Signs that you work in Public Relations

PR Daily published a story this year from PR professional Lauren Fernandez on the 11 signs that someone works in public relations. (The story originally appeared on Fernandez's blog.) The article unleashed a flood of comments that we compiled into a second story ("42 more signs you work in PR"). 

I only posted a few points that I can relate to. Cracks me up!

Your day starts and ends with a cup of coffee : YES! I am such a horrible- not in the mood-cranky person at work without it.

You can power-walk in 5-inch heels with your laptop bag while checking your BlackBerry: HA! I do not wear heels no more since I work in Bali, but yes, I still remember the aching ankles at night.

Inside jokes with your colleagues will get you through the day—especially the insanely stressful ones. *Smiley face

You can toggle among a PowerPoint presentation, a press release, Twitter strategy, and PSA outlines—all in an hour: GIMME!

You preface Happy Hour with: “Sorry, I need to keep my phone on the table. I have to be connected to email and phone just in case.” : This is sad but true. Sorry friends :(

Your speed-dials connect to the CEO, CFO, CIO, CRO, and Arby’s : In my case, a little diner around the corner. Slightly healthier.

Your BlackBerry sleeps with you every night. Your better half does not : Ouch!

“Relax" time is in the shower when you always seem to come up with the best PR pitches. (Source)

EVERYTHING in your life—from doing the laundry to playing a round of golf—is recorded in your mind in 15-minute billable increments. (Source): Yes. A definite yes ( tho' I don't golf).

You engage in weekly conversations with your clients that start with, “Why weren't we included in this WSJ article?” (Source) : Hahaha... Another yes.

You've heard all the lines about sleep: "Sleep is overrated." "You can sleep all you want when you die." "Do you ever sleep?" (Source) : Thankfully, this is not happening to me.

You rely on to-do lists (yes, plural) to get you through your day, but often don't get to cross anything off until 4 p.m. (after managing a few surprise crises). (Source)

You can't look at or listen to any form of media without thinking, "My client should be on/in that." (Source) You read me baby!

You're the only person groaning out loud when reading the paper on the bus. How were we not included? (Source) : Guilty for this. Really.

You read/hear about a company's crisis and instantly think, "I wonder who their AOR is." (Source) : All.the.time

You never plan meetings on Fridays afternoons or make personal plans on Friday evenings. You know that “the call" is coming at 4:45 p.m., and everything will need to be dropped anyway. (Source) : Another sad but true fact. Hahaha...

You actually take surveys. It's good client karma, right? (Source): In your face!

Post-it notes are your lifeblood. (Source)

Client's products are decorations on your desk : Not me. I hate a clustered table.

You watch televised press conferences for fun and to steal really good talking points. (Source)

Your morning consists of simultaneously pitching different campaigns, for different clients, across different media markets, and often, in different languages. (Source) : Ditto!

Something really bad happens and you're the first to announce, "We don't have problems; we have opportunities." (Source) : Been there. In the most shattering crisis.