“We’ve all seen the public relations disasters that can arise from a misguided or poorly worded text, tweet, or video rant. Yet it can be tough to say and do the right thing, especially…”

Read the full article here.

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Bill Murray plays Phil, a snarky, sarcastic, completely selfish weathercaster who treats everyone around him like they are lesser people. He can’t wait to get out of his latest assignment, the Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney. He thinks there is a better job just around the corner and believes this assignment is below him. From the moment he arrives he is frustrated and annoyed that he has to spend even another minute there.

He wakes up the day of the event. On his journey to the filming location he is met with a series of opportunities to be kind to people and to be helpful in each encounter. He chooses instead to be dismissive and rude. They are not worth his time. He is acting from his Little Brain.

When he arrives to the celebration site he treats his producer, Rita (Andie MacDowell) and his cameraman Larry (Chris Elliot) like they are lucky to be working with him. He gives a lackluster performance for the camera. He does not care about anybody but himself and just wants to get it over with and get back to the big city where there will be big opportunities for him.

The universe takes notice.

For the town the celebration is a success. Phil just wants to leave immediately but destiny holds him back. A weather system that, a day earlier, he himself predicted would not happen hits hard and traffic is at a standstill for miles. The storm forces him to stay one more day before he can leave.

What is supposed to be the next day…he wakes up. But it is the same day…over again. The same opportunities to be gracious are presented again and yet he treats everyone the same or worse in each encounter. He goes through the same day over and over. He continues to repeat the same careless acts with the same people, and he cannot escape the day. He can’t move forward. He finds himself stuck in the loop. The day repeats itself because he is not learning, he is not growing.

Since he can’t move forward he begins to use his knowledge of how the day will progress to take advantage of people. He decides he wants to be with Rita and makes it his goal to win her over. But he can’t get her to like him. He tries every insincere trick he knows but is turned down flat every time. She can see that he is faking it. He learns that even though he has the power to know what is going to happen every minute of the day, until he actually changes himself, he can’t change anything.

After what seems like an endless amount of time, Phil begins to make an effort. He begins to communicate differently. He is genuine with everyone, at every encounter all day long. He becomes more empathetic, more thoughtful, and actually begins to listen to and care for others. His affection for Rita has become real, she begins to see him differently.

As the movie finishes, the same day begins over. But this day is different. Each and every encounter Phil treats people as if they are his friend. It has a positive ripple effect on how he sees himself. He ends the day honestly connecting with everyone. He closes the night with Rita simply resting at his side, although he is sure she will be gone in the morning…and it will be the same day once more. But he is thankful for this day.

The universe takes notice.

He awakens with Rita at his side. She is still there. It is actually the next day. He is allowed to move forward. The storm has lifted.

Our Own Groundhog Days

Often, we can create our own “groundhog days” by allowing our Little Brain to constantly communicate for us, creating our own storms that prevent us from moving forward. We’ll think it has something to do with others, we think the problem is everybody else and begin to blame everything else for the results of our own actions and words. We think that if only others were different or they had said or done something different that our life would be better. We blame the circumstances and others and act as if we have no control.

But we do. We have a choice in how we respond. And choice is control.

If you are feeling stuck and can’t get to where you want to go in life, you can’t seem to get that promotion, that recognition you deserve, you can’t seem to get that person you really want in your life, take a moment and look at the way you communicate. The ripple effect of good communication will clear the path in front of you. The ripple effect of poor communication will create a storm system and hold you back.

Everyday… the choice is yours.

Kevin Thomas McCarney

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Here’s an excerpt from the article “Want to Succeed in Life? Then You Better Learn to Communicate Effectively“ written by Berkeley Kershisnik.

I’m in the people business. So are you. We all are. No matter what you do, or make, or sell, you interact with others every day, building relationships with them. Communication is your biggest asset and your most important export, import, and product. Even if you are not in business, you’re always in the people business — with daily communications being your stock-in-trade.

Read the full article now!

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Let’s face it: If you have known someone for more than a few weeks or months, the first impression is long gone but your relationship now continues on the last impression.

When co-workers leave at the end of a day and exchange salutations, their impressions to each other are that of mutual respect. But if one co-worker is in a bad mood and does not deliver the expected farewell, then the last impression is one of grumpiness.

The same is true for a boss who walks in the morning and says nothing to anyone, but goes directly to his desk then leaves for a lunch appointment. The last impression is one of moodiness.

If the meal at a restaurant is fabulous but when you are leaving the host ignores you, the impression is that they don’t really care. In any encounter we have, the most recent exchange sets the last impression.

The last E-mail you sent, the last message you texted, the last voice-mail you left on a machine, your last tweet and the last Facebook status update each add to the last impression you are making on people.

So when you are sending any form of communication, take a moment to realize the importance of what you are saying. The last impression is what the next encounter with that person will build on.

Last impressions last.

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When painting, the artist will let the first layer dry, walk away, and come back to determine whether it needs more color in one spot, perhaps lightening another area, or to see if something is missing.

Once completed, the work will be available for others to admire for quite some time. Before letting it go, the artist will wonder, “Am I proud of this now? Will I be proud of this in the years to come?”

Your personal art (of communication) is on display in every email, text, tweet, letter, or message you send. Today, it is likely everything you send will be recorded somewhere, to be replayed by others at any point in the future.

In today’s fast-paced communication world we may not be able to afford the same amount of time an artist would give to a painting, but perhaps by tapping into our inner communication artist — before pushing the Send button — we can take a moment to ensure our messages will make us proud now… and in the years to come.

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