Going Beyond Your Comfort Zone

By Tracie Cochran

There’s something to be said about graduating from college, moving to an unfamiliar place, and starting a new job all in the same month.  I experienced these exciting changes recently, and since starting with Engage in January, I’m quickly beginning to see the resemblance between changes in life and changes in the world of public relations.

In my university studies, I spent several semesters picking apart public relations case studies and working with classmates to build public relations plans for businesses in the local community.  Professors spent countless hours preparing us for “the real world,” shaping us into the public relations gurus they thought were needed to make the PR world a better place.  We had an idea of what life after college would look like, but college in no way could fully prepare us for our future in the profession.

As much as I thought it wouldn’t be the case, I see a striking resemblance between my own experience and what many seasoned PR professionals are currently experiencing.  No matter how prepared they thought they were, a few years ago no one could have anticipated the age of New Media and the birth of social networking sites and podcasts, the disappearance of traditional reporters, the boost in design staff, the ever-growing field of citizen journalism, and of course, the birth of the blogosphere.  Everyone knows change is inevitable, but who could have foreseen how much these technological advancements would alter our day-to-day lives?

While change is scary, and the unknown can be intimidating, it’s important for personal and professional growth to face changes and challenges head-on.  Many people find comfort in being just that, comfortable.  However, when you settle with just being comfortable, it’s tempting and easy to avoid the challenges that most often lead to growth.  I’m quickly learning that to develop as an individual, both personally and professionally, it’s important to live outside our comfort zone, embrace our changing world, and do everything in our power to keep up with the rapidly changing times.