How do you know you've already arrived?

Tom Murphy

It’s probably fair to say that you know you’ve arrived when you bring along two of your friends to keynote at your industry’s premier event and they both attract standing room only crowds.

That was Howard Rubenstein’s achievement at the PRSA’s 2004 conference in New York which finished up yesterday. His friends Larry King and Donald Trump regaled packed auditorium’s with their take on Public Relations. Rubenstein’s longevity in this business alone, he celebrates fifty years this year, is an achievement. But his influence, his success and his committment to pro-bono projects is a credit to him.

PR Week has great coverage from the event.

They cover Larry King’s talk:

King dismissed the notion that PR people are bothersome to or unwelcome by journalists. “I think they’re valuable to broadcasters,” King said, to an applauding audience. “Some of my best moments have come from a guest pitched by a PR person.”

And they have a very interesting story on Donald Trump’s session and his ten tips for success. I’m sure number nine is very relevant for most of us….

1) Stay focused.
2) Think big: “Go for the big client. Go for the big reputation.”
3) Enjoy what you do – or you won’t be good at it.
4) Never give up: “If there’s a concrete wall in front of you, you have to go through that wall.”
5) Be (a little) paranoid; even your friends will walk all over you to get ahead.
6) Momentum: “You have to know when you’ve lost your momentum. Don’t expect anyone to be on your side.”
7) Be lucky. Some people are naturally lucky, but luck also comes to those who work hard.
8) Get even: “If someone gets you, get them back. They’ll learn their lesson if you know what you’re doing.”
9) Always have a prenuptial agreement.
10) To be a winner, you have to think like a winner

Footnote:

  • You can hear a short audio interview with Rubenstein at the PRSA conference where he shares his views on how PR has changed over the past fifty years here (MP3)
  • Many many years ago, I attended a meeting in Rubenstein’s offices in New York, not to meet with him you understand, just attend a meeting! I was struck by the marked difference in the layout and atmosphere of their office compared to the high-tech PR agency environments I was used to at the time.