When Grades Don’t Matter

Many students aren’t unlike myself and pass through their courses in college by doing what is listed on the syllabus and not much more. I’m not one to deny the fact that I have written a term paper the hour before it’s due, which left me with very little time to edit my paper and to actually put some real thought into it. However, I would receive a passing grade and most likely an A, which allowed me to get into the habit of doing the bare minimum.

This has trained me to just get the assignment accomplished on the due date and not actually put a lot of effort into making it perfect. At Eisbrenner, I have learned this isn’t the right attitude to have. It’s important to look at every piece of work you turn in and really figure out why you are working on the assignment, because it’s no longer for a grade, but for a client. Clients expect your work to be perfect and why shouldn’t they since they’re paying for your services.

The work I’m doing isn’t about just turning it in on a due date to get the check mark in the grade book, but it’s about using my skills and knowledge to make the end product the best it could possibly be.

So, the lesson for today is to realize the importance of the work you do and how important it is to insist excellence in everything you do, even if you think it’s menial.

Importance of Keeping Your Word

Commitments are a very crucial part of any personal or professional relationship. When giving your word, it’s important to follow through. If you choose not to meet your commitments eventually you will lose credibility and integrity.

Recently, I’ve been planning an event with the Public Relations Student Society of America and there has been some struggle getting everyone on the same page. Everyone has clearly delegated roles in the planning and execution of the event, as well as distinct deadlines for when each task is due.

By signing up to be on the executive board of PRSSA, my teammates and I made a commitment to the organization, the advisors, the members, the university, the alumni and the other teammates. When commitments aren’t kept, everyone is let down and the organization suffers.

Therefore, I believe making and keeping commitments are what makes a person reliable and responsible. It allows others to trust you and lets them know you respect them. I personally strive to meet every commitment I make and wish more people would think before giving their word.

Just so you don’t make the same mistakes as my fellow PRSSA members, I thought I would share a few of my tips on how to keep your word:

1. Don't commit to something you don't think you can do or don’t want to do.

2. Look at your schedule and put the task in perspective before saying yes. If you know you won’t have time in the long run to finish the task, say no!

3. Always take notes on what you said you were going to do.

4. Follow up with the person you made the commitment to. Even if there isn’t much progress letting them know you’re still on their radar will reassure them that you haven’t forgotten about the task at hand.

5. If something comes up and you can no longer keep your commitment, it’s your responsibility to cover the task until the appropriate measures are taken to get the task accomplished.

Remember keeping your commitments determines how people perceive you, so choose wisely before saying yes to your next commitment.

Computers: Good vs. Evil

Sometimes I think computers have minds of their own and they are all conspiring together to take over the world! You might be thinking I’ve been watching too many bad 80’s movies and I am taking it out on computers, but let me explain a couple reasons why I’ve adopted this theory before you think I’m insane.

My first experience, which led to my computer uprising theory, was when my laptop hijacked my meeting notes for my Public Relations Student Society of America meeting on Monday. I had been typing and saving the notes throughout the meeting. I was thinking how fantastic computers were for making note taking so much easier and before I could finish my thought, the notes disappeared. I searched in every file and tried everything I knew to retrieve them. The notes were gone and my laptop entered the dark side.

After the missing notes and evil laptop situation, I was working on a PowerPoint presentation on Wednesday at Eisbrenner and the computer hated me. Everything I wanted it to do, it would do the opposite in spite of me. I spent a couple frustrating hours trying to figure out why it wasn’t doing what I wanted it to do. I was sure the computer was out to get me.

At this point you might think I’m losing my mind, but I promise I’m not. For a moment there I believed computers were trying to take over the world, but I came to my senses. I realized I was to blame for computers being evil because I thought I knew more than I did.

This week has proved that I have so much more to learn! There are so many shortcuts and tricks to computers that even when I think I’m a pro there’s something else to learn.

Rest easy tonight and know computers aren’t trying to take over the world!

The Times Are A-Changin'

I woke up this morning with the perfect fall chill in my bedroom. It was the type of morning where the blankets felt just right and the thought of lifting the covers and hopping out of bed might just be the worst moment of the day. As I lay there wishing I didn’t have to get up, I remembered that I get to go to Eisbrenner for my first full week as their intern and from that moment getting out of bed wasn’t so hard.

I had an amazing introduction to Eisbrenner last week! I am so pumped to learn everything I possibly can about the agency, my co-workers, the field of public relations and most importantly to get a firsthand take on what life will be like once I graduate in April.

Wait, how rude of me! I haven’t even introduced myself yet. My name is Holly Myles and I’m a senior at Eastern Michigan University studying public relations and political science. I’m what many call the crazy busy bee that rarely takes down time.

I’m the secretary of the EMU’s Eleanor Wright Public Relations Student Society of America, which we are co-hosting the 2008 National PRSSA Conference with Wayne State University. The conference is going to be an amazing experience and I’m so fortunate to be able to be involved with some of the prep work, as well as some of the event management for the week.

Along with PRSSA, I’m the account executive at EMU’s student-run firm, ExPRessions public relations. Also, I’m the new program director of Toys for Tweens and Teens and the Student-to-Student Higher Learning Initiative, which is a charity focusing on foster children. Finally, I coach the Redford Union High School dance team. The busy life it is for me and I wouldn’t want it any other way. These activities provide me great opportunities and lifelong friendships.

Back to work it’s for me. Thank goodness I didn’t let the fall chill keep me in bed because it is going to be a great day at Eisbrenner. In fact, I’m positive the next couple of months are going to be an amazing ride, so jump aboard and follow my journey!