I’d say that in about half of my business conversations, I have almost no idea what other people are saying to me. The language of internet business models has made the problem even worse. When I was younger, if I didn’t understand what people were saying, I thought I was stupid. Now I realize that if it’s to people’s benefit that I understand them but I don’t, then they’re the ones who are stupid.

There are at least five strains of this epidemic.

Abstractionitis

We have forgotten how to use the real names of real things. Like doorknobs. Instead, people talk about the idea of doorknobs, without actually using the word “doorknob.” So a new idea for a doorknob becomes “an innovation in residential access.” Expose yourself repeatedly to the extrapolation of this practice to things more complicated than a doorknob and you really just need to carry Excedrin around with you all day.

Acronymitis

This is a disease of epic proportions in the world of charity. I was at a meeting just two days ago at which several well-meaning staff members of a charity were presenting to their board, and the meat of their discussion revolved around the acronyms SCEA and some other one that began with “R” that I can’t recall. In the span of three minutes these acronyms must have been used eight times each. They were central to any understanding of the topic at hand, but they were never defined. So I had not the vaguest idea what the presenters were talking about. None. Could have been talking about how to make a beurre-blanc sauce for all I know.

Valley Girl 2.0

My partner and I were at a restaurant in the San Fernando Valley five years ago, and a real-live Valley girl was sitting in the booth behind us talking on her cell phone. We couldn’t stop listening to her. She had a world-class ability to string together half-sentences devoid of any substance whatsoever. And yet you felt as if something important were being discussed! “And she was like, ummm, and I was just like, you know, umm, no way, really, like, yeah, and when she was like that, I was just like..umm….” She could go on in this way for extended periods of time without mentioning any actual people, actions, or thoughts. There’s a business version of this illness. It involves the use of words such as “space,” “around,” “synergy,” and “value-add” with a healthy dose of equivocators like “sort of” and “kind of” to ensure that there is no commitment to anything being said: “I’m in the sort of sustainability space around kind of bringing synergistic value-add to other people’s work around this kind of space.” Oh, OK, that explains it.

Meaningless Expressions

I wrote about the phrase “thinking outside the box” recently and how overused and utterly misunderstood the expression is. There are many more. Another term that has lost its meaning is “Let’s exceed the customer’s expectations.” Employees who hear it just leave the pep rally, inhabit some kind of temporary dazed intensity, and then go back to doing things exactly the way they did before the speech. Customers almost universally never experience their expectations being met, much less exceeded. How can you exceed the customer’s expectations if you have no idea what those expectations are? I was at a Hilton a few weeks ago. They had taken this absurdity to its logical end. There was a huge sign in the lobby that said, “Our goal is to exceed the customer’s expectation.” The best way to start would be to take down that bullshit sign that just reminds me, as a customer, how cosmic the gap is between what businesses say and what they do. My expectation is not to have signs around that tell me you want to exceed my expectations.

Abstract Valley Girl 2.0 Acronymitis Using Meaningless Expressions

This is when you combine the four diseases above. So you get phrases like, “You should meet this guy with the SIO. He’s sort of this kind of social entrepreneur thinking outside of the box in the sustainability space and working on these ideas around sort of web-based social media, and he’s in a round two capital raise in the VP space with the people at SVNP.” How many times have you heard what you now recall to be precisely this sentence?

This would all be funny if it weren’t true. People just don’t make sense anymore. You’ll save yourself a lot of trouble if you internalize this. Observe it, deconstruct it, and appreciate just how ridiculous most business conversation has become.

You will gain tremendous credibility, become much more productive, make those around you much more productive, and experience a great deal more joy in your working life if you look someone in the eye after hearing one of these verbal brain jammers and tell the person, “I don’t have any idea what you just said to me.”

Dan Pallotta is an expert in nonprofit sector innovation and a pioneering social entrepreneur. He is the founder of Pallotta TeamWorks, which invented the multiday AIDSRides and Breast Cancer 3-Days. He is the president of Advertising for Humanity and the author of Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential.

Mike Murphy
Peritus
Senior Vice President

Senior Vice President Mike Murphy’s featured op-ed in The Indy Star, Two Shining Examples of Bipartisan Leaders.

