These odd things we call “Clichés”

Despite being etymologically rooted in French, clichés have become integral both to written and spoken English. “Think outside the box,” “low-hanging fruit,” “read between the lines,” and my favorite, “break a leg,” are popular examples of the thousands of clichés populating – or polluting – the world’s most flexible, widely-used language.

 

While expressing common, even universal experiences, clichés impact our language in a way that’s decidedly mixed. Certainly, they’re responsible for encouraging lazy, unimaginative communication. Common clichés will inevitably slip into nearly everyone’s vocabulary, but too many of us fall back on them at the expense of more descriptive, nuanced usage. While helping ensure a degree of understanding, clichés also rob our exchanges of insight and vibrancy.

 

I’m addressing this topic because today, November 3, is Cliché Day. As a longtime communication professional with a specialty in public relations, I’ve spent decades excising clichés from my writing … while occasionally employing them for humor or intentional overemphasis. If this sounds like me balancing atop a figurative fence, it is — clichés are odd constructs. The degree to which they’re sometimes valuable and sometimes absurd seems to increase as our language evolves.

 

To me, the most compelling aspect of clichés is how they serve as a microcosm for the tasks my public relations, advertising, and marketing colleagues perform for our clients. Just as clichés provide familiarity, the tactics and content we employ must be easily understood by all intended audiences. Confusion about meaning would counter our strategic goals, yet we need to avoid boredom-triggering mundanity. Our content and means of deploying it must be imbued with cleverness and originality – with unexpected sparks that make eyes open wider.

 

It’s not easy. As with the use of clichés, we’re walking a tightrope … it’s a fine line. But it is what it is, and at the end of the day, it’s no walk in the park. So, we keep our eyes on the prize, aware that nothing worthwhile is ever easy, and eventually get ourselves over the hump.

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day

Mental well-being is as important as physical health, but it often gets less attention. World Mental Health Day serves as a chance to give mental health issues their overdue attention. Since the World Federation for Mental Health started it in 1992, World Mental Health Day has been observed annually on October 10.

 

Despite progress, many issues need to be addressed to foster a destigmatized, empathetic world. A prominent concern is the lack of access to care for many people. Whether due to financial constraint or a shortage of qualified professionals, mental health services should be more widely accessible.

 

Workplace stress is another major issue, yet many organizations lack adequate support systems. Being in a good mental state is essential for both performance and general satisfaction.

 

While there is still change that needs to be made, there are things that we can do as individuals to direct us toward a healthier world:

 

  • Create a supportive environment: You don’t need to be a professional to lend an ear to someone in need. Encourage open discussion about mental health to reduce stigmas.
  • Educate yourself and colleagues: Fight stigmas through education. Understanding issues will eliminate misconceptions and encourages empathy.
  • Advocate for workplace policies: Push for the organization to implement mental health policies and services (stress management resources, assistance for employees, etc.).
  • Focus on work-life balance: Knowing how to separate your work and life is essential for decompressing and relaxing. Focus on finding a balance that suits your health and your work.
  • Get involved with mental health organizations: Contribute through a donation or volunteer your time to dedicated organizations.

 

October 10 isn’t a random Thursday in autumn; it’s a call to action. By coming together to raise awareness, debunk stigma, and support the people around us, we can push for meaningful change and create a better future for mental health.

 

At SCG, we are addressing these mental health needs within the organization and advocating for a healthy work-life balance by offering various initiatives, like yoga sessions in the building on Wednesdays and employee led mental health workshops and fundraisers. These efforts are part of a broader commitment to building a balanced work environment that ensures employees have everything they need to be at their best, both personally and professionally.

International Cat Day

International Cat Day: Whiskers at Work

International Cat Day

I previously recognized International Cat Day (August 8th) by comparing cat behavior with Recruitment Marketing. You can revisit that Blog Post  here, where I shared my journey to Crazy Cat Lady and introduced my feline family members. Everyone is doing well, and we have had a lot of interest from candidates wanting to join the team. Apparently, they’ve heard good things and new applicants appear on the back patio from time to time.

Cats work hard in our world. Here are just a few of the jobs they dutifully perform:

Emotional Support/Therapy Animal: Whether serving as an emotional support animal for an individual or part of a care team within a hospital or nursing home, these specially trained professionals play an important role in providing comfort and support.

