General James W. Hart, Jr. and His Rules for Success

Lawyer, TV newsman, jet pilot, Air Force General, consummate public relations professional and more recently, gentleman farmer/rancher in Bascon, Florida…that is James W. Hart, Jr. 

Many who have been in TPRA awhile know Hart. He retired in 1998 as vice president of public affairs for Duke Energy Corporation (previously PanEnergy and Panhandle Eastern), a global energy company. He also retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Brigadier General in 1995. He had served as reserve director of public affairs for the Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon. This was a position first held by the actor Jimmie Stewart who had been a B-24 bomber pilot during World War II becoming a brigadier general in 1959.    

Hart had a long and distinguished career in public relations after his stint in television news. He was named Outstanding Texas Public Relations Practitioner by TPRA in 1991. He is listed in Who’s Who in American and Who’s Who in Public Relations.  He was named PR professional of the year by PR news in 1996.  He received the TPRA Golden Spur Award in 1999 and was the first recipient of the Houston Chapter Public Relations Society of American (PRSA) Excalibur Legacy Award. 

Under Hart’s leadership, the PanEnergy Public Affairs Department won dozens of local, state and national awards, including four Silver Anvils from PRSA and two Gold Quills from the International Association of Business Communicators. He has been a friend and mentor to many people in TPRA and the public relations profession.   

The TPRA intern program started in 1996 at the urging Hart  – the year that Hart was president of TPRA.

When he left the TPRA Board at the end of his past president’s term in 1997, the board voted to rename the Intern of the Year Award in his honor and as a tribute to his lifelong support of professional education and excellence. 

He began funding the Intern of the Year Award in 1998 and has provided in his estate for it to be funded in perpetuity.

Each summer, TPRA places students in internships across the state. Each receives a $1000 scholarship from TPRA. These students then compete for the James W. Hart Intern of the Year award, which offers an additional $1500 scholarship.

 “Patty and I are committed to provide funding support for the Intern of the Year Award as long as TPRA presents it,” said Hart. “I personally believe that providing internships for young communications professionals can be one of the most important events in their lives.  That is why I worked with the TPRA board years ago to start such a program.” 

Famous for leading a staff and enhancing their professional development, Hart wrote these rules of the road regarding success years ago…still very much worth sharing today…–

Listed below are some rules that have served me well over the years.  They are not original with me – I’ve picked them up through experience and training.  I believe following them has contributed to improved job performance and made a significant  addition to any success I have enjoyed in my public affairs and PR career.”

Always try to:

-         Deliver quality work on time and within budget.

-         Do completed staff work.  When it gets to your boss, he/she should only have to sign it or move it forward.

-         Volunteer for difficult assignments.

-         Promote your accomplishments internally.  Remember, if your boss doesn’t know about it, then it didn’t happen.

-         Stay within your data – get all the data feasible, don’t speculate, and learn when to say “I don’t know.”

-         Provide added value to your employer.

-         Stay within your authority.

-         Test for adverse consequences before taking action.

-         Plan your work and work your plan.

-         Manage by objective.

-         Develop and promote your people – they are your most valuable resource.

-         Spend your employer’s money as if it were your own.

-         Don’t pocket –veto assignments.

-         Tell your boss everything – avoid surprises.

-         Know the difference between what is pressing and what’s important – work management’s priorities, not yours.

-         Never deviate from your employer’s policies and procedures.

-         Avoid arguing with those who can ignore your arguments without consequences and still win.

-         Poor-quality work will be remembered long after the condition under which it was produced are forgotten.

-         Avoid having your ego tied so close to your position that, if your position falls, you fall with it. 

-         Your can’t make someone else’s choices; Don’t let someone else make yours.

-         Always share credit with those under you.

-         Have a vision and promote it.

-         Be demanding and never accept sloppy work.

-         Live and work by the golden rule.

By themselves, these rules will not get you’re a job; but they will make you a better professional and will make you more valuable to your organization.  Then, when the time comes within your company for promotion, you will be at the top of the list. 

Don’t let anyone kid you.  When times are tough, good employers always keep and promote their best people.  And more important, you will be better prepared for the future.

~    Jim Hart

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For younger PR professionals, you may meet Hart at a future TPRA conference…be sure to introduce yourself.