I have to admit. I watch Anthony Bourdain and the Travel Channel way too much. For someone who doesn’t really cook, aside from my annual holiday lasagna and occassional pasta and shrimp, and who counts living in New York City as her global travel, it’s a bit of a disconnect. Yet, Bourdain is brilliant! He is an exquisite story teller, writer, and provides a creative, and irreverent way to view his world of food, places and those people who strike him as fascinating.
As a public relations professional, I would take a wild guess that Bourdain would run as fast as he could from me and my profession. Who needs to work with a PR frontman when you have the world of the Travel Channel at your disposal to make your every hotel (or dive) room reservation, plane connection, to far off and far out destinations? That, and he seems like a writer/chef who simply wants to work direct with his team to discover the untainted food locales that he covers on his shows (now the “Layover,” but previously “No Reservations”) vs. working with a PR pro to uncover those hidden gems.
I respect that because Bourdain is so damn good at what he does. The PR profession can learn a thing or two from the sarcastic, hilarious, dingy New Yorker. This piece http://bit.ly/vUxBpO from Craig McBreen that ran in PRDaily (Jan. 3, 2012) toplines 5 Social Media Lessons From Anthony Bourdain. In particular, No. 4 “Be yourself,” is something all PR pros should take note. In a profession where it’s so easy to lose ourselves in our clients and stories we’re pitching, McBreen’s point is well taken, “If you plan to become great at something, embracing that which makes you distinct and applying some imagination is an enoromous help.“
Bourdain is true to himself. Regardless of the exotic (and downright dirty, at times) locations he’s traveling to, his heart, soul and best food memories are in his town of New York City. That’s home.
I’m pysched 2012 is here. As I move into the year with my limited, but calorie-robust recipes in hand, I’m thinking about what I stand for, what makes me distinct as a PR professional, writer, story-teller. Thinking about it makes me “real” and the work I do…an honest day’s work that helps people I’m fortunate to serve in my time. I can stand for that. “No PR.” And, that…is the beauty of Anthony Bourdain.
Great blog, Julie! I love Anthony Bourdain too (even though I can’t cook more than eggs and tacos — not together). Be yourself. Good advice no matter what you’re doing.
I just found that a couple weeks ago. Great stuff!
Thanks for commenting, Cindie! Eggs and tacos? Good choices and legit food items in my book. I like that you can call it for what it is and for who we are! And, let me just say, you would be the one to publish/write the book on all these foodies. One “reality” feeds the other…
This made me chuckle, thanks for that! In these times we all need a good laugh from time to time!
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