There's no market for martyrs. Really.

Some clients are so entrenched in their martyrdom that trying to help them is beyond frustrating. Every suggestion is greeted with a "yabbut." [Yes, but] I watch their lips and I swear it's a Charlie Brown teacher experience. All I hear from them is yabbut, yabbut, yabbut.

If something you've tried in the past did not work, spend some time analyzing why it didn't work. Were you expecting too much from too little? Did you expect your words to be taken as gospel just because you said so? Did you provide data to support your position? Did you do it in a timely manner? Do you believe that just because you're doing "good" that you don't have to be accountable?

When "woe is me" is your mindset, you'll only get more "woe."

Philanthropy: head of the class or dunce cap?

Competing oil and gas drilling companies both promised a sizable donation to a school district, but only one followed through. Guess which one people are likely to sell drilling rights to?

Yup, it’s the one that followed through with a breathtakingly large donation, at least in the history of the school district. Fort Worth-based XTO donated a record-breaking $50,000 to the Carroll Education Foundation, an independent nonprofit that benefit the district. The single largest contribution to the group previously was $10,000.

There are several other reasons why this donation is interesting, as pointed out by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake, XTO's rival, has the mineral-rights lease to drill for natural gas under all 402 acres owned by the district itself. The XTO donation, which was made last week without fanfare, will make XTO the "presenting sponsor" at the foundation' s only fundraiser this year.

The foundation had been talking with Chesapeake officials about a donation since December. Chesapeake even gave a verbal commitment in February, but despite numerous requests for a signed contract, the foundation still never got a dime.

This isn't the first donation race between these two.

Chesapeake announced in late March that it would donate $1 million to the United Way to establish the Barnett Shale Endowment Fund. Also that day, the YMCA rushed out a news release saying that XTO was donating $500,000 to help modernize and expand its workout space.

As memorable as the $1 million donation is, will it neutralize the negative feelings caused by Chesapeake reniging on a promised donation?

What’s in your go-kit?

First of all, I hope you know what a go-kit is. Whether it’s a cardboard box or a crush-resistant, impact-resistant metal case, a go-kit is the container you can grab and run to the site of whatever disaster/crisis hits your company. When it hits the fan is too late to start pulling these items together.

Obviously a laptop computer is one item. Maybe even a satellite phone. Communication is what this is all about, so you need these mechanical tools. How a about a digital camera?

Depending on the size of the company and how many hats you wear, you also may need a company check book to compensate individuals either injured or who suffered property damage. And release forms for individuals who are ready to settle right then and there.

Other items that don’t fit into your go-kit but are equally important:
• "Stealth" Website ready to punch in the pertinent information for news media, g eneral public and even your employees.
• Responsive communication tree both ‘up’ and ‘down’ the communication ladder. Watch for more on this issue in another blog.
• Trained spokesperson on the ground while main spokesperson is en route.
• Expert investigators, as necessary.
• Company or hired-gun defense lawyers to talk to the inevitable ant trail of plaintiff attorneys.

Oh, and for the go-kit, don’t forget a change of underwear!

Bloggers have major influence

Blue Daze obviously does not like gas pipelines. She took advantage of a distribution line explosion in far south Texas to promulgate fear.

A local firefighter said they were not sure exactly how this explosion happened but they are aware of similar explosion that happen across the United States. "They happen every now and then, they're pipelines and they're subject to wear and tear just like any other equipment that's out here."

Events like this make for great TV coverage, which is just natural. But where was the statement from the pipeline operator? Why didn't the company have a spokesperson on the spot? Or if that wasn't possible, they certainly could have conducted a phone interview.

The greater issue here, in addition to the loca l news coverage, is the widespread influence of bloggers like Blue Daze. The story appeared on more news sites than I could count, including one that caters to the paranoid.
If you care what the public thinks about your business, be certain you're monitoring blogs just as carefully as the traditional news media.

And the little children shall lead the way.

He’s not so little, but a Boulder high school junior who took on Fox’s Bill O’Reilly recently conducted his interview in the most professional and assertive manner I’ve ever seen! Check it out soon before the link "dies."


Jesse Lange did it the right way.
1. He wore a suit and tie in counterpoint to the knit sport shirt worn by the teen presenting an opposing view.
2. He was respectful but firmly presented his point of view.
3. He was totally prepared with the exact words of an adult speaker at a high school meeting. The direct quotation disproved the contention that the speaker promoted drug use. Jesse held to his quotes in spite of what O’Reilly said.
4. Jesse then turned the tables, quoting from a section of O’Reilly’s book for kids. O’Reilly said Jesse was quoting him out of context. What fun!
5. The best part, in my opinion, was when O’Reilly called Jesse a pinhead. Jesse took the high road and ignored what could have been a rabbit trail that would take up precious seconds and eliminate the opportunity to address the real issue.
This young man has a terrific future ahead of him. Watch for his name in the next decade.
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