Rebels lead the way: more solid advice from our favorite historical game changers

You may remember last week when we told you about all the inspiring lessons we learned from our fellow rebels. If you don’t remember, then shame on you for not reading our blog religiously.

We said it last week and we’ll say it again, rebels lead the way when it comes to marketing.

Image? They’ve got it to spare. Brand appeal? You can be bet their black leather motorcycle boots they’ve got it. Maintaining style and tone? They wrote the book on it – some of them quite literally. So we couldn’t resist adding on to our list from last week. Here are a few more lessons some of our other favorite rebels.

“Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously.” ― Hunter S. Thompson
Don’t be afraid to have a little bit of fun with your work. A clever turn of phrase or funny joke can help you stand out, whether you’re preparing a press release on behalf of a client or chatting with your customers. But make sure it’s appropriate. It’s probably not best to make a joke of that critical political campaign you’ve been working on.

“Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.” — Jimi Hendrix 
We know, you like to talk. We get it. We’re PR folks, so obviously we love to talk too. But as Mr. Hendrix reminds us, listening is critical. Listen to your clients. Listen to their customers. Listen to that little voice inside your head. You’ll learn new things about your clients and create stronger campaigns. And ultimately, it’ll help you sound a lot smarter when it comes time to do the talking we all love so much.

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” ― Jack London 
When you’re paid to be creative, you can’t wait for the best ideas to find you. You have to go out and find them. Host a brainstorming session (or two or three). Do your research. Instead of staring at a blinking cursor, write the campaign copy and then revise it until it looks the way you want it to. Just don’t quit. This is public relations, folks – we don’t have time for writers’ block.

“Luck? I don’t know anything about luck. I’ve never banked on it, and I’m afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work.” – Lucille Ball 
If there’s one thing that Lucy knew, it was that hard work and strategy are the key to success. How else would she have gotten out of all those messes? It certainly wasn’t luck.
Follow her lead. We know you’re excited about moving forward with your PR and marketing efforts, but it’s critical to devote the time to writing a comprehensive strategy. It should be your first thought when it comes to your marketing, and if done right, it will guide the rest.

Now we’ve armed you with all the best bits of advice from some our favorite hellians. But wait! There’s more! We forgot to give you OUR advice. Can’t find a black sheep? Better ask a rebel.