There are big advantages to getting in first in just about every area of life.
It snowed in Cambridge last week. I woke just before seven, saw the unusual glow to the light...
And was out 15 minutes later filming and photographing.
Looking back, I didn't question why I went straight out. I just did it.
Maybe it was ingrained from my BBC days.
The sooner you got to the scene of a story, the better the pictures.
As I often used to joke hilariously to the fire service, the amount of times we arrived to film a smouldering ruin, rather than a fire:
- You've selfishly gone and put the thing out before we got here again!
Getting out early to film the snow meant I had strong images before the whiteout melted away, as it quickly did.
They were widely shared and commented on, including by media outlets.
How did that benefit me?
I made some new contacts, and enhanced my profile as a "useful communications guy", which is always handy on the bringing in work front.
When Covid struck, back in March, in partnership with the excellent Cambridge Network business group I held one of the first webinars.
It was so well received I ended up repeating it four times (it was on Crisis Communications, so that was perhaps understandable.)
We got plenty of publicity, the Network gained new members, and I've had lots of new opportunities ever since.
In my public relations work, we always try to get our version of a story in first.
It's the one that makes the mark.
The media love a first. They're never so interested in a second.
An old saying in the darker areas of the PR trade has it that:
- People remember the allegation, not the rebuttal.
It's a well known phrase for a good reason - because it's true.
The first day of a course case, or tribunal, is always the one that makes waves.
Because that's when all the newsworthy details are set out in a public arena, for the media to feast upon.
The other side of the story, which comes later, is largely overlooked.
And in business, of course, the first company with the new product tends to get all the glory.
It doesn't guarantee success - the innovation has to do the job, and do it well - but it certainly helps.
Those are just a selection of illustrations of the importance of getting in first from a few areas of life that I know a little about.
I'm sure there are many more. In fact, if you've got some thoughts, why not share your examples in the comments?
The moral of the story being:
If you've got something important on your mind, from a business idea, to your version of a story, to whatever, get in first.
Think first, yes of course. But then be bold and go for it.
It'll give you a very big advantage in achieving your aims.