Goal setting: founding and following my PR path

Looking back on four years of college, I now understand the power of setting goals. Yes, goal setting is empowering. When I was young, I kept things pretty simple in the goal-setting category. After being accepted to the University Honors program at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, I immediately set my sights up graduating with a GPA of 3.5 or above. This number is the cutoff criteria for graduation from the program, so it seemed like a great baseline.

I wrote this goal down and began my mission. Each and every academic step I took and decision I made reflected this goal. Some classes I knew my highest potential was a B, others I knew I was slacking if I didn’t get an A; but each end-of-semester grade report exposed my measuring stick and told me how I was doing.

My next big goal became clearer as I progressed on the path of becoming a young PR professional and demanded more out of myself. After being cemented at three different PR internships, I set my sights on the best. My goal was to land a PR internship at a world-leading, prestigious and global public relations agency. Heck, look back at one of my first posts at on the PR path.

Landing an internship at Burson-Marsteller, a top ten PR agency worldwide, was my ultimate goal. I got to the final stages of the long interview process in 2009, only to be rejected due budget shortfalls. I could have pouted or been mad, but I used the rejection as a motivator to continue working toward my goal.

Landing an internship with Burson became my mission, my goal and my passion. I set up Google alerts to follow the company every day, and constantly brainstormed ideas for how my application might stand out from the 800 other young PR professionals who applied.

A year later in 2010, I applied and was accepted into the program. I start June 7 in Chicago’s public affairs practice. What an amazing feeling to follow a goal, dedicate yourself to making it happen and realizing that goal. Fulfilling goals is a feeling unlike any other and just when you think a goal might be out of your reach, it may just be closer than ever. Set goals, work hard and never doubt your determination. By the way, I did graduate with above a 3.5 GPA, checking off another goal on my professional pursuits.

What goal-setting success stories have you had on your path to becoming a young PR professional? Please share!

Welcome fellow #happo participants!

Thanks for finding your way to my blog. This space is meant to provide useful tips and insight for asipiring public relations professionals. Browse around, read a few posts and let me know what you think.

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Thanks for looking, comments are always appreciated!

Shane

PR is a way of life

I have always loved to write. Even those academic papers that so many students dread – I’m the kid that looked forward to meticulously crafting my words to signify meaning. So, during my freshmen year of college journalism seemed to be the most logical major.

Selecting a major is a huge leap of faith. You select what you trust and what you feel is right, knowing that if you’re wrong you could screw up your potential career (and drain lots of cash down the toilet). Looking back I’m confident in my choice, but journalism is hugely different than what I ever imagined it to be – and I've really reconsidered my future career ever since.

I didn’t have some huge revelation, it was more of a slow realization that this area called public relations makes so much sense for who I am. In selecting public relations, I understand that I get to write a lot. I understand that crafting words and communicating are essential. I understand that building trusting relationships are the backbone of this profession.

My realization percolated throughout various odd jobs I held in college. Oddly enough, these jobs have helped me understand that building relationships, being honest and communicating are not just essential in public relations, but important in living a fulfilling life (I don't mean to get philosophic).

I worked at a casual Southwest Grille as a server during my freshmen year of college. Most of the employees were college students, so I looked forward to fitting in and making new friends. But I went about it the completely wrong way. I had some issues with a few co-workers and felt the need to made a rude comment to one of them my first month at the restaurant. Turns out this person had been at the restaurant a long time and was highly respected among her co-workers.

This person uttered words to me that I will never forget, words that I now frequently preach, “It's not a good idea to burn bridges with people.” The following months at the restaurant were miserable because I decided to burn a bridge with the wrong person. My co-workers thought I was arrogant, short-tempered and disrespectful. I soon apologized, but I could tell the damage had already been done.

From that moment on, I understood how important building relationships and respecting people can be. At the time I didn’t think it was a big deal but looking back I understand the huge lesson I learned. Building and maintaining relationships the right way can really advance your career in ways you have never imagined.

In my next post I’ll discuss how relationships can positively impact your path to success. I’ll talk about how NOT burning bridges and holding your tongue can really help you move toward your goals and help you be successful. I will discuss some of the benefits of relationships and how they can positively impact you as a student and as you enter the workplace.

Conversation:
What motivated you to pursue a career in public relations? Why is public relations the career for you? How did you make up your mind to pursue the career you are pursuing? What is the significance of building and maintaining relationships in public relations?