The PR Writer - 12/12/2006

by Gloria

My favorite part of the amazing Speaking of Women’s Health conference this past weekend was the rousing speech at the end of the day by Essence Magazine’s long-time advice columnist Dr. Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant.

Gwendolyn’s topic was “Women Who are MAD: Making A Difference,” and believe me, that fiery lady had 600 women in the ballroom at the North Raleigh Hilton dancing, waving our hands in the air and shouting affirmations before she was through! Her energy was intense and infectious. At one point she asked the audience, “If you were arrested for being kind to yourself, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

All of us need to hear uplifting messages like Gwendolyn’s — messages about the power of positive thinking (she held up the book and urged us to read it) and how not to waste a thousand dollars of emotion on a 5 cent irritation. “What you’re looking for is inside you,” Gwendolyn told the audience.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this principle lately and how it relates to PR. The secret is that almost everyone looks outside of themselves for answers, while all the time, the real answers exist inside you. Spiritual gurus call this “The Lost Diamond in Your Pocket.” No marketing guru, no consultant and no expert can retrieve this jewel for you. You can only do it for yourself. You have the answers. It’s the difference between being inner-directed rather than being directed by others.

Highly successful people are inner-directed. Think of Oprah. Madonna. Donald Trump. Tiger Woods. These people shine with one-of-a-kind uniqueness. That doesn’t mean they never had a mentor—in fact, most successful people have had superlative mentors. But to grow into the person you are meant to become, you must finally outgrow even your mentor.

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