About this blog
I write about communication, leadership and change, drawing on a 30-year career in journalism, public relations and management.
-
Recent posts
Topics
Archives
Author Archives: Jay Morris
The unintended consequences of change
Just before Christmas, I made a lot of changes to my 2009 Apple iMac computer. I installed new memory cards and doubled its RAM from 4 to 8GB. I upgraded the operating system to Apple’s newest Mavericks OS. I upgraded … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Management
Tagged change, change management, iMac, Ron Johnson, unintended consequences
2 Comments
Ut prosim, Virginia Tech and fall commencement
There I was, a U.Va. graduate, in the heart of the Hokie Nation, watching my son receive his undergraduate degree in construction engineering from Virginia Tech. Putting aside all of the jokes we U.Va. grads make about Hokies being farmers … Continue reading
Posted in Careers, Purpose
Tagged commencement, engineering, graduation, ut prosim, Virginia Tech
4 Comments
Giving thanks for the things I don’t have
Walking through my house after being gone for four months, I was struck by what I hadn’t missed while I was away. I didn’t miss my belongings or the furniture or even the neighborhood. Within a day, though, I was … Continue reading
The bald truth about power and leadership potential
In the mornings lately, when I take a shower and dry my hair, I’ve noticed a little thinning on top. Uh-oh. My hair has always been what shampoo makers call “fine,” but nowadays it seems to be even finer—so fine … Continue reading
Posted in Happiness, Leadership
Tagged baldness, Bruce Willis, Hair, masculinity, men, power, Seth Godin, The Wall Street Journal
4 Comments
The magic of great branding
Who can explain why an Apple customer is willing to stand in line for hours for a new iPhone or why coffee drinkers will drive miles out of their way to find a Starbucks? It’s the magic of great branding. … Continue reading
Posted in Marketing
Tagged branding, BrandTrust, Daryl Travis, NAFCU, PRSA-NCC, public relations, The Federal Credit Union
Leave a comment
The ‘incidental reader’ and the future of newspapers
Last week, I attended a very informative PRSA-NCC 20+ LeaderPack luncheon organized by D.C. PR pros Jeff Ghannam and Tracy Schario. Kudos to both of them for putting on a great event and especially to Tracy for recruiting her colleague … Continue reading
A blogger’s lament: ‘You were always on my mind’
I’m not a huge fan of country music, but I do like Willie Nelson. Maybe it’s because Willie has recorded so many great songs in a style that doesn’t strike me as excessively country. In particular, I like his version … Continue reading
Posted in Communications
Tagged Always on My Mind, Blogging, country music, customer service, Pocket, readers, Willie Nelson, Writing
Leave a comment
Note to self: write a personal branding statement (now)
Is it asking too much to expect a high school student to know what career she wants to pursue? Probably. Okay, what about an adult? Shouldn’t adults know what they want out of life? What path they want to follow? … Continue reading
Signs we’re going to have a harsh winter
This week I had a meeting downtown, which meant I had to dress up for a change. As I peered into the closet, I spied two nearly identical dark-blue slacks—one size 34 and the other size 36. I’m an optimist, … Continue reading
Posted in Happiness
Tagged caterpillars, Farmer's Almanac, gaining weight, mothballs, snow, squirrels, winter
2 Comments
The Wayward Journey 