Speaking of roles, how about the cat ACTORS, who entertain us in a variety of TV, movie and stage productions.

On the smaller screen, Cats are a huge part of the Influencer world. TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are full of popular cat influencers. Just a couple of these stars include @CatManJohn for Russell the cat who uses buttons to communicate or Lady the cat @thetruckeduplife.

Space: In 1963, Felicette, also known as “Astrocat”, became the first and only cat to go to space.

Pest Control: In Lighthouses, cats served to keep pests away and served as companions to the Lighthouse Keeper and their family. Cats serve a similar purpose in barns and on ships.

Ancient Egyptians used the felines to hunt birds on riverbanks.

Mayor: Talkeetna, AK, had a feline mayor for 20 years. Stubbs the cat was named after his stubby tail and served in office from July 18, 1997, up until his death on July 21, 2017. During his time as mayor, he survived an attack from a dog, being shot at by teenagers with BB guns and falling into a (cooled off) deep fryer. Talk about having nine lives!

Of course, now they are part of our political discourse.

Whether they are employed and earning a paycheck or working for cuddles and kibble, I’m sure you will agree that the payment is well earned.

As part of our SCG brand toolkit, we have a variety of #merch. Our latest addition is a TOP TAIL CAN COVER. Comment or touch base with me or an SCG team member to get one for yourself. Made in the USA, the can cover is 3.5.”

Pay it forward

Paying It Forward: How Appreciative Thinking Shapes Leadership in the fast-paced world at SCG Advertising and Public Relations

Pay it forward

 

In the fast-paced world of advertising, success often hinges not just on creativity and strategy, but also on the power of appreciative thinking and paying it forward. As the president of SCG Advertising and Public Relations, an ad agency in northern New Jersey, I’ve come to realize the profound impact that a mindset of gratitude and generosity can have on both personal growth and the success of our agency. In the 37 years of working in the industry, I have always used this forward-thinking approach to grow and achieve my position. At the heart of our agency’s ethos lies the principle of paying it forward – the idea that acts of kindness and generosity have a ripple effect, creating a culture of appreciation and collaboration that ultimately benefits everyone involved. This philosophy isn’t just a feel-good sentiment; it’s a strategic approach to leadership that has transformed the way we do business.

One of the most powerful aspects of appreciative thinking is its ability to foster strong relationships – both within our team, and with our clients. By taking the time to express gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our employees, we’ve built a tight-knit team that feels valued and motivated to go above and beyond for each other and for our clients. Our agency motto has always been to work as an extended family unit, holding on to employees and cherishing the relationship of those who have moved into new careers.

Similarly, cultivating a spirit of gratitude in our client relationships has been instrumental in our agency’s success. Whether it’s a simple thank-you note or a gesture of appreciation for their business, we’ve found that expressing gratitude not only strengthens our client relationships but also fosters a sense of loyalty and trust that is invaluable in the competitive world of advertising.

It might be a little old fashioned, but this way of thinking goes a long way.

Perhaps the most profound impact of appreciative thinking has been with my own leadership style. As the president of our agency, I’ve learned that leading with gratitude and generosity not only inspires others but also brings out the best in myself. By focusing on the positive aspects of our work and acknowledging the contributions of others, I’ve become more resilient in the face of challenges and more creative in my approach to problem-solving.

By promoting a culture of gratitude and generosity within our agency, we’ve not only created a positive and supportive work environment but also achieved remarkable success in our industry. As we continue to grow and evolve, I am confident that our commitment to paying it forward will remain at the heart of everything we do – driving us forward to even greater heights of achievement and fulfillment.

Dracula

What “World Dracula Day” tells us about the power of stories

Dracula

A decaying, Transylvanian castle … baying wolves … mist creeping through a medieval crypt. An undead aristocrat – who for centuries has fed on the blood of the living – plots to make Victorian London his new hunting grounds.

 

Almost everyone recognizes the premise of Bram Stoker’s Gothic masterpiece, Dracula, which was first published on May 26, 1897. And now, 127 years to the day after the novel first appeared on booksellers’ shelves, “World Dracula Day” celebrations are underway around the globe. In Whitby, England – where, in the novel, Dracula first comes ashore in Britain (in spectacularly horrific fashion, of course) – some 1,200 people gathered today, each clad in their finest vampire attire.

