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HOW THE WORLD SEES YOUR ORGANIZATION

For many years, I produced a regular newsletter for a public library. While the library was a first-rate facility, one of the challenges it presented was rivalries between the many departments. The circulation director thought the youth services department received too much coverage, and youth services thought there were too many articles about reference services, … Read more

APPEARANCES ARE MARKETING, TOO

As I was being walked by my trusty canine, Wrigley, we saw a creepy-looking white van. It was extremely grimy and looked as though it would rot away within days. As it approached, I noticed that it was actually from a business, and I wondered what sort of business owner would allow his or her business to be represented in such a negative way.

Then I could see the lettering, and I was stunned. It was one of those mobile dog-washing services that have cropped up in recent years.

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ELEPHANT? I DIDN’T SEE NO ELEPHANT

You didn’t see it? It’s right there. Right over there. You have to be able to see it! For criminy sakes, it’s an elephant! It’s huge! Are you telling me that I’m the only one who sees it? No, I’m the only one who’s willing to admit that it’s there.

You’ve probably heard the “elephant in the room” expression used before. Typically it comes up when the family is gathered for a special event, and everyone pretends that they don’t notice that Uncle Leonard is snockered again, or that Cousin Louise is wailing loudly in the corner. There are those nervous glances at one another, but if we all keep pretending, maybe nobody else will notice, either.

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