Every Sunday when I open my New York Times, sifting through the various sections, I have a momentary pang of guilt when I come to the Book Review. I glance at it and feel the same as when I’m grocery shopping and fail to buy broccoli. Mind you, the feeling is fleeting, but the aftertaste lingers for [...]
Filed under: Communications challenges, On writing | 2 Comments »
Yesterday, my family and I went to a matinee holiday concert of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, followed by our attendance at a home Bulls game (they actually won in OT against the Atlanta Hawks). One child’s take on the day’s activities: “At the concert, we weren’t supposed to make any noise. And at the Bulls game, they wanted [...]
Filed under: Communications challenges, Quick Takes | Leave a Comment »
Sometimes you just can’t make stuff up when it comes to dealing with people who work for big companies that serve the general public. Like a utility. As part of relocating (which I recently did from Philadelphia to Chicago), I had to return a couple of digital cable boxes. The online locator for the nearest [...]
Filed under: Communications challenges, Customer Service | 1 Comment »
Occasionally I have been asked what is the most important skill related to communications, marketing or business development, at least in the professional services environment in which I dwell. I always answer with one word: Listening. Most people, when they hear my imparted wisdom, usually wait to see if I’m planning to add anything to [...]
Filed under: Communications challenges, Listening | 1 Comment »
I figured it might be good to post my Monday Morning Quarterbacking entry while it was still actually morning… somewhere. And thus, an example of today’s topic: sarcasm in writing. I stumbled upon this blog entry today at PR Junkie that talks about a movement to start a sarcasm font, apparently because it’s something that [...]
Filed under: Communications challenges, Monday Morning Quarterbacking, Wonkishness | Leave a Comment »
My daughter had a sleepover party this weekend, and there was the usual best dramatic performance by a 12-year-old girl, the award rotating among the group by the hour. Not surprisingly, my wife the planner and supervisor was exhausted by the end of the evening — 10:30 for us old folks — but the girls [...]
Filed under: Communications challenges, Technology issues | 2 Comments »
