As college commencement season begins, some four million graduates are deciding whether they’ll receive their degrees in person or by mail. Having made the wrong decision decades ago, I felt a need to urge 2024 grads to do as I say, not as I did. Walk! Most graduates this year missed their high school…… Continue reading Commencement: To Walk or Not to Walk?
Category: Off-the-Wall
Show Your Respect by Dressing Respectfully
I recently was asked by a young reader of this blog for advice on what to wear to a relative’s funeral. The fact he asked me for advice suggested he knew that his normal casual attire might not be sufficient. The question gave me a flashback to a college course I took long ago…… Continue reading Show Your Respect by Dressing Respectfully
Want to Attain 2024 Goals? Use Business Cards to Keep Them Simple, Achievable
By Tim Conway Were you perplexed about New Year’s resolutions? If so, you weren’t alone. According to Forbes Health/OnePoll (October 2023), only 1% of Americans keep resolutions for 12 months. An alternative to resolutions is goals. This method was used by a family member to guide a fulfilling career over several decades. My relative…… Continue reading Want to Attain 2024 Goals? Use Business Cards to Keep Them Simple, Achievable
Mastering the Art of Humor in Public Speaking
By Jackie Edwards Injecting humor into public speaking is like a secret handshake — it instantly forges a bond with the audience, inviting them into your world with a shared chuckle. It’s the spoonful of sugar that helps the message go down, dressing up hefty ideas in delightful wit so they stick around in the…… Continue reading Mastering the Art of Humor in Public Speaking
If You RSVP’d, Show Up
Over the past few weeks, I have attended social and business events where lots of name tags went unclaimed by no shows. One host said 60 people RSVP’d that they would be attending, but only 25 showed up. “We now have a refrigerator filled with beer, wine and dips,” she said. Another host said…… Continue reading If You RSVP’d, Show Up
10 Tips to Make Yourself a Memorable Guest
I was both amused and confused this morning when a TV anchor wished everyone a “Merry Thanksgiving.” The unfamiliar holiday word choice reminded me it was time to write an annual Thanksgiving week blog post, beginning with the importance of thank-you notes — a lost art. Earlier this month, there was a large PR…… Continue reading 10 Tips to Make Yourself a Memorable Guest
A Lesson in How Not to Deal with Workplace Jealousy
After writing three books focused on increasing business acumen among strategic communicators, co-author Matt Ragas and I are constantly looking for contemporary literature, TV shows and movies that might help students and young professionals get non-textbook lessons in business. We often cite our favorite TV business show, Shark Tank, as well as important business…… Continue reading A Lesson in How Not to Deal with Workplace Jealousy
Entering the PR and Communications Content Creation Game? 5 Useful Lessons for Success
By Craig Engstrom Disclaimer: Ron Culp did not solicit this post. These are my opinions. If you’re reading this, you already know what I know: Ron Culp is the cool uncle you wish you had at family gatherings. He’s a seasoned PR and communications professional who has worked with big names like Eli Lilly,…… Continue reading Entering the PR and Communications Content Creation Game? 5 Useful Lessons for Success
Copyediting in the Time of COVID-19
By Jill Stewart Ok, so everybody needs a proofreader! During this public health crisis, the experts tell us we need a routine. Here’s mine: Every morning I wake up, make a pot of coffee, and then post the date and a little weather report on the family whiteboard. Sometimes I try to be clever with…… Continue reading Copyediting in the Time of COVID-19
The Death of Handshaking: What’s a PR Person to Do?
Everybody in PR recalls who taught them to properly shake hands. In my case, it was John T. Myers, a congressional candidate from southern Indiana who in 1966 offered this simple advice: “Get a firm grip, kid, smile and look them in the eye for a good five seconds.” That technique helped him get elected…… Continue reading The Death of Handshaking: What’s a PR Person to Do?