When I received my kindergarten report card, the teacher wrote:

 

"Janice is the social butterfly of the class. She likes to talk."

 

Communication has been one of my finest skills—almost from the beginning. In fact, I’ve molded my career around conveying ideas to people. Even though I still like to talk, I find it is my job to listen—to hear what clients are saying about their goals, needs, corporate philosophies. If I listen very well, eventually I get to talk again! About how we could solve their needs, improve their sales, enhance their image, make an impact. It’s a concept that works. I served, successfully, nearly 10 years as head of a Public Relations Division for one of Cleveland’s top ad agencies.

 

And when I talked myself into starting my own agency in 1996, it became clear that people liked what I had to say. Just about every one of our clients came with me to the new agency. We still listen. And I still like to talk.