 

Stoker’s tale remains remarkably popular. Never out of print, the novel has been translated into more than 30 languages, and adapted more than 700 times for film, television, video games, comic books, and other mass media. By any measure, it’s among the most influential works of fiction ever.

 

But why? Are people uncontrollably enamored of vampires? No; each year, many books and films with undead themes become commercial flops. Is it because of Stoker’s brilliance as a writer? No; while the Irishman was a prolific author of short stories and novels, Dracula was his lone literary success.

 

Why then? Well, I’d suggest the reason for the novel’s long-term popularity is that people adore good stories. And without a doubt, Dracula is a fabulously good story, brimming with horror, tragedy, romance, action, and – depending on your sense of humor – a measure of comedy. The novel’s essential themes include xenophobia, feminism and misogyny, technology and technophobia; friendship and courage; love and lust; and the nature of evil. Stoker crammed a bit of everything into his 27-chapter novel.

 

So, we’re celebrating something as quirky as “World Dracula Day” because Dracula is a great story. That’s a pretty straightforward formula for success, and one I’m ever mindful of in my role as a public relations professional.

 

When I help a client communicate, the tools at my disposal include social media, news releases, speeches, videos, conferences, op-ed columns, events, podcasts, photography, and even a blog like this one. Likewise, there’s a wide range of potential audiences, including the general public, journalists, clients, employees, other influencers, and a host of others. But whatever tools I use, and whoever I’m reaching out to, I know telling a compelling story is a proven, age-old way to attract attention and stimulate interest.

 

Now if I can just figure out how to incorporate a vampire into my next news release…

Back to the Classics: A Suggested Reading List

I’m a public relations practitioner, and my profession’s core is communication– the development and expression of ideas and information. I’ve been at it for a long while, but I still find it beneficial to periodically return to the artistic classics of communicating, whether in the form of music, film, or literature. These provide us with a standard of excellence, while reminding us what true clarity of thought looks like.

 

With all this in mind– and also for fun– I’ve compiled a chronological list of seven classic novels (complete with general remarks) I enthusiastically recommend to anyone who’s ready to take a break from the here and now and gaze back upon the exceptional.

 

Wuthering Heights (1847), by Emily Brontë

Fabulously atmospheric, it’s a darkly troubling love story featuring multiple narrators and a series of flashbacks. The fact that this was Brontë’s only novel (she died in 1848, at age 30) is a tragedy for all readers.

 

Dracula (1897), by Bram Stoker

Thrilling, harrowing, and terrifying– this is the gothic novel that laid the foundation for modern horror. Dracula is about the vision of pure, ancient evil, and the circle of friends who dare to defy it.

 

Hound of the Baskervilles (1902), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Sherlock Holmes canon is composed of 56 short stories and four longer works. Collectively, they’re the origin of modern detective fiction, and this novel is the best of them. Also worth noting, Conan Doyle is a vastly underrated writer.

 

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), by James Joyce

To me, Irishman James Joyce is the greatest writer of modern English– and this is his most accessible novel. It’s a coming-of-age tale, and though set in late nineteenth-century Dublin, it remains stunningly modern.

 

The Great Gatsby (1925), by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Considered by many to be America’s finest novel, it’s a window into a very different time– but with characters and themes that remain entirely relevant. Speaking of those characters, they’re detailed, layered, and brimming with intrigue.

 

Lord of the Rings (1954-1955), by J.R.R. Tolkien

This series is one epic fantasy tale divided into three volumes. Tolkien draws upon the root myths and legends of northern Europe to weave what I consider the most powerfully magical novel in the English language.

 

Watership Down (1972), by Richard Adams

All the main characters are rabbits. Really. It’s a mesmerizing, edge-of-your-seat story with marvelous heroes and one of literature’s most wicked villains. Also– its author didn’t begin writing until he was 46 years old.

 

Kurt Praschak

Vice President, Public Relations

SCG Advertising & PR

Intern Insights: What is Threads?

Social media is constantly evolving. If you blink, you could find yourself behind on the latest app. Not every site will be a juggernaut like Facebook, but you don’t want to be late to the ones that end up succeeding. In this blog, we’ll discuss the new platform Threads, including its pros and cons.   

