We’ve completed the “assignment” in the South of France. The last grains of sand have found their way through the hourglass. The experience has been better than what Heather and I expected. And we had high expectations. Reflecting on the professional side — and putting to rest talk of a boondoggle — so many things …more
I made my first trip to China in 1998. To say it seemed like another planet doesn’t quite capture the feeling. Try a different universe. I remember attempting to place a classified ad in China that required signoff from multiple government entities. It turned into a Kafka-esque exercise when the third stop found something out …more
No, Peter Mayle hasn’t written an abbreviated sequel. But I am feeling the pressure to write a post that’s “stylish, witty and delightfully readable.” How about “simply readable?” Anyway, the tweaked book title portends a looming personal adventure. My wife, Heather, and I head to Aix en Provence today for a seven-week assignment.If the word …more
I often characterize this period of time as the PR industry’s version of the industrial revolution minus the child labor issue. Our profession is literally being reinvented right before our eyes. More than any one functional skill, the ability to keep learning is the key to excelling in a communications career regardless of title. In …more
I interviewed my Mom last year in honor of Mother’s Day. Doing my best imitation of Geraldo Rivera — we both attended the University of Arizona and we both wear glasses — I peppered her with questions thinking that she didn’t understand the PR business. Heck, after 30+ years in PR, there are times when …more
It’s amazing how survival has a way of tuning one’s senses. That was the situation for our U.S. operation back in the 2011/2012 timeframe. It calls to mind the famous line from Albert Einstein: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” It was time for …more
There are times when it’s just not possible to say what you want to say in a headline and also optimize that headline for SEO. This is one of those times. The Bulldog Digital Awards recently named my blog as “Best Blog for PR Agency/Consultancy” with the gold designation. I’m thankful that the judges didn’t …more
Would you have reached this point if the headline simply read, “A Plea for Your Input on the Name ‘Ishmaels’ Corner’?” It doesn’t matter. You’re here; clickbait be damned. Here’ the situation. The “look and feel” of my blog harkens back to a time when AOL dominated and MySpace was hot. I believe my first …more
I wrote a post over a year ago called “Can Storytelling Differentiate a PR Agency? ” With seemingly every communications consultancy touting its storytelling prowess, I questioned whether those who buy communication services perceived storytelling expertise as a commodity. With that said, it seemed fair to say that no PR agency, including The Hoffman Agency, …more
