2014: A Year of New Initiatives
It’s almost the end of the year. I usually write a “Trends in PR” or a “New Year’s Resolution” post. However, this year, I’ve decided to do something different. My post focuses on driving your own change / expansion by trying something new in 2014. I’m going to challenge you to step out of your comfort zone. Are you up for the challenge?
Every semester, I do a little exercise with my students to get them experimenting with new initiatives. I’d like to share the same video and exercise with you. Toward the end of my class (usually around week #12) I create a video that encourages students to try experience the unknown; some type of activity they’ve never participated in before. The goal of the exercise is to learn and grow, and then to teach someone else. For their exercise, they are encouraged to do something new related to PR and social media, from participating in a Tweet chat to Tech Testing different social media tools. Some of them join a new social community and others find opportunities by networking on LinkedIn.
The timing of this exercise is perfect because the students are also learning the characteristics of an influencer. Many of the influencers I know step out of their regular routine, are first to engage in new practices and they happily share experiences that are unique to them. I challenge you to do my little class exercise, which is discussed in the quick minute and a half video below.
Your new experience doesn’t necessarily have to be social media and PR related. You might want to go bigger and try a new life experience; something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the courage, drive or the determination to try. It’s almost the New Year and with every passing year, we have to grow and change by challenging our own “status quo.”
I hope you will take the time to reflect on what it is that you’ve always wanted to do, and take those steps to accomplish your goals in 2014. For example, last year I had quite a few firsts related to PR and social media … helping to develop a class for a PR Certificate program at Rutgers University, launching my 8 PR Practices website, and traveling to speak at exciting international destinations.
In 2014, we should all take the opportunity to expand our horizons. Only you know the outcome of this initiative; will you try something that brings you new knowledge or maybe a new activity, such as whitewater rafting or skydiving. Whatever it is, enjoy your experience and then take the time to share and educate your friends and peers.
Let me quote Chuck Norris who said, “I’ve always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in the way and you’ve got to have that drive and determination to overcome those obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish.”
Thank you, Chuck, for words to live by. So, now it’s time to go out and tackle. Do it now and don’t wait for another year to go by!
