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Top of Mind Thursday Memo Archive
Top of Mind Thursday December 24, 2020: Holiday Reflections
The holiday spirit is different this year.
We 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.
.
Let us help your business rise to the top.
linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com
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.
Dr. 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.
.
Let us help your business rise to the top.
linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com
Top of Mind Thursday December 10, 2020: A Shot in the Arm
Good news! The first set of vaccines to prevent COVID-19 is here and ready for initial distribution. People in the UK have already received initial doses, and US authorization is expected momentarily.
The world is ready to breathe a sign of relief. As the population is vaccinated, we can start to move back to some sense of normalcy. Schools and businesses may be able to reopen, and family gatherings may be back in vogue once again. This may lead to lower unemployment and a sustained economic recovery.
But we can’t jump for joy yet.
- It will take time to distribute the vaccines, one of which requires storage under extremely cold temperatures.
- Each vaccine requires two doses, which increases the complexity of completing the process.
- There are likely “flu-like” side effects which, while confirming the vaccine is working, may also reduce the number of people who follow through with their vaccinations.
- There isn’t enough vaccine to treat the general population and won’t be for months and months.
- At least some part of the population will resist getting a vaccine and therefore continue to spread the virus.
- One vaccine appears to be causing severe reactions in people with known allergic conditions. This can be managed at the medical level, but may cause people to question whether they want to be vaccinated.
- Until sometime toward the end of next year, the virus mitigation protocols (masks, social distancing, etc.) will still be needed.
So while things are looking up, we’re not home free yet. We can celebrate the great progress made in an incredibly short timeframe, but we need to remain vigilant to stay safe.
And get ready to rollup those sleeves when your turn comes to be vaccinated.
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.
.
Let us help your business rise to the top.
linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com
Top of Mind Thursday December 3, 2020: The Home Stretch
Hard to believe we’re in December. Last time most of us looked around, it was March. Then the whole world went off the rails.
December brings us to the end of a long, strange, unpredictable year. Nothing is as it should be this time of year: Family gatherings are cancelled, postponed, or downsized. Travel plans are rethought. Even the traditional Black Friday sales are different this year.
Nine months into this pandemic, the overwhelming sentiment appears to be fatigue. We’re all tired of dealing with this virus. We’ve had more than enough of all the illness, death, and economic disruption. We’re all longing for a time when we can go back to business as usual, sit-down dinners inside restaurants, live sporting events and entertainment, and mask-free close-up socializing.
But as much as we’re ready to be done with this virus, the virus isn’t done with us. As predicted, COVID-19 cases are spiking, ICUs are overflowing, and indoor winter gatherings are likely to exasperate the situation.
It’s been a long, difficult nine months–not just for those who have lost loved ones, but for those who’ve lost their jobs and their way of life, too. There’s hope on the horizon. Vaccines will become available in the new year. A new administration will take a different approach to managing the pandemic. We just have to stay the course for a while longer.
A runner doesn’t slow down as they pass third on their way to home plate. A receiver doesn’t stop running when they get close to the goal line. A race horse doesn’t slow from a gallop to a trot with the finish line in sight.
Everyone around us is just as tired of the pandemic as we are. Let’s work to keep our energy and empathy up as we power through the home stretch to a better 2021.
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.
.
Let us help your business rise to the top.
linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com