Does she have an extra hand....no thats just her phone

Last Wednesday Robert Martin from MM2 Public Relations came to our class and was speaking about the growing importance of smart phones. As I listened I kept thinking what’s so great about smart phones. Then I realized that my phone was not just a device that I used to call home every Sunday night, it has become an extra appendage of body. My blackberry is literally attached to my person at all times. It has become a kind of security blanket that links me to every aspect of my life.

As I pondered my dependency on this rectangle of metal and plastic I began to think about the days when people didn’t rely on their cell phones for the latest gossip or breaking news, the days when people received news at 5:00 pm everyday or heard the latest office scandal at the water cooler. This brought on the thought, are we too connected? Have we reached the point where we have become prisoners to technology?

Think about it, fifteen years ago when my parents left the office at five they went home, had dinner with my family and enjoyed a relaxing evening. Now, when they leave the office my mom and dad's phones are buzzing off the hook with emails from clients half way around the world, text messages from their employees or frantic phone calls from their assistants. They are never out of reach unless they literally throw their phones out the window, because heaven forbid they ever turn them off. I think because we rely so much on our phones and technology and this constant obsession of being connected we are depersonalizing our relationships, whether it be work or personal.

I know that I would be a huge hypocrite if I said that I wish we could revert back to the “water cooler” days because I love being constantly connected via my phone and other technology and I too am guilty of being a “crackberry” user, however I do wish I could find a balance between electronic and face-to-face conversation. I want to be able to see the expression on my friends face when they tell me what’s going on in their lives. Who knows if this is possible anymore with our dependency on technology, I guess maybe I need to invest in an Iphone so I can do “Facetime”…

p.s.

The irony of my dependency of my smart phone, is I thought it would be a good idea to do this from my Blackberry to further prove my point....It saved to drafts instead of posting...and I just noticed.. maybe smart phones aren't that great after all.

Behold the power of research!

The game of poker involves a little luck but a lot of skill, just like the world of PR. The PR world is dominated by expertise and strategic thinking, and that is why Burson-Marsteller is one of the best agencies in the business.

Mike Lake spoke to our class on Wednesday evening and explained what differentiated Burson-Marsteller from other agencies. He emphasized that their evidence-based approach allows them to not only tell their clients but show them the facts, which solidifies their campaign. The team at Burson-Marsteller makes it a point to be an expert in every campaign they run and embed their research in their messages.

The emphasis on research and strategy really got me thinking about my future jobs. Whether I go into the agency, corporate, or the political world of pr, research will be the foundation for my success. I don't know one intelligent thing about poker but as a PR professional I need to know when to hold em, fold em or ante up.

This ability to acquire such a vast amount of knowledge about various companies, products and people showed me how unique this industry is. In most professions you are an expert at your trade and it stops there. You have a limited supply of knowledge and you are expected to soak all of it up. In the world I am stepping in to, I will be able to become an expert at my craft and develop a knowledge base on a variety of different things. The possibilities in this profession are endless.

I believe with the evidence-based approach that as a PR professional our work is legitimized. Research is the foundation of this industry and it is the only way a newbie like me can succeed. With the tools of effective research and strategy a budding PR professional can become unstoppable.

Ohhhhh the Places You’ll Go………..

In my first blog I wrote about being unsure about what I want to do in communications and during our usual Wednesday evening class my mind was set at ease listening to Jennifer Little, Senior Vice President, & Ashley Maddocks, Account Executive, from Edelman. The two began with the usual, they spoke of their responsibilities and their day-to-day tasks but my ears perked up when they started talking about their journeys through the whirlwind career of public relations.

The two had different perspectives on the subject since Jennifer was in college during the age of typewriters and Ashley has just dived into her career. The contrast between the two was refreshing because I was able to see PR from the standpoint of a bright-eyed new specialist to someone who has successfully climbed the ladder. Sitting there, in the sub-arctic climate of our classroom, I was envisioning myself in the front of the class one day explaining to a room full of hopefuls how they too can achieve their dream job. But as my day dream began to unravel I started to realize that its not about the dream job or perfect career, it’s about the places you go and the experiences that shape you.

Recently, I’ve really been thinking about choices and how they affect every aspect of our lives, how each minor detail could be a stepping-stone to the next chapter. As I pictured myself literally jumping across a pond I thought about all of the times I’ve lost my balance or landed triumphantly. I thought about the experiences that led me to SMU and the experiences I am having right now that will lead me to something else.

I realized that the career path I will have in communications is not a set one. I don’t know what my first real job will be or my last. However, through the words of wisdom from Ashley and Jennifer I feel comfort in the fact that not knowing is ok. It’s ok to be unsure because as long as you build a strong network in your pond then you are at liberty to jump from stone-to-stone and hopefully end up where you belong.