Patience and Perpective- Words with the Boss

I began this 10-week journey of an internship to earn credit with the University of South Florida towards my bachelor’s degree. Part of the requirements was to write essays on public relations lessons I was leaning and such. Since I appreciate the social media aspect of PR, I created this blog to share my essays and eventually develop discussions. Now that my internship-for-credit program is over, I will still continue writing in this space. The only change might be a greater variation in topics.

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Adam Goodman is the President of The Victory Group, the company I completed my internship with. He is the creative mastermind who has stretched my mind to new levels of thinking and imagining. For my last day of my internship-for-credit, I decided an interview with Adam would balance well with my thoughts of this internship.

After making the final disclaimer changes to a 30-second commercial, Adam and I sat down to discuss the value of internships and what it really takes to survive in this field.

I am going to put this one out in straight Q & A style because his words are so powerful by themselves.

Ashley: Have you ever completed an internship?

Adam: Yes. I worked for a summer with a D.C.-based film crew traveling the nation. I did everything from getting lunch to equipment to planning for the next shoot. It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

Ashley: Would you recommend an internship to someone? Why?

Adam: Yes. One of the best teachers is hands-on experience to learn what you can do, what you like to do and to learn about yourself. It allows you to test your limits, overcome obstacles, feel success and failure and have to deal with it all. You will use those lessons down the road and they will count for more.

Ashley: How closely do education and personality correlate with success? Does one prove superior to the other?

Adam: That is the big question of life. You need elements of both to succeed. You can be learned but not wise. You can be capable but not able to communicate it. If you have a terrific personality but can’t follow through, you can’t make it. There is some convergence between education and personality that leads to success.

Ashley: What qualities do you look for when bringing someone into your company?

Adam: Interest because without interest it just becomes work. Determination because without determination you won’t get 100 percent. Discipline in terms of measuring up to responsibilities and expectations.

Ashley: What lesson or trait have you found most valuable in your career?

Adam: Patience and perspective. Patience to wait and allow opportunities to come to you. Perseverance to make sure you don’t quit before that pot of gold. Too often people quit, maybe it’s because they’re comfortable. Especially when you’re young, it’s hard to understand just how high the sky really is. You just have to reach for it.