SPEAKERS WANTED FOR AI TOPICS
San Diego, August 2024
Barrel O’Monkeyz is hosting an AI “experts” panel in early August in San Diego. We are looking for 2 to 3 AI experts to engage in a one-hour fireside chat about how AI can be used in the world of finance.
We plan to have 15 high profile CFOs from the San Diego area exchanging ideas, plus other CEOs, company presidents, and entrepreneurs in attendance.
Interested? If so, reach out to me, Paul June, at (310) 503-1149 or [email protected] .
I like to think our founders would find comfort in the fact the country still celebrates “Independence Day” in ways that are distinctly American. I also like to think that we, as their beneficiaries, take a few moments each year to reflect on of their long-ago actions.
Sure, the 4th of July has come to represent a time for barbeques, family and friend get-togethers, fireworks, parades, and time off from work. But it’s really so much more.
Did you know that July 4 has been a Federal holiday only since 1941?
Even then, the tradition of celebrating Independence Day dates back to when the Continental Congress first adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Have you ever read the Declaration of Independence?
If not, you should. It really is an amazing document, ranging from lofty language that to this day tugs at the aspirations of many the world over to specific and somewhat matter-of-fact grievances of a people oppressed by the then “present King of Britain.”
Winning Hearts & Minds
What strikes me is how the Declaration truly connects to the hearts and minds of its intended audience—which ranged from average colonial citizens and the colonial upper crust, to the British Monarchy and to leaders and potential allies worldwide. You could almost call the Declaration a perfect piece of political “PR” (not in the derogatory sense that political PR is often viewed these days, what with ever-present talking points and talking heads that seem to always say a lot, but really never say anything). It’s perfect political “PR” in that it truly positioned the American cause in such a way that those reading the Declaration were moved both emotionally and intellectually, making it difficult for many to argue its merits and justifications, an effective melding of facts and feelings that has stood the test of time.
That said, next think about what it took to convince the 56 who eventually signed the Declaration. Literally and figuratively, they were pledging (and I paraphrase) “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors,” putting not only themselves, but their entire families and their descendants at risk.
While two of those who signed the Declaration became presidents (and three became vice presidents and 10 became members of Congress), nine signers died due to the Revolutionary War; five others were captured by the British, accused of being traitors, and tortured to death; 12 had their homes looted and burned; and two lost sons serving in the Continental Army. Certainly then, those who signed did not do so on a whim. They needed the facts, but they also needed the emotional persuasion to commit to action, as did those many others who eventually took up arms and fought long and hard for independence.
Facts & Feelings
While it would be impossible to liken our day-to-day communication needs with the Declaration and all it stood for back in 1776 and for what it stands today, I believe we can take a lesson from its pages to use in our own day-to-day “messaging” needs at work, at home, or even in the political arena: facts without emotions, won’t tug at heartstrings and motivate people to take action; likewise, emotions without facts, typically lead only to knee-jerk reactions and faulty decision-making. The most effective communications, and the most genuine, include both elements.
It’s something we should keep in mind as we’re listening to the pundits on TV or when we’re telling our own customers about our particular products or services: talk to me about what’s important to me (or my family or my business) and then give me the facts, plain and simple, of why I should believe you and why I should take action. All the rest, I can decide for myself.
Do you communicate with others only on an emotional level, or are you all just facts and figures? How might you combine both aspects to become even more effective in the way you communicate personally and professionally?
Let’s Get Creative
How can Barrel O’Monkeyz help you communicate with your target audience? We have decades of collective experience identifying, communicating with, and marketing to target audiences of all shapes and sizes by leveraging various media and tactics. Contact us today to explore ways we can help you reach your target demographic.
