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The average individual probably wouldn’t correlate the art of being “zen” with the deadline and results-driven world of marketing and public relations. However, maintaining a calm, clear and patient mind can be the key to success.

Here’s how to be more Zen:

Create a plan.

Jumping into a campaign or project without a strategic plan is a recipe for lackluster results. Instead, take a step back before you act. Carefully think through the challenge at hand. What are your objectives? Who is your target audience and what key messages will resonate with them? What is your strategy and what tactics will you use to support them? Thoughtful planning doesn’t have to take a lot of time, but it will provide a solid foundation for your efficiency and effectiveness moving forward.

Meditate on it.

Once you’ve built a smart strategy and have rolled it out, make sure to evaluate the results after a reasonable amount of time. For example, if you are pitching a story on behalf of a client, try out the media pitch for a day or so and then reevaluate, discussing tweaks and new angles. If a promotional campaign for a webinar isn’t generating sign-ups after a week or so, think through ways to improve it.

Use your intuition.

Once you have some experience under your belt, your intuition can serve as a very powerful guide in the world of marketing and communications. Set realistic expectations for large and small announcements and trust your gut—based on your past experience and the knowledge you’ve accumulated, what would realistic results look like?  Clarity upfront helps everyone understand success measures.

Be patient.

Rome wasn’t built in a day—and neither are the majority of successful campaigns or projects. Again, communicating timing and expectations are key. While one-off wins do happen, continuous and impactful coverage stems from building relationships with target media, ongoing conversations and hard work.  What’s more, some articles may be in development for months before they are actually published.  A little patience can go a long way on the road to success.

While marketing and public relations can be a fast-paced, stressful world, there are steps we can all take to make it more zen!

Connect with us on Twitter: @Zer0to5ive