach’s story is inspirational.
So, we are reaching the end of another year. We make resolutions like, “I want to get in better shape” or “I would like to get a new job.” Those are all fine. But, will that provide your inspiration to live for today and the next?
We only have control over our lives. We can’t control what others do! Start by focusing on two or three things you’d like to accomplish today. Each accomplishment serves as a building block for something bigger. I know there are plenty of times when life throws so many things at us, we don’t think that we can’t overcome it.
But you CAN. No one can say, “you can’t do it” to you. Sure, it knocks you down. But, you get right back up and march on. Maybe you’ve lost your job. Use it as a springboard for success.
Never stop living… it’s never to late to have a life and it’s never to late to change one. Start today and change your state of mind!
What did you do with your summer internship?
Now that we have blown past the Labor Day holiday, summer is unofficially over. From the look of the tweets of those I follow on Twitter, posts on Facebook and those I talk with in person, folks gained a ton of knowledge and experience from their summer internships.
Whether you travelled hundreds of miles or worked ungodly hours, you (hopefully) learned a few things. But what did you REALLY learn? Will you apply the skills you picked up this summer or just forget all about it?
Here are a five suggestions to make sure you don’t lose all that valuable experience.
1. Keep in touch with your internship leaders. Drop a line and ask about getting together for lunch or just touch base to keep your name fresh in their heads. I’m not talking about bugging them about possible openings every other week, though. Do ask for advice about your resume, cover letter, etc. Keep the lines of communications open.
2. Compile your work and add it to the portfolio. If you were asked to work on a specific part of a project, then put it to your portfolio. Make certain you include the finished product to show your contributions on a wider scale. When it comes time for that first official job interview, you want to show a prospective employer that you’ve got what it takes!
3. Practice what was preached. You certainly learned more of what to do and not to do in public relations and marketing. Don’t just sit on it, apply it. If you don’t blog, start one. Not involved in your school’s PRSSA chapter? Join. The only way you’ll continue to hone your skills is if you stay active and grow as a practitioner.
4. Be active in Twitter chats. This may be a given for many, but if you are an aspiring PR/marketing pro, you need to join in on these valuable chats. There’s #U30Pro, #PRStudChat, and #journchat to name a few. There are many current pros who take part and they are more than happy to offer advice and guidance.
5. Finish strong! PR and marketing pros never get anywhere by just giving 50%. Whether you are a junior or senior (freshmen and sophomores, too), your grades are of the utmost importance. I’m always impressed when I see a new grad’s resume with wonderful experience AND good grades. It shows the prospective employer that you have both book and job smarts. Keep that in mind.
Don’t just take what you did this summer and pass it off as “just credits.” That internship could just lead to your first gig. It did for me.
What advice would you offer? Let me know in the comments section.
One Giant Leap…
“That’s one small step for (a) man; one giant leap for mankind.”- Neil Armstrong, July 20, 1969.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve done a bit of soul searching. I don’t mind admitting I’ve been doubting myself as of late. You name it, I’ve felt it: Frustration, anger, and disappointment. As I was flipping the channels at home the other night, I saw a special on the Apollo 11 mission.
I’m a huge NASA nut, always have been. You’ve read about the Apollo 11 or even lived the moment. Neil Armstrong descending the lunar lander and onto the surface of the moon, then uttering the words I’ve quoted above. It was a mighty leap for man.
NASA
But, it also provided me with a bit of inspiration that I was looking for lately. In my opinion, social media is the new frontier of digital exploration. We constantly look for new ways to use it to our advantage, educationally and professionally. We are essentially the astronauts on a new mission: Push the envelope and find the vehicle to promote our company or brand.
A few days ago I asked on Twitter: What is it about social media that makes us so passionate about it? I received a great response from Deirdre Breakenridge, the president and executive director of Mango! Creative Juice. She tweeted to me:
To answer your question…collaborating and sharing ideas with people around the world! There are no borders.
That is what NASA accomplished with not just the space program, but the Apollo missions. To prove that we are not defined by just this planet, but by what we explore outside of it. The more we collaborate with each other, we gain knowledge that helps us in public relations, marketing, journalism, etc.
We can sometimes be hesitant to take that next step or venture out of our own borders. Don’t be. NASA has had its share of failures: Apollo 1 and then the two Space Shuttle accidents. Each time, the agency picked themselves up and moved forward. We are not defined by failure, instead we are defined by how we learn from it.
Remember this: We can shoot for the moon all we want, but we need the rocket to get there. What will be your rocket and what are you looking to be your giant leap?
