Focus Groups/Research

Are You Saying What You Mean?

    Originally published in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Longmont Daily Times-Call.

    I know you believe you understand what you thought you heard me say, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. Got it? This type of communication is common. It’s particularly prevalent with internal communication efforts.  While most organizations focus on external communication,
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    Throwing Eggs is Bad Form

      Originally published in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Longmont Daily Times-Call.

      As I made a mad dash over the bushes, between the buildings and over a curb I kept thinking – what went wrong? Earlier in the evening my friends and I gathered, eggs in hand, near a road in our town with a fair amount of traffic. Our plan was
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      Understand Perceptions to Understand Reality

        Originally published in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Longmont Daily Times-Call.

        Until recently I thought I was rather tall. Well, maybe not tall, but certainly not short. I don’t have anything against short people. It’s just that I didn’t realize that I am a short person. I’ve fought against it my whole life, mostly by wearing “tall” clothes and shoes with
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        Think! Then Verify and Implement

          Originally published in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Longmont Daily Times-Call.

          Think! That sign was ever-present back in the day. There was even a sign in the Journalism lab. Think! That’s all it said. No clue as to what to think about or for how long. Just Think! So I did. I thought about a lot of things, about my future
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          Is Anybody Listening?

            Originally published in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Longmont Daily Times-Call.

            One of my favorite musicals is 1776. I love the characters, the costumes, the carrying on, the songs and especially the lyrics. Questions from one song stick in my mind – “Is anybody listening? Is anybody there? Does anybody see what I see?” Those questions are as compelling today as
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            Ask Questions, Revitalize Plans

              Originally published in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Longmont Daily Times-Call.

              Recently a strange man tried to get my attention. He wasn’t weird strange, just stranger strange. Like who the heck are you? Then suddenly I realized that I knew him well. He was a good friend from days long gone. However, he didn’t look as I remembered him. That’s not
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              Tommy Grew First Impressions

                Originally published in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Longmont Daily Times-Call.

                An unexpected invitation started me thinking again about Tommy. Tommy was one of my first bosses. He was a friend who never met a stranger. He was a mentor to generations of “flower girls”. He brought beauty into the lives of others by digging in the dirt on his knees.
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                “Attaboys”, “Attagirls” Money in the Bank

                  Originally published in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Longmont Daily Times-Call.

                  Did you see the look on that young boy’s face when a Bronco receiver tossed him the football after scoring a touchdown recently? Priceless. The boy felt like businesses feel when they get an unexpected “attaboy” or “attagirl” from out of nowhere. It’s gratifying when a satisfied customer or client
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                  Focus Groups Spark “Aha!” Moments

                    Originally published in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Longmont Daily Times-Call.

                    “Donwenowourgayapparel” is one word. I thought that for many years. I didn’t understand the word, but I sang it dutifully through many school programs. Suddenly while singing “Deck the Halls” in another Christmas concert, it hit me. “Donwenowourgayapparel” isn’t one word. We are actually singing “…don we now our gay
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