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motivation

Will the Right Words Make it all Better?

Cartoon of a girl and a boy in a corner. The girl says, "Looks like to me you have yourself a public relations problem

Public relations is the diplomatic side of marketing. Some call it “spin.” It’s managing the spread of information. Politicians are great at it. Corporations know it is necessary to avoid a crisis and to put the best positive angle on some less than favorable news.

Sometimes the right words make it better. There are two sides to every story. A company or senator would be foolish not to make their perspective known. 

However, there are times when it is just better to fess up. Maybe the boy in my cartoon doesn’t have a public relations problem. He may just need to say, “I’m sorry!” instead of explaining his infraction away.

Sometimes, we need some public relations. Other times, we just need to own it and apologize.

Cartoon of a girl and a boy in a corner. The girl says, "Looks like to me you have yourself a public relations problem
Categories
motivation

The Power of Change

Cartoon of a man an woman staring at a car. The man says, "I can't wash it now and destroy life! There's sprouts growing in the dirt."

A high standard of living presupposes an economy of innovation and change.

Peter Drucker in The Effective Executive

This sentence blew me away when I read it. How often do people resist change? Yet, the high standard of living we have enjoyed in North America and Europe over the years has demanded change.

And change will happen whether we resist it or not. We can fight it like the guy in my cartoon. We can rationalize that disturbing the flow of things will kill spontaneity. But if we are willing to let things lie, change will come in unpredictable ways and we won’t be ready for it.

Prosperity happens in our economy when we see change is coming and make adjustments to roll with it. We won’t get it right all the time. We may stumble and decide we need to go another way, but being willing to change with the times will reap dividends in the end.

Maybe the guy will change before he has a forest on his hood. Then again, maybe he will see the dirt and new growth differently and open the first mobile, urban garden. Hey! maybe the change required for him is to see car washing as an old habit that is due for a rework. All of a sudden, some creativity and what-if’s opens some opportunities for a new, high standard of living.

Cartoon of a man an woman staring at a car. The man says, "I can't wash it now and destroy life! There's sprouts growing in the dirt."
Categories
motivation

Modern Communication

Texting anyone? Or do you tweet, post an update or prefer only to communicate with chatbots? Do you email your request? Or do you prefer to snail mail your correspondence?

We have so many easy, fast ways to communicate now. We can send instant messages to someone across the world. Yet, do we stop to consider if our favorite mode of communication is effective?

A handwritten note from a hundred years ago can still speak effectively. Books printed centuries ago can still give wisdom and insight. Some communication is good for the immediacy of the Internet. Some are meant for more permanence.

As we near Valentine’s Day, consider what mode of communication you are using. There are times a quick text to my wife is an appropriate way to say I love you. But the handwriting in a note or card may last longer than I’ll ever know.

Categories
motivation

The Benefits of Feeling Nervous

Cartoon of a girl scolding a kitten. She says, "Come down from there! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

“Nerves are the body’s response to opportunity.”

Ken Coleman

Are you nervous? Are you out on a limb and wondering if you did the right thing? Are friends and loved ones trying to talk you out of it? Then it may be a good sign you are staring at opportunity.

It takes audacity to embrace an opportunity. If the dream is big enough, you are naturally going to feel nervous. You’ll feel a little adrenaline rush as you take the plunge.

Cartoon of a girl scolding a kitten. She says, "Come down from there! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

It’s okay to feel nervous as you go out on a limb. You may find on the other end of the opportunity that it was the best decision you ever made.

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motivation

Where Seldom is Heard…

Cartoon of two children running. Someone is throwing acorns at them. One says, "You shouldn't insult squirrels when they're in trees and have ammo."

Home, home on the range,
Where the Deer and the Antelope play,
Where seldom is heard,
a discouraging word,
And the sky is not cloudy all day.

Home on the Range by Dr. Brewster Higley

As a child, I loved that song. The thought of some place where none of the words were discouraging made me want to go west as soon as I grew up. Perhaps that is why I still have a soft spot for Arizona.

Nobody likes discouraging words. Unfortunately, we can all get a little self-righteous and justified in spreading a little verbal venom now and then. We can even feel like we are spouting truth even while we do it in a less-than-gracious way. Even squirrels have a rough time with insults and verbal barbs. They can return insults with nuts, especially if they have a birdseye view.

Cartoon of two children running. Someone is throwing acorns at them. One says, "You shouldn't insult squirrels when they're in trees and have ammo."

Be encouraged today. When you hear a discouraging word. Don’t return it with your own tirade. Get away from words meant to take away our courage. Find encouragement, and be an encouragement to others. That is a much better way.