Actual NYC Tourists

As a native East Coaster, I was known to make the off-handed, “Go back to Iowa Pollyanna” comment towards tourists as they slowly make their way down the sidewalks of DC, my hometown.  Now that I am a mid-westerner though, I finally realize what a bad rap we get!  Recently Nancy Coyne, a major theatre critic from NYC was quoted saying, “We hate tourists from Cleveland.”  Well as anyone can guess, this didn’t go over too well with Ohioans or mid-western people in general. Continue Reading »

A few weeks ago, Stove Top launched a new ad campaign by installing heated light bulbs into 10 CTA bus stops around Chicago. These hot signs allowed patient pedestrians to feel the warmth as they developed a strong craving for Stove Top Stuffing.

However, in Kyra Kyles’ RedEye article last week, she unveiled a shocking truth about the highly anticipated hotspots – they’re not hot!

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We all know the significance of the recent presidential elect, or do we? I couldn’t believe when I came across this blog post on Gawker.com, it took a couple of minutes for my mouth to close.

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Last night I attended the PRSA Chicago senior leaders event, where Helen Ostrowski, the chairman and CEO of Porter Novelli, was honored.

She discussed an Arthur Page Society meeting at which Jeff Immelt spoke and said the most important thing leaders can do right now is be present.

Be present.

That means all of the advice we give our clients…

• Get out of your office and walk around
• Lead by communicating
• Attend staff meetings
• Discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly
• Be the first one to arrive and the last one to leave
• Don’t take vacation or work from home

…is applicable to all of us.

Be present.

We have a running game with our out-of-state friends; we stop at every Mexican place that says, “The world’s {insert adjective} margaritas!”  In Chicago, that’s quite a game as you only have to get in a cab and drive up and down Lincoln before you’ve had a few too many.

My good friend Martin Waxman last week blogged about this very topic, but in terms of sweepstakes.  You know that letter you receive that says, “The fact that you are now in possession of enclosed documents that are proof of your chance of becoming a prize winner is all but confirmed.”

There are many instances of this in our lives and some advertisers have been sued over extraneous words that can’t be proven (most know my favorite is “The Funnest iPod Ever”, mostly because “funnest” isn’t a word).  But this is spin in it’s finest flair.

Martin is right; the excellent PR professionals will stop this practice through social media and honest and transparent communication and it will eventually trickle to the rest of our lives.  Well, one can hope!

If only we were all famous enough to bash our ex’s to the world.  I have to admit, it would feel pretty good to stab those relationship cheaters, liars, and lazy mama’s boys where it counts — across national headlines!  But I would like to think if it was going to jeopardize my career … I could get over it in other ways. 

Not Sean Avery.  Mr. Hockey Man was suspended indefinitely by the NHL for referencing his ex, actress Elisha Cuthbert, as “sloppy seconds” to a reporter.

What are your thoughts?

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Are you a Lovie Smith fan?  I am. 

Maybe not for the reasons one might think, considering he is an NFL coach of a very popular team in one of the largest cities in the good ole’ US of A.  Sure, there is that important fact that he coached the Bears to a Super Bowl, and he won the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Award and there are some pretty decent stats attached to his tenure thus far with the Bears.  But no, that’s not what impresses me.

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The United States recently experienced a historical election that captivated the entire nation.  Barak Obama was elected as our next commander and chief.  It was hard not to get swept into the candidate debates, the many news stories and various opinions.  Both sides spoke passionately of their plans for the current ailing economy and I personally was undecided to the bitter end. 

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We can’t have a Grey Goose fountain or limo transportation? It’s devastating when I read the news and come across entertainment and celebrity news about how it’s a bummer that companies that usually go all out for their holiday parties have to cut back due to the economy this year.

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Every night I watch CBS2Chicago news leading right into David Letterman’s hilarious opening act. I love the first 20 minutes of Letterman! This past Monday, there was a very interesting story about a company, Environmental Technical Institute (ETI), pitching future employees into buying what ETI has to offer. Continue Reading »