There is an old saying that the shoemaker’s children are often the last to get shoes. The same thing holds true for communications professionals. We are so busy helping our clients and bosses reveal and reinforce their value that we often neglect the same efforts for ourselves.
For a runner, nothing is more exhilarating than coming to the finish line after giving it your all in a road race. That same feeling overwhelmed me when the brown UPS truck showed up a few days ago with six cartons of my new book, Prism of Value: Connect, Convince and Influence When It Matters Most...
What happens when clients, bosses, clients, family or friends don’t get you? You don’t get that coveted job. Your competitor wins the business you have chased for two years. You can’t get your co-workers to help you on a project.
It’s an election year and with the primaries in full swing in my county, my mailbox overfloweth with postcards from candidates. They all look and sound alike with promises of fighting for me, for better education, for jobs, for better health care. In order to stand out, these political hopefuls are putting their bland messages on bigger card stock.
“You want to be in front of your customers and potential customers as often as possible, and you want to be in front of them in positive ways,” said Liz Wainger, corporate branding expert and president of the Wainger Group. “The repetition of hearing your name and having your reputation attached to such a positive thing and such an uplifting thing for our region can only help and reinforce and support the branding strategy the company already has in place.”
The other day, I was having a conversation with a client and made the comment that someone is never too old to be a mentee and never to young to be a mentor. Then I said, “That would make a good tweet,” and tweet I did with some positive response.
As the cherry blossoms on my street hit their peak a few days ago, it made me think about how similar these beautiful trees are to the businesses we are growing every day. For more than 50 years, thanks to the civic-minded spirit of my neighborhood’s first residents, these trees have shaded my street.
Turn on any newscast and you have an opportunity to learn how to deal with conflict. Nothing feels more pressure-filled than being interviewed by a reporter on live television. There are no opportunities for do-overs, and what you say or how you present yourself is on view for millions.
When Jessica Curry took her daughter Parker to the National Portrait Gallery to see the recently installed portrait of Michelle Obama, a fellow museumgoer was struck by the little girl’s expression. Ben Hines snapped a photo with his cell phone and later posted the photo on Facebook.
Many clients have told me that when they make presentations, they feel as though they are facing a pack of lions waiting to pounce on every word. When observing these leaders in action, the reason becomes clear. More often than not, the issue is poor communication and presentation savvy. Their demeanor or conduct lacks confidence and conviction.
