Finding The Perfect Fit

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again;” How many times have we all heard this proverb growing up? All the time, because it applies to almost every stage of life. Think back to when you were learning to tie your shoes, or taking the SAT or ACT, or interviewing for jobs; it takes practice and time to do these things to the best of our ability.

Gail Chandler, APR, can pay tribute this proverb. Even though she has her dream job now, the head of Public Affairs and Communications at Texas Instruments, it was not an easy or quick road getting there. There is something really special about how Gail Chandler regards her current position. Not only does she say it is the best communications job ever, but more importantly, that it is the best job for her.

When Mrs. Chandler graduated from SMU, she was entering into a terrible job market and knew experience-building was the best route she could take in order to start her career in communications. She didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do in the communications field but she did know one thing; “I always knew I wanted to do something that made a difference in the world.” By 1995, Mrs. Chandler had built a résumé rich in experience, accreditation, non-profit, education and professional development. She has worked with people that were not all that excepting at first, with superiors that she didn’t always approve of, and for companies she didn’t feel were the right “fit for her.”

Reflecting on her own journey, Mrs. Chandler acknowledges that “life is too short to work somewhere or do something you don’t like.” I find what Mrs. Chandler said to be so important. Finding the perfect job is not as easy as we may have thought. We all have something special to contribute to the communications field, and the ultimate goal is to find where the best fit is for you which will take time and practice to achieve.  

This takes me back to the good ol’ proverb, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” We are all going to have internships and jobs we love and some we would rather not mention, but it is all part of a bigger picture that will reveal where we belong. We have to discover what we don’t like in order to find what we do like and we have to experience different terrain in order to find the path that best suits us. Another way to compare this is like finding the perfect pair of jeans. We may try on 20 pairs of jeans and it may seem like an eternity before we find the perfect pair… but when you do find that perfect pair of jeans, you never want to let them go because you feel like a million bucks in them. And when you find a pair that fits you like they were made for you… every other pair you tried on and all the time it took to find them was so worth it because in the end the reward was worth the wait.

The reward of finding the perfect job for you will be worth every step it took to get there. Since 1995, Mrs. Chandler has been with Texas Instruments and has found the best job for her there. Even though she claims that it is “hard to measure what I do,” alluding to her successful involvement in the company, she has found a place where she feels she is making a difference in the world and has made memories she will cherish the rest of her life. This is the true meaning of success, which Gail Chandler has without a doubt achieved.

Ken Fairchild: The Godfather of Communications

For the past few decades, Ken Fairchild’s name and reputation in the communications industry have basically been synonymous with one another. You can ask any of the high-profile clients he has worked with including two elected presidents (+two more presidential candidates) six+ governors, or any of the congressman, federal judges, supreme court justices, or 30+ “60 Minute” guests, and they will tell you,  Ken Fairchild knows what he is doing.  

*Ken Fairchild Tip 1: Don’t be a Lemming!

            This past week, Mr. Fairchild visited with my communications class and mentored us on what it takes to be a good communicator. He wasted no time in telling us that he had one main message he hoped we would take away from our time together. “I want to leave you with confidence,” Mr. Fairchild assured us as we quickly learned how dedicated he is to the communications field and our future success in the field.

*Ken Fairchild Tip 2: Be confident and don’t be narrow minded in communications!

Mr. Fairchild has worked in each of the four communication areas he expanded upon during his visit. First, there are general public relations that he sees as “the easy stuff.” He advertised it as the positive PR, which is essential to all communication strategies. Then, there is media relations and crisis communications; the “dangerous but fun part.” Lastly, the group is rounded out with political and public affairs which has been the focus of a major part of his work with “political” clients.  Now, you may think that you are more prepared for one more than the other, but Fairchild revealed that we are “preparing for all of them, whether you realize it or not.” How? You may ask. Well, simply because there is a thread that runs through all of them and in the end “all communications is two-way”. The common thread: someone has a message. This message is so important and it is up to you to make it interesting quickly.

*Ken Fairchild Tip 3: Don’t Dumb It Down!

                What should the message say? The massage needs to make you “love me, and trust me!” What? In other words, the message needs to deliver content that is easily understood and absorbed by its audience. Mr. Fairchild knows it is important to for all communications to keep a glass half-full mentality. Therefore, if you don’t have anything positive to say, “Shut up and don’t say it!” We have to know what battles to fight, and how to do it.

*Ken Fairchild Tip 4: Focus, Focus, Focus on what your message is!

                Mr. Fairchild’s visit was not only informative and entertaining, but also reassuring. Having had a daughter of his own graduate from SMU, he has full confidence in SMU to provide and allow its students to learn and grow to be ready for the communications field. “If you graduate from SMU with a communications degree, you will be ready and have all the tools you need for corporate America, I have no doubt about it!” He truly was invested in our success and futures in the communications field. Professionals like Ken Fairchild are the reason why students like me will set goals and strive to be a part of the communications world after graduation.

*Ken Fairchild Tip 5: Nothing matters if you are communicating the wrong thing!

There is one thing you can’t deny about Ken Fairchild, his dedication and love for his family and his career is unparalleled. When he uncovered his passion for communications, he turned it into a lifelong career that has not only led to him to be one of the most successful communication leaders, but also, one of the happiest.

