5 life lessons learned in public relations

Work lives and home lives tend to be separate entities, but one can offer insight into the other, especially when your job involves working with people.

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Most of the tidbits you pick up on your way through the jungles of public relations can also be applied to everyday life. Here are five gems that I’ve embraced:

1. People are funny.

Whether you’re wheeling and dealing with another public relations pro or trying to win over a new client, the one thing in common you find is that people never fall into the stereotype or group they’re supposed to.

You’ll meet hardcore conservatives who are more open-minded than any clove-smoking liberal and very old men who enjoy nothing more than selling the latest technological advances. People rarely fall into the categories others think they should.

2. Words are important.

No matter your message, what you say is very important. Even more important is how you say it. The words you choose during your campaign can make or break the whole shebang, so it becomes increasingly apparent that every single word is crucial.

Always make sure that you always reconsider everything you write down. One slip can be disastrous, and those slips are often completely unintentional, made by someone who wasn’t aware what they were saying was offensive or misleading.

3. Making friends is better than making contacts.

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