One and half years in the industry...

It is Saturday night and here I am having the time of my life sitting at my apt and writing this blog. Well, I, sadly enough, find this better than having to develop a press release for my company's event.

Wait a minute, I am not a procrastinator (Okey, maybe sometimes) - but in my defense, this very assignment came last minute as in yesterday. Heck, I already tried to talk my way out of it - but of course, they always managed to talk my way back to it. To be fair, I don't want to be responsible for any mishap in any message communicated to outside world.

Thus, you find me here - writing this blog, only because I just finished in developing and approving my own press release in two hours time! Achievement!

Well, that's just the thing about being in the communication industry, I realize. Though, I have to admit that I am no where close to be an expert in the industry - so any views expressed here are purely based on personal experience, if not- imagination.

I like the industry - it is restless and always keeps my feet on the ground. You get to meet different walks of life and even give your-so-called-expertise to the people who's higher in world's hierarchy and smarter than you, only because you have more field experiences than them.

It is the land of bullshiting - but evidence based and expectation managed type of bullshits. (My previous PR agency taught me well).

And often time, you will be required to make the impossible- possible with the art of communication... (I will explain this in further details some other time otherwise I get you and myself bored)

PR industry is an interesting industry and never in my life that I thought I would be interested in this field, if you asked me two years ago.

I was all about being a journalist and author - but in reality, in the country where those professions face more challenges than opportunities and having to realize that not many people want to read about my sea of emotions in newspapers, I decided that taking this job as it would be quite a challenge for me.

-I get bored rather easily so constant challenge and new things are vital(if you havent known me well enough)-

It took me awhile to finally say no to the offer to working in Malaysia in a news NGO and yes to the offer of becoming a PR. The question of "should I follow my idealism or fall to reality?" was the center of my contemplation.

On one hand, I wanted to help people and made the world a better place (surprise!) but on the other hand, this PR job offered new challenge and new world. I would get to learn about new things with better pay and less life threat!

I should tell you first, it was my dream to go to Afghanistan or Iraq or Iran and report from there....

And after my trusted friend advised, "You have done journalism for almost two years, learn something new and if you dont like it, you can go back to be a journalist!" - I was sold with the thought that I could still be a journalist if I didnt like the job.

But as you may see, here I am - one and half years in the PR industry and have worked with two companies already.

Trust me when I say, Life takes you places and introduces you to people you'd never thought.

I started falling in love with the industry - see, I am a bit hesitant to use any strong word i.e. Love.. because I know that people change and I change, so I dont want to jenks it and being held accountable in the future when I decide to leave the industry.

But anyway, so far, the industry has treated me kind. Of course, there is some hiccups here and there - but hey, you'll find it anywhere else.

But I am not your typical PR though who looks and talks sweet. I dont do that. I appear presentable - even look more presentable when there's cute guy (FOCUS!) and I always try my best to have-evidence based kind of bullshit - I dont offer promises if I cant deliver, I dont suck up to people, etc. In fact, as I quote from my friend, "I am too straightforward for a PR person"

Oh well... I think it's important to stay true and have your own flavor in any career that you do - because that will make you happy and set you apart from your peers.

I think being happy in everything that you do is very important and that is something that money cant buy. So-called-a-friend-of-mine said that like happiness, everyone can be bought and I was the example of 'being bought' by my new company.

Yes, the very new career bought me... but they bought me with new and clear career opportunity - in any case, people only wants to move up (my ego is speaking).

AND

No, not everyone can be bought with money. I might not always be the best example - so I will only use all great people in the world e.g. Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, or even my new friend who's in his humble life adopts 12 children from different places that hit by disasters - as living proof that not everyone can be lured by money.

-Sometimes people's opinion can just take you by surprise-

Anyway, beyond my expectation, as a PR, I could also channel my longing to write. Be it press release, case study, white paper, etc... Of course, I would rather bitching in my blog than writing about some strange topics that I wouldnt pay attention in life e.g. agriculture, sharia banking, etc...

BUT, as many journalist and legit authors agree - writing can just take you places and introduce you to new world. I think, constant learning can only make one better.

Anyway, to summarize this non-important-blogpost, this PR industry is a career solution for my life imperfection... and this blog is my canal for my longing to write, bitching about the world and catering to my sea of emotions!

So far, it works fine.

And if you asked me if you have the exact career that you want...well I would say, if it makes you happy and willingly sacrifice your Saturday night to catch up on some works, I'd say you might already find the one, well for now. ;)


With hope and love,
Chat