When I read the above quote from a 42-year public relations industry veteran upon his retirement, my jaw dropped and my blood boiled.
To be fair the 72-year old pro was pointing to a career achievement that made a positive impact and will serve as his legacy. He was saying that making a positive impact is more important than your day job – regardless of your industry. But after 42 years in the public relations industry, would you want this to be your last quote in the last graph of your last story while on the job?
Whether or not I take his quote out of context, I guess my point is that if you have passion for what you do, keep doing it…well. If you want respect for what you do, earn it and then pay it forward to those earning that same respect from you.
And at the risk of sounding like Stuart Smalley, let’s step into 2009 fully aware of what we’re facing. It will be (much) harder than years past, full of change at a minimum. But we'll come out of it stronger and smarter than before. "Do not go gentle into that good night."
For 2009 lets be “here today and better tomorrow. That means something.”
The Neo Monoliths of Chicago uploaded by Stuck in Customstags | public relations | PR | media relations | media | advertising | marketing
"if you have passion for what you do, keep doing it…well. If you want respect for what you do, earn it and then pay it forward to those earning that same respect from you."
...this sounds like a more appropriate last quote.
I agree with you...why go out on a sour note?
Posted by: Robin | 12/31/2008 at 08:05 AM
Dude, it's pwn. Seriously.
Posted by: Lally | 01/04/2009 at 09:27 PM