We hear a lot about the lack of bipartisan statesmanship in government at all levels. Examples abound: Failure of the supercommittee; a looming Armageddon over right to work proposals; lame-duck politicians rushing through their agenda before the “enemy” takes over. There is one common denominator among all of these examples. In each instance, someone has failed to pose the question, “What can we accomplish together?” Or, more important, to listen for an answer.

Unfortunately, just when Indiana most needs bipartisan leadership at all levels, Hoosiers have learned that they will lose two of our most effective leaders to retirement next year — state Reps. Ralph Foley and Dale Grubb. One is a Republican; the other, a Democrat. One is a small-town lawyer from Martinsville; the other, a farmer from Covington. With 46 years of combined experience, you might expect Foley and Grubb to be household names in Indiana, but you’ve probably never heard their names. Why? Because each man would rather be effective than flashy. They would rather be inclusive than divisive. Neither man has a stentorian voice. But when they speak, ever so quietly, everyone listens. That is because they put themselves last and the common good first.

I was Ralph Foley’s seatmate my freshman year in the Indiana House. The first advice he gave me was to “get up and shake the hand of someone across the aisle.” Fortunately, one of the first persons I met was Dale Grubb.

Post 9/11, Grubb and I asked the question “What can we accomplish together?” We teamed up to co-author 10 bills and a constitutional amendment that worked their way into law and the state Constitution. The result? Our state is safer and better prepared in case of a terrorist attack in Indiana.

Foley has had the opportunity to be very partisan. As sometimes chairman, and other times ranking minority member of the powerful Rules Committee, he carried his party’s water, to be sure. But I don’t know anyone who has ever been mad at him. Foley’s arguments always have been founded upon calm logic, never pettiness. He has always sought common ground, not partisan advantage.

As I asked myself recently, “What am I thankful for?” I thought of people like Foley and Grubb. And I dared ponder another question. What would have happened if Foley and Grubb had chaired the supercommittee? Maybe our nation would be saved.

It has been on my mind for several weeks to share how working in a happy office setting often makes all the difference between a good day and a bad day.  Not everyone is as fortunate as I am to work with a group of people they actually enjoy.  If you took a survey I would venture to guess that most people have a few folks in their office or workplace that they consider a friend or acquaintance but there is also someone (or a group of people) that they do not like or cannot get along with.  That is not the case for the Peritus office in Nashville.  I can truly say we all enjoy each other, not only working together as a team but we enjoy each other as friends.

Over the course of the two years that I have worked at Peritus I have developed a working relationship and friendly relationship with the other staff in this office.  Some people might ask doesn’t it get confusing to blur the lines between work and friendship….the answer is no.  When you have enough respect for each other to know that something needs to get done, well that is what happens.  We provide encouragement and sometimes criticism to each other, we provide support and help when things might get bogged down and we provide laughter and a since of relief to each other when things get hectic and stressful.  We are all hard workers and driven to getting the task accomplished, whatever that might be.  When something comes up and it is an all-hands-on-deck situation we all rally around and find a solution to get it done.   I know that at any time I can walk down and ask for help or guidance or I can just as easily vent and get frustrations off my chest.

We have celebrated birthdays, mourned losses, gotten over illnesses, rocked out to some of the best concerts in town, introduced family, celebrated holidays and rolled down hills in a giant plastic ball together.  We have also accomplished major milestones for some of our clients and we have been able to enjoy those victories together.

My intention is not to gloat about our happy little family here in Nashville.  My intention rather is to say that if you have not taken the opportunity to get to know the people that you work with you might be missing out on something special.  Your greatest ally might be in the office next door or your mentor might be down the hall.  Now don’t get me wrong, every day is not all rainbows and butterflies.  There are a few bad days, but bad days are not awful days because somehow we just make it work.

Tres Watson
Peritus
Senior Account Representative

Peritus Senior Account Representative Tres Watson is writing a bi-weekly beer column for KYForward. This was the September 23rd article featured.

Kevin Patterson and Tres Watson

Noticeably shorter days, school busses making the rounds and grown men obsessing over their favorite football teams all mean one thing: autumn has arrived!

