PR lessons from Mahatma Gandhi

The holidays are an important reminder to thankful for what we have in both our personal and professional lives.

In the spirit of that, let’s reflect on our accomplishments this year with a few quotes from Mahatma Gandhi. Here’s how they can inspire all PR pros to be better communicators:

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

Being “of service” to journalists will deepen your relationships with them—and with your clients. Here’s an example, from an encounter between AirPR’s Rebekah Iliff and a Fishman Public Relations account executive.

In her email, the executive said she had noticed that Iliff often writes about PR analytics and women-owned businesses. Because of that, her pitch included a list of female entrepreneurs and their various expertise.

Iliff uses the email anytime she seeks a source. The account executive’s approach was irrefutably service-based and more successful because of it.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

We must lead by example.

If we want more PR pros to measure their efforts with effective metrics we should ditch our vanity metrics for PESO strategies. Recognizing PR data bias can speed up your progress and encourage more data-driven campaigns.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

PR isn’t easy or glamorous—despite how it might seem at the end of the successful event or media briefing.

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Many PR pros regularly deal with rejection. The more we work at it, though, the more successful we will become.

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”

Most of us probably didn’t get into PR for the money. We chose this field because we are passionate storytellers who believe in the power of advocacy. The real “wealth” comes from shedding light on something or someone incredible. We are motivated by PR’s many challenges, not by its monetary rewards.

Leta Soza is the director of PR engineering and operations for AirPR. A version of this article originally appeared on AirPR’s blog.

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