Independence is a helluva drug

Sometimes things happen that make you want to utter a bunch of expletives in a run-on sentence. In this case, it was only Monday.

As Americans celebrate their independence this week, I hope many will step back and see how fortunate they’ve been. Is everything perfect? No, that’s not realistic. But being independent can be a helluva drug. It’s addicting.

Those before us fought for freedom. Today, it feels like many take it for granted. I’ve never been complacent, personally or professionally, so I guess I don’t understand when people scream from keyboards yet shun the opportunities and freedoms they wake up with each day.

My friend and mega-award-winning artist, Tim Williams said it best. “We have work to do. Let’s collectively roll up our sleeves and do it.”

He could have been talking about the prickly publicity project that occupied my mind that moment, but he was talking about real-life stuff. More important stuff. You can be Homer Simpson and scream at the universe when things don’t go your way, or you can be a cog that moves things forward, personally and professionally. I’m lucky to work with people that through their businesses or projects, help others. When they wonder if their messages are strong enough, I ask if what they communicate is unapologic, honest and sincere. If the answer is yes, we can always strengthen the message, but their actions speak volumes.

My thought this week is to never hesitate or apologize for being a positive change. That, my friend, will boost your PR score as much as anything you do.

If you’re in the U.S., wishing you a peaceful Independence Day week. If you live abroad, enjoy the first week of July. 😎

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©Gail Sideman, gpublicity 2024