My brand is about intercultural communications, and intercultural communications is about appreciating different perspectives—even suspending your own belief in something momentarily to try to see something from another’s perspective. Even If you go back to your own idea—which is actually likely (science supports this–it’s been your idea innately for years) you never know. And, just…
DetailsWhile marketers are screaming about the need to be exciting and interactive and praising of millennials, the next generation, Gen Z (aka our children…or at least my children, since a characteristic of young boomers or x’ers was to delay having children while building our careers…aka having it all) has burst onto the scene, and they…
DetailsI have a client who talks a lot about creating a teaching and learning culture. The context for him, which he captured in his book about active grandparenting, was how grandparents, parents and grandkids can all learn from one another across the generations. What’s amazing is that at 87, he is living his philosophy, constantly…
DetailsI learned a few weeks ago that there were going to be 800 students from Brazil in Chicago this summer, studying at the Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Illinois Chicago and University of Chicago. I immediately sent a proposal to IIT to offer a workshop on Communicating and Socializing with USAmericans. They need to…
DetailsThe lady was standing in front of the cash register with a tray full of baskets of fresh cooked battered and fried somethings, as they entered the road side stop somewhere in the middle of Illinois. “What are those?” asked her teenage son. “Fried chicken gizzards,” said the ‘gas station chef’ as she placed the…
DetailsI got my Parkway Alumni News in the mail today, and read about a kid who, now grown up, searched for his favorite high school teacher, to say “thanks.” Now a successful entrepreneur, he also sent her a check for $10,000. She said it made her feel like she “won the lottery!” In honor…
DetailsCultural competence is defined as “the ability of individuals and systems to respond effectively and respectfully to all people in a manner that recognizes, affirms, values and preserves the dignity of each individual.” And while many may in theory aspire to this, changing national demographics, differences in communication styles and expression of values, as influenced…
DetailsYou know what they say about assumptions, and it’s not good. But we do it all the time, unconsciously. Every time you look at someone, read a news article, see an image on television…it’s perfectly natural that every experience that we’ve had prior will inform how we interpret that moment before us. The problem is…
DetailsAfter years of study and really important work in intercultural communication, I’ve been asked to contribute in an extremely significant way to the grand opening for I Grow Chicago’s Peace House*, a really important organization doing great work in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. What am I doing? Strategy? No, even bigger. Event planning? No. Getting the…
DetailsAssuming my dentist won’t read this and put two and two together that I stole the science magazine from the waiting room this morning, I read a fascinating article* this morning about why we believe what we believe—“from the trivial and easily verified-I believe it will rain today—to profound leaps of faith—I believe in God.”…
Details
