Ever driven past a billboard and wondered, what team made that happen?
Ever read a newsletter and been intrigued?
Ever watched a tv ad and wondered what it took to put that together?
I have always had these thoughts in my head. From a very young age, I was interested in the concept of communications, more fascinated by the attention and spotlight that came with public relations, at least that was what I thought. Little did I know what was in store for me.
I was privileged to begin my career in Public Relations with BlackHouse Media UK. I have always been one for small intimate teams, where I can speak freely to my boss without having to book an appointment with the PA or stand impatiently at my boss’ door hoping to be seen so I can ask my question or deliver an assignment.
450 hours, that is how long I have spent in the PR field. Don’t worry I will do the math, that’s a month. I must say there are many misconceptions about the Public Relations field, a lot of these misconceptions can be very misleading for those on the outside. I intend to share some of the lessons I have learned so far with you.
Get ready to write. If you are someone that enjoys writing, then you are in your zone. If on the other hand, you don’t consider your writing skills top-notch, it’s nothing some practice can’t solve. I express myself better with words, and learning to put those words on paper took some getting used to. The good thing is you never run out of things to write about in this department, so be prepared.
If there is anything I love about my job, it’s the level of creativity it requires. I like the fact that every minute my brain is active, looking for new ideas, how to solve problems and how to tell new stories, that aspect is never boring. In PR you never run out of stories to tell and newer ways to tell them. As Maya Angelou said ‘You can’t use up creativity, the more you use the more you have’.
Get familiar. In the words of Kofi Annan ‘Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress…’ As a PR practitioner, information is key. I realize I have to be aware of the changes in my industry. What is new with my clients? What is new with their competitors? How can I make them better? Now, this is information that you should know.
Create a balance. If you are like me, and you enjoy the work, there is a very high probability that you would not know when to take a break. There is a lot of work. But a good professional should also be an excellent time manager. Work hard but work smart. Plan your time well. Initiate breaks, tea breaks, and naps if need be. Be disciplined with your free time. Learn to be stingy with your rest time. Remember you need to be healthy to put in your best work.
It’s been an enlightening journey so far. I am still finding my way around it all. It’s so intriguing. One thing I do know is that it won’t be easy but one thing I am sure of is that I can do it.