What=?ISO-8859-1?B?uQ==?=s Right With The World -- Manifest Moments=?ISO-8859-1?B?gQ==?=, Issue 22
Hi All...
As I listened to the Wall Street Journal Today on the radio this morning, I thought of the book title ‘What’s Right With The World,’ by Dr. Marcus Bach. The radio broadcaster was ‘interpreting’ the reaction of stock markets around the world yesterday as “having no confidence in the US financial bail out bill.” His ‘proof’ was that the London market yesterday saw a 20 year low.
My interpretation on the other hand was this - “Wow, ONLY a 20 year low.” Frankly I thought that to be a phenomenally positive sign considering the state of the US economy! I would have expected the world markets to react much more negatively.
The point is this. The Wall Street Journal Today had a choice on what kind of spin they wanted to put on the reaction of the London market. They chose to look at the pessimistic side. It saddened me because I realized how their words could make things even worse. Had they chosen another way to position it, it could have made things better. But that’s not how the media works.
I remember an incident many years ago when I had my first volunteer job as a PR chairman for a community organization. We did good things for the community. I wrote my first piece and took it to the newspaper editor. She had a good look at it and then told me something that started me at the time - “Christine, you have to say something controversial or no one will read it. Readers don’t want to see good news.”
And that sadly is what most journalists hold to be true. But I ask you to consider this – is it not true that best selling books and movies often feature triumph over adversity? And would it not be true that having ONLY a 20 year low is actually a triumph over adversity considering today’s depressionary environment?
The point is this. Yes, times are challenging right now – I believe the most challenging of our lifetimes. But it’s also important to put a perspective on it that works for you. Maybe it’s time that we do our own ‘interpreting’ of the events that face us, be they financial or political or anything else.
3 MINUTE FOCUS TIP: Stop now and think as you listen to broadcasters. Is their spin your spin? Don’t let their spin send you in directions that are wrong for you. And let others know that too.
With love from Christine Harvey, WomenForWealth.com
About the Author: Christine Harvey is the author of six international marketing and leadership books now published in 25 languages by 48 publishers, including ‘In Pursuit of Profit.’ She was the first woman and first American elected to Chair a London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a business start-up initiative launched by Prince Charles. She served as Director on the International Board of Zonta, with 36,000 members in 62 countries, as well as two venture capitol boards – one in the UK and one in the US. She’s been honored to address two Parliaments of the world on the ‘Privatization of Industry,’ and ‘Policy for the Growth of Private Industry.’ She has been interviewed by the media in dozens of countries. Her company trains people in sales, motivation, management and presentations with persuasion - in America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Contact ChristineHarvey@ChrisitneHarvey.com with any questions you might have or ways we can serve you.
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