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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!
The Home Office Experiment
A little over a week ago, I posted a question in the #u30pro Facebook group regarding what people’s ideal job would be. Would it be working from home or do you need the office setting? I’ve always had an ambition to work from the comforts of my home, but I have no issues with the office. The answers from the group were mixed, which is actually a good thing.
I'd say Tony Stark worked pretty well at home (thx Marvel).
For some, the office brings a chance for structure, collaboration, and face time with co-workers. The home side? You can (most times) work at your own pace and are very mobile.
Thanks to the snowstorm that hit a good portion of the U.S. on Feb. 2, I needed to work from home. It was an opportunity to put things I have heard and read to the test. The day was productive beyond my expectations. If you find yourself working from home or end up running your own consultancy, here are some tips that I found helpful.
1. Have a plan- This is probably the most obvious because, as with any project/job, you need a plan. Maybe you have white board or a legal pad, but write down all the tasks you need to complete.
2. Stay Focused- Just as there are distractions in the office, the same can be said by working at home. It may be kids, the dogs, whatever. The better you can focus on your work, the more productive you’ll be. Which leads to…
3. Location. Location. Location- You need to have a spot in your home where you can avoid the distractions. If your house isn’t a good spot, hit the local library or coffee shop. But keep in mind those around you, too. They may not want to listen to your business pitch while sipping their mocha.
4. Be prepared- If you don’t normally work from home, you may not bring anything with you from the office. In all honesty, though, you just never know when something may pop up. Make it a habit to carry a USB drive or forward any documents you think you should always have with you to a BlackBerry or iPhone.
5. Relax- You have created the environment, now enjoy it. Even if you are working hard, relaxing is an integral part of making this work. Grab a coffee, put on some good music, and be productive!
How do you stay productive when working from home? What would you add to this list? Drop a comment!
