Fiscal Cliff: Cutting Through The Crap with Social Media

 This past Friday we were talking Social Media Strategies at a Meetup group we sponsor. Social Media has absolutely changed the way we communicate and listen, to interact and be empowered as consumers.

What's too often lost in all the Social Media Jargon (and there's far too much) is content. Telling a story, making it impactful. You know, meaningful on Main Street. Passing the "So what?" test.

We're being bombarded right now with terms like "Fiscal Cliff" and "Kick the can down the road" to the point of not giving a darn anymore. It's just so much noise. The same noise. Over and over and over.

The huge deficit hanging over our heads is going to most impact the so-called "Millennial Generation." These are the younger folks entering the work place, looking to live the good life like their parents did. The above mentioned "noise" isn't getting their attention.

So here's a perfect example of using Social Media to grab them by the shoulders, shake them hard and tell them to wake up before it's too late. I'm not surprised it features my old friend, veteran straight talker and now Gangnam dude, Senator Alan K. Simpson.

Watch:



Now that's the power of creativity, messaging for successful communication in today's digital world! It all starts with stepping away from the traditional and being anything but.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

Shooting from the Lip-The Life of Senator Al Simpson

I'm reading a delightful book, a must-read I think, for any political buff. It's about the life and times of Wyoming Senator Al Simpson. It's written with incredible detail by Don Hardy, Simpson's former Chief of Staff.

It's called "Shooting from the Lip-The Life of Senator Al Simpson."

Al instructed Don to tell the truth, the whole truth. Don was helped by thousands of pages of diaries and other records along of course by working the Senator in Washington.

While News Director at KGWN-TV in Cheyenne WY, I covered Senator Simpson during his tenure as Senator from 1979-2007. We've stayed in touch since. A remarkable man.

 

With the Senator in his Washington Office "Back in the Day"

 With Senator Simpson, Former Wyoming Governor Mike Sullivan and my wife Ronda at the LBJ Library at UT-Austin.

After his time in the Senate, he continues to serve. First as a member of the Iraq Study Group and most recently as Co-Chair of the Bi-Partisan Simpson-Bowles Commission, tasked with finding a way to dig ourselves out of a $16 Trillion deficit.

Both reports had/have real solutions, both were stuffed in a drawer. Washington is stupid that way, asking for answers then not listening to them. You should read the Simpson-Bowles Report, there is very little sugar to get the medicine down. But it offers real solutions, not political hoo-hah.

Al Simpson is a pretty well-known guy. He's famous for both his wit and ability to legislate. He understands compromise. One of his closest friends in the Senate was the late Ted Kennedy. Political opposites for sure. But both understood the whole concept of legislating is doing what's best for the people who elected them to do just that. They might fight it out on the Senate Floor or in Committee, but understood that compromise was the key. That and the fact they likely had dinner plans together with their wives!

Al served as Majority Whip in the Senate and it's rumored (and I believe it) he was offered the #2 spot on the ticket with Bush 41.

Al started out life as a trouble maker, getting into all sorts of trouble including a felony conviction. It's no small irony he went on to get a degree in law, then serve the nation with such devotion and accomplishment.

Shooting from the Lip is a rich history of a man rich in character and accomplishment. My favorite parts are witticisms like "I have come to know the difference between a horse race and a political race. In a horse race the entire horse runs."

He also speaks about Washington in his words, "Knowing full well that those who travel the high road of humility in this town are not really troubled by heavy traffic."

If you don't buy a copy for yourself, buy one for your Senator or House Representative. Now more than ever, everyone in Washington could learn a thing or two, or three from the tall, gangly galoot from Ole Wyo.

Shooting from the Lip would make a great movie. But the only person who could give the role any justice would have been the late Jimmy Stuart who is no longer with us. I'm just glad Al Simpson still is!
 
Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"