Building new business as a startup PR agency is humbling. But it’s also the most energizing work I’ve done in my career. Because every win is yours. Every relationship is personal. Every idea is judged on merit, not agency theater.

In communications, continuity isn’t a luxury. It’s not a nice to have. It’s everything. Without it, relationships fade. Messaging splinters. Campaigns stall. And trust, the most valuable currency in our line of work starts to erode.

The past few weeks have reminded me why I took the leap to start Spoken Voice PR. To do work that’s grounded in values, not volume. To partner with people who want to make meaningful impact. The key here is ‘partner’, not to be just another vendor.

Corporate communications has become a kind of performance art. It’s often written for internal stakeholders or boardrooms instead of real people. Messaging is aligned and optimized, until it’s unrecognizable. There’s so much fear of being wrong, or not sounding "innovative" enough, that we end up saying nothing.

When times are tough, it can be tempting for leaders to reach for fear as a management tool. Fear demands instant compliance. Fear keeps people "on their toes." Fear can drive short-term results. Ultimately, leading with fear is a losing strategy.

Taking breaks isn’t lazy, it’s strategic. In PR and communications, where creativity, judgment and culture matter most, downtime is the catalyst for your best work. The next time you feel guilty about stepping away, don’t. You’re doubling down on your potential.

In a world oversaturated with marketing messages, broken promises and corporate speak, what people are craving isn’t perfection. It’s presence. It’s a sense that the brands they engage with are paying attention. That those brands are willing to do the hard, human work of building something better.

As someone who’s spent decades in PR and communications, I couldn’t help but notice how many of the same principles apply. What makes you a better player on the court can make you sharper, more thoughtful and more effective in how you communicate.

After 25+ years working for PR agencies, I knew it was time for a new adventure. Throughout my career, I’ve seen the industry change. Some good, some bad and some ugly.