It’s so interesting…On one hand most of us would name freedom to be one of top five necessities in life. However, it gets even more interesting once you discover that on the other hand, most of us do everything within our power to surround ourselves with boundaries. Hmmm, that’s a ‘thinker’, now isn’t it? The more I talked the subject over with friends, the more I noticed how addicted we are to our own self-acclaimed “comfort zone”. From work to house, from habits to family, from relationships to environment, we desperately try to create our own “safety grounds”. 

What fascinated me most is the fact that hardly anyone could properly explain to me why it is so. As when you ask, people tend to say they that it is their freedom that counts most of all. So should we distinct freedom versus security? Like saying: yep I love my freedom, as long as I am secure of this, this, that & that? Fun part being that the few people I met who thought otherwise had been extremely successful in life. Let’s call them the fearless freedom seekers. What they have in common is a rare trust in life. No matter what happens, life will be good. Well, that’s rather dare devilish, wouldn’t you say?! Yet, when I came to think of it, I had to admit that on the moments I had been in such a vibe, my life also turned out in a real fortunate way. 

Aha, now that was an interesting conclusion. As that wouldn’t mean a certain level of ‘carelessness’ could be beneficial. Or? Well, giving it a bit more thought, it turned out to be that it’s not about being careless, yet it is more about trust. Ok, fine but trust in what? Than it popped my mind: that good old trust in the fact that no matter what happens, everything will turn out for the best. Yep, vague as can be! As that still sounds way to easy for my taste. It’s like putting yourself in a kind of complete surrendence towards the outside events.

 

So it was time for some decent self-exploration. When have I been most successful? A few letters came to mind… T.R.U.S.T.! That was it! I never needed this so called ‘security’, I always wanted to taste freedom to the fullest, but the one binding structure had always been trust! Trust in the fact that no matter what happened I could coop with it; trust in the fact that things will turn out in a good way, as long as I dared to rely on myself. 

If business at times doesn’t run the way we want it to, both my business partner & I, conclude that it will soon turn for the best. At that point we ‘let it go’, sure of the fact that it will. Guess what? It always does! What if it wouldn’t? Now, I first of all prefer never to think of doom scenarios, and if that occasionally does happen, I push those thoughts away. Simply by telling myself that it’s a waste to think that way. Secondly: what if? Somehow throughout life, I’ve always been able of convincing myself that no matter what, I would survive. What is the worst that could happen? I can always serve coffee in a restaurant. Case closed.

Now where is the link between ‘freedom’ and the trust I’m talking about? Well, once you dare to get out of the restrictions you have built for yourself, lose the scare of losing your comfort zone, the world becomes an endless ‘playground’ filled with opportunities! 

A great example is my friend Anna. She lost her business and moved across the country to work as a waitress in a hotel. She is a divorced mom, who had to take care of her 4 year old. I was there the day that the hotel was taken over by a new owner. Her friend who also worked there was all shook up and kept advising Anna on what to wear, what to say and what to do, in order to make a good impression on the new owner. Anna listened, yet continued to trust on her instincts. She by now knew, that no matter what happened she would survive. Due to her previous experiences and setbacks in life, she no longer knew the scare of being drawn out of her comfort-zone. Her ‘what if’ issue, had no other answer to it than “we’ll see”. Guess what? Now, two years later, Anna has made a flourishing career. Not only did she end up managing the hotel, she’s about to be the proud owner of her own hotel. 

What does this teach us? Well, I have to say that Anna’s story is not the only one I know. And the more exploring I did, the more it made me realize that this openness towards life, this trust on “Que sera, sera/Whatever will be, will be”, plus a loyal believe in the fact that all will be all right and the trust in yourself to be able to handle all, with a willingness to make the whole world your comfort-zone and a dash of the ‘nothing to lose’ spirit, seems to be doing the trick… And once again, beneath it all lays the skill to silence your ongoing mind on possible scenarios and truly listen to your heart. Yep, it’s a challenge, but I can guarantee you, once you get the hang of it, face your fears and defeat them, life might have some super nice treats for you!

C’est tout! See you back soon for another wild ride along the planet of endless opportunities…

 

For now remember just one more thing:

 

“True freedom can only be reached when you set yourself free of self- acclaimed boundaries”

Back in the days it was the thing to do: open a fashion store. Times faded and next thing you know, people wanted to become a make-up artist. Few years pass, tv gets its grip and guess what: singing & performing is the hottest business in the world. However at the same time, the other half of the planet started a web shop. Not long after the Blog-phenomena entered the cosmos. And somewhere along those lines, my own profession also became the cool thing to do. Public Relations, that is indeed a so-called hype-profession, nowadays.

