Love What You Do
One of the privileges of running your own show is choice.
The choice to say yes to some projects and campaigns, and the choice to politely decline others (and yes, I do sometimes).
The thing is, when I’m promoting a business, a charity, a project or an event, it’s got to light me up. If I’m not feeling it, I’m not doing it. Because otherwise, I’m pitching stories and ideas to journalists that I’m not really convinced about and that’s not exactly authentic, is it? I want to be super-passionate about the subject matter so I can do my very best for the client.
So when this latest project came along, it was hard to say no.
I met Ed Smith when I was working on the Cateran Yomp, a gruelling trek through the Perthshire countryside to raise funds for The Army Benevolent Fund. Having worked on the event for many years, Ed took me under his wing from the first Yomp I worked on. His passion and energy are contagious, but he’s also highly committed and wants to do his job as well as humanly possible.
Roll on a few years, and Ed called me up about this. In a nutshell, he was planning to embark on a four-stage, 12-month descent of the River Spey, capturing analogue images, film and stories from those who live and work on its banks. This isn’t a popping home at the end of the day for a shower project, this is a man who camps in all weathers to get the right shot so his canoe is packed with camping gear, all-weather clothing, food and of course all the techy kit. He’s out for the full 10 days, starting yesterday.
Why?
Well, Ed wants to document this changing area as it is today in the hope of sparking discussion and debate about its future.
With the press and media interest rolling in already, from a live Radio Scotland interview to articles in The Scotsman and The National, it’s not just me who loves this story. I can’t wait to see what comes back by way of pictures, interviews and spin-off tales, so I can do even more for Ed.
And it’s that passion and enthusiasm from me that’s essential. I’m energised by work that doesn’t just interest me but excites me, by people who I don’t just like but who I can really connect with. I’ve been working for myself for 18 years this autumn, and it’s an absolute privilege to get stuck into work like this.
To tell me about your work or project, get in touch – claire@graingerpr.co.uk or 07912 324 264.