The Ethical Optimist

You can easily view this page as a mobile web page  in a web browser by visiting http://ethicaloptimist.com/?mobile or http://ethicaloptimist.com/?iphone for the iphone theme.

Remember, to view your normal blog theme again, simply visit http://ethicaloptimist.com/?nomobile. Also, as a tip, copy this text and email it to whatever your phone’s email is set to fetch and you will link direct to The Ethical optimist.

As many of my fellow PR professionals know, travel is part of the job.  For some of it, airports can be our second home.

Well, I’ve decided I want to run away from home.

This past week, I needed to be in Dallas for a client meeting.

I normally have a small carry-on bag ready for just such ocassions so I’m pretty much packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice.  Usually, I breeze right through security.  I never wear laced-up shoes (unlike the idiot in front of me who choose to wear hiking books), no big chunky metal jewelry and my laptop easily slips from my purse.  I’m a regular Speedy Gonazalez when it comes to getting to the front of the line.

This time, however, a TSA security guy singled me out as if I were Carlos the Jackal, asking me to please step aside to search my bag.  I’m thinking…gee, it’s the same bag that has whipped through security the last nine trips…what’s up?  So, he opens my bag, and in a snide voice says, “Well, I guess someone doesn’t think she has to follow the ziplock bag rule.”

Huh?! He proceeds to remove a tiny tube of toothpast, a freebie facial wash from Clinique, and a 99 cent hairspray.  So, I guess if any of them were made from C4, a ziplock bag would stop the blast? Can someone explain this to me? He’s wearing gloves, the items were in a clear plastic zippered section of the suitcase…but because I don’t fund the folks from Glad I’m a potential terrorist?

Meanwhile, I’m allowed to carry an MP3 player on the plane, which must be turned off lest I down the plane’s communications systems.  Does no one else see how ridiculous this is? Who needs lighters and knives if we all just turn our iPods on at the same time?

I finally cleared security, without toothpaste or hairsray, only to realize my next lapse in judgement was flying US Air, which has become the red-headed stepchild of the airline industry.  I knew I was in trouble while I sat waiting for my delayed flight and saw the pilot with a banana hanging out of his pocket and one of the flight crew chowing down on pasta out of a a gallon sized ziplock bag (should have run into her before I hit security).  Guess even they can’t score a bag of pretzels.

I also noticed a great deal of carry-on luggage.  Guess that’s because they now charge $15 to check your bags.  So, it’s every man for himself getting on the plane and snagging a bit of overhead space.  Just don’t work up an appetite or thirst because they’ll charge you for a glass of water.  Knowing this, I quickly grabbed a sandwich and water from the airport equivalent of a roach coach across from the gate.

US Air doesn’t even have a pre-recorded safety video.  I guess that’s okay though, it gave the flight crew something to do.  They didn’t do much else during the flight besides make a quick pass through the cabin trying to sell food like beer guys at a baseball game. There weren’t many takers, so they sat down and kept each other company for the rest of the flight.  There were no headsets to hand out because there was no in-flight entertainment…even though we were trapped for four hours.  And they only had to make one pass for garbage and to make sure we weren’t going to down the plane by listenting to music before we landed.

I’m actually surprised I didn’t have to put a quarter in the lavatory door to use the faciliites.  Guess they haven’t identified that cash cow yet.

As we landed and deplaned, we didn’t even get the usual perky round of “bye, bye….see ya…have a good trip” litany from the chirpy at the front of the plane.  I think the crew had already left…they were probably headed to the nearest fast food concession.

While I share this story with both chagrin and some humor, it is an important lesson in a tight economy about being penny wise and pound foolish.  Organizations like US Air are so focused on the bottom line that they have forgotten the customer experience is king.  I, for one, will be avoiding them in future.

If you walk into the offices of Utopia, you’ll likely meet our two mascots, Peanut Butter and Frank. I’m a big dog fan, and I love having them around. Our staff loves the fact that they stop by each desk in the morning to say hello and offer themselves up for a quick cuddle between projects during the day. They are our instant “stress relievers.”

Like the Obama family, our choice was made due to allergies. I have a son that is asthmatic and our vet recommended the breed. They’re well mannered, loyal and very smart. So, my vote for the new Presidential Pooch is clearly for the Standard Poodle.

Ann & Elliott Pick Frank Up from Poodle Rescue & Introduce Him to Peanut

While the news about the Presidential Pooch is a bit of fluff, it’s helping to bring the story of breed rescue organizations into the media spotlight. This is the type of story that is often a very tough sell, but will run when it fits into the news cycle as it does now. So, fluff or not, I’m delighted by the coverage and hope more folks will be encouraged to adopt from rescue programs and shelters.

Lest you think the Ethical Optimist would buy a Standard Poodle and ignore the plight of these rescue animals, you should note that we got our buddy Frank from Poodle Rescue via a wonderful organization called Flora’s Pet Project in Connecticut.

I sold the first agency I owned, Danlee PR, about six months before 9/11 and the tech bust that hit the PR industry.  I remember how quickly one firm after another went out of business, and how many people left the field to seek employment elsewhere. I later heard we lost about 50 percent of our younger talent (which is why it’s so tough to source mid-level managers now).  I felt lucky to stay employed.

So each day, as I watch the headlines, I feel uneasy.  After all, I have a small agency and many of my clients are starting to see their numbers decline.  I wonder, when will they start cutting their marketing budgets?  What will happen to our agency? Our employees? Me?  My mother always told me to keep my eyes forward and not worry about what’s around me. While I know her advice is sound, I can’t help but feel apprehensive.

So, we’ve all been working a bit longer and a bit harder to keep our clients happy and promote our agency.

Despite our busy schedule, I took time out yesterday to support my friend DonnaLyn Geigrich, as she was honored by Team Survivor Tristate with the “2008 Thrive and Survive Award.”  DonnaLyn and I started a relationship as business buddies, and we’ve since formed a lasting friendship.  She’s an amazing woman.  At the top of her game in the business world, and a tri-athlete to boot, DL was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma in November of 2006.  Her prognosis was not good, but she wasn’t about to accept defeat.

Throughout her surgery, treatments, etc., DL continued to run, bike, do Yoga and more.  She found Team Survivor because she wanted to find a “bald bikers club.”  She’s since parlayed her experience into a charitable foundation, starting the Monmouth County chapter of Team Survivor and becoming a motivational speaker.

DL was joined at the event by KeyNote Speaker Eric Shanteau. You may remember Eric because he competed in the 2008 Olympic games despite a diagnosis of testicular cancer just weeks before the trials.

Eric, DL and several other cancer survivors spoke at length about cancer being a “bump in the road.” Several had dealt with it more than once, getting up each time and carrying on with their lives. One woman contined to compete in half marathons and triathalons after her FOURTH diagnosis!  She discussed how she got back into training by “walking across the kitchen, then walking to the yard, then walking around the block!”

One particular quote caught my attention, “When faced with fear, cowards give up; heroes keep going despite their fear.”

So, as I headed home, surrounded by a group of amazing business women, friends and cancer survivors, I gave myself a mental kick in the ass.  Times may be tough, and I may be worried, but fear is not an option.  Losing a client, struggling with a business, or having to make tough choices is a minor bump in the road when put into the right context.  For some, life is the ultimate challenge and they face it fearlessly.

Thanks DL for a wonderful wake up call. You’re MY hero!