Top of Mind Thursday Jan 7, 2021: When Someone Shows You Who They Are…

 

 

 

 

The scenes from Washington, DC yesterday were incredible: Americans storming the US Capitol in an attempted coup to overturn the results of the November presidential election.

Leverage2Market LogoIt was shocking to see hordes of Americans acting as domestic terrorists–knocking down barriers, roaming through the Capitol freely, breaking windows, and carrying the Confederate flag into the building for the first time in history.

Call it insurrection, incursion, sedition, treason–what happened yesterday was unacceptable.But it should not have been a surprise.

Donald Trump has been telegraphing for months that he would not accept the results of the election should he lose. He held rallies to pump up his supporters and strong-armed members of Congress to try to override the will of the voters. Yesterday, he told protesters to march to the Capitol and use strength to take back the country–which is exactly what they did.

Too many people didn’t want to see the writing on the wall. The mayor of DC had asked for National Guard protection, but the Guard didn’t arrive until Mike Pence summoned them hours later. The police detail around the building was just a fraction of that deployed when Black Lives Matter held a peaceful protest last year–which highlights the level of racism fomenting in this country.

There are many lessons that should be learned from what happened yesterday. To start, we need to heed the words of the late Maya Angelou:

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

If we had, we might be in a much better place this morning.

Contact me to find out how you can get heard above the noise–even in a crisis situation.


Check out our marketing thought leadership podcasts and the video trailer for my book, Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters.

Marketing Above the Noise.

Download a FREE chapter now.

What are people saying?

Buy now.

 


Let us help your business rise to the top.

linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com

Posted in News and Updates, Top of Mind Thursday Memo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Top of Mind Thursday Jan 7, 2021: When Someone Shows You Who They Are…

Top of Mind Thursday 2021: Good Riddance

 

 

 

 

From impeachment hearings in January to overflowing hospital wards in December, 2020 has been one helluva year.

Leverage2Market LogoIn between, we lost 340,000 Americans to the pandemic and had a presidential election that is still being contested. But rather than rehash that and everything else that happened this past year (Remember the killer hornets? Yes, that was also this year), this is the time to look forward to 2021.

Winston Churchill said, those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it. What can we learn from 2020?

  • Pandemics don’t discriminate. Viral infections don’t choose political parties or religious beliefs, and they don’t really care about infringing on your freedom. We are all vulnerable.
  • Polarization can occur even on the most mundane matters. It’s not about facts–it’s about perceptions. And perceptions on even simple things can be a world apart.
  • In the midst of every cloud, there ARE silver linings: We’ve learned to adapt, to use technology more effectively, to create new ways of connecting and earning a living.
  • We can make incredible advances when we put our minds to it. The accelerated development of COVID vaccines occurred faster than anyone ever predicted. What else can we do when we bring smart people together without considering their nationality or business affiliation?
  • Even through the polarization, we have seen some of the best of human nature throughout the year. People taking care of other people, taking risks to help others, and doing good where good really needed to be done.
  • This too will pass. And we need to work now to be prepared to work hard and build success in the coming year.

As we say good bye and good riddance to 2020, it’s time to open the door for better times that are already on the way.

Contact me to find out how you can get heard above the noise–even in a crisis situation.


Check out our marketing thought leadership podcasts and the video trailer for my book, Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters.

Marketing Above the Noise.

Download a FREE chapter now.

What are people saying?

Buy now.

 


Let us help your business rise to the top.

linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com

Posted in News and Updates, Top of Mind Thursday Memo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Top of Mind Thursday 2021: Good Riddance

Top of Mind Thursday December 24, 2020: Holiday Reflections

 

 

 

 

The holiday spirit is different this year.

Leverage2Market LogoWe can’t gather in groups. We can’t travel to visit loved ones. We can’t host get-togethers of any kind.

That’s not all that’s different this year. We’re in month 9 of COVID-19 based restrictions. We’ve all mastered Zoom and learned what can (and can’t) be online. We’ve switched our dining out to takeout and delivery, our shopping to online, and our groceries to curbside pickup.

