We don’t know where other people find the juice to get going every day, but at Durée & Company, we normally find our “spots” of inspiration really close by. Just one of these many “spots” is our clients themselves, who have the ability to spark our energy.
We have worked with Diana Brooks of VSBrooks ADVERTISING for quite a while, and have developed a rapport that transcends client-consultant. We are now friends. But even after all this time, we were inspired reading her profile as one of South Florida Business Journal‘s most Influential Business Women of 2013.
She was quoted in the publication as saying, “It sounds corny, but believe in yourself. You have to be your own champion sometimes, until others see what you see. And whatever you are – be damn good at it and be consistently good at it.”
Leave it to Diana to have a curse word in her profile and the editors keep it in! That little bit of profanity says to us that you have to be yourself no matter what, because it’s “you” whom people are paying to see, paying to get. So every day, we try to bring “us” to the table – not what we think clients want, or what they might expect from other PR consultants – and like Diana said, we try to be damn good at being us.
Another source of inspiration comes from Eris Thomas of Coral Gables Executive Physicians. Her firm joined Durée & Company’s clients just this year, but her story in the most Influential Business Women feature had its own poignancy. Eris’ sheer will overcame language, political and cultural barriers, and her work ethic helped her become CEO of an innovative medical practice.
She said, “To each woman who wants to be influential, I’d say use the power of being female to your advantage. There are so many beautiful attributes of women, like being able to easily care, nurture and show empathy, which can help us become very successful. Don’t stifle these attributes trying to imitate male leaders.”
To us, that means it’s OK to be pondering our balance sheets, client campaigns, after-care programs for our children, speaking engagements, what’s for dinner and new pink pumps all at the same time. Whew! Good. They’re all important.
Congratulations, Diana and Eris. We’re inspired to work with you.
