People have remarked at how fast the Juneteenth Holiday was approved. Considering MLK Jr. Day was first proposed in 1968 (after Dr. King’s assassination) and finally signed into law by President Reagan in 1983 (and not observed until three years later) – well, to have Congress pass this bill, the President sign it and the nation celebrate it within a three-day span seems like magic.

Magic? Hardly. More likely, it was a combination of things: persistence, the will of the people, collaboration and great communication. And Spoiler Alert, those are the same things needed for any successful effort.

Whether your company is attacked by criminals, a disgruntled employee or a teenager in his basement testing his skills, the impact can be devastating. It can unquestionably cause a disruption in your business; but it also can negatively impact your reputation, your stock price, your competitive position in the marketplace and may result in expensive lawsuits.

A poem by Patty Deutsche

People love to show how much they know. “Jeopardy™” is proof of that – a game show that has outlived all game shows featuring people competing to prove the depth of their knowledge. And even with the passing of its iconic host, Alex Trebek, the show goes on. For decades, the loyal audience at home has shouted out the answers when they knew them. (Come on, you know you’ve done it!)

My last blog focused on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), the precursor to Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) that is prevalent in company operations these days. I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t is enough that I make a high-quality product that people want to buy?” Not in today’s environment.

Do you have a strategy around what kind of organizations you donate money to? Around how you support your employees charitable giving and what’s important to them? Is your CSR strategy aligned with your company’s purpose? Do the executives have a passion for it? If not, it won’t cascade down to the employees or be seen as genuine by investors.

What makes a good public speaker? Knowledge. Wisdom. Experience…yes, all true. But if that was all, how do you explain the incredible attention given to Amanda Gorman, the young black woman who recited her poetry at President Biden’s Inauguration on January 20? She hasn’t been on earth long enough to acquire knowledge, wisdom or much experience. And yet, in my opinion, she stole the show.

If you have ever taken a public speaking course, you’ll know the first thing they tell you is “know your audience.” Good advice! You would not want to give a dissertation on the complexity of the brain to a group of kindergartners. Nor would you want to give a presentation on how to operate a chemical plant to an assembly of surgeons.

When marketing budgets are slim, look within. Even if you have a generous marketing budget, don’t forget your internal resources. Your employees are often your most overlooked marketing tool.