Messaging

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

“That’s what everyone thinks,” the speaker stated with authority. “I know there’s support for this initiative because everyone in the community agrees.”  Really? But just suppose that everyone doesn’t agree and that they just aren’t speaking up?  That’s not effective communication. Obviously, not everyone thinks the same thing about anything.

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

I sat down to carefully consider the message. Delivery would be everything. Even though I loved him dearly, he had a problem. One that needed to be addressed collectively, by all of us, or change wouldn’t be possible. I had to make everyone see the error of their enabling ways.

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

My dad knew the answer to anything – he really did. Long before people consulted Google, dad was always on the other end of the phone, ready for whatever came his way. Want to know who a certain actor was in an ancient long forgotten movie? Call Dad. Having a

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

What are the white rocks called? The question puzzled me. For several summers I worked at the tourist information facility located at the highest point on Interstate 80 from New York to San Francisco. Interstate 80, known as the Lincoln Highway, reaches an elevation of 8,642 feet at the Lincoln

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

It happened again. Yet another local business has taken to social media to lament their lack of success. The writer, for some reason, feels that it is everyone else’s fault that their business idea isn’t gaining traction. I’ve seen this behavior before and I’m always puzzled by it. Several years

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

I know you believe you understand what you think you heard me say, but I’m not sure that you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. This statement is more true today than ever. While most people understand that effective communication is essential to personal and business

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

Timing is everything in life. Or so I’ve heard. Recently this came in to play as I set out to meet a new acquaintance. We’d never met, but had conversed via email. I did my due diligence and looked him up prior to our meeting so I would know a

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

Scolding and threats don’t work. People who’ve known me for a long time know that if you scold me and tell me I’m not allowed to do something I’m immediately challenged to do it. If you threaten me I’m likely to do the opposite. I’m an adult, I don’t need

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

I love trees. In fact, I was a tree hugger before there was such a thing. I’m fortunate to have many trees on my property. Most are over 50 feet tall. They bring me peace, tranquility and shade. They also cause me stress. I’ve known for some time that a

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

Unforced errors create havoc in business. Almost all businesses will experience bumps along the way. Public relations professionals know that it isn’t what happens, it’s how you respond. Particularly with unforced errors. We know unforced errors when we see them. It’s the type of thing that makes you shake your