847 years ago when we at Sun Microsystems launched the Java technology, not long after Netscape launched the first browser, one of our biggest worries was creating messages for something that was too new to define. As the PR person, I had to create … [Read more...] about AI needs elastic messages
The sky IS blue
When I was in coaching school, I met a wonderful human who told me that he taught his clients this beautifully simple practice. Whenever they’d have a negative or scary thought, he asked them to add this short statement: “And the sky is blue.” As … [Read more...] about The sky IS blue
Earned, Owned, Paid
We continue to debate and evolve our definitions of paid, earned, and owned media. For a marketing person, these distinctions may be vital, but my advice as a communications coach to clients is the same no matter which channel they’re … [Read more...] about Earned, Owned, Paid
What’s next?
Remember when the New Year was a time of delightful anticipation? We’d make plans to conquer the world? In March 2020 I looked back with a sinister laugh at my January and February 2020 self and said, I’m never doing THAT again. But even though … [Read more...] about What’s next?
Looks like we made it
Well here we are, at the end of another chaotic year. Will 2023 be more “normal”? Do we even know what “normal” means anymore? Regardless, we made it. We piloted our rafts through whatever rapids came at us. We got thrown out of the raft and … [Read more...] about Looks like we made it
Take the opposite view
My head loves worst-case scenario thinking. It was great when I was a PR person who needed to envision and prepare for any potential crisis, but it’s not so awesome when I’m just trying to live my life. One tool I’ve learned from a few coaches is … [Read more...] about Take the opposite view
Words. They matter.
Let’s talk about words. If I say “ruby” to someone at a jewelry store, I’m going to get something very different than if I say “Ruby” on GitHub. Shared vocabulary is a prerequisite for any successful conversation. It’s your responsibility both as … [Read more...] about Words. They matter.
Reality?
‘’Perception is reality.” Lee Atwater coined this phrase in political campaigning because he saw that what people think is more powerful than what’s true. Objectivity does not exist. This can be super frustrating, but it’s TRUE. People do not … [Read more...] about Reality?
Context matters!
Let me state the obvious: The three minute presentation you give at a university recruiting day should be radically different from your board meeting. The language you use at a biotech conference to a bunch of doctors is different from the language … [Read more...] about Context matters!
Your brand
Your customers and prospects are a skeptical bunch. They have been burned before, so they are super careful about committing time and money to someone new. How do you get them to trust you? Table stakes: You listen. You do what you say you’ll do. … [Read more...] about Your brand
