One definition of Public Relations I like most is the one by Frank Jefkins which says PR is deliberate, planned and sustained efforts to establish and maintain understanding between an organization and its publics.
The words deliberate, planned and sustained strike me as a key to the success for any endeavour.
For anyone who wants to make a success of his or her media career, I recommend a deliberate, planned and sustained strategy.
DELIBERATE
Many of us leave our career to chances and expect to succeed even when we don’t take the basic steps required of us.
Whether you like being a journalist or not, as long as you remain one, you have to deliberately have a road map for your media career journey.
Constantly ask yourself what kind of journalist you want to be and work hard at achieving your goals. Have a mission statement that will guide you in making career decisions.
Make a project of your career and your chances of succeeding will be very high.
PLANNED
Plan your career and have timelines and deliverables. You need to know if you are making career progress or not and know what you should do before it’s too late.
It is said that if you don’t know where you are going, everywhere you get to will look like your destination.
I enrolled for my Master’s degree in Mass Communication at the University of Lagos almost 20 years after my first degree from the same institution. I didn’t have to wait that long considering that I have always wanted to be a media trainer. I am glad I finally did and the certificate has opened a lot of doors for me.
SUSTAINED
Success not sustained can become a failure. Sustain whatever you are doing right and don’t become complacent. Think of better ways to exceed the expectations of your employers, clients and colleagues.
In a dynamic industry like the media, you cannot afford to rest on your oars.
Constantly remember the words of Gaye Tuchman, You are as good as your last byline.
Give your career the attention it deserves. What is worth investing precious years of your life it is worth not only doing, it’s worth a deliberate, planned and sustained the effort.
Please share with us and other readers your strategies for enhancing your media career.
Media Career Services
Email: info@mediacareerng.org /Telephone: 08023000621 /Twitter: @mediacareer
