As a newly minted PR professional working in corporate America, I was very eager to show my worth. As a junior person on a team, I was frustrated at getting only minor, thankless tasks that didn’t let me prove my true value. When I complained to a senior colleague about a particular project, with a touch of self-pity in my voice, he looked me straight up and gave me advice that changed the course of my career: “Sharon,” he said, “you can either look at this as a ‘dump job,’ or as a really important opportunity. Whatever it is, give it your best. Make it shine. And success will follow.”
That was about 30 years ago, and I have been fortunate enough to learn the value of the lesson that I was offered. Throughout my career, I have worked with hundreds of clients and have been privileged to share the passion of dedicated people and organizations who are deeply committed to working on meaningful issues and making a difference in the world.
To give it my best—to really make it shine—I need to work with the best people; people who share my values and my commitment to excellence. I have to work in a culture of support, in which our team members see that a major part of our work is to build each other up and help each other shine.
In 2023, I was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter. Click here to read more about the honor.
