An Even Keel :: A personal branding blog from Scott Kuehl

Dirty Laundry

"People love it when you lose. They love dirty laundry."

It's election time. And for all you Don Henley fans out there, you know what I'm talking about. Dirty Laundry is Henley's song about the mud-hungry, pseudo-journalist news casters of the world. You can find a bit more about the song here. Because of the Republican's newest VP nominee, I find the words even more brilliant than they were back in '82.

Take a listen...

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry

Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry

Kick em when they're up
Kick em when they're down
Kick em when they're up
Kick em when they're down
Kick em when they're up
Kick em when they're down
Kick em when they're up
Kick em all around

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
Its interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry

You don't really need to find out whats going on
You don't really want to know just how far its gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry

Kick em when they're up
Kick em when they're down
Kick em when they're up
Kick em when they're down

Kick em when they're up
Kick em when they're down
Kick em when they're stiff
Kick em all around

Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo
We can dance and sing
When its said and done we haven't told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry!

Watching the media coverage of this year's election is awfully hard to stomach for me. When I witness how Sarah Palin's personal life has been brought into the national media and skewed, it makes me wonder how and why anyone could ever run for office in this country.

I'm thankful that, for some people, the desire to serve the citizens of the US is so powerful that it overcomes having your past and present twisted and exaggerated -- or even fabricated -- in the media. Otherwise we'd have no risk takers, leaders or limit-pushers running for office.

Denis Waitley, a personal development leader, explains it in a way that finally makes sense to me. He says, the fire that burns another warms the general population in the sense that they can take comfort knowing that they don't have to be the victim of the day.

Henley is so right... "We love to cut you down to size. We love dirty laundry."

Keep it even,
Scott Kuehl

Person Sarah Palin

Right click for SmartMenu shortcuts

Personal Branding Weekly Wisdom

"The truly successful person inspires others to do more than they have thought possible for themselves."

-- Denis Waitley

The Gratitude Campaign: How to say "thank you"

Have you ever seen one of our military personnel walking past you and wanted to convey to them your thanks, but weren't sure how, or it felt awkward? Recently, a gentleman from Seattle created a gesture which could be used and has started a massive movement to get the word out. Take just a moment to watch...The Gratitude Campaign. Special thanks to Trent Kirchner for sharing this.

Keep it even,
Scott Kuehl

Personal Branding Weekly Wisdom

"I have found that being honest is the best technique I can use. Right up front, tell people what you're trying to accomplish and what you're willing to sacrifice to accomplish it."

-- Lee Iacocca

Personal Branding Weekly Wisdom

"The virtue of man ought to be measured, not by his extraordinary exertions, but by his everyday conduct."

 -- Blaise Pascal

Personal Branding Weekly Wisdom

"Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesn't blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who won't cheat, then you know he never will."

-- John D. MacDonald

Personal Branding Weekly Wisdom

"As we advance in life we learn the limits of our abilities."

-- James A. Froude

Personal Branding Weekly Wisdom

"One mistake will never kill you. The same mistake over and over again will."

-- Harvey Mackay

The ultimate brand strategy: The Declaration of Independence

Yesterday I celebrated Independence Day with my brother and our families. We took a boat ride on the beautiful Gull Lake chain where we saw dozens and dozens of boats adorned in red, white and blue.

Flags. Streamers. Banners.
The American spirit was alive and in full force.

All that summer patriotism got me thinking about what a great little vacation we were having.
And that got me thinking about other little Americana vacations I've taken. One in particular...

Ever been to Boston?

The birthplace of our country. I was there several years ago, and took a walk on the Freedom Trail, saw the USS Constitution and the site of the Boston Tea Party. I also took a stroll past Paul Revere's house, Boston Common and many other historic locations you would recognize from your 10th grade history class, including Bunker Hill monument.

And, of course, I visited Cheers.  By the way, it's a little known fact that battle actually happened on Breed's Hill. But I digress, Normy.

I took away many memories from that Boston trip. And most of them had to do with the thought that America didn't always have the "brand strategy" it has now. "Freedom" wasn't always our "word." Freedom wasn't always our cause. The Kingdom of Great Britain had their own ideas on how to run the country -- and the people in it.

Until one day the ole Continental Congress drew the line in the sand.

Suffice it to say, it is no small feat to start a new country. If you think it's a risk starting a new business, try starting a new nation. In 1776, when Thomas Jefferson and the other founding fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence, surely they had plenty to lose by doing so. Not the least of which was their pulse.

We've all signed checks... or estimates... or mortgages... or performance reviews... or wedding licenses... but signing your name to a document that declares your independence AND at the same time, declares you are also committing treason? Never done that.

Next time you draft a strategy or make a declaration on behalf of your company or yourself, remember how this great country got started.

Now...Why not make it a little bolder?

Keep it even,
Scott Kuehl

The Last Lecture: We're all dying. So let's start living.

"You're going to cry," she said as she pushed the laptop in front of me.

My wife shared this powerful story with me last night. It's entitled "The Last Lecture."

Dr. Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer late last year. He has a wonderful wife and three children. He has a job he loves. He has a passion for life.

He also has only a few months before this disease will take his life.

His last lecture to students and faculty at Carnegie Mellon is inspirational, to say the least. It's about achieving your childhood dreams. You can google "The Last Lecture" and find any number of clips. Or simply link to a few I have posted here.

This is a condensed version of the lecture as seen on Oprah.

One of my favorite quotes of his: "If you live properly, your dreams will come to you."

This man is a humble, brave and inspirational father, husband, researcher, dreamer and American.

Thank you for sharing your story and legacy with us, Dr. Pausch.
Thank you for reminding us that now is the time to live our lives.

Keep it even,
Scott Kuehl