This article by The Bad Pitch Blog makes several great points about public relations mistakes.
It reminds me of a letter I received several years ago from an organization touting its Total Quality Management (remember that?) program.
The letter contained more than seven typos.
I toyed with the idea of circling them and sending the letter back to the company but then abandoned that as too cruel. Most of us have sent out items with glitches of some sort or another.
Our ability to cringe is a force for excellence.
[HT: www.emergencemarketing.com ]
Monday, February 20, 2006
The Indispensable Man
Lee Harris has a good column on why George Washington was so darned important.
An excerpt:
By a stroke of extraordinary good fortune, the man for whom this office was designed was also a man who was profoundly aware of the potential dangers inherent in the office that had been specially designed for him. Washington was keenly aware just how easily the Presidency could degenerate back to a monarchy, or worse; and, shrewd man that he was, he clearly saw that there was nothing in the written Constitution that could prevent such a process from occurring.
For example, there is a remarkable letter that Washington wrote, before assuming the Presidency, in which he argues that he is peculiarly qualified to be President because he has no son. Now imagine a candidate for the Presidency today making such a claim: Vote for me, because I have no son. How strange it would sound to our ears. Yet Washington regarded this as virtually an indispensable desideratum in a President—or, at least, in the first President. Nor is it difficult to see why this mattered to him so much. He did not want the office of the Presidency to become the possession of a dynasty.
Read the whole thing here.
An excerpt:
By a stroke of extraordinary good fortune, the man for whom this office was designed was also a man who was profoundly aware of the potential dangers inherent in the office that had been specially designed for him. Washington was keenly aware just how easily the Presidency could degenerate back to a monarchy, or worse; and, shrewd man that he was, he clearly saw that there was nothing in the written Constitution that could prevent such a process from occurring.
For example, there is a remarkable letter that Washington wrote, before assuming the Presidency, in which he argues that he is peculiarly qualified to be President because he has no son. Now imagine a candidate for the Presidency today making such a claim: Vote for me, because I have no son. How strange it would sound to our ears. Yet Washington regarded this as virtually an indispensable desideratum in a President—or, at least, in the first President. Nor is it difficult to see why this mattered to him so much. He did not want the office of the Presidency to become the possession of a dynasty.
Read the whole thing here.
Spot Check
This is one product that should sell: a small mirror for your cell phone so you can check yourself out before that big meeting.
[HT: www.dailycandy.com ]
[HT: www.dailycandy.com ]
Dough Hoe?
A New York Times food reviewer discovers exotic job titles and friendly people as well as fine (?) cuisine in an American institution.
Expect to see calls for his resignation next week.
Click here.
[HT: www.buzzmachine.com ]
Expect to see calls for his resignation next week.
Click here.
[HT: www.buzzmachine.com ]
Sue 'em
There is a court judgment against the estate of an al-Qaida financier for a death and wounding in Afghanistan.
See the details here.
[HT www.bizzyblog.com ]
See the details here.
[HT www.bizzyblog.com ]
A Common Problem
A brief word about a situation that many of you have encountered:
I'm currently blessed to be working with some extraordinary people who get along well with one another.
If you've spent any time in the workplace, however, you know how rare that can be. Usually, there's at least one troll - some unrecognized genius - who tosses out snide remarks at staff meetings, plays devil's advocate as a blood sport and is generally unpleasant. People work around rather than with the person because of his or her abrasive qualities.
The person may have some skills - after all, few people are devoid of talent - but there's only one real solution: Get rid of that person as soon as possible!
I'm not recommending a rush to judgment so don't put me down as someone who won't give a team member a decent break. This isn't about someone who needs a few rough edges polished but who otherwise has a good attitude and solid values. This is about the incorrigible offender who might be fine in a job where food can be slipped under the door but is lousy in any position that requires working with others.
Don't:
I'm currently blessed to be working with some extraordinary people who get along well with one another.
If you've spent any time in the workplace, however, you know how rare that can be. Usually, there's at least one troll - some unrecognized genius - who tosses out snide remarks at staff meetings, plays devil's advocate as a blood sport and is generally unpleasant. People work around rather than with the person because of his or her abrasive qualities.
The person may have some skills - after all, few people are devoid of talent - but there's only one real solution: Get rid of that person as soon as possible!
I'm not recommending a rush to judgment so don't put me down as someone who won't give a team member a decent break. This isn't about someone who needs a few rough edges polished but who otherwise has a good attitude and solid values. This is about the incorrigible offender who might be fine in a job where food can be slipped under the door but is lousy in any position that requires working with others.
Don't:
- Send the person to expensive workshops in the hope that the person will be turned around. It won't happen.
- Restructure the job to please the person. It won't work.
- Ignore it. The people who have to work with the character will resent your weakness.
- Tell yourself that we all have weaknesses. We do, but not to that degree.
If you are faced with this situation, you know I'm right. Talk to any group of managers or supervisors and they can quickly list their dysfunctional employees. Ask them why those people are still on the job and they stare at the ground and draw circles with their shoes.
Don't procrastinate. Go to your Human Resources people, your organization's attorney and your boss and explain that the employee is not working out. Set a schedule for a rapid turnaround and, if lightning doesn't strike, a dismissal. Don't keep someone on who can make your life miserable for years.
You'll be happier and the co-workers will be happier.
A Touch of Cube
A Rubik Cube for the blind?
It's actually pretty neat and I'm sure that those of you who are sighted and can solve the regular cube in seconds will want the extra challenge.
You can find it here.
[Hat Tip to www.gizmodo.com ]
It's actually pretty neat and I'm sure that those of you who are sighted and can solve the regular cube in seconds will want the extra challenge.
You can find it here.
[Hat Tip to www.gizmodo.com ]
Ethics Watch
This is an amazing story, if only because of the chutzpah of the crooks.
A seemingly nice couple finds a lost camera, hears from the rightful owner but then decides to keep the camera because their son likes it.
Click here.
[Via www.kottke.org ]
A seemingly nice couple finds a lost camera, hears from the rightful owner but then decides to keep the camera because their son likes it.
Click here.
[Via www.kottke.org ]
Photo Break
Check out these photos of China.
Be sure to scroll down and prepare to be stunned.
[Via www.neatorama.com ]
Be sure to scroll down and prepare to be stunned.
[Via www.neatorama.com ]
Presidents Day: Ugh!
There's something very corporate about Presidents Day.
It's like a boss who is so afraid to single out anyone for recognition that everyone gets a prize, even the slugs and the scoundrels.
In short, it's ridiculous. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln deserve separate holidays. They earned them. The others didn't. There are some close contenders - Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan come to mind - but close doesn't do it. Washington and Lincoln are the ones.
You can barely turn on the television without finding some Hollywood tribute to, well, Hollywood and the two major presidents don't get honored?
It's like a boss who is so afraid to single out anyone for recognition that everyone gets a prize, even the slugs and the scoundrels.
In short, it's ridiculous. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln deserve separate holidays. They earned them. The others didn't. There are some close contenders - Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan come to mind - but close doesn't do it. Washington and Lincoln are the ones.
You can barely turn on the television without finding some Hollywood tribute to, well, Hollywood and the two major presidents don't get honored?
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