By Rose Flood
Anyone that knows me knows that I’m very fond of my pet cat, Phantom. He’s an entertaining little dork that never fails to provide good material for a funny story. But how does a cat connect to PR? I started to imagine how he might interpret some of the advice that I’ve received and started to put into action over the past year, and I honestly see a link.
Be Curious
What it means to Phantom:
Definitely knock those Dr Pepper cans down the stairs to see what happens.
What it means to me:
Well this one’s a Cardinal Communications House Rule. It’s hard for me to put myself out there, but I’ve learned just how important it is to reach out and ask questions. In the past few months even, I’ve connected with a few different public relations professionals just to get an idea of what it is I’m getting into. Not only am I gaining new knowledge, but some have been kind enough to connect me with other people in the business. It’s been one of the more rewarding things I’ve ever done.
Let Your Voice Be Heard
What it means to Phantom:
Shout until somebody pays attention to you.
What it means to me:
Don’t shout, but speak up. I’m a quiet person, who’s more used to stepping back and letting others take the lead. In the past year, I’ve learned the importance of letting my thoughts and wishes be heard. I’ve learned that even though I’m willing to be flexible on something, I don’t have to let that be known in case my chances of getting what I want are lessened. My voice is just as important as anyone else’s.
Rock The Boat A Little Bit
What it means to Phantom:
Knock literally everything from the shelf onto the floor.
What it means to me:
If you have an idea, let it be heard. Don’t let the awful “This is the way we’ve always done things” phrase scare you. The speakers we’ve had so far this year at PRSSA meetings have talked about how it’s possible to implement gradual change. New ideas are what can get you noticed. They’re how you can show initiative.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help
What it means to Phantom:
You haven’t figured out how to open the food container on your own… yet…
What it means to me:
Group projects can be scary, especially for someone like me. I’m the type of person who is very shy until I’m comfortable with somebody, so when I’m thrown into a situation with a bunch of new people, I tend to freeze up and revert back to my high school self by taking on literally all of the work myself. That’s not good for anyone. It’s okay to ask for help. Learning how to work in a group is one of the greatest things I think I’ve learned in this past year. Learning how to say, “I think I might need some help with this,” shows maturity in my book.
Be Punctual
What it means to Phantom:
Run literally everywhere. Leap if necessary.
What it means to me:
Be on time. I’ve always been the type of person that’s fifteen minutes early to everything, but I feel like this was emphasized once I joined Cardinal Communications. There’s just something to be said for arriving early and having that extra time to collect yourself before the work begins. I actually started as a theater major here, and I do love the motto they had there: “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, you’re fired.”
Don’t Be Afraid To Take That Leap
What it means to Phantom:
If you wiggle your butt enough times, you WILL make that jump to the highest shelf.
What it means to me:
Don’t let anxiety stop you from trying new things. This has been a major struggle for me my entire life. I was afraid to attend my first PRSSA meeting as a regular member back in 2015. I didn’t have any confidence in my abilities as a professional, and it wasn’t good. Luckily, I had a few people in my life that had huge amounts of faith in me that encouraged me every step of the way. Ignoring all anxiety, I applied for Cardinal Communications in January and got in on the first try. I pushed myself to work as hard as I could that entire semester, and I even tried to make myself branch out to make more friends (still a bit of a work in progress). Then in April, much to my surprise, I ran for PRSSA secretary and was elected to that position. If I’m being totally honest, I’m still pretty stunned to this day. That’s all my long way of saying that you can’t be afraid of taking chance. Some of the best things in your life will come from stepping outside of your comfort zone.
So even if you aren’t a cat person, I hope you take some of this advice to heart. If you are a cat person, definitely let me know and we can chat about PR, cats, or PR cats some time.
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