Fight Overwhelm And Conquer PR

Are you feeling overwhelmed? And adding PR to your to-do list seems impossible for many reasons - but maybe it makes it even more overwhelming because you simply don’t know where to start? 

I thrive under pressure. It’s ideal for me to have too much to do in order to function at my best. My guess is some of you are in the same boat. However, there is a fine line between healthy, positive stress, and negative overload. So, how do we create or preserve that healthy balance?

As business owners, we are juggling a lot of things, often wearing all the hats. In my experience, if I’m feeling overwhelmed it’s usually because I’m not organized enough and I don’t have my priorities straight. Meaning, I’ve let my inbox fill to overflowing and my task lists (yes, plural) are spread out in a crazy combination of sticky notes and Google tasks. At that point, it seems impossible to add one more thing. And maybe you are there with me, even if your list management is not as chaotic as mine.

What’s a driven pro like us supposed to do? It all comes down to what’s important to you. I sit down every Sunday night to lay out my priorities for the week and every evening to plan the most important tasks I need to do the following day. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but it definitely helps to keep me on track.

As Jim Rohn said: “If it’s important you’ll find a way. If it’s not, you’ll find an excuse.” If you commit to PR, you’ll find the time and schedule it. That may seem harsh because you are busy, but it’s the truth. If you’re not ready, it’s okay, just realize that you’ll likely never be less busy.

You can gain control over your schedule and MAKE time for PR - and anything else that is a priority. Use these tips to set yourself up for success when you take on doing your own PR. 

• Make a decision. If you decide that PR is part of your business strategy, commit to it.
• Educate yourself on resources and options. 
• Talk to colleagues who are doing PR.
• Be prepared for a learning curve. No one was born a PR master!
• Schedule time on your calendar, regularly.
• Take action, consistently. 
• Be patient and don’t obsess over results, they will come.
• Get support: Find an accountability partner or group. 
• Get a coach. Call on a pro when you need one.
• Have fun!

Side note: This is assuming you are here because your business is not at a point where you can (or want to!) spend several thousand dollars a month on a PR agency or publicist. (Yes, that is how much it normally costs.)

Doing your own PR is not difficult, but it takes dedication. It’s about progress, not perfection. If you do commit to it, you may soon see placements like this most recent one from one of my Design PR Insiders. To land this article took work and patience, but the result is worth it. Do you agree?

P.S. If you are seriously thinking about PR but are not sure where to start, I am offering all my newsletter subscribers a no-strings-attached FREE consultation call to help you decide how to move forward. Simply leave a comment or message me to set it up.