CPRC Hint: Growth and learning opportunities plentiful in PR

Submitted by Kara Winton, APR, CPRC

No one wants a static career, but without a little effort, it’s easy to be lulled into a sense of complacency. The more experience you acquire, the more comfortable you feel and the greater the tendency to do things the same way day in and day out.

However, one of the great things about the PR industry is that it’s always changing and evolving, and new and exciting ways of communicating are always around the corner. Fortunately for PR practitioners, opportunities to learn, grow and expand your PR toolbox abound.

I challenge you to take advantage of the many opportunities to infuse your career with enthusiasm. For me, the best example of this was when I pursued my Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). I remember sitting down fearful of “book learning,” but getting up with a new sense of excitement. I experienced the same thrill when I pursued my CPRC.

So, try one of these ideas on for size:

• Find a mentor. The Southwest Florida PR community is SO supportive, and there are always people willing to help. Reach out to a senior PR practitioner and ask him/her to lunch.
• Attend monthly FPRA luncheons and special events. It’s easy to sign-up for luncheons on a topic directly relevant to your job. But how about attending a monthly meeting that sounds a little less relevant?
• Attend FPRA’s state conference. This year’s it’s just around the corner in Naples! What better way to add excitement than to hear about what other practitioners are doing around the state?
• Pursue APR or CPRC. Sure it’s a commitment of time and energy, but I promise if you embrace the process you will walk away both with fancy letters behind your name and a new appreciation for why you love PR.
• Sign up for a college course or two. Take advantage of the plentiful colleges and universities in Southwest Florida and enroll for a class on a topic that interests you.
• Pursue a graduate degree. Better yet, why not work on a master’s degree? In addition to local options, online learning makes graduate education available at your fingertips.

The list goes on and on, but the important thing is making a move. Don’t be content with simply doing your job well … find a way to add some excitement to your daily task list. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Kara Winton, APR, CPRC has more than 19 years of media and public relations experience, and recently embarked on her newest career as a full-time mother and part-time graduate student. She has served FPRA in several capacities and currently is accreditation co-chair.