Career Advice

Solo PR Life Isn’t Easy

Jess Noonan 7 Comments

open-4-bizDid that headline catch your attention? Good. If there is one thing that I appreciate in friends, colleagues, and experts, is honesty. Don’t sugar coat anything; tell me how hard something is going to be so I’m prepared.

This isn’t meant to scare you if you are looking to become a solo public relations professional. It is meant as an honest post to show that being your own boss can be great, but can also be very rough.

Being a solo PR pro is a ton of sweat and incredibly hard work. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you’ll have clients knocking down your door when you are solo. Just like working for an agency, you need to focus and put in long hours at times. At the end of the day, you’ll be wiped.

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be. While I’m being honest, there are strategies get you on the road to success in your solo career. Organization and balance are two of the more important things to have as a professional, solo or otherwise. You may have one, but not the other. It doesn’t happen in a day or month. It takes time. Since I became a solo PR pro, I’ve learned that balance is integral to your home and work success. Here is how I’m doing it.

1.      Create a comfortable work environment. We’ve all seen that Facebook post or Twitter pic of a messy desk. There’s no way you can be productive with your desk cluttered with papers, yesterday’s snack and the over abundance of photos of your dog. Take a moment to set up a desk that will allow productivity and inspiration. You want to feel as good as possible to work. I have my inbox, inspirational quotes and a notepad on mine.

2.      Start your week out by setting goals. At the beginning of each week, put your clients and the tasks you have for each. Then, look at the tasks that are “must do’s.” This will not only help keep you focused, but on point as well. No more of the “I have nothing to do!”

3.      Work is work, home is home. You do need that separation, especially when you are a solo pro. While I enjoy working on some projects after the kids go to bed, your mind needs to reboot. Don’t push the brain too much. Set a time to shut it down for the day and make a note where you need to pick up. You aren’t a robot, so take a break.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. I’ve taken advice from many solo PR pros and asked questions about what to expect and how to handle my own business. This helped me in more ways than I can count. Don’t be afraid to hear “NO!” You’ll get hung up on or told a business isn’t interested. It’s not because you aren’t good at what you do. It is all about timing (and money). Sometimes it’s just not a fit. Lastly, You have to want it… badly. If you don’t like your job and think that being on your own will solve everything, you are going about it all wrong. Running my own business and the challenges that go along with it invigorates me. BUT, there’s been plenty of frustration and bumps. If you just go halfway, you are halfway to failing.

Ultimately, your chances at success are greater if you know the truth. I’m still learning… and don’t want to stop doing so. My current and future clients will be better for it. So will you.


Jason MollicaJason Mollica (@JasMollica) is the president of JRMComm, a public relations and social media marketing consultancy. He combines knowledge of the broadcast news industry, traditional public relations expertise and today’s new and innovative social media tools. Mollica operates his own blog and has guest blogged on several others, including the respected Ad Age-ranked PR Breakfast Club, Ragan.com and PRSSA’s Progressions.

January Twitter Chat Highlights: Taking Your Career to the Next Level

Lauren Gray 2 Comments

Twitter Chat HighlightsWe’d like to thank everyone who participated in the January #NPPRSA Twitter chat to start off 2014 by discussing ways to step up your game in the workplace. We discussed some helpful topics this month including evaluating a company’s culture, how to prove the value of professional memberships to an employer and how to get up to speed quickly when assigned a new client.

Join us again on February 6 for our next #NPPRSA chat and stay up-to-date with PRSA New Professionals on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

Review highlights of the chat below. What did you learn from the January chat? How can you gain employer support of your professional development opportunities? In what ways can you increase collaboration with co-workers and other departments?

Lauren Rosenbaum

Lauren Rosenbaum is the PRSA New Professionals Social Media Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Soversity, a public relations and digital marketing company. You can connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter.

 

 

 

Adjusting to Office Life: “The Hunger Games” Edition

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

As young professionals we are awed by the strength and sharpness we see in Katniss Everdeen. Although the office may not exactly be a “kill or be killed” environment, there are plenty of lessons we can learn from our favorite heroine.

  1. Build Strong Alliances: Friendships at work can make the difference between happiness and burnout.  Social connections at work also boost productivity and passion in the workplace. It is important to build relationships with bosses and colleagues that will help you grow professionally. Build relationships with other departments and get to know as many people as possible. Much of Katniss’s success is due to the strong alliances she creates throughout the series.
  2. Always Be Prepared: Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone helps you to grow personally and professionally.  It is important to first gain credibility as a team player. Remember to keep yourself abreast of industry trends, continuously acquire new knowledge and accumulate evidence of all your hard work. Katniss was always prepared for what was ahead by remaining strategic and resourceful.
  3. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Sacrifices: Katniss volunteers to take the place of her younger sister and fearfully participates in the Hunger Games. Always remain as enthusiastic as possible, even when taking on many tasks or working with clients you may not yet understand. Taking on both small and large tasks with enthusiasm, staying at the office late when necessary and being mindful of deadlines are all important factors in establishing a stellar reputation with you supervisors and co-workers.
  4. Get Inspired From Your Desk: Staying motivated at work can be tough. Customizing your desk space can make a huge difference in keeping your energy and creativity up.  In the series, Katniss wears a  mockingjay pin to remind her of her friends and family at home. Display your own “mockingjay pin” in the form of a desk accessory. This can be a framed picture, inspirational or humorous desk calendar!
  5. Don’t Jump to Conclusions: It is important to gain the skills to lead, coordinate, and collaborate with others on work activities by always facilitating good communication. Don’t spend too much time analyzing the tone of an email or thinking about a coworker who seems unfriendly. In the workplace you will come across a lot of different management styles and personalities. Remember that some may find it difficult to express themselves and emails can be deceiving. Never be afraid to pick up the phone for better communication.

