From Doubt to Determination: My Journey of Building a Media & Public Relations Company

An honest look at the ups, downs and lessons learned while building CMPR Group, and why the climb is just the beginning.

Building a vision through uncertainty, perseverance, and the determination to keep climbing.

I didn’t begin building Climb & Maintain Public Relations Group with a full team behind me, a long list of clients waiting at the door, or a perfect roadmap outlining exactly what I needed to do next.

I began building amid uncertainty.

I remember sitting on the floor of my crafting room, laptop open, reading through my assignment for the week. As I waited for the right thoughts to come together, I listened to Tyler Perry deliver a sermon about climbing and maintaining. He spoke about how climbing is the prayer and maintaining is the worship.

Something about those words resonated with me.

At that moment, I knew what I wanted to do. What I didn't know was how I would prepare myself for everything that would come with pursuing that vision. I could see the paper. I could see the pen. I could even envision the blueprint. But what I couldn't see was the illustrator—the person who would bring it all together.

There I sat, wondering whether this assignment could develop into something powerful or become another grand idea that would never make it beyond the crack beneath my crafting room door. Little did I know, I was in for quite a surprise.

There were days when I questioned whether any of it would work. Was I moving too quickly, or was I not moving fast enough? Would people take a newly established media and public relations company seriously? Would the countless hours of work behind the scenes eventually develop into the opportunities I envisioned?

I sent messages that went unanswered. I applied for professional opportunities and repeatedly faced rejection. I joined an organization where certain experiences left me questioning whether my contributions and presence were genuinely valued. I developed projects that never made it beyond my computer, printer, or notepad.

Meanwhile, opportunities seemed to pass me by, leaving me wondering when, or even if, the work I had invested in would begin producing the results I envisioned. I volunteered with artists, attended events, supported creative projects, and consistently shared my passion, educational background, and professional aspirations.

While these experiences allowed me to connect with others and continue developing my skills, they also taught me valuable lessons about professional relationships, recognition, and the importance of understanding the value of my work.

There were occasions when my contributions were welcomed, but opportunities for compensation, professional acknowledgment, or continued collaboration did not follow.

I also reached out to multiple agencies in hopes of gaining additional experience and expanding my professional knowledge. Some conversations challenged me to think more critically about how I presented my qualifications, while others left me feeling that my potential was being evaluated through limitations rather than possibilities.

Those experiences were not always easy to navigate, especially while trying to establish myself in an industry where relationships, experience, credibility, and consistency are essential.

But somewhere between the doubt and the disappointment, something began to change.

I started evaluating my approach, questioning the plans I once believed were the right ones, and taking a closer look at where I was directing my time and energy.

I realized that I had become so focused on supporting others, pursuing employment opportunities, and searching for clients that I had unintentionally neglected certain areas of building my own company.

I was investing in other people's visions while still learning how to fully invest in my own. That realization required accountability, discipline, and a willingness to change my approach.

With a background in digital cinematography and public relations, I began recognizing that the knowledge and creative abilities I had worked to develop could contribute to something greater than the opportunities I was waiting to receive.

I had the ability to develop stories, produce visual content, create communication strategies, and build a platform that reflected the type of work I wanted to contribute to the industry.

The challenge was learning how to bring those capabilities together with greater intention.

As Climb & Maintain Public Relations Group continued evolving, I began looking beyond the traditional structure of a public relations agency. I envisioned a company where strategic communication and media production could work together to help individuals, brands, and organizations communicate their stories more effectively.

That vision has encouraged me to continue developing original interviews, editorial content, media projects, and opportunities for meaningful community engagement.

I began to understand that progress does not always come through immediate recognition, financial success, or an abundance of opportunities. Sometimes, progress happens quietly, through the decisions we make, the lessons we learn, and the work we continue doing when the results are not yet visible.

I stopped viewing the slower moments as evidence that I wasn't progressing and started recognizing them as an essential part of the climb.

I am still building. I am still learning. And I am continuing to strengthen the foundation of the company I envision.

Building a media production and public relations company has taught me something I now understand more deeply than I ever could have learned from a textbook:

Visibility may introduce people to your name, but determination is what keeps you building when no one is watching.

And that is where Climb & Maintain Public Relations Group truly begins.