Why is it so hard to change anything?

One of the things I learned over the last few years is just how difficult it is to change anything.

I don't think my organization was unique in that its shortcomings were obvious, but it was hard to do anything about them. And the times that I succeeded in making any change (never alone in any success but always as part of a team), I always felt that it was harder and took longer than it should have.

Not being the most patient of persons, this always bothered me. I realize now I need to get used to it. Everywhere I look and everyone I talk to drives this message home. I have taken courses on change management, been involved in change initiatives and tried to be a 'change champion', but it just boils down to an incredible amount of work to succeed at changing anything - for the better that is! And how fragile those gains are, it's amazing how quickly any progress can be lost.

I guess realizing how much work it takes to succeed at anything - big or small - is part of the maturing process. Knowing it theoretically and feeling it every day as you slog up the hill are two different ways of knowledge.

I hope that one of the learnings I can take from these last few months of my work transition - that I really don't want to forget - is just how much time, effort, helping others along and patience it takes to achieve any change. What looks easy is usually not!

Audiences and Content - the Magic Formula

Communications is all about the audience. While I know that theoretically, I also know that I have forgotten this basic fact more times than I care to mention because doing all the tactical work takes up so much time that I have lost my focus. All of a sudden, the audience has been lost.

Then there is the question of content. Having been in PR for many years, it is also easy to forget that audiences may not want to hear what I have to say. Or even worse, they may not believe it, I or my organization lack credibility. That's a brutal place to be.

What social media is showing me is that there are some sweet spots where audience and content align. Unfortunately for the PR folks, it is usually not our new releases or websites that bring in the crowds, but the viral attacks on big organizations. I have been following the United Breaks Guitars song and story and find it fascinating. One poor service incident that has generated tens of millions of negative impressions for United and they appear powerless to respond effectively.

So what's a PR guy to do?

Well it boils down to the hard work of my profession - distilling the story down to its most understandable parts and getting those out in a way that generates interest. Unfortunately, sometimes what I have to work with will not generate interest. Or what does generate interest is the negative news.

Well, that's what makes this profession an art rather than a science. But if I can keep my eye on the audience and the content and then work at making those pieces fit, wonderful things do happen - sometimes!

Building by the Lake - Photos of my Art Exhibit

Check out photos of the reception and my artwork at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pk2k/sets/72157621379513739/

The show was called Building By the Lake. I was at the foot of Spadina drawing everything around me during the few hours this summer when the weather has been good!

This was one of the high points of my summer and my transition so far! I never expected to have an art show and now I have done it!

Job Search - on the lighter side

One of the realities of networking is the inevitable time between meetings that needs to be filled.

I have had a number of days with meetings stacked up in the downtown core. There has been time to kill between meetings. I have accomplished two goals as a result of having to do something in those breaks.

First, after 20 years in Toronto, I have finally learned my way around the underground maze. Since I never had a job in the downtown towers, I never had a chance to figure out that incredibly confusing city under the city. But now, I have had time to wander and consider myself much better at finding my way around. In the past, I just had to give up and go up to the street to figure out where I was. Now I am almost confident that I am going in the right direction!

Second, I have found the BEST spot to spend time between meetings. Food courts and coffee shops are fine, but that's often where I meet people, so it is a bit repetitive. They can also be loud and busy - music, TV, lunch leftovers... I now know the perfect place downtown is the lobby of the CIBC building at Bay and King. It has high ceilings, windows on all sides and comfortable chairs that are pretty much always available. And it is quiet enough to be able to make phone calls without sounding like you are in a crowd waiting to enter a UFC event. Try it some time and you will start your next meeting with a smile on your face.

Coming soon - photos from my art exhibit!

More to Life than Job Search

Many people have told me to take advantage of my job transition downtime to enjoy the summer.

I have taken that advice to heart and so now I am inviting you to:

BUILDING BY THE LAKE
Ink drawings of the Toronto skyline from the foot of Spadina Street

They are quick, uncontrolled, rough drawings - and hopefully full of life. I painted them on park benches, retaining walls and even the ground. Lots of wind too!

While I loved taking it all in, what I saw was the crowding out of public spaces by the lake. I worked at the edge of the marina, which is a concrete wasteland beside the crown jewel of Toronto - our lakefront. Given all the building going on - the crowding is only going to get worse.

SHOW DETAILS

The show will run from July 5 - July 9 at

The Toronto School of Art
410 Adelaide St. West, 3rd floor (just west of Spadina)
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

The gallery is just to the right as you exit the elevator - you can't miss it!

RECEPTION

Come between 5:30 - 7:30 on Wednesday, July 8 for the reception - refreshments included!

Please let me know if you plan to come so I can plan for the drinks and food.

Thanks for reading, PK2K

Two months of networking

For the last two months, I have been searching for work. I have met with dozens of people, reconnecting with old friends and making some new ones.

I have been amazed and moved by the generosity of so many people who have made time for me, encouraged me and built up my flagging confidence. There are so many good people in the world who are trying to help me. So the first lesson is - reach out and help people who want to network with you. They will remember your help, and perhaps someday it will be you who is reaching out!

WHAT ABOUT WEB 1.5?

As my field is communications, I have been meeting many others in this field and Web 2.0 is often a topic of discussion - Twitter, Facebook, etc. It is clear that nobody really knows where social networking is going yet and how to use it for organizational communications.

Even so, I think we should be talking about Web 1.5 - leveraging everything that is out there right now - blogs (now getting a bit retro), video and podcasts. How about some good old fashioned but high quality e-newsletters.

Thanks for reading, PK2K