While we can see the summer of ’11 in the rear view mirror, it’s likely that our dinner table and beverage glasses see similar diversity as that found in the change of season. The crispness of summer salads is replaced by a crisp nip in the air and thoughts of savory soups, stews and chili become a staple on the shopping list.

It’s only natural, then, for a greater balance to occur in the pint glass as well. Lagers and wheat beers begin to tab with rich beers of brown ales, porters and stronger ales as the weather cools, our schedules steady and a desire for heightened flavors arise. These fall seasonal releases are certain to usher in the harvest season with zeal and wonderment:

Sierra Nevada, Tumbler. Chores of leaf collecting and fodder shock-building become much less of a chore with this rewarding American-style brown ale in hand. This quick thirst- quenching intermission delivers medium-rich flavor of caramel and pecans, which are balanced with the clean citrus bitterness of hops. Finishing malty-dry and with a brisk nutty linger, this well-deserved brown ale provides all the motivation to finish the job.

Great Lakes Nasferatu. Now that the leaves are meticulously raked and your neighbor’s kids have ravishly redistributed them with the fervor of an infestation of bouncy-balls, you’ll need a stronger ale to properly remove that edge. Paired with a savory dish of German goulash, this strong American ale provides a toasty malt base of toffee, bread crust, and sun kissed barley to complement the sweeter meats and pastas. The heightened resiny hop bitterness cleanses the palate while accommodating the seasonings of the entrée. A few of these and you’ll likely forget you had a yard in the first place.

North Coast Old Stock Ale – And with the early setting of the sun, the perfect opportunity arises to hit that nightcap a little sooner. Throw in a movie and allow this succulent English-style strong ale to settle into the glass for the two-hour duration. As the ale warms and the carbonation releases, a plethora of flavors reveal themselves through a procession of caramelized fruits, port-like barley sweetness, herbal tea-like hops and rummy alcohol warmth. An occasional sip will prove rewarding for a day’s job well done, and without the need to push pause for a return to the refrigerator.

And besides, these tasty beers get you through the chores of the day without any neighborhood kids being harmed in the process. Well done my friend, … well done!

(KYForward)

Kevin Patterson is the resident beer guide and manager at the Beer Trappe on Euclid Avenue. He is an Army veteran and formerly worked in the architecture profession before taking his love of craft beer into the occupation ranks. Patterson also is a nationally ranked Beer Judge Certification Program beer judge and a Cicerone Certified Beer Server (Cicerones are to beer what sommeliers are to wine.) Throughout the course of his career, he has reviewed 2,800 different beers, judged in more than 100 competitions and festivals, and co-written many articles on the beer culture. He has lived in Lexington for 17 years.

Tres Watson, a graduate of Centre College, is a senior account representative for Peritus.  Before moving to Lexington, he created and directed the 2004 Border Beer Bust in Augusta, Ga., which featured nearly 200 beers and drew 5,000 attendees over two days.  Watson is an avid beer drinker and a particular fan of IPAs.  He and his wife Laura live in Lexington, are members of the Lexington Beer Aficionados, and can frequently be found at Pazzo’s or the Beer Trappe

A recent article from PR Daily titled “Journalist explains when and how to follow up a pitch” got me thinking about how we all struggle  with creating the right pitch so our story or press release will get picked up, thereby making our client (and truth be told ourselves) happy.

I am not going to lie, I love seeing an article or release I pitched published and being able to send that victorious email to my client stating we were able to secure media placement.  But getting to that point can be a struggle and sometimes downright frustrating.

Some of the tips in this article I already utilize and some were very helpful.  However, I must point out that while it can be annoying for journalists to get flooded with hundreds of emails on a daily basis, it is just as difficult for the PR professional to play the pitching juggling act.  All PR professionals know that email inboxes can sometimes be a death sentence for your pitch.  The trick is making the subject line eye-grabbing so journalists actually wants to open your email rather than passing final judgment to the delete files folder.  If it were possible to add flashing lights and maybe even a catchy tune to an email pitch so we could capture their attention, I know I probably would give it a shot.