 

So, What’s Threads?

Threads is a companion app to Instagram that allows users to share text, photos, and videos. It is similar to Twitter in terms of the content and tone of its posts. In its first week, Threads reached more than 100 million users, which may be attributed to being owned by global media giant Meta, which currently has more than three billion daily users.  

 

Pros 

Threads runs smoothly compared to other platforms in the early-release stage. It uses the same design and structure as Instagram,  meaning major issues have been dealt with on Instagram before Threads was introduced. It is also easy to connect with your Instagram followers via Threads. You need to use your Instagram login to access Threads, so everyone you follow on Instagram will be shown to you upon signing up. Threads is also similar to Twitter, a smashing success for more than a decade, which is a positive indicator for its future.  

 

Cons 

Threads is Instagram’s companion app, meaning you need to have an Instagram account to sign up. This has proven to be problematic (At this point, in 2023, anyone who doesn’t have an Instagram most likely has no intention of changing that). Over the years, people have become so comfortable with Twitter that many wouldn’t leave it unless they were left with no other choice. A new platform means starting from scratch, and it takes months for an algorithm to be properly tailored to one’s interests. Lastly, Threads is currently only available on iOS and Android devices, which, despite making the milestone of 100 million users more impressive, isn’t a sustainable model for social media success.  

 

 In the rapidly evolving world of social media, Threads holds promise for individuals and businesses alike. Threads swiftly established itself as a potential powerhouse, and the best way to avoid being left behind in this fast-paced world is to pay attention to the newcomers.  

 

Justin Picciuto

Public Relations Intern

SCG Advertising & PR

Nine Essential Poems

Poetry is doing things with language that exceed the scope of routine communication – it’s rather like painting with words.  I occasionally engage in the process, and a handful of my efforts have appeared in poetry journals.

 

But, I’m a rank amateur; at best, I’ll string together several words in a fashion that isn’t dreadful. Perhaps in my role as a public relations professional I’m slightly more effective at communicating a message. In any case, the nine works briefly discussed below (in chronological order) are examples of poets connecting with the literary otherworld. Though these poems span centuries and represent widely varied styles, each provides a glimpse of poetic perfection.

 

Beowulf (circa 800?), author/authors unknown

Available to us only because a single, hand-written copy somehow survived through centuries of British history, this Old English epic offers a vision of a world where heroism is the most valued currency. I recommend Burton Raffel’s 1963 translation, and also suggest listening to several lines in the original language to experience the ancient music in words that now are understood only by select scholars.

 

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day / Sonnet 18 (1609), by William Shakespeare

In the pantheon of English writers, Shakespeare occupies the best seat. In addition to nearly 40 dramatic works, he penned 154 sonnets – and this is likely his best. It’s certainly his most often quoted, and while the Bard’s language can be challenging for 21st-century readers, “Sonnet 18” is quite straightforward. Few would argue against it being the greatest love poem ever written.

 

The Old Pond (1686), by Matsuo Bashō

I love the Japanese haiku, with its five-syllable, seven-syllable, five-syllable format and emphasis on nature imagery. Matsuo Bashō is revered as the greatest of haiku masters and his “The Old Pond” – all 17 syllables of it – is generally considered the closest anyone has ever come to writing a flawless haiku.

 

My Heart’s in the Highlands (1789), by Robert Burns

In Scotland, the “ploughman poet” rose from rural obscurity and became his nation’s most beloved writer of verse. Remarkably lyrical, most of Burns’ works function equally well as song lyrics or poetry. In just 21 lines, this particular poem captures the wild beauty of the Highlands, as expressed by a narrator who misses them desperately.

 

Ozymandias (1818), by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Among the best-known of the English Romantics, Shelley’s works were infused with his progressive socio-politics. Using the brilliant metaphor of a half-buried statue, his “Ozymandias” requires only 14 lines to express the transience of human power.

 

I Am the Only Being Whose Doom (written 1836), by Emily Brontë

No other writer fascinates me as Emily Brontë does. She died at 30, leaving behind a single novel, which became a seminal work of English literature. She also produced some 200 poems, which are renowned for the same emotion and wildness that defines her novel. “I Am the Only Being Whose Doom” articulates loneliness and despair with a startling directness.

