Only the mediocre are always at their best

I've recently become addicted to the New York Times column Corner Office, where each week Adam Bryant interviews top executives across all industries. A bit late, today I finally caught up on Sunday's column - an interview with the C.E.O. of Duke Energy, James Rogers. As a full-time working woman now (read: professional intern), I'm finally where I want to be, within reach of my career dreams and goals. But, now that I've made it to the threshold of my future I battle with the ways in which I can improve to make myself even more marketable as an employee (especially in this economy).

I look at the people around me and wonder how they handle all that's on their plates. How and when do you transition from day-to-day duties to strategy and planning? I used to envision a time or title or age when you crossed that line, but as Rogers points out, it's fundamentally important to our success to remain engaged in the daily activites of your company, clients and employees throughout your career.

Fortunately, I feel blessed that every day I wake up excited to go work, to be a part of an industry that I love, one that incites change, advocacy and awareness. But nonetheless, my fears of mediocrity push me more than anything else. Some days, it is exhausting trying out outrun the sound of settling (no pun intended). But I find it refreshing each week to read about the successes of these executives, as I store away their insights like intangible step stones to my future.

Nurturing my network

As an avid follower of the Capital Communicators blog (a communication professionals association), I have recently been captivated by the new tactic of one of their contributors. This tactic they call "nurturing my professional network" is essentially a pay it forward type of plan. Each day, the blogger extends help/expertise to one or more people in their network. This can be anything from sending a query over to a friend at a niche agency to connecting with colleagues over coffee. Reading this series has gotten me thinking, what's stopping me from doing this too?

So, I've decided that I, too, am going to try to "nurture my network." Not just my professional network, but that of everyone I know. I'm going to try to do 1 helpful thing every day that will, essentially, provide me with the satisfaction of helping others. For example, as I currently intern at a nonprofit where not everyone is communications oriented, I've become really close with my fellow PR intern. And as our internship is dwindling down these next couple weeks, we're both starting to panic a little about beginning the job search again. So when I found a dream entry-level position online with one of the most renowned PR agencies, believe you me, I was pretty excited. But then I sat back for a minute and wondered about LW (my co-intern). Knowing she would be equally as excited, I decided to pass this this opportunity on instead of just holding it back for myself. Now I know she may have eventually found it as well, but I thoroughly believe that relationship building is a fundamental part of PR. Thus, my small act may not get either of us very far, but at least we can empathize with eachother - working together to help build our futures.

If nothing else, extending some positive karma can't be a bad thing, right?


xoxo,