Mobile Shelter

I sent the following quote out to my Daily Quotes list yesterday:

“Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in advanced age, and if we do not plant it while young, it will give us no shade when we grow old.” - Phillip Chesterfield (1694 - 1773)

It’s good stuff – wise.  And, it applies to life, here and now, especially in PR. With all that is going on with Social Media, many long-time PR pros are missing the “good old days” of huge trade shows like Comdex, going to media parties (and having dozens of editors to pitch). An associate of mine said as much yesterday.

My friend’s statement is a comment on how PR and marketing communications as a whole is changing or maybe expanding, and, for those people who continually educate and re-educate themselves, it’s an exciting time. For those who haven’t kept up with the changes or who are working with clients that haven’t, it’s more of a struggle. 

I personally like the more one-on-one nature of blogging AND reaching out to those editors and reporters who are still out there. I’ve always endorsed sharing customer stories. It’s a good time for me. I’m learning everything I can now. Not to oversimplify, but it’s a matter or changing one’s mindset from “pitching” to “sharing.” 

Knowledge is it. To reference another quote, “Knowledge is power.” Ramp up on and USE the new technologies to gain knowledge. These days it’s a mobile shelter that gives us shade even as we grow old.

DSJC.