I have always believed in karma; what goes around comes around. In my humble opinion, life shouldn’t be one competition after another. There are ample opportunities for each of us to shine and share the spotlight. Somewhat like the vulture, a bird of prey that scavenges for the remains of dead animals. Have you noticed how these garbage disposals of the animal kingdom flock together to split the spoils? Why can’t we do the same?

How often has someone asked, “Would it kill you to [fill in the blank]”? You know exactly what I’m talking about. A backhanded request that only adds to your stress pile. In this situation, it can be difficult to hear the message behind the sarcasm. Personally, I love a little sarcasm to spice up my day. However, stinging sarcasm can be harsh, hurtful and counterproductive.

It’s difficult not to scream at the latest headlines. As a news junkie, former journalist and public relations professional, I need to know what’s going on in the world. Absorbing the good, the bad and the ugly can be both a blessing and a curse. One minute I may jump with joy and the next, I may yell profanities at my screen. I feed my addiction to the 24-hour news cycle because it helps me grow as an individual and a communications consultant.

Cairns can show us the way. Whether marking a trail or defying gravity, these rock formations demonstrate the importance of balance. How do we stack our rocks – or priorities – to prevent the pile from collapsing? What does it take to stake out our territory and leave an impression? Some of the best cairns I’ve seen consist of well-thought-out piles of rocks in various shapes and sizes. Bigger isn’t necessarily better. The same holds true in the public relations world. Less is more.

Anthills are popping up all over my neighborhood. Watching these small mounds appear on the surface reminds me of what it takes to practice public relations (PR). Like industrious ants, PR professionals also dig deep to create results. And it doesn’t happen overnight. Just as ants must excavate to build their elaborate network of underground tunnels and nests, your PR person must lay the groundwork before helping you reach a target audience or branding objective. 

We humans can learn a bit from the ibis. These graceful birds – found in tropical climates – probe for food while wading in shallow water or muddy, grassy areas. With their sleek, curvy beaks, they forage for crabs, snails, slugs, crayfish, snakes, frogs and more. Obviously, they’re doing something right. This species – exalted by the ancient Egyptians – has been around for ages. In some ways, our success in the entrepreneurial, corporate or nonprofit world requires the survival instincts of the ibis.

In this hectic world, kindness can go a long way. Common courtesies like “please” or “thank you” and a genuine interest in others can be as contagious as COVID, but without all the negative side effects. When we conduct ourselves and our business with kindness, we tend to feel better, both physically and mentally. And our behavior becomes infectious; people often pass it on. I’d like to suggest we incorporate kindness in our communications.

When are you content with your content? Is it the moment you grin like an iguana basking under a heat lamp? Or is it the second you state something so clearly the latest Artificial Intelligence writing tool recognizes your effort with a top score? Filling the blank page with compelling content is one of the most difficult and gratifying ways to communicate. But how do you know when you hit the mark? Here are three thoughts on the subject by a professional writer.