Crucial Success Skills Forged Through My Journey
Being a born communicator, Interpersonal skills and creativity were crucial to my success in the field of Public Relations. For example :- Year 1971 - Founded “Pandarian Youth Cultural Association” and organized a cultural evening in Pandara Road Ground.
Year 1972. Took admission in Dyal Singh College (DU) Lodi Road, New Delhi. In the very first year of the college, I decided to contest the students Union Elections of the college. I was allotted ballot No. 42. Fortunately, those days’ regular shows of a Hollywood film “Summer of 42” were running at Plaza Cinema (Now PVR Plaza), Connaught Place, New Delhi. and I creatively used the title of the film to promote my ballot number 42 amongst the college students. I also got the promotional pamphlet printed in the shape of a film ticket with the title” Vote for Summer of 42 – Suresh Gaur” and the pamphlet was an instant hit amongst the college students, especially girls. My election campaign and design brought me very close to some of the prominent student leaders of ABVP, NSUI and Youth Congress including the then and (future) DUSU Presidents.
Crafting Creative Opportunities from Every Challenge
I take the challenges head-on. I have a winner’s attitude. I look for the opportunities in adversities. I work on my weaknesses and turn them into strengths. For example; in Year 1994… Place New Delhi… while as Manager in credit deptt. of OBC at its head office, on the personal request of incharge of HR dept. of the bank who was a close relative of Pandit Vishva Mohan Bhatt – Creator of Mohan Veena and winner of GRAMMY AWARD in 1994, organized a press conference at Press Club of India, New Delhi to introduce Grammy Award winner to the press. The Press Conference was attended by the journalists in good numbers and good press coverage was received.
Year 1995…It was either 2nd or 3rd week of May’1995. I was away to Mata Vaishno Devi Darshans with family. Our bank (Oriental Bank of Commerce now PNB) had a branch just outside the temple. We reached the branch at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan around 10am in the morning and introduced myself to the branch manager, he informed me that there was a call from the Incharge of Bank’s CMD’s Office for you - who had asked the branch manager that if Mr. Gaur happen to visit the branch, please tell him to talk to me over phone ASAP and the call was connected… The other side was the then Incharge of CMD Sect. He asked me, Mr. Gaur, when are you coming back to Delhi. I told him – the 3rd day.
He said to me – when you come to bank, come straight to CMD office… some very important work is waiting for you… I said OK… I was a bit surprised… mere se kya important kaam ho sakta hai!!! After 3 days when I went to the bank and met the Incharge, he told me that as the bank has become public in the year 1994, its first press conference, to announce the Annual financial results, is to be held in June 1995. As you are connected with media, I have suggested your name to the CMD about arranging the press conference, and he took me to the CMD. First time I met the CMD of the Bank, face to face, and that too being properly introduced.
Our CMD, a very humble person, shook hand with me, asked me to have a chair, and ordered his attendant to bring the tea. CMD asked me…I’m given to understand that you have good contacts in the media…Since the financial results of the bank are to be announced in a press conference, can you organize a press conference of financial journalists? With all my confidence I answered…YES, I can. And the first press conference of the bank was organized at Hotel Le- Meridian which was attended by the business editors of all the major newspapers and was a grand success.
After the press conference the CMD came to me and patted on my shoulder and said – WELL DONE Mr. Gaur. More than 100 newspapers and magazines carried the news / financial results of the bank. The CMD was so happy with the execution and outcome of the press conference, that he asked the then Incharge of HRD to send me on a one month “Management Development Program” at National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM), PUNE which was meant for senior level executives i.e. Scale IV and above only, whereas I was just in Scale II.
My Impact
- Launched “Facebook Live Series Twenty-Twenty” in July 2020 and later rechristened it as “PR Ki Pathshala” on 15th January 2021 on my Facebook group page “Public Relations @ Online” having over 19600 members as of now.
- Have successfully organized 185 FB live shows on the above-mentioned group page October 2023.
- Experts from the field of PR, Advtg., Event Mgmt., Brand Mgmt., Mass Comm., Mass Media i.e. Print, Electronic, Film and OOH, Theatre, Music, dance, Acting, Soft Skill Development, Marketing, Management, have shared their valuable inputs through the group wall.
- Was one of the key speakers at a workshop on “Effective Use of Social Media” for Hon’ble Vice President of India’s Social Media Team members at Vice President House.
- Contributed articles on PR in many PR related magazines – journals of repute of the country.
