Generally speaking, our nation is a hungry place. We travel
to get a taste of what a city has to offer, and our senses live vicariously
through those of a seasoned traveler when an exotic an decadent dish is
described. Chicago is a city dedicated to preserving outsiders with the visual
image of iconic deep-dish pizza and counters the idea of a traditional hot dog.
Dan Edelman understood the lust for something out of the ordinary much better
than the average mind, but he also recognized that staying hungry is one of the
best things that we can do as professional influencers for the
We all are self-identified go-getters who have a competitive
streak with the means to succeed, however most of us aren’t just somewhat hungry
to get our feet wet in the PR world. We’re starving. That can take on both
literal and figurative meaning, as many of us rely on an income in the field of
our degree to pay for our expenses. We are also hungry in the sense that our
eyes are constantly scanning for internship and job opportunities that will
(hopefully) propel our career or lead us to the doorsteps of other PR
professionals. Our eagerness is always working to feed our hunger, to work with
what we can. From indeed.com and Craigslist to networking events, we are
exposed with hundreds of potential opportunities to find our niche in the
industry. I find that many of us (myself included) have jumped to accept an
offer that may pertain to PR in one shape or form, but just doesn’t feel right. Or maybe we do pursue the job or
internship offer- only to learn that perhaps a larger-scaled agency isn’t the
best fit. Even if we are able to find the ideal entry-level job at our dream
firm, the temptation to do everything and anything to climb the latter as fast
as possible may be a race that we are running too fast.
Daniel Edelman would argue that staying hungry helps us to
stay focused. Competing with our own standards of excellence each and every day
to remain informed and build on a fresh perspective. This is realized in his
biography; “Dan stressed the importance of maximizing each day and never
growing complacent. Don’t get hung up on the ups or downs, the important thing
is to do your best” is one of the ways his work ethic exemplifies the notion of
‘staying hungry’
As the unruly wave of post-graduation pressure approaches
students, it is crucial to select how to ride it out. It is wonderful to take
the opportunities presented to us that we have earned; however to be mindful of
our personal modesty would be Edelman’s key advice.
Bailey Appleton is a
senior at DePaul University studying Public Relations and Advertising with an
additional focus on Communication and Media Studies. She is an enthusiast for
both traditional and digital PR, and is currently executing her hands-on skills
as a publicity representative for Warner Bros. Studio and Fox Searchlight. You may reach her at bailey8391@gmail.com. To learn more,
please visit her professional
portfolio.
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