Lessons for Communicators from Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday, is being remembered  for a life tirelessly dedicated to

freedom and justice. As the leader of a movement that brought down apartheid in South Africa, Mandela has inspired millions around the world with his actions and his words. We’re sharing some of his notable quotes here that we thought would resonate with PR communicators.
“It is never my custom to use words lightly. If twenty-seven years in prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand how precious words are and how real speech is in its impact on the way people live and die.”
"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
"Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do."
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
“It always seems impossible until it is done.”
"I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles."
“When people are determined they can overcome anything.”

Social Media Expert Job Among 9 Others That May Not Exist 10 Years From Now: Study

Today, social media websites, such as Twitter (NYSE:TWTR), Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) and Instagram play a significant role in marketing a company’s products and services, leading many companies to hire specialists to manage marketing outreach on such websites.

ADVERTISEMENT

All of that's going to change, a new study says, and positions exclusively devoted to feeding the social media beasts will be a thing of the past. According to a study by Workopolis, while a social media expert could be a major contributor in generating revenues for a company these days, the position will be extinct within the next 10 years.
“Soon a generation of young professionals who’ve grown up with Twitter and Facebook as part of their daily lives will be entering the job market,” the study said. “With this glut of savvy young online communicators looking for work, social media skills will just become expected communication competencies, like reading and writing, rather than unique areas of expertise.”
The study suggested that today’s generation is so engrossed in social media that employers will not consider proficiency in the field as a stand-out qualification.