 

The Raven (1845), by Edgar Allan Poe

Many readers mistakenly think of Poe as a quirky writer of dark tales and the occasional clever verse. In fact, the combined brilliance of his poetry and prose are unmatched by any other American writer. Since being published, “The Raven” has become perhaps the world’s most famous poem – and certainly the only one after which an NFL team is named.

 

Song of Myself (multiple versions published from 1855 to 1891), by Walt Whitman

The centerpiece of Whitman’s Leaves of Grass volume, “Song of Myself” faced immediate hostility because of its structural and rhythmic uniqueness. More recent critics have suggested that every 20th and 21st-century American poet has been influenced by the 1,300-line work.

 

Howl (1956), by Allen Ginsberg

As a college student in 1984, I sat in an undersized lecture hall some 15 feet from Ginsberg while he read “Howl.” It was absolutely spellbinding. The work, 112 lines of free verse, is a shrieking, sometimes harrowing attack on modern society. America’s Beat Generation yielded some remarkable literary works, and “Howl” may well be the finest of them all.

 

Kurt Praschak

Vice President, Public Relations

SCG Advertising & PR

The Best Playlists for Working Productively (and having fun)

As a musician, it’s natural for me to listen to some type of music playlist while I’m in the office working. I certainly don’t restrict myself to any one genre. Lately, the biggest musical trend has been the rise of Lo-Fi. Lo-fi music is characterized as a type of downtempo hip-hop music known for being relaxing and hypnotic. Due to these qualities, students and professionals alike are listening to Lo-Fi playlists while working.

 

According to HBR.org, listening to music can boost workplace concentration, mood, and performance. Additionally, according to the BBC, it may even increase your productivity by up to 15%.

 

So, next time you need a pick-me-up to get you going, put your earbuds in or turn on your portable speaker, and listen to music while you work. I’ve even created two Spotify playlists to get you started.

 

Work Playlist

Work Playlist: Lo-Fi

 

Lupe Dragon

Public Relations Specialist/Account Executive

SCG Advertising & PR

Revolutionizing the World: How AI platforms are shaping the future

10 ways to utilize ChatGPT today

Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t new – and it’s been impacting our economy, society, and culture for years. Some of the most frequently utilized tech tools, including virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Home and recommendation systems used on streaming services already integrate AI.

 

What’s new is the power, ease, accessibility, usability, flexibility, integrability, and approachability of open AI tools like ChatGPT (Generative Pretrained Transformer) from OpenAI and Bard from Google. Both are chatbots that take a more “human-like” approach and have a strikingly wide range of applications.  Thanks to these advances, more than 2000 new AI tools have been launched during the past 30 days.

 

Certainly, there are legitimate and serious economic, ethical, accuracy, and social concerns related to AI. That said, the reality is that AI won’t be going away, so we need to prepare ourselves for what’s to come.  As Darwin said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

 

Used properly and ethically, artificial intelligence has the potential to become an integral part of our problem-solving process.

 

My contribution to this discussion isn’t my AI expertise — quite the opposite, in fact. Rather, I can only offer my readiness to learn. And with that said, here are 10 ways I’ve attempted to integrate ChatGPT and Bard into my work and life:

 

  1. Research, ranging from simple questions to detailed data dumps. I’ve used it to help explain complex topics and make sense of data I’ve pulled from various sources.
  2. Validate work, asking it to review content to align messaging and information.
  3. Simulation role play, to identify different perspectives and outcomes
  4. Enhance engagement and outreach, to discover new influencers, partners, and collaborators.
  5. Plan, from developing checklists to travel plans.
  6. Generate ideas, helping to spark strategies and action.
  7. Create content, offering both updates and enhancements.
  8. Jump-start a project, offering tips for assignments or tasks.
  9. Broaden my perspective, through prompts enabling me to “dialogue” with defined characters.
  10. Train, test, and quiz with specific prompts

 

What can be accomplished with AI is limited primarily by our creativity in generating effective prompts, as well as by the accuracy of available information and by the ethical questions that have already begun to arise.

 

For those organizations that may wish to benefit from our initial experiments with AI, we’d be happy to discuss – just reach out to us at scgadv.com