03 Jan Finding Moderation – The Next Big Thing?

We’re a hardcore PR firm: our focus is on changing behaviors in ways that clearly benefit our audiences. We have taken on (even helping change laws!) such issues as tobacco-use, binge-drinking, under-age drinking, over-eating, sugar, and social media dependence.

The work we do as behavior-changing marketers is relevant, and everyone on the GillespieHall team is driven by the passion to improve lives and help our public make better choices.

But sometimes I wonder when ‘we, the people’ stopped thinking for ourselves?

Our scourge as a nation is that we tend to overdo everything. Excess is our norm. I am as guilty as the next guy – you should have seen the loot under our tree this year!

I heard a great soundbite twenty years ago and still use it. We were new to Delaware and a seasoned realtor was showing us properties; I was aghast at some of the (fake) ornate architectural features and three-oven kitchens. He smiled, “ Let me tell you Bridget, anything worth doing is worth overdoing here in the US. Get used to it.” He was right.
We need to find our moderation groove and stick to it. Consistent moderation will balance the budget and the scale. Moderate greed. Moderate partisanship. Moderate consumerism. Moderate diet. Moderate speed. Moderate generosity. Consistently moderate. No binge drinking. No binge spending. No binge dating.

Some would call it personal responsibility… now wouldn’t that change America’s profile?

Bridget Paverd

Public Relations specialist Bridget Paverd is a founding partner of GillespieHall. The firm is retained by global organizations to manage their reputation and enhance their relevance. A recognized crisis communications strategist, Paverd has led GillespieHall to become the most awarded and influential strategic communications and PR firm in the region. Paverd teaches crisis media management at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Photo courtesy Delaware Business Times