Do You Remember Where You Were?: Strategic Advice from a 35-Year Media Veteran

After preparing as best I could for the approach of “Hurricane Henri” on Saturday – feeling some anxiety, as I had recently moved into a charming little house here in Connecticut, right across the street from a beautiful pond opening onto Long Island Sound. My new location is a great place to enjoy the morning sunrise and birdlife – but when it comes to “easy-access” to hurricane-force winds and storm-surge flooding, this little house is extremely “vulnerable!” After my hurricane preparations, I decided to take a drive with my beagle Lilly, back to another charming Connecticut town, half an hour north of our new location, where we lived for 15 years, and my kids spent their childhood years.

Lilly is gifted with a superb nose for tracking animals and an insatiable appetite for doggie treats, but – I’ll try to put this kindly – she’s rather lacking as a conversationalist.?Nevertheless, as we toured her old hometown, for the first time in six months, it was entertaining to see how strong Lilly’s memories were – of the town park, and various locations on Main Street – as evidenced by her excitedly wagging tail and the way my little dog pulled me along to her favorite locations. This may be a bit of a stretch but watching Lilly’s enthusiasm at the opportunity to reconnect with the locations where she once spent so much time over the years, made me think about the way those of us who can verbalize our excitement have some memories that are “etched in more deeply in our minds” than others.

It’s almost a cliché, but we’ve all participated in conversations that focus on the thought-provoking question, “Do you remember where you were when…” and the end of that question might be “when man first stepped onto the surface of the moon,” or “when the World Trade Center was attacked,” and so on.?

On a more positive, empowering note, I want to remind you that each of us the power to make that kind of “deep impression” in the lives of others.?Having spent 35 years in the media -- 20 years as a television news producer for media outlets (including ABC News, CNN and CBS News) followed by 15 years in the PR field – I’ve worked with a wide variety of experts, coaches?and speakers, and I’ve also worked with people passionate about a variety of charities that help others in need.?

We each have an opportunity to share knowledge that can improve the lives of others – for example, information that will help them become a better parent, or become more comfortable financially, or use social media in a way that connects with a wider community.

I encourage you to make use of this inspiring idea.?Just as it’s important for each of us to think about our “Ideal Customer Avatar,” when we are planning our marketing activities, don’t lose sight of the fact that YOU have an opportunity every day to make a lasting (“deeply etched”) impression on a fellow human being, by sharing your wisdom! Among my favorite (and most vividly remembered) experiences is the weekend I had the good fortune of attending a weekend seminar hosted by the great speaker and author Jim Rohn. Mr. Rohn spoke about those “priceless moments” when you bump into someone walking down the street or in a local coffee shop, and they say “I really need to thank you for that idea that you shared” … in a seminar, in an interview, through an online course, etc. Personally, I find the opportunity to touch the lives of others – and inspire and empower them – to be among my favorite moments and memories. I hope you know this feeling, too!

If you found this essay to be helpful and thought-provoking, please let me know, and I’ll be sure to give Lilly my beagle an extra treat! ?And if you’d like to learn more about strategies like this, I invite you to join me for the free masterclass that I’ll be presenting in September, “The Best-Kept Secrets of Public Relations, and How to Get the Media Recognition YOU Deserve!” If you’d like to register for this free masterclass, just let me know!

I wish you happiness and success in creating some of these “deeply etched memories” in the lives of others!

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