Being thrown into the world of public relations is like a child learning how to ride a bike. It will take time to get up and balance, you will fall down, and eventually, you will succeed. Public relations is a field unlike any other. When you are the backbone to a person or organization upholding its mission, you have a risky yet great responsibility to get the job done.
Beginning your journey into the PR world will take time to get up and find balance. There are many aspects to consider when it comes to the needs of your clients. The job must be done to the best of your ability and ensures that the expectations of your clients are met. You will have to learn the ins and outs of the person or organization, build a strategic plan to meet their needs, and finally execute. You may find yourself a bit overwhelmed at first, or feeling as though you are failing. But with that, practice makes perfect!
Throughout your journey navigating PR, you will find yourself falling at times, but that does not mean it is time to give up. Occasionally, your ideas and content generation will not meet the wants or needs of your client, and that is when you work strategically to discover a new solution. In order to build yourself up as a PR expert, you will fall quite a few times. It may feel frustrating, but just know that you are improving with each and every mistake you make.
Finally, you will succeed and cruise smoothly. Once you understand the expectations of your clients, it is a smooth ride from there on out. If it is a political client, you will know the media outlets that work best with their campaign. If it is a nonprofit organization, you will know where to find compassionate and generous donors. If it is event management, you will know the best venues and services to host an event to the likes of the Great Gatsby. It only takes a few months of practice and getting yourself back up to realize that you are equipped with what it takes to be an expert in the public relations world.
When navigating the PR world, never give up. Get yourself back up from the fall and continue to push through so that you can cruise through your journey smoothly. It will take time, but it all pays off in the end.
-Matt