But since that’s not a reality, we are left to the dreaded follow up.  When has enough time passed to call with the follow up, will they even know what I am referencing, will the journalist even answer the phone? If not, do they check voice mails or is that the same as the deleted folder death sentence?  The author of this article, Amy McCarthy, points out that follow up is a good thing but it is all about timing.  Kind of like when you get the phone number from a crush, do you wait to obligatory three-days before you call them back? McCarthy points out that giving it a few days is probably the best approach.  That gives the journalist time to read through emails and consider the content you have provided.  However, don’t wait too long, otherwise you run the risk of losing their attention on the topic.  And for the love of all that is pure and holy, do not nag a journalist.  Chances are you will repeatedly pitch the same journalists a variety of topics.  You do not want to be that PR professional that journalists screen when they see your name or number on the caller ID.

Adding additional content value is also a valuable tip.  Whether that is localizing your pitch so it is relevant to the journalists and readers or viewers, offering an additional interview with a local spokesperson or including statistics or real-life scenarios can help trigger interest from a journalist.  Sometimes that is not always feasible, but when presented with an opportunity, always make your pitches relevant to what’s going on in the world today, what’s happening in the community, how this will impact people, etc.

I would like to say that the pitching game gets easier with time as you grow in your PR career, but the truth is it is a constant struggle.  Some topics are easier to pitch, some voices are more media-friendly and some journalists are easier to work with than others.  At the end of the day, the feeling of accomplishment is what gets you through.  When you see that headline you have worked on in print or online, it makes all the effort worthwhile.

Tres Watson
Peritus
Senior Account Representative

Peritus Senior Account Representative Tres Watson is writing a bi-weekly beer column for KYForward. This was his second article featured.

Kevin Patterson and Tres Watson

Craft beers represent an opportunity to enjoy beers the way they have always meant to be enjoyed, for the quality of flavors and not solely upon their alcoholic effects. With over 90 varieties of brew to enjoy, craft beers offer an opportunity to step out of the narrow and less characterful few styles the industrial brewers spend millions of dollars to market and to enter a world of new flavors.

Drinking vs. Tasting: Same thing, right? Drinking, for the sole purpose of consuming alcohol, may be fun at the ballgame or around the campfire, but it doesn’t explore the finer attributes of beer. Tasting involves thought – thought of the presentation of the beer, the exploration of flavors, textures and aromas that make the session enjoyable and rewarding.

How to taste beer – really. Seems easy enough, huh? But true beer tasting means giving consideration to several types of criteria, including the major factors of appearance, aroma, flavor, body and overall impression. Here are five beers that showcase an individual characteristic:

Moortgat Duvel. Known for its malty-dry and champagne-like character, this Belgian strong pale ale is equally noted for its appearance. Bright straw and with the slightest of haze and shows off its lively carbonation streams proudly. As the highest quality beers go, it’s easy to become impressed with this ale’s voluminous cottony white head, a sign of well-crafted beers. The beer’s presentation is both strong and elegant, especially when displayed in the proper Duvel tulip style drinking glass.

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. Hugely aromatic because of the use of specialty American hops, these spicy cones contribute an abundance of citrus scents that are reminiscent of white and red grapefruit, orange zest, freshly picked grasses and herbs; all with a slight backdrop of caramel for a well-rounded bouquet that’s both pungent and floral.

Fuller’s ESB. Balance is the name of the game when diving into the flavors of this classic English Extra Special Bitter (ESB). Medium sweetness of caramel and biscotti is matched by the earthy bitterness of pine and spicy grasses for a full flavor that’s remarkably refreshing. The transition from early supple sweetness toward a cleanly bitter finish is quite remarkable.

Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout. Robust and as full in body as it is in flavor, this dark ale’s texture starts and ends with a silky smooth creamy feel. Early chocolate and coffee flavors are the perfect complement to its velvety start, then relaxing subtly at mid-palate for a semisweet powdery roast texture in finish with extended alcohol warmth.

Chimay Grande Reserve (Blue Label). When the stars align and a true beer epiphany occurs, it’s likely to happen when the overall impression gives the aromas, flavors, textures and aesthetics within this regal Belgian Trappist ale. Deep crimson with ruby highlights, this richly malted yet surprisingly dry ale delivers wave after wave of varying aromas and flavors of berries, grapes, plumbs, dates, confectioner’s sugar, wine-like vinous, mild tannic woods, candied fruits, earthy tobacco and rum-like warmth. One taste will reveal why this ale is renowned for its complexity, depth and drinkability.

