Issue 5: Hope is a four letter word

On corporate discourse in a world of death

How do you feel about what happened last Wednesday in America? I’ve been riding several emotions, going from initial relief that events transpired without anyone dying, feeling guilt at my cynicism for having such a low bar, rumbling with anger as the harsh reality of a toothless government produces 1) the lack of any immediate relief packages and 2) a completely botched vaccine rollout that means my not-quite-65 parents don’t have the privilege of lining up at Dodger Stadium or Magic Mountain for 3 hours to get 1/2 of a vaccine they need and young people who will just “feel better if they get it” try to snag a shot like it’s a new iPhone, Supreme drop or cronut (read this infuriating Los Angeles Times article).

At the same time, there’s the impulse to indulge in articles about the pantsuits and jewel tones from Wednesday’s inauguration (NPR) while trying to see if there’s affordable Markarian on TheRealReal. And then there’s the iridescent urge to pre-order Amanda Gorman’s beautiful poem in paper, as if buying a gorgeous verse will help heal a broken America. It was only a matter of minutes until a Corporation added to the discourse, and it was fascinating to observe Amazon’s earnest (?) letter offering its humble services as an olive branch, with deference to its essential workers and an offering of logistics support, of information technology, of hometown help. They even got into the meme game, LOL!

It is difficult to observe from the lens of learning as a business communicator when lives are at stake. But, it will be interesting to see how hearts and minds change, from consumers to lawmakers to employees, as this “almost there” state of the pandemic drags on and we look enviously towards other countries in which nearly-normal life has returned.

But to anyone that has been paying attention and has been on the other side of the boardroom doors to understand that companies with the resources of nation-states could be doing something, anything, more things to help, the feeling is familiar. Prescient people like Scott Galloway in his book The Four made that argument years ago.

For now, I urge all of us in roles where we can act a bit like the conscience Kate Winslet personified in that terrible Steve Jobs movie where she played Joanna Hoffman (Screen Daily sums it up; skip the movie) - and to see how we can move forward in our own small ways, human dignity, whether it’s normalizing a living wage or helping that client read the room before they post that Bernie meme.

How have you been feeling since the inauguration? And as a communicator, what are some of the more interesting statements/actions you’ve seen companies take since? Share your response in the website comments or reply to this email and I’ll share some of my favorites.

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Interesting roles

• Coursera: Senior Manager, Enterprise PR

• Revere, a DJE company: Vice President, Enterprise and Emerging Technology PR

• Method Communications: Various

Did you see there’s a new logo? My talented, kind and fashion-forward brother Chris Sayas designed it. And he’s open to work!