Diary of a PR Inspired By Bridget Jones (not Turkey Curry Buffet)

 Some names have been changed to protect identity.

Friday, 24th, July

70kg (cucumber juice morning pretty boring); 27 WhatsApp calls; 794 unanswered LinkedIn messages; 2 missed calls from Mother; half-eaten cherry pie in the fridge (quickly negating results of cucumber juice)

7.28 am Bedroom. Meditating.

OMMMMMMM……………

Do you practice Gratitude as soon as you wake up? I do. I give grace for being conscious of my first breath of air in the morning, the wonderfully warm bed, and pleased I can prepare for another day full of blessings, serendipitous encounters, and fortunate conjunctions. There are so many things to be grateful for in life, so taking anything for granted is a big mistake. Seize the moment with generosity and kindness. 

Ring ring

Whatsapp!

Looking at the screen. Melbourne calling. Phone needs recharging already…. having been on the charger all night. This iPhone is crazy. Maybe this trade struggle is attacking my cell directly? Should I switch to a hAnother? Hmmmm…. I finished the meeting with LA early morning. Tough time zone! I like Aussies. Fair Dinkum. At least when I wake up, they are just about to finish their day off. Ta.

Daniel: “Hey, how did you get on with the meeting yesterday? Found the gatekeeper for them? Oh, by the way, we need the new promo release, SMR and VNR ……and”

Me: Do you know what time it is?

D: Yes, so get up! Hahahahaha, I just finished the day. No bevvies. Off to the gym.

Me: LA kept me busy in the middle of the night. Do you do the gym in the evening? Oh Boy. Yes, I did speak to Sarah, good talk, but it will need a few more calls to clarify what they actually want. I am excited about the guest editorial, will need to turn my engines on ?? vroooom. Thanks for the tips, Dan.

D: Ok; No worries. I let you wake up. Buzz if you need anything.

7:35 am Open Kitchen.

Dogs are still asleep. No trash hacked during the night. Good! Ouch, I forgot to get some orange juice. Oh noo. Vitamin C withdrawal. Good job I quit coffee years ago.

Quick getting changed, rushing down to corner shop. Buying orange juice and an unnecessary packet of custard creams.

Getting back home, checking LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Messenger. It always takes an hour. Once again, feeling alive and connected to the Globe. SocialedIn. BuzzedIn. CrispedIn.

9:55 am Hallway

 Intense silence from the hallway.

What are the dogs up to? I have a peek through the door, and see Princess destroying the latest edition of The Economist. About 15% of the cover is still visible. I do a quick search for the cover online; Economist covers are epic. Remember the “Book of Jobs” cover? Hope, Hype, and Apple’s iPad? Genius! And I love print copies. If my eyes get tired after spending too much time on the screen, reading paper is so relaxing. Have told Princess off who sulks in her bed with the remains of the cover.

11:01 am Office at Desk

Preparing for the LinkedIn post of the day. What shall I say today? I read something about post automation a few days ago. I don’t like it at all. I want to talk to people, not being a “bot-like account” with funny images and videos. Do you get a kick out of wanting to share something that you feel passionate about with people? I do — a lot.

 So, here is the prep.

 Let’s see what I do best. I am a writer and communicator. I write and communicate. 

Why? Because I want to educate those who read my writing. I want to inspire and motivate. I want to encourage and show how it is possible to achieve things — little by little, day by day.

What does my audience want to read about or know more of?

If I get a perfect angle on one topic, I can really think about different components of “how-to.”

Response mechanisms to public opinions, dealing with public affairs, attitude, finance, investment behaviour, brand communication, announcements, startups, leadership, business growth. The list is endless, so I have to think very strategically.

I do a quick search on Twitter for trending hashtags. A quick search on Reuters.

Yes, bingo. Something really got my attention, so let’s get creative.

12:30 pm

 I run through articles of Economist. Business, UK, Latin America, Science, Technology. Love obituaries.

My mind starts to wonder. I really need to prepare for my next trip to London. Maybe I could call Battersea Dogs and Cats for another visit. Not spoken to mother for a couple of days. And not replied to that message that I have meant to respond to for days. Ok. OK. I know I should make a list, NOW; Economist can wait till later.

