“Hello–I am trying to reach someone in your PR/Marketing department. A client of mine is donating money to your organization, and I need to coordinate communication–prior efforts via this page have not borne fruit.” Two weeks ago, that was my post on the Facebook page of a nationally renowned charitable organization. Frankly, I was sorely […]
A Chicago media personality today told me that my pitch on behalf of a client was “self-promotional” and so, if they were guests on a segment, it would be a “free commercial.” At first, I thought about replying snarky-style: “Isn’t that the whole idea behind public relations?” However, that’s not the whole idea. It’s a happy byproduct […]
Did you know that yesterday was National Child Health Day? And, at the risk of having you worry why March and May were not designated instead, did you realize that April is Stress Awareness Month? Growing up, for yours truly, every day was Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. On a broader scale, however, that comfort […]
When we learn how to drive a car, we are taught the “three-second rule,” a safe following distance guide to ensure that we leave enough space between our car and the one in front of us to avoid a collision. Or perhaps you know it as the “two-second rule,” which is considered a minimum separation […]
Driving past a Berwyn condominium development recently, the banner draped in front of the building made a simple declaration: “New Pricing!” I flashed back to more than four years ago, when a similarly simple phrase was behind a public relations and marketing effort to spark more sales at the development known as Century Station: “work […]
The Wrigley Field vendor had a booming voice and a tiny rubber hot dog–a powerful combination that worked wonders as he patrolled the aisles behind home plate earlier this week at the Chicago Cubs’ Tuesday evening game against the Miami Marlins. “I’m not buying a hot dog,” I told him, “but can I take your […]
The willingness to take risks, to try something new–and to appear foolish in the process–is a powerful differentiator in life. Because so many others will opt to “play it safe,” it doesn’t take too much to stand out from the crowd. So on the 16th anniversary of the debut of my “By the Numbers” column appearing in […]
Telling stories is a never-ending series of judgment calls. What do we put in? What do we leave out? When do we stop? Where on earth do we begin? Is my deadline really three minutes away? From that long list of self-inquiry, let us focus on one of the most important—and imposing—questions of all: To […]
For the first time, not-so-new verbiage atop a pint of Ben & Jerry’s recently caught my eye: “still 16 oz.” Yes… and a dozen is “still” 12 and there are “still” 60 seconds in a minute? What’s the story behind this seemingly needless reminder that a pint is steadfastly maintaining its 16-ounce status in 2013? […]
You know that whole business about sliced bread–as in, this or that development being the “best thing since” the aforementioned subdivided sandwich-centric food item? This generation may want to revise that line and insert “smartphone cameras” in sliced bread’s clichéd place. For a few years, my HTC Evo has taken photographs with remarkable clarity. It […]