I've always said that in the uncontrollable world of service firms and PR that we don't control much (the irony of course is that we'll all control freaks) -- our clients, their competitors, the government, the media, the people we reach out to -- but if we can contol ourselves we are way ahead of the game.
Why?
Because MOST PEOPLE DO NOT control themselves.
They don't think everything through before they present it. They don't really hone hone hone their work so that response is more likely. They don't research before they outreach. They don't keep on top of their reading, so they're a few steps behind. They think their plans will unveil in perfect lock-step order.
So if we prepare, if we think about contingencies, if we research, if we do good work, if we think ahead, and if we are flexible, and if we don't overreact when things don't go our way -- then we're ahead of the rest of the group.
And now it's even more important to control yourself. Because the world is topsy-turvy. The market is up; the market is down. The market is upper; the market is up and down in the same day. People are nervous. Thousands of people who never thought they'd have to worry about their six figure jobs lost them and are wondering what they'll be doing to bring home the bacon.
The next 18 - 24 months are going to be hairy. Service remains service; but the pressure is about to turn up. Clients will be under increased pressure to keep their own jobs. And it all rolls down hill.
Stay on the game; be flexible; control yourself and you'll win no matter what happens.
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