What are some of your tried and true tips for adjusting to office life as a new professional? “May the odds ever be in your favor!”

 

Magan Felitto is currently a freelance public relations professional, working with a major entertainment company in New York City. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology’s, Advertising & Marketing Communications program in Summer 2013 with four years of experience as Vice President of Chapter Development of her former PRSSA chapter and a plethora of internships under her belt. She is also a proud member of PRSA National, PRSA-New York, and PRSA New Professionals Section.  Ms. Felitto can be reached at MaganFelitto@gmail.com.

Life After College: How To Find Your Balance

kcook Leave a comment

By the time you graduate college, you’ve finally figured out how to manage your homework, extracurricular activities, part-time job, internship and social life – and squeeze in those precious hours of sleep! But now you have graduated and landed a post-grad internship or full-time job.  So now what?

It’s like the first day of school all over again. You walk in on your first day of work, not knowing a soul besides the person who interviewed you. Therefore, you tend to be quiet the first day as you soak in every valuable piece of information while trying to prove that you are the right person for the job. By the end of the day, your work still isn’t over. There are plenty more responsibilities that come with post-college life including paying for rent, bills and groceries. And on top of that, you must consider paying for your phone bill, car insurance and maintaining a social life. The list goes on and on.

To achieve a sense of balance in this critical launch-pad phase of your career, take into consideration some of the suggestions and advice that I’ve found helpful in my own post-graduate adjustment:

1.       Be realistic about your income.

Balancing your checkbook is a major responsibility of balancing your life after college. Money will not necessarily make you happy; however, I know we all want to avoid being in debt, so be smart with your first big-kid paycheck.

One of the first pieces of advice I received as a new college grad was from my father, who is a financially savvy banker. He suggested that I make a spreadsheet consisting of all my monthly expenses, and I encourage you to do the same. This practice will help you track how much money you are earning, especially after taxes, and where all of your money is going. Therefore, you can see where you may need to cut back on spending in order to save a few more dollars.

Also, if you know you will be working with your company for more than a year, consider living close to work in order to save on gas. Most apartment complexes have one-year leases, and if you do your research, you can find some manageable deals out there. If it’s possible, consider living with your parents or a roommate while you get your feet wet, but remember not to get too comfortable.

2.       Find other like-minded professionals with whom to connect.

As a new graduate, it can be hard to adjust to being away from the group of friends that was constantly at your side back in college. One way to make new friends and critical networking contacts is to join organizations that connect you with young professionals like yourself.

If you’re a member of PRSA, you’re already ahead of the game. PRSA New Professionals Section is a great way to meet peers and share ideas, experiences and similar life/work situations across the country.

Another opportunity to seize is your local alumni association. Your membership will most likely cost a small fee, so remember to include that fee in your budget and maybe eat out less that week in order to balance the cost.

3.       Get active and involved in your community.

Aside from professional organizations, start connecting with the community in which you live, whether it’s brand new or one where you’ve lived for a while. The chamber of commerce is generally a great place to start. The chamber often has a directory that is open to the public, and the staff can usually point you in the right direction based on your interests.

Get outdoors, get active and exercise! Is there a local gym with great rates you can join? Is there a park through which you can walk or run each morning before starting your workday? Working out in the morning can take some discipline at first, but it will increase your productivity throughout the day (and make you feel less guilty for enjoying your latte from Starbucks!).

4.       Don’t set yourself up for burnout.

You’re ready to prove yourself to the world, but don’t try to accomplish everything at once or you may end up overwhelming yourself. Take on one or two tasks at a time and learn how much you’re comfortable with managing. No one expects you to be running the office immediately. Failures and successes are all a part of the learning process that makes you a better human and a better professional.

5.       Make time for yourself.

Enjoy a drink at happy hour. We all deserve an opportunity to kick back after a long week at work. Plus, it never hurts to get to know your coworkers outside of the office. Above all, take time for yourself. It can be easy to get caught going 100 miles per hour five days a week, especially when public relations isn’t the traditional nine-to-five job. What hobbies and interests gave you joy in school? Find ways to work those hobbies into your weekly schedule. This time doesn’t detract from your professional commitments; rather, it can give you the energy and passion to continue excelling at your work.

Good luck!

 

Whitney Strittmatter is an office coordinator at the Jason Ridley Agency, Nationwide Insurance. As an office coordinator, she is responsible for organizing and attending local events, engaging the media across multiple social media platforms, developing content and managing the agency’s day-to-day operations. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma in  2013 with a degree in public relations. Strittmatter is a proud member of the PRSA Dallas Chapter and can be contacted at whitstritt@gmail.com or found on LinkedIn and Twitter.

November Twitter Chat Highlights: How to Succeed as a New Pro

Heather Sliwinski Leave a comment

Thanks to everyone who participated in the November #NPPRSA Twitter chat to kick off PRSA New Professionals Week, discussing how to succeed in marketing and public relations as a new professional. We encourage everyone to get involved with PRSA New Professionals Week, November 11-15, and discover helpful resources, such as the free webinar, “What Your Boss Wants from You but Won’t Tell You” on November 11 at 3 p.m. ET.

 

Join us again on Twitter in December for the final #NPPRSA Twitter chat of 2013.

Review highlights of the chat below. What did you learn from the November chat? How can you show initiative as a new professional? What are some good ways to use resources wisely and find new ones? How can you stay involved within your community?

 

Lauren RosenbaumLauren Rosenbaum is the co-founder of Soversity, a public relations and digital marketing company. You can connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter.