a Jacket will do the trick

We are what we wear. 

Do you subscribe to this saying?

I was reminded by a new colleague recently about the need to portray ourselves professionally at all times. 

'A jacket is all it takes', she said. 

This new colleague of mine is a nice lady who has had vast experience in the field of PR & communications. As we were discussing about some of the members of the team, she highlighted the fact that all marketing staff should have at least a proper jacket with them at all times. 

They are all good staff! What they probably need is to have a jacket with them. Just put on a jacket, and they are good to face their stakeholders', she said.  

It may sound superficial but i actually agree with her. 

Stakeholders in our case, are doctors, media and the front line staff. 

My colleague even highlighted the fact that most nurses and front line staff are professionally and appropriately dressed. As marketing & PR practitioners, we cannot afford to lose out in the wardrobe department.  I agree. 

This is a fundamental requirement for any aspiring marketer or PR professional. 

A jacket will do the trick. Invest in a decent outer wear, and you be surprised how it will help you 'elevate' your status and rank. 

I found myself believing in this after my conversation with her. Any thoughts?

A publicist

Just to clear the air on what a publicist does.

Extracted from Wikipedia.

A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book or film. Just like lawyers, most top level publicists work in private practice, handling multiple clients.

In the world of celebrities, unlike agents or managers, publicists typically take a monthly fee for serving a client (whereas agents and managers tend to take a percentage of their client's gross income). Publicists can be at local, regional or national level. They can also have special expertise in areas such as entertainment or literary publicity.

One of the publicist's main function is to generate press coverage on behalf of clients and to serve as the bridge between clients, their public and media outlets. A publicist writes press releases, manages campaigns and performs other public relations functions. It usually takes many years to develop the media contacts, experience and relationships necessary to be an effective publicist.

Some publicists specialize in representing 'ordinary' members of the public to procure the maximum possible fee for stories they wish to sell to newspapers, television stations and magazines.

An older meaning of the term is closer to pamphleteer: someone who circulates ideas by publishing them, perhaps in ephemeral forms.

Everyone needs Publicity!

Yes, Everyone needs publicity.

Mr Jackson Lim (not his real name) is a struggling teacher caught up in his busy daily routine, preparing his teaching materials, giving lectures and tutorials & mentoring students. After 8 years in the educational industry, he questioned whether he is recognised for his efforts in his school. He is a quiet person who don't neccesary get alot of attention from students or his peers. He wonders why he is not moving up the ranks after 8 years of teaching in a local secondary school.

Alison is an account servicing executive working in a local advertising agency. With all the good marketing qualifications she has, it's tough not to see her worth to her company. Sadly, even though she's been very hardworking, she's not getting the kind of recognition she needs and she attribute it to her lack of áirtime' in her organisation. The general manager of the agency knows Alison, but not a on very close term.

The above are two people I've met recently. They need áirtime'in their area of work. How do they generate publicity or interest for themselves? And how do they use PR to advance their career?

Will a little publicity make a difference in their career?

Stay tuned.

Passion is what you need in life

There are people who procrastinate and let the world pass. There are also passionate people who make things happen & work the world. 

Successful people make things happen through passion, hard work and determination. 

And even if there's this thing call luck, as Oprah Winfrey profoundly said, 'Luck is all about preparation meeting opportunity'. 

We need to prepare ourselves for that opportunity.  

Often times, we find ourselves whining and complaining why we are in a certain state of our life. We give all sorts of reasons and excuses on why we can't move forward.

I have met very  passionate and successful people who truly enjoy and believe in what they do. Actors, PR folks, Doctors, Entrepreneurs, to name a few. And one common trait which i found was that they all have a sense of purpose & vision in life - something keeping them alive and breathing. 

It's difficult to identify that trait if we do not prepare ourselves for greater things. 

We need to sit down and re evaluate what we really need and do to make things better. 

And as i ponder, I realise, its really passion which keeps me going in my life. It's the only thing i need at this point to breathe.