Have you ever been in a meeting with a non-conservative company and felt uncomfortable? It energizes me, but I know it can be unsettling for others. I'm the other way around. Ultra conservative companies give me the willies.

Most of my clients are in technology and, especially at the very large companies, they tend to be rather conservative in everything from the way they dress to the kinds of design elements they like on a brochure. I'm not a very conservative kind of gal “in real life,” but I have serious aspects of my personality, so that's what I tend to show those clients. But I often wonder if I continue to attract conservative clients because that's what I'm putting out there. Hmm…

I've butted heads often with clients and employers, and I wouldn't have it any other way. My job is to to fight for what I think is right – and how to communicate it. Have I been blunt? Yep. Have I been wrong? Yep. Have a said things I regret? Nope. If I think I'm right, and it's important, I'll argue until you convince me otherwise. Or, I'll say, “You've got my two cents. It's your decision to do with it what you will.”

As long as your bluntness, openness, outspokenness, etc. is done with respect.

Jeremy says it best here: “You hire me for my ability to understand traditional and social media public relations, my ability to tell a story, my ability to build relationships and my efforts to go out and get coverage.” Maybe he isn't making a bunch of superficial friends, but I bet the relationships he builds are true and lasting.

And the sense of humor sure doesn't hurt.