All of that pales in comparison to the stark reality of 326,000 people dead from this pandemic and 18.5 million infected–just in the US alone. Many of those who are infected never really missed a beat; thousands are still suffering the effects of long-haul COVID complications. That’s not to mention the millions who are displaced and trying to make ends meet through all of this.

Plus there’s the spectacle in Washington: An election where the losing candidate still has not conceded 7 weeks later, and is instead scrambling to find any possible way to remain in office.

Yet, in spite of that, there’s reason to be optimistic. A COVID vaccine is here and being distributed in mass quantities. A new president will be sworn in on January 20th. And in spite of all the 2020 craziness, we’ve survived and we will move on.

We’ve also seen the dedication and self-sacrifice of health care professionals, the ongoing support of millions of essential workers, and acts of kindness towards those who are struggling with the aftermath of this pandemic.

This holiday season, I wish you all health, happiness, prosperity, and peace. May we hold on to the moments of kindness and humanity, as we put the trauma of this year behind us.

Contact me to find out how you can get heard above the noise–even in a crisis situation.


Check out our marketing thought leadership podcasts and the video trailer for my book, Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters.

Marketing Above the Noise.

Download a FREE chapter now.

What are people saying?

Buy now.

 


Let us help your business rise to the top.

linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com

Posted in News and Updates, Top of Mind Thursday Memo | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Top of Mind Thursday December 24, 2020: Holiday Reflections

Top of Mind Thursday December 17, 2020: The Doctor is In

Last week, the Wall Street Journal published an op-ed piece demeaning First Lady-elect Jill Biden for using the title Doctor.

Leverage2Market LogoDr. Biden rightly earned a PhD in education from the University of Delaware–of that, there is no disagreement. The writer argues that because she doesn’t have a medical degree, it is improper for Jill Biden to use this honorific.

There are currently over 3 million PhDs in the US. It’s highly unlikely most of them are told they shouldn’t be using the title they worked hard to obtain.

The tone of the article implies that the writer is particularly upset because Dr Biden is a woman (in fact, at one point he even refers to her demeaningly as kiddo). He’s very much out of date. Over the last several years, American universities have minted more women than men as PhDs.

However, many women I know who’ve earned this degree tell me they encounter a similar attitude on a regular basis. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’ husband noted this comment would not have been made if Jill Biden were a man, and I suspect he’s right. However, I also know people of color of both genders who have been subjected to this treatment.

The WSJ has been asked to remove the offending article. I disagree. Publishing opinions like this shines a spotlight on what’s been kept quiet in academic situations for a long time. The reaction and outrage to the article means it’s a good thing this was brought out in the open–which may not be the reaction the writer was expecting.

Meanwhile, right now, a large dose of respect and common courtesy may be just what the doctor ordered.

Contact me to find out how you can get heard above the noise–even in a crisis situation.


Check out our marketing thought leadership podcasts and the video trailer for my book, Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters.

Marketing Above the Noise.

Download a FREE chapter now.

What are people saying?

Buy now.

 


Let us help your business rise to the top.

linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com

Posted in News and Updates, Top of Mind Thursday Memo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Top of Mind Thursday December 17, 2020: The Doctor is In

  • Read Our Blog

  • What’s New

    PodcastLinda Popky appears as a guest expert on Technically Speaking to outline your steps to launching and promoting your book! - Listen

    Podcast: Linda Popky and Dan Weedin (Shrimp Tank Podcast) talk with Brett Clark from BC Fitness about the importance of staying active and doing resistance training to slow down muscle loss as we age. - Listen

    SAC® Press Release: "Companies Eye Innovation and Disruption in Volatile Economy" – Read Release.

    Video: Just a Moment for Marketing: One-minute marketing tip videos. – View over 100 videos.

    eBOOK: Top of Mind: 101 Insights to Transform Your Business
    Purchase PDF or ePub book.
    Top of Mind

  • Read Our Blog

  • Subscribe to the Top of Mind Thursday Newsletter

    Free articles download with sign up
  • Marketing Above the Noise

    Introducing Dynamic Market Leverage™, an approach to help cut through the clutter, stand out, and effectively build business.

    Marketing Above The Noise

    What's Inside Available in Hardcover and eBook formats