Communications

Here’s a little communication lesson: Sometimes words have more than one meaning.

Like saying “Campbell’s CEO thinks outside the can.”

I’m sure they meant “soup can.”

But “can” also means “toilet.”

And I’m sure she does her best thinking outside the toilet.

Men are another story.

I work in the employee communications business. It’s a really great racket — I’d have chosen this career even if it didn’t choose me.

One essential aspect about the communication business is knowing your audience. I mean, really knowing your audience. Like knowing that they like to eat at The Olive Garden.

Did you see this story about a restaurant review about The Olive Garden in Grand Forks, ND, going viral.

After eating her way through the menu at the Olive Garden in Grand Forks, N.D., Marilyn Hagerty is ready for the big time.

The 85-year-old food reviewer for the Grand Forks Herald who became an Internet viral sensation for her loving review of the local Italian chain restaurant is heading to New York City Tuesday to get a taste of some slightly fancier establishments.

Until last Wednesday, few people outside of her North Dakota city had heard of Hagerty, until she covered her meal at the first Olive Garden to ever open in Grand Forks in her restaurant column. “The chicken Alfredo ($10.95) was warm and comforting on a cold day,” she wrote. “The portion was generous.”

You know what? Your employees like The Olive Garden. And a lot of other things. Be careful when you make judgments about how you talk to them and what you say. Abbondanza!

Click here to see the video from Of Monsters and Men’s “Little Talks”

The music from “Little Talks” seems to be turning up in many ads I’ve seen during the Olympics. It’s so upbeat — so happy.

The lyrics — they convey something powerful. But not completely happy.

It’s an interesting contrast.

I love layered communications. This song has that stone cold.

Really, really clever.

******************
Little Talks

Hey! Hey! Hey!
I don’t like walking around this old and empty house
So hold my hand, I’ll walk with you, my dear
The stairs creak as you sleep, it’s keeping me awake
It’s the house telling you to close your eyes

Some days I can’t even trust myself
It’s killing me to see you this way

‘Cause though the truth may vary
This ship will carry
Our bodies safe to shore

Hey! Hey! Hey!
There’s an old voice in my head that’s holding me back
Well tell her that I miss our little talks
Soon it will be over and buried with our past
We used to play outside when we were young,
And full of life and full of love

Some days I don’t know if I am wrong or right
Your mind is playing tricks on you, my dear

‘Cause though the truth may vary
This ship will carry
Our bodies safe to shore

Hey!
Don’t listen to a word I say
Hey!
The screams all sound the same
Hey!

Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry
Our bodies safe to shore

You’re gone gone gone away
I watched you disappear
All that’s left is a ghost of you
Now we’re torn torn torn apart, there’s nothing we can do
Just let me go we’ll meet again soon
Now wait wait wait for me
Please hang around
I’ll see you when I fall asleep

Hey!
Don’t listen to a word I say
Hey!
The screams all sound the same
Hey!

Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry
Our bodies safe to shore

I love printed things.

The Sunday New York Times.

Photo booth pictures.

My copy of The Illustrated Man I got as a 10-year-old in 1969.

I grew up on print.

On dead tree editions as newspapermen and magazine editors call it now.

Comic books.

Library books.

Textbooks.

All printed.

Portable. Didn’t need WiFi to use.

But I’ve gone mobile.

I read books on my iPad.

Read most of my email on my phone.

And note that our recycle bin gets filled each week with a lot of unread print.

If you’re in the employee communication business, it’s time.

The world’s gone mobile.

And it’ll leave you behind if you don’t respond.

Because it can.