- Had been teaching Public Relations in renowned media colleges of the country since year 2009.
- Spoke on Public Relations in webinars organized by NSDC, MESC & GMEC, and Universities.
- Signed a MOU with Media & Entertainment Skill Council to be the Master Coach on PR.
- Created World Record as “Fastest 100 Blogs Written by An Individual on Public Relations in The World”.
- Created India Record as “Maximum blogs on Public Relations written and uploaded by an individual in India”.
- Authored 4 books. 2 books on Public Relations, 1 book on Event Management, 1 book on PR & Event management.
- Contributed 8 Chapters on PR in books edited by renowned media educators of India.
- Authored 136 blogs on PR till date. (www.sureshgaurprguru.blogspot.com)
- Directed over 25 full length stage plays in Hindi and had acted in over 100 Stage, Radio and TV productions.
- Dr. Suresh Gaur, PR Guru appears in the search on the top If someone search “P R Guru in World” on Google.
- Have been a guide to the students in their research work including PhD.
Scaling New Heights in Personal and Professional Triumphs
For me SUCCESS is - Aspire to reach the top of your career and stay there. And with our revered Guru Ji’s blessings yours truly is acknowledged as “PR Guru in World” and “PR Guru in India”. My Benchmarks are Consistency in whatever I do and excellent Time Management. Two examples of success I would like to share; During the period march1988 – March1990 I was as posted as Branch Manager of rural branch of the OBC now PNB. Before taking over the charge of the branch I was informed that this particular branch is not working well because of many factors. During my two years stay at the branch my communication skills (soft skills) helped me in turning that branch 180 degrees from a standstill to a fast-moving branch within three months of joining i.e. by 30th June 1988.
The target given to the branch for 31st December 1988 were achieved by the branch on 30th June 1988 and I wrote a letter to the Regional Head of the bank to enhance the targets for December’1988 given to the branch. During a branch managers meeting in July 1988, in which I was also present, the then Regional Head of the bank said that during his banking career he had seen branch managers requesting to reduce the targets of the branch, but no one has ever requested to enhance the targets, but today I can say that YES, there is a manager in my region who has requested to enhance the target for December 1988 as the branch has already achieved the same on 30th June’1988, and that manager is Suresh Gaur.
Years 1983 – 1988: In Feb. 1983 shifted base to Amritsar as I was posted in one of the Amritsar branches of OBC. In Amritsar I met few likeminded persons like Late Dr. Om Awasthi, Late Sh. Daman Kaushik, Smt. Sudesh Ahlawat, Dr. Rajinder Takiar, Dr. Baldev Gambhir, Dr. Somesh Chaddha (father of film star Richa Chaddha) and re - started ART EXPO, theatre group…kyun ki jahaan jahaan main…wahaan wahaan ART EXPO …During my stay of over 5 years in Amritsar, I had directed and staged many full lengths stage plays in Hindi. I directed and staged my last play “Hatya Ek Akaar Ki” written by Sh. Lalit Sehgal, in Govt. College for Women Auditorium, Amritsar in February’1988.
I very much remember the kind words of Mrs. Sudesh Ahlawat, then Principal of BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar, about me after the show was over “Suresh Gaur came to Amritsar in 1983 as an unknown face…and in 1988 when he is leaving Amritsar, he has become a household name because of his contribution to the promotion of Hindi theatre in Punjab. He has given a lot to Jalandhar and Amritsar cities through his theatre activities. His name will be remembered as the pioneer of Hindi theatre in Punjab”. The great Sardar Gursharan Singh ji (late), famous writer and play director who was founder of Amritsar Natak Kala Kendra honored me as “The pioneer of Hindi Theatre in Punjab”.
The Synergy Between My Path and Recognition Values
This song is the answer to this….
Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhaata Chala Gaya,
Har Fikr Ko Dhuein Mein Udaata Chala Gaya,
Barbaadiyon Ka Shok Manana Fizool Tha,
Barbaadiyon Ka Jashan Manata Chala Gaya,
Jo Mil Gaya Usi Ko Muqaddar Samajh Liya,
Jo Kho Gaya Mein Ussko Bhulata Chala Gaya,
Gum Aur Khushi Mein Farq Na Mehsoos Ho Jahan,
Main Khud Ko Uss Muqaam Pe Laata Chala Gaya,
Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhaata Chala Gaya!
Har Fikr Ko Dhein Mein Udaata Chala Gaya!!