When it comes to the economy, as FDR said, we have nothing to fear but fear itself. The problem is that everyone seems really scared. So as PR pros, we need to stay focused and positive if we expect to be able to talk our clients down off the ledge.
That was the gist of a panel discussion today at a
PRSA Colorado program in Denver. The panelists included Andrew Hudson, the wizard behind
Andrew Hudson's Jobs List, Scott Bemis, the publisher of the
Denver Business Journal, and Laura Love, the founder of
Ground Floor Media, one of Denver's top PR firms.
It may feel like the end of the world, but it only is if we allow ourselves to wallow in our fear and trepidation. The choice is ours. We can give in to paralysis or take advantage of the opportunities that this recession presents. Opportunities to refocus on who we are and what we do. To redefine our brand and help our clients do the same. To boldly go where...oh, sorry, I am getting carried away.
In times like these, public relations can play an important role in helping companies find those opportunities. We can create cost effective strategies to open new doors using social media to reach new audiences and develop new business. We can design internal communications programs to improve transparency, keep employees informed, and contain rumors and anxiety. We can use this time to plan for the future and set new priorities and goals. And we can over serve our clients by providing added value more often.
As if we all weren't feeling bad enough, later in the program the keynote speaker, online guru
Dave Taylor, pretty much said traditional PR was dead and we all need to get with the Web 2.0 program. Who asked Dave anyway?
So here's what I learned at school today. The car goes where we point it. We can either look backward or shift it into drive and keep moving forward. We can sit on the shoulder or merge into traffic. It's our choice.
See you in the fast lane.
The late great
Bill Monroe was the Father of Bluegrass. He was a regal, revered legend in country music who commanded respect wherever he went. A friend of mine who played in his band, The Bluegrass Boys, told me this story.
One day Bill and the boys were in New York City for a concert at
Carnegie Hall. Bill was a southern gentleman from rural Kentucky, so the noise, chaos and intensity that is just daily life for New Yorkers was a major culture shock for Bill.
As the Father of Bluegrass stepped from the serenity of his hotel out on the streets of Manhattan, he was overwhelmed by the sound of jackhammers, horns honking, people yelling and other sounds of the City. It wasn't exactly music to his ears, so he yelled "Quiet!!!" at the top of his lungs, as though he could wave his regal wand and the city would fall silent on his order.
That's the way a lot of people have been feeling about the incredibly long election campaign. Here in Colorado, a swing state, the ear piercing noise level from all the negative ads, TV pundits, robo-calls and talk radio screamers has been truly deafening. Now that it is finally election day, no matter how the ace turns out it will be nice to have some relief from all that shouting.
Of course, if the election doesn't turn out the way I hope, I'll be doing some screaming of my own. But at least I will have one day of peace and quiet.
