20 November 2008

Remarkable!

Yesterday, Purdue's PRSSA chapter had the privilege of listening to Kevin Eikenberry, a two-time best selling author, speaker, consultant, trainer, and Chief Potential Officer of the Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company based in Indianapolis.

Kevin's message centered on the value of getting involved during our time in college. He emphasized that deciding to take this leap will improve our lives, both in the present and in our future.

Through his work as a consultant, Kevin emphasizes that each of us is remarkable (thus the remarkable wrist band above that he handed out), and it is only a matter of recognizing and utilizing our individual skills before we will truly succeed.

One thing he mentioned that particularly struck me is this: "Leadership is not a title, and it's not about power - it's an action!" He encouraged us to 1) look for a way to help an organization we are interested in, 2) recognize that we are capable of helping and commit to do doing so, and 3) TAKE ACTION!

An interesting side note: in a personal conversation, he said that the use of technology and social networking tools, such as blogging and Twitter, are essential in today's world. Furthermore, Kevin said that it would be a great idea for a grad with an eye towards the future to start a personal blog. It serves as a fantastic opportunity to meet professionals, to learn more by following other blogs, and is a great way for a potential employer to get to know you. Just a thought!

Want to know more about Kevin? Check out his blog!
http://www.kevineikenberry.com/blogs/index.asp

14 November 2008

Half Day with a Pro


College: an excellent opportunity.

Internships: essential.

Contact with Public Relations professionals: priceless!



The annual “Half Day with a Pro” event sponsored by Hoosier PRSA was extremely successful, as I’m sure is the case each year. This being my first time attending, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Coming out of the experience, I would recommend it to anyone considering it next year.

I met with a professional named Gail Payne, APR, who has had broad experience in the PR field. She began by working with law firms, then was employed by non-profit organizations, and has recently started her own business in Indianapolis called “The Goods.”

What I experienced was truly beneficial. I learned much more about various opportunities in the job market today, about what employers are looking for in grads, and what skills are most beneficial to have before leaving college. These professionals are doing us a favor by offering their time and advice, and every PRSSA member should take advantage of it!

Those of you who went: how was your experience? Let me know!