We were lucky to catch up with Laura Frnka-Davis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Laura thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I’ve always played it safe and have never been one to take risks. Growing up, I was afraid of everything – including asking for what I wanted or, at times, what I needed.

When I found myself without a job in the fall of 2018, I had to put that fear aside and took a massive leap of faith to start my own communications firm. I always wanted to do it, but trepidation was holding me back. I had visions of working for myself, being my own boss, and working on clients I enjoyed, but I never thought those things were attainable.

How would I get clients? Who would want to work with me? What would I charge? How would I handle my taxes? How in the world would I pay myself? So many “What Ifs” caused me a tremendous amount of anxiety. 

I found myself in a position where I had six months of financial resources to launch my business while trying to make ends meet. So, with my husband at my side and providing all the IT resources I ever needed, I started LFD Communications. Nearly four years later, I’m working with some big-name clients and brands on huge initiatives and projects and loving every minute of it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve always enjoyed writing. In the third grade, I wrote my first book. My mom has a photo of me sitting at an old-fashioned typewriter pounding out prose. But I also was painfully timid to the point where people would ask my other family members if I talked! So when I reflect on that time in my life, I’m amazed that I chose public relations as a profession, and never in a million years did I imagine owning my own company.

Slowly I started growing out of that, and when I got into high school, I became involved with the journalism program. I was on the video yearbook staff and, during my senior year, was the newspaper editor. When I got to college, I discovered many opportunities to use my journalism skills in student life activities, including serving as director of public relations for my class council.

After graduating from college, I had several jobs in the communications realm, including advertising and public relations. My second job out of college was with a PR agency specializing in high-tech. I loved it and honestly learned many of the nuts and bolts of PR during that time of my career – many of the same concepts I use today as a solo entrepreneur. From there, I went on to gain other experiences that positioned me well to open my own shop.  

My company, LFD Communications, provides public relations and writing services. I specialize in helping mid-to-large-sized nonprofits and businesses with their communications needs, whether they need media relations support or help writing an annual report or newsletter. I work with various clients, including those in the healthcare, hospitality, education, and nonprofit spaces.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I spent nearly a decade of my career in the same place, working for the same company. That kind of loyalty is hard to come by in today’s job landscape. So when I suddenly found myself without a job, I had to pivot directions and figure out what I would do next. I had to adapt to a different way of thinking and take on clients in areas I didn’t know anything about. It was an enormous (but fun!) learning curve. 

Every day, I pivot, too. I work with multiple clients across different industries and have to shift gears – sometimes hourly. But that’s what I love about my job and what I do now – the variety of the work, the different types of projects I’ve been able to work on, and the incredible people I’ve met along the way.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

When I decided to start my own company, I had no idea what type of reputation I had until I started meeting people who had heard about my work. My self-esteem and confidence had plummeted to an all-time low. But, much to my surprise, I was well-liked AND respected among my colleagues. Despite what others thought and what they told me to my face, I finally began to realize that I was knowledgeable and had something worthwhile to contribute to my profession.

My parents taught me the importance of hard work and being responsible for my commitment, and I’ve carried those life lessons with me throughout grade school, high school, college, and into my career. As a result, I’ve always been a hard worker – sometimes to my detriment.

I believe my grit, authenticity, and ability to be resourceful at every turn have contributed to my success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lfdcommunications.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurafrnka-davis/

Image Credits
Shelly Porsch Chetty – photos of me