The assumption that press and visibility equal financial success should be studied and should also cease. Because how do people arrive at that?
The professional expectations and messages that I’ve received from people who assume they know exactly where I am financially in my business are wild, as I need people to have some perspective before they reach out or at least read my frequently asked questions section.
You can be known in the media and not well supported by the general public, by your own community, by many people, and that’s where I am as a gay transgender publicist and media activist. You see, in terms of my media activism, I put my money where my mouth is time and time again, and that works against me financially, but not one single individual factors that into account when they send an introduction email, because most often they are seeking an opportunity from me.
Unless we’ve had a conversation specifically about my business, you are not privy to it. I don’t like being approached in a way where people project assumptions upon me.
The only way I was able to go to this upcoming convention is because I sought out and applied for resources that I was lucky enough to be considered for and also because my partner believes enough in me to help me.
I have had to go out, become self-taught on my skills, seek resources, and create every single media opportunity that I have had in my career, and have yet to see an ROI on my time financially, outside of my press visibility, which is quantifiable in web traffic, not dollars and cents—all the while going through this world with my own set of circumstances, which have been detailed in many of my books, that have also gone unsupported by those who first seek to hit me up for donations, advertising funds, and/or job opportunities that I do not have to offer.
I’ll leave you all with this: some of us can be so damn good at PR that the general public starts to create a story in their head about what our lives are like; until you speak to someone or read books about their life, you’ll never truly know what they face daily or what they’ve built with little to no support, all under pressure and with people thinking everything was handed to us because of how we appear now. I am a dedicated 43-year-old work in progress, not an overnight success. Please keep in mind what chapter you are entering someone’s life story in, because there’s always a backstory that you haven’t yet read.
I have been successful as a publicist in landing placements because I do not hit people up for anything; I provide relevant value to their careers and/or projects. One day I’d like to open my inbox and have some of that energy reciprocated.
ABOUT DYLAN THOMAS COTTER:
Rebel with a cause, driven by authenticity, self-expression, and liberation for all.
Rev. Dylan Thomas Cotter is a strategist, public relations leader, and brand communications executive with more than fifteen years of experience at the intersection of entertainment, media, and technology.
Cotter is known for securing numerous Tier 1 (top-tier) and Tier 2 media placements across key markets including but not limited to The Associated Press, Fortune, ABC News, GQ, Rolling Stone, Out Magazine, The Advocate, Pride, Inked Magazine, Real Simple, VICE, KTLA, Reader’s Digest, Mashable, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Life UK, Newsweek, Men’s Health, Parade Magazine, Betches, U.S. News & World Report, Women’s Health Magazine, NursingColleges.com, Women.com, South China Morning Post, Truthout, MIC, The Manual, Curl Magazine, International Business Times UK, TechRound, GB News, The Irish Star US, The Mirror, MSN and AOL.
Cotter advises founders, artists, and executives on brand positioning, reputation, corporate social responsibility, and strategic communications. As an openly gay transgender professional, Dylan Thomas Cotter is committed to fostering inclusive, respectful, and affirming work environments.
His latest books, Dear Cisgender Reader Walk Beside Me: An Invitation to Understanding My Big, Exciting Gay Transgender Life and Think Like a Transgender Thought Leader, are out now.