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Dear College Grad: Create a Resume That Breaks the Rules

A zillion college graduates are about to descend on civilization with shiny apples in hand. The demand versus supply equation doesn’t work in the graduate’s favor. And it’s even tougher this year. COVID-19 has swung a wrecking ball through the economy. Every day brings headlines about more layoffs in Corporate America. I haven’t seen the …more

Clorox Whiffs On Conversational Language

I will get to Clorox in a minute. Allow me to set the stage. President Trump set a new bar for weirdness (polite way of saying “stupidity”) during last Thursday’s White House briefing on the novel coronavirus suggesting people grab a mug of their favorite disinfectant to fight the pandemic. His words: “I see the …more

Translating Ogilvy’s 10 Writing Tips for 2020

  David Ogilvy penned his infamous advice on writing on Sept. 7, 1982 in a memo to his employees. His point of view still has relevance for anyone who touches business communications, not just the jingle jockeys and slogan makers. Still, they could use a refresh for 2020. Toward this end, I’ve captured Ogilvy’s 10 …more

I wrote 1,087 Blog Posts, and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

To avoid taunts of “fake news,” allow me to clarify. I’ve dusted off the post from a year ago that commemorated the publishing of my 1,000th post. The odometer now reads 1,087. Yet, the post has even more relevance today as companies navigate the Coronavirus era, making judgment calls on what to communicate to the …more

5 tips to cure writer’s block

Elisa Zallio, Jr Account Executive, Hoffman Europe (London) What’s writer’s block? Writer’s block is a condition more common and annoying than a seasonal cold. Anyone who writes has faced it, some just once in a while — *cough cough* Stephen King *cough cough* — while others seem to be constantly living it — looking at …more

Classic Storytelling in Seven Seconds Flat

  Orson Welles wasn’t exactly known for his brevity in storytelling. “War of the Worlds” ran for only one hour, but the radio broadcast seemed so real that it caused panic throughout the nation. We’ve discovered that you can tell a story in seven seconds. Here goes —      

College Grads: Do Not Follow the Resume 101 Handbook

A zillion college graduates are about to descend on civilization with shiny apples in hand. My daughter Grace is among the throng though I suspect she’ll take a pass on the apple (always the rebel). Regardless, the demand versus supply equation doesn’t work in the graduate’s favor. Finding that elusive first job puts a premium …more