It has been a month now in my internship with the Mackinac State Historic Parks. It has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. I have learned more about what it takes to work in the marketing department of such a large entity, with typically one person.
This weekend, my parents asked me a question that I have been asked before, but now has an even clearer answer—"What is exactly is it, that you do? What does a public relations or a marketing manager...do?"
My first thought is, what don't they do?
At least at Mackinac State Historic Parks, the marketing manager position is so much more than a person can imagine. I have noticed the marketing manager is constantly dealing with things that may or may not involve his role. People are constantly asking him for advice and looking to him for direction. Every where we walk on Mackinac Island, he knows 70% of the people we walk by. As soon as he leaves our office, someone comes in asking me "Where's Dom?" Not only does he have his plate full with his own tasks, but he has a million other things that he makes time to help out with. He answers countless emails, draws in and caters to media left and right, collaborates with other marketing entities on the island, puts out fires that seem to start up right after he just put one out, he's creating content for social media, and most importantly, gets people to come to Mackinac. His job is to work to make MSHP enough revenue to keep functioning.
Every time I ask him about his job and if all the chaos is worth it, he says "It's worth it. How many people get to say they work on Mackinac Island and get to experience the things I do on a daily basis? Every time I think 'ugh, I have to take the boat again, or that I have to go back to wherever,' I remind myself that it's all worth it and it really is an amazing opportunity."
That to me, is a job of passion. Working with someone who is so passionate about what he does makes my job and learning experience worth so much more.
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