Archive: January 2017

Reading and writing for uninterrupted stretches of time—and I consider five minutes to be an uninterrupted stretch of time—now seems like a rare, precious gift. This sad fact is a creativity and productivity killer. If you’re a PR pro or journalist or any kind of professional wordsmith, being able to write freely without distraction is the only way to produce anything of real quality. It’s your metier and your meal ticket.

McDonald’s has opened a location just a stone’s throw from Vatican City, eliciting complaints from Vatican authorities. NBC reported at least one cardinal’s public opposition, calling the opening “perverse” and “abberant.” Amidst a flurry of international headlines, McDonald’s has been noticeably silent, and has not issued any kind of public statement. The fast food chain hasn’t even announced the opening on social media or other official channels. McDonald’s silent posture is likely a strategic move to keep the brand out of a volatile situation.

As Shakespeare wrote in The Tempest, Act 2, Scene 1, “What’s past is prologue.” In Washington, D.C., that quote is inscribed, appropriately, on a statue outside The National Archives. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” the philosopher, novelist and poet George Santayana wrote. These quotes emphasize how important it is for communications pros to consider the PR crises of the past year and how they were handled, or mishandled, since they will guide our actions in 2017.

As we enter a new year, it’s time to take stock of how we spend our time at work and how we might change our habits. How many meetings and activities were you a part of in 2016 that were just an utter waste of time? Can you do better in 2017? To achieve a better return on your time, consider what I call extreme calendaring. It might even burn some of those extra holiday calories.