*Ken Fairchild Tip 6: Don’t be cocky or arrogant, but don’t sell yourself short.



Be Bold & Do You

Deanna McKinley: (Proper Noun) - one of the most talented & young Accredited Public Relations (APR) females in the public relations field today. A combination of Eddie Murphy’s humor and Beyoncé Knowles confidence with a splash of sass and savoir-faire. Related Adjectives: Talented, Experienced, Efficient, Intelligent, Creative, Trustworthy & Respectable. See Also: Frito-Lay, Public Relations.

This past Wednesday, Deanna McKinley enlightened my Dallas Communication Leaders class with information and stories about her experience in the Public Relations field. Her strait forward and down-to-earth presentation revealed a side of PR “that your Public Relations teacher never told you,” as she so eloquently put it. Ms. McKinley is currently a Public Relations expert at the Frito-Lay Company here in Dallas, TX. She is approaching her 5-year anniversary with Frito-Lay and let me tell you, she knows her stuff.

Among many other topics, Ms. McKinley addressed the essentials for being successful in Public Relations. There was a common theme she touched on that has really resonated with me. While in college at Florida A&M, she was originally an English major because she wanted to be a teacher. During her internship as a student teacher, she concluded that teaching was not the direction for her. This decision lead her to a Public Relation major; she credits her silly-side and the Nutty Professor for this decision.

“Being Silly- The best decision I have ever made in my Life”

Amidst the laughter of my fellow classmates, I realized she was onto something. Ms. McKinley’s larger-than-life personality was evident that she made the right decision to be in Public Relations. “Be bold and do you,” she told us. It is important to do what is best for you because you can’t fail when you are “doing you” and doing what you love.

I really admire Ms. McKinley’s passion for her profession. Ms. McKinley is a Frito-Lay advocate like no other. “We’ve had so much fun- I have no regrets,” and Frito-Lay is lucky to have her on their team. If I learned anything from Ms. McKinley, it was to not lose sight of who you are… keep life fun and be smart about it- do what is best for you. No matter how tough life get’s, keep your head held high and know there is a light at the end of the tunnel- Life is too short to not laugh and have fun.

How to immediately get on Deanna’s good side:

Give her Salt & Vinegar chips

Set her up with Matt Lauer

Give her MAC lip glass

Acknowledge her APR

** Look for her at the Prince Concert in NYC in February!

The Bug Must Grow Up!

I’d like to tell you about a little girl known to most as “the Bug”. Let me just say, the Bug was not your average towheaded youngster; she had more energy and sass than anyone you would ever know. The Bug saw the world as her oyster and the glass was always half-full. She lived with a thumbs-up mentality and having cold feet was never an option. She was a social butterfly, and yes, the Bug was quite the talker. She could talk to anyone about almost anything. School was never really her thing- she saw it as a means to pass the time while she waited to grow up.

Growing up, the Bug went from wanting to be a Disney princess, to a nurse, to a teacher- Don’t most young girls want to at some point? In middle school, she wanted to be a fashion designer or a retail buyer like her mom (a “professional shopper” as her dad would joke).

When it came time to look at colleges, she was faced to address what she wanted to do when she grew up. Grow up? Already? It’s already time to grow up? She had never really found her niche in this thing called school, but she did know a few things. 1) She wanted to do something that made her happy, 2) something that made others happy, 3) and she wanted to make a difference.

It was her spring 2010 semester at SMU when she finally discovered what she wanted to do with her life. She was taking Corporate Communication and Public Affairs (CCPA) classes, one focusing on research, the other on strategic communication. These classes actually excited her and lead her to be passionate about school for the first time ever. Before this, she was just going to school because she had to and now she was going to school because she wanted to. She enjoyed them so much, they didn’t seem like classes- to her, they were the first steps in starting the rest of her life. These classes required constructive and strategic communication, planning, research and creativity- this was more her style.

There was one particular assignment that required her to contact a communications-related expert in the Dallas area and conduct an interview to learn about their profession. The Bug set up an interview with Sandy Marple, the Vice President for Special Events at Neiman Marcus. Among other information about Special Events, Mrs. Marple told her that: it requires enthusiasm, patience, creativity and excitement- Check! It should be fun and you should feel good about it- Check! To make friends and get along with everyone- Check! You have to be able to communicate well with all types of people- Check!

After meeting with Mrs. Marple, the Bug had an epiphany.  She knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life, there was no doubt in her mind; the Bug wanted to be a Special Events Coordinator. She had discovered a career that embodied everything she has ever wanted in a profession and more.

So, if you haven’t figured it out by now, I am the Bug- Katie Bug that is! Since my meeting with Mrs. Marple, I have continued with my CCPA classes and grown more enthusiastic and driven to be a Special Events Coordinator. Mrs. Marple and my CCPA teachers have helped me to find my passion and now, it is my turn to act upon it. As a Special Events Coordinator, I will be able to utilize the experience and knowledge I have gained in my CCPA classes. My communications knowledge will be the foundation in transforming ideas into reality.  I want to bring visions to life and transform a something into an everything. Making others happy will make me happy and if I am able to do this, then I know I will make a difference!