Although these five main characteristics are a great place to start, other considerations can bring about a heightened appreciation for the beers such as their history, culture, ingredients, food pairings, serving temperatures, proper glassware and cellaring, all of which we will be delve into in the future.

However your own journey goes, it’s worth understanding that there’s a little beer connoisseur in all of us. Trust what you taste and enjoy the trip.

Kevin Patterson is the resident beer guide and manager at the Beer Trappe on Euclid Avenue. He is an Army veteran and formerly worked in the architecture profession before taking his love of craft beer into the occupation ranks. Patterson also is a nationally ranked Beer Judge Certification Program beer judge and a Cicerone Certified Beer Server (Cicerones are to beer what sommeliers are to wine.) Throughout the course of his career, he has reviewed 2,800 different beers, judged in more than 100 competitions and festivals, and co-written many articles on the beer culture. He has lived in Lexington for 17 years.

Tres Watson, a graduate of Centre College, is a senior account representative for Peritus.  Before moving to Lexington, he created and directed the 2004 Border Beer Bust in Augusta, Ga., which featured nearly 200 beers and drew 5,000 attendees over two days.  Watson is an avid beer drinker and a particular fan of IPAs.  He and his wife Laura live in Lexington, are members of the Lexington Beer Aficionados, and can frequently be found at Pazzo’s or the Beer Trappe

Peritus Account Coordinator Amy Jones has accepted a board position with Kentucky-Southeast Indiana Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. The MS Society addresses the challenges of those affected by multiple sclerosis and helps mobilize volunteers and resources to drive research for a cure. This chapter enhances the lives of more than 4,800 people living with MS in its surrounding region; some of their local events include walks, cycling fundraisers, Best of Louisville Bash, the Crystal Boots and Silver Spurs event and the Winner’s Circle Gala. Amy will be assisting the MS Society with media outreach, event coordination and fundraising.

You can learn more about the Kentucky-Southeast Indiana Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society here and share with your friends on Facebook.

I heard on the radio this morning about a recent marketing strategy in the high-stakes world of luxury fashion. It has been described by the New York Observer as “devious, delightful and deliciously dirty.” Snooki, star of the ridiculously popular reality show Jersey Shore, is always seen with a new designer purse on her arm.  People may have assumed that she was being gifted these purses by designers to promote their brand.  Turns out, she is getting these purses for free, but not in the way that you’d think. Designers are actually sending America’s favorite train-wreck competitors’ bags to ensure that their product will not be the ones displayed in good ole Snooki’s next mugshot or video of any upcoming drunken tumbles down the boardwalk of the Jersey Shore.

What are your thoughts on this seemingly effective strategy to cheapen a competing brand? While you can’t argue the brilliance, is it a PR tactic you would consider?

DISCLAIMER:  I have never watched an episode of Jersey Shore. Not that there is anything wrong if you have. Gotta go. Time for some G.T. L.

(Aisha blog)

Tres Watson
Peritus
Senior Account Representative

Peritus Senior Account Representative Tres Watson is writing a bi-weekly beer column for KYForward. This was his first article featured.

Kevin Patterson and Tres Watson

Buried deep within the dog days of summer, nothing offers such reprieve from heat quite like a refreshing, frosty malted beverage. But if you think that in these 90-degree days you are relegated to bland, mass-produced beers, think again. Today’s craft beer scene delivers a plethora of flavors, full of brightness, zest, summery flavor, and, yes, thirst-quenching relief.

Whether it’s a foreign import or an American-made craft beer, the brewing industry is growing and offering a style and flavor for every person’s tastes.  This column will help to educate beer aficionados, novices, and those just curious about the many styles and varieties of beers that make up the vast universe that is craft brewing.

