Paul Roberts on PR

This blog was always meant to be an experiment (see where I started) and as such, it required an end (Sun Setting on Paul Roberts on PR) and today is (finally) that end.

So, why goodbye? In many ways, over the last few years, this blog accomplished more than I ever expected but in other ways, I was disappointed that I never had enough time to give to this project. That being said, don’t feel bad for this blogger. There is no drama attached to the ending of the blog. I’m not dying (that I know of). I’m not even leaving PR (that I know of). Like most things in life, this decision is based not on one single event, but on a number of factors.

Why July 26? I decided to make this final post on July 26, because that is an interesting day in my personal history. It is one of my happiest days – my wedding anniversary and one of my most somber – the day my mother passed away. As one can imagine, this day has always been one of conflicted emotions, so it was fitting to chose this date because ending this blog (while on a very different scale) also leaves me with mixed emotions.

Accidental blogger. As an introvert that has never had much interest in networking or joining industry organizations and I’ve always felt like thoughts and opinions regarding the right way and the wrong way to approach communications was for others to discuss. You know, real industry thought leaders. So, looking back, I’m still surprised that I ever launched this blog. Even at the time, I wondered – who would care about what I have to say about public relations? I’m a JAG – just a guy – with no personal branding desire, no consultancy to promote, no books to peddle and no speaking engagements to chase. Over the last few years, I learned that there is certainly a place for a PR JAG to be heard.

See you soon. I made a lot of new friends thanks to this blog and for that I’ll always be thankful. I’ve also met more good communications professionals in the past couple of years, than my prior decade plus in the industry. Many of these relationships will continue via social media and maybe even the occasional IRL meetings. So, while this certainly isn’t goodbye, it does feel like the end of something that has long been a big part of my life. I’ve learned a ton and have had lots of fun. So, from now on, if you really want to know what I think about PR, communications or anything else, we’ll have to do it the old fashion way, via email or over a beer.

Thanks! Before I sign off, I want to take a sincere moment to thank everyone from my small group of regular readers to one-timers that stopped by without saying a word. Every visitor, comment, page view, RT and even spam message was special to me. Now it is time for this PR JAG to go back underground.

Peace. Or as my mom used to say: Goodnight, God Bless You, See You in the Morning and Have Happy Dreams.

-Paul