Cross-posted from Ishmael’s Corner By Lou Hoffman I continued to collect potential vignettes for the grab bag during my “assignment” in the South of the France. In fact, one of today’s vignettes takes a look at the use of English in France. Here goes … English in France If there’s one country that rejects all…
Cross-posted from Ishmael’s Corner By Lou Hoffman Look at the construction of any major feature story in Fortune, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Atlantic, Wired, take your pick. What element is likely to underscore the narrative? Here’s a hint. It starts with an “F.” Failure (if you guessed frickinmess, you were in the ballpark). Something going terribly…
Cross-posted from Ishmael’s Corner By Lou Hoffman Since I embarked on my PR adventure in 1983, everything has changed. Except one dynamic. Journalists griped about PR folks back in 1983, and they’re still griping today. To be objective, the bad behavior of a select few cultivates “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” (yes, I…
Cross-posted from Ishmael’s Corner By Lou Hoffman In facilitating a branding workshop last week, it suddenly struck me. One of the great myths of branding is the big guys get it right. Thanks to their ample war chests, they can hire the smartest people, maintain an endless flow of M&Ms during focus groups and stockpile…
Cross-posted from Ishmael’s Corner By Lou Hoffman There’s an enduring dimension to the David-against-Goliath story that resonates with people. It brings out a fundamental of good storytelling, the unexpected. No one expects a David to beat the proverbial Goliath. The same technique makes for a compelling read in the business world. That’s why when an…
Cross-posted from Ishmael’s Corner By Lou Hoffman 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…