Ring Ring …..

WhatsApp … #7

Why is this thing with the battery again? 42% Maybe the social media apps I downloaded recently draining the battery? Am I an app addict? Oh, I need some help here.

How many apps have you downloaded in the last two days? OK. So, you get my dilemma.

Julien: Hi, we have the date for the next interview. We need you to hop on the plane next week. How is your schedule? (I am thinking oh noo, Dubai is so hot, I will fry there; hope it is only a couple of days.)

Me: It’s all good for next week, but you need to get me a walk-in fridge though for the hotel room, hahaha, hahaha.

J: Of course! Lol Have you got all the information?

Me: I have done all research already and sent some documents to PA also. So, I will get the backbone ready, and we can fill out. Really great story.

3:49 pm

How many steps have I done today? 5398? Ok, I need to get up to above 10K. The dogs need some extra walk also. I can’t help but think about the latest news on Trump. A quick search on YouTube for “Best of Trump.” CNN, FOX News, CBS, Jimmy Kimmel, Bloomberg, CBS. Man, the White House has 1.22M followers on YouTube. Found a gem: Jimmy Fallon “Donald Trump Calls Madea.” Lol. Ouch …..still not walked dogs.

5:41 pm

Reflection of the Day …. With Sir Bruce on my lap and a mug of blackcurrant and mango tea

What if I was transported to a desert island? Just remember the fear of danger is always more terrifying the danger itself. Let’s do it Robinson Crusoe style. Hmmm…true prototype of the British colonist, as James Joyce said. I like independence, persistence, self- made man aspect, resilience, but not sure about the unconscious cruelty or calculating taciturnity. One thing is sure, Robinson had everything done by Friday. Ha and HA. In trouble to be troubled, it to have your trouble doubled. Sure. “wikiHOW to do anything…..” must be saying: keep calm, look for safety. Is there a signal on a desert island? Actually, I remember just recently reading an article about internet black holes. Some scientists estimate as many as 2 million temporary black holes come and go every day. As more people and devices connect to the Net, stressing routers and their ability to pass data packets, some scientists worry that the Net might permanently collapse into a black hole…. Hmmm.. do I have a connection on LinkedIn, who is an expert in improvements to critical infrastructure? It could be a great next Pulse article…..

8:32 pm Office

Writing. Writing. And writing with the occasional LinkedIn check for comments and direct messages. Do you feel when the flow is excellent, the time just disappears?

The desk is covered with remains of the Economist, notepads, iPad, pens, sunglasses, lip gloss and nail file, paper Kleenex, business cards that I still have to enter into my database.

Princess barks. Neighbour knocks on the door.

Nono: Coucou. Ca va ? Je ne t'ai pas vu toute la journée.

Me: non, j'ai travaillé comme un fou

Nono: As-tu mangé

Me: Pas encore, pourquoi as tu des plats préparés ou de la salade ?

Nono: Ok, viens manger un morceau

Oh, he is the best !!

10:54 pm

No call this eve. I feel really “European-zonedIn” right now. Lol. Dogs are asleep. Half of the cherry pie in the fridge is demolished.

Final thoughts. I feel so blessed that I can do what I love. And I take pride in it.

If you love what you do, you are blessed. I can’t imagine doing something halfway, three-quarters, or nine-tenth. If you have not found the exact thing yet what you love, keep looking. Don’t let fear or insecurity stop you. Believe in yourself. Don’t go for something that you think will make you lots of money or just convenient and you think it will bring you success. Don’t listen to other people, listen to your inner voice, your intuition. Do something you love, give it your best shot. Your heart will know when you find it.

To connect with me personally, please email [email protected].

 About The Author

Mariett Ramm

Public Relations CommunicatePReneur. Bestselling Co-author. Publisher. Editor. Investigative Writer. A woman behind her desk most of the time. If not, she travels for interviews, summits, and conferences. She is a leading Transformation and Business Success Coach. Humanitarian. Empath. Battersea London Dogs and Cats Supporter and proud owner of two Havaneses, Princess Ponc and Sir Bruce.