Kolsch, wheat and farmhouse ales are perfect examples of lighter, summery beer styles the can quench your thirst while still providing lots of great flavor.  To see for yourself, consider these beers for beating the heat:

Reissdorf Kolsch — Jumping from the lawn work and into relaxation mode, your well-deserved reward should include this traditional German Kolsch beer brewed with crisp pilsner malt and the choicest floral hops for exquisite balance and simple light flavor but without the soulless grain flavors that are common in industrial-type lagers. Serve at about 42 degrees for that perfect blend of flavor appreciation and refreshment.

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier — Yeah, try sayin’ that three times real fast. But despite the lengthy verbiage, you’ll soon sidle up to the table for that light lunch of summer salads, grilled veggies, poultry or salmon. That means it’s time to pop open a Bavarian wheat ale that’s packed full of citrus fruit flavors, spicy clove, and a refreshing finish of fresh baked breads- a perfect complement to many dishes of lighter fare.

Goose Island Sofie — And as the sun fades and the heat subsides, this farmhouse-style Belgian saison comes through with a zesty ale with sharper notes of apple and lemon pepper and with a zinfandale-like dryness- a perfect after dinner complement to a night out with friends, or the front porch with the furry K-9 companions. Serve in a tulip-style glass to release the bouquet of aromas.

Kevin Patterson is the resident beer guide and manager at the Beer Trappe on Euclid Avenue. He is an Army veteran and formerly worked in the architecture profession before taking his love of craft beer into the occupation ranks. Patterson also is a nationally ranked Beer Judge Certification Program beer judge and a Cicerone Certified Beer Server (Cicerones are to beer what sommeliers are to wine.) Throughout the course of his career, he has reviewed 2,800 different beers, judged in more than 100 competitions and festivals, and co-written many articles on the beer culture. He has lived in Lexington for 17 years.

Tres Watson, a graduate of Centre College, is a senior account representative for Peritus.  Before moving to Lexington, he created and directed the 2004 Border Beer Bust in Augusta, Ga., which featured nearly 200 beers and drew 5,000 attendees over two days.  Watson is an avid beer drinker and a particular fan of IPAs.  He and his wife Laura live in Lexington, are members of the Lexington Beer Aficionados, and can frequently be found at Pazzo’s or the Beer Trappe

This summer, Peritus had the unique, exciting and frankly – very cool, opportunity to work with the first ever USO Homefront Concert, hosted by the National Guard. The concert, held on July 26^th at the KFC YUM! Center in Louisville, featured country stars Montgomery Gentry and was the first concert specifically for military families.

That night Peritus joined more than 14,500 military family members to sing-along to Montgomery Gentry hits like “My Town,” “Lucky Man,” and “Something to be Proud Of.” Montgomery Gentry, made up of Kentucky-natives Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry put on an amazing show. The pair not only played to thousands of excited fans but also paid to be sponsors of the USO Homefront Concert. That’s definitely “Something to be Proud of.”

At the show, we also got the chance to see families “reunited” via video calls, listened to a message from First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden to the troops and their families as well as learned more about the great work of our Troops in the National Guard.

The night was the culmination of a lot of great work which we were honored to be a part of. Back in June, we were approached by the National Guard to help devise a strategy to not only pack the YUM! Center but also attract viewers at home to watch on the Pentagon Channel. We quickly went to work putting together a plan that would get military families across the country excited about the first USO Homefront Concert.

Our plan included a day-by-day social media strategy, online promotions and contests and a detailed media pitching plan. We came up with “watch party kits” that families could request with goodies to host a concert party of their own. In addition, we created a top-of-the-line kit to be given away to one lucky family. This deluxe kit included autographed Montgomery Gentry (MG) posters, CDs, pictures and unique MG memorabilia, along with special party planning and hosting tips.

All of the hard work paid off. On July 26^th more than 2 million people tuned in to watch the concert on the Pentagon Channel online. In addition, there were more than 8,000 watch parties hosted and attended by military families and their friends.

While we sang and saluted our hearts out, the country’s National Guard Adjutant Generals from each state and territory were celebrating the success of this new event. We’re excited to say that another USO Homefront Concert is being planned for next year. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have helped these military families take a well-deserved night off to enjoy themselves. We all owe a great deal of thanks to our servicemen and women but we can’t forget the sacrifice their families have made as well. We’re beyond proud to have been a part of this great new event.

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