I received a great email from my VP Felicia Shiu last week. The eloquent text below was written and spoken by Bart J. Mindszenthy when he accepted a prestigious CPRS award a few weeks ago. She loved his speech so much she asked for a copy and shared this with the entire team here. This is a wonderful PR manifesto and brilliantly written. I wanted to share this with all of you. Enjoy!
Bart J. Mindszenthy, APR, Fellow CPRS, has been practicing public relations for close to 40 years. He is author of several books and with his partner manages The Mindszenthy & Roberts Corporation, a PR and training practice based in Toronto. Bart was one of the first to practice crisis management, and in 2006 received the CPRS Philip A. Novikoff Memorial Award.
Never take yourself too seriously, because if you do, there’s probably something seriously wrong with you.
When it comes to strategic communications thinking and behavior, your client—in house or out—is seldom right, and you have to charmingly guide that client into changing attitude, altitude and course. Over time, truth always will trump spin, conjecture, avoidance, denial, deceit, and lies. So plan accordingly and stay the course.
Believe and practice with passion the art and science of public relations. We can and do make a difference, despite way too many attempts to marginalize and trivialize our work. Never sell your soul. Dorian Grey and Faust lost out, and so eventually will you if you betray your core values.
The Golden Rule and the Scout’s motto really say it all when it comes to what we in PR seek to achieve. Remember them, and practice and preach them with rigor, vigor and conviction.
Don’t become hostage to your work. The price is too high: for you, and those you love and care about. I know and live the cost every day. I lost two kids I love and miss deeply because for too long during their early and impressionable years my focus was wrong.
Keep refortifying your mind. Read, watch, listen, debate, and expand your knowledge: there’s so much we don’t know, and there’s every reason to keep our minds agile.
Learn from failure and celebrate success. Each is a motivator we can use to forge ahead and ever improve.
You’re more than a just a communicator. If you’re really good, you’re also a coach, counselor, comedian, confessor, and confidant. You’re a critical asset delivering guidance and direction. You’re in there as part of the team, giving all you know and value.
And being that total, professional counselor brings a satisfying high that’s difficult to duplicate in any other way. So savor it, and grow as a result of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment