Survey Research Project Blank Survey

December Survey Results

Everything I thought I knew about PR has been proven wrong. I was anti-Twitter and thought blogs were for anti-social nerds (sorry people). But look at me now- beginning blogger, daily tweeter, and PR enthusiast that can somewhat talk the talk. Ok, so all of these new time-consuming tools have turned me into somewhat of an anti-social nerd, but I don’t mind it!

Over the semester we’ve had the pleasure to hear from many different guest speakers, working in PR or journalism, about their journey toward success. They all offer similar tips:

• Know your audience
• Network, network, network
• Read until you’re blue in the face
• Brand yourself
• Perform above your tasks
• Tailor your pitch

The list goes on……

I desperately jotted down every bit of advice the speakers have shared. I felt like I was getting some kind of insider information that I could put together and make a perfect formula for how to be an instant PR mogul. Wrong.

I quickly got discouraged, realizing that it’s too late for me to be the president of this or chief organizer of that… I listened to each PR superstar tell their story, and I began to grow bitter (Yes, “jealous” could be another good adjective for that).

Then it hit me! What do all of the guest speakers have in common? 

Individuality and Confidence

I realized that each person has their own sense of self they are not afraid to expose. They know they are smart and valuable to the PR world so, they went out and showed it.

We are sometimes so worried about doing things the “right way” that we lose our individual flair, especially if we lack confidence.

It’s still incredibly valuable to learn from others, but be confident in your skills. Take the advice from others and make it relevant to you as an individual.

Lesson learned: It’s not about jotting down someone else’s success story, it’s about creating your own.

Stay tuned for winner results!