Don’t get me wrong here, as I kind of like it in a strange, slightly twisted way. Because hey, at least I hardly ever have to explain the word PR to a total stranger anymore. Even the butcher around the corner knows what it is. That is, people have somewhat of a clue. And there lies the key, as PR might be a hyped profession at the moment, yet the majority of ‘outsiders’ doesn’t really know what it is all about. And yes, although we too highlight our ‘activities’ throughout this blog, our weekly Photo Diary online, etcetera, yet that is mainly what we offer you to see, as that’s the part you were looking for.

Did you read the blogs in which I told you about our 24/7 non-stop work lives? And that they are not all about champagne & caviar? That fashion in our lives is not about shopping? And that we too have ‘boring’ stuff to do? Oh yes, I love it, as to me the vibe of these dynamics is the thing that keeps me going, continuously creating and passionately searching for the best ways to make both our clients & the media happy. As the results in the end, do matter most.

Now the word competition does not exist in my vocabulary. As most of our colleagues in this business are well-trained professionals with their own identities and I respect them in all aspects. My theory on that is very simple: choose who fits your brand best. No person, therefore no company is the same. And in PR it is of the uttermost importance that a brand and the pr-agency have a connection in order to cooperate in a way that works out to the highest level for both of them.

What I do regret at this very moment is the ‘leisure’ attitude. I see tweets of bloggers saying “Anyone can do PR, it’s simply a matter of getting email addresses. That is all.” On top the new agencies start rising as mushrooms in a misty forest. And yes, there is space enough in this line of work. But please, dear starters I do beg you to take this business seriously. Again, the champagne and caviar might sound attractive and we’ve all seen Miss Cutrone. Yet the amount of horror stories keep on rising just as quickly as the forenamed mushrooms do.

Nearly every week a new client comes walking into our offices with some dreadful experience they had in PR. Well, I can hear you say that this is to our benefit. And right you are. But for those who know me: I grant everyone a piece of joy. So dear dear newcomers to this market, make sure you know your story well. If you dream of the glamour and the glitter, seeing dollar signs reflecting in your eyes, don’t do it, get yourself a fancy job. If you believe you run the media, think twice, as we depend on them and not vice versa. Treat them with the respect they so deserve. Being in this business doesn’t make you more special, than the girl next door. It’s a job and a damn serious one too!

Work is never about bragging what you are all about. Here I go repeat myself again: it is about passion for the work itself. That one ticket to the Vogue launch does not add a thing to your status or who you are. It is a professional virtue and yes it is cool. But again it adds nothing to your personality, neither does it make you a better person, your network is the key to all.

 

Do you really figure me to be out having lunches in cool places every single day? I sure have to disappoint you, as nine out of ten times I eat in front of my laptop at night. As that is pure reality. Seeing our clients being successful, out there known by many, spreading the story of their product, that is what makes my heart tick. We are the mediators who help tell their story to the world. And yes it is the coolest of all professions, at least that counts for me. But it is never about me or how I see myself by doing so. That is how things should be, at least from my point of view. Call me Mary, Kate or Sandra, name me anything, as it doesn’t matter, I am but a businesswoman, who happens to love her job.

Yes, I can see you thinking: she’s a blog, a fashion collection and so on. Correct and that is what I stand for: I follow my every dream. Why I share it goes beyond ego, better said, it’s the opposite. Deeply hidden in my soul lives this “Buddhist on High Heels” who is a sharing creature, who loves to reach out a helping hand wherever she can. In this case I use the tools I have to inspire others, wherever possible within my knowledge and experience, nothing more and nothing less.

 

In my eyes ‘success’ comes with a certain responsibility. The responsibility of sharing knowledge, saying: hey, you too can do this, let me give you a few hints. Take them if you need them, just feel free to take a bite out of this experience pie. Go get your goals and make them happen, but never forget to truly enjoy the essence of it all. Behind the golden layer lies a 24h job. The golden layer is the bonus, not the other way around. Once you see that and still hear that melody bouncing within your heart, go for it… with your whole heart!

C’est tout! See you back soon for another mysterious walk along the beaches of the PR-jungle I tend to call my life…

For now, just remember one more thing:

“Enjoy every single step you take, as those are the footprints that will last the longest. Once you get there, they stop too.”