The fact that a lot of people are talking doesn’t mean there are a lot of real conversations going on. More to the point, the fact that there is measurable attention being paid to any particular topic does not guarantee progress. In the mid 1940’s, the Congress of the United States introduced legislation to make … Continue Reading
From the sublime (Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural for example) to the ridiculous (see the latest viral video of parent taunting child or furry cat being a furry cat) — we celebrate the art of messaging. In a few weeks we’ll actually perk up during commercial breaks of the Super Bowl to spot this year’s benchmark … Continue Reading
Some days remind us that every human being has a story. And most of the time we don’t know many of the details. This week brought several of those days. The specifics — not really appropriate to recount here — have prompted plenty of introspection on my part. Much of it has centered on how … Continue Reading
There is no shortage of communicators talking about the challenges attendant to listening. Type effective listening into your search engine, and you won’t have to wait long for the evidence. In 1.8 seconds more than 1 million resources will be one click away. Tips, tricks, guidelines, best practices, secrets, insights, barriers, ten-step-programs, five keys, principles, systems — … Continue Reading
Can we admit that we all say things we wish we could, in the vernacular of the day, walk back. When I’m the offender, though she’s been gone for many years, I cannot escape the influence of my mother. She believed words have power . . . that what comes out of our mouths is … Continue Reading
I remember when we used to be able to disagree. Friends could vigorously debate, and go home friends. We could go to school, work alongside, and build neighborhoods with folks with whom we held differing views, values and convictions. We could even talk about it. Those were the days. But that kind of dialogue may be dead. These … Continue Reading
The axiom says perception is reality. Translation — as if to taunt marketers and communicators, something more than brilliant content (or evident tangibles) impacts the interpretation of messages we so painstakingly create. Consider how varied multiple descriptions of a single event can be. Or the predictable discrepancies in eye-witness testimony. Or the differences in what … Continue Reading
