Everyone at PR/PR hopes everyone out there enjoyed the holiday on Sunday and the day off of work yesterday, but, for me personally, I’m very excited about the holiday today – Tuesday, July 6, 2021, is NATIONAL FRIED CHICKEN DAY!!!

Not that I can/should eat any fried food anymore, but I love NFCD because it brings to mind one of my favorite Americans – Harland “Colonel” Sanders, the Founder and Brand Ambassador of the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant chain, today known as KFC. 

Here is a prime example of a person who did not give up, and didn’t let getting a late start stop him from going on.  Sanders was 62 years old when his first KFC franchise opened in Salt Lake City, UT, in 1952.  Then, at the age of 73 in 1964, he sold his remaining holdings in the company and worked until he was nearly 90 representing the international chain on television and in-person. 

Sanders is also a prime example of a person who thrived due to adaptation.  He originally operated his restaurants on state highways and rural routes, building up quite a following.  In 1939, food critic Duncan Hines (you know him better for his cake mixes), included Sanders’ restaurant in the motorist guide: Adventures in Good Eating. However, when the Interstate Highways were built and by-passed many small towns, the customers went whizzing by Sanders’ restaurant.  So, he adapted, and hit the very roads that were forcing him to find new locations. 

Now I know not everyone is perfect.  If you dig into any hero’s past you’ll likely find something you don’t like about them.  There was that teeny-tiny shoot-out with a competitor in the early 1930’s that I’m sure Sanders’ wished people didn’t know about.

In the meantime, go get some fried chicken today, it doesn’t matter what brand, and think about what you’re going to start doing and how you’re going to adapt to do it! 

As I’m writing this, I just finished drinking my morning coffee.  I drink coffee for two reasons:  1) it wakes me up, and 2) #2.  But, now there’s a third reason to drink coffee:  it can help prevent liver disease. 

A new study shows drinking up to three cups (regular or decaf (but why bother?)) will not only make you jittery, but 20% less likely to develop chronic or fatty liver disease. The numbers go up to 40% less likely to die from a liver disease than those who don’t know a “cup ‘o joe.” 

This is especially good news for those who spend the weekend abusing their liver.  Not that you should continue doing so, but at least you’ll be less likely to die from it if you partake of the Brazilian national drink.  Whatever you do, don’t drive to get coffee after drinking a more adult beverage. 

Besides the wakey-wakey affect coffee has on the population, it’s been known for years that consumption in moderation can reduce the likelihood of contracting of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, prostate cancer, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, melanoma and other skin cancers, and reduce levels of coronary artery calcium. As with everything in life, moderation is the key word here. 

As in most studies of coffee, the researchers called a “cup of coffee” as 8 oz. of black coffee, just in case you were thinking that bathtub-sized Mocha-choca-lata ya ya you order at the local twin-tailed siren shop is going to be healthy for you.  

You can rest well knowing your liver is safe after Juan Valdez visits, just don’t let him stay to long or you won’t be able to rest well at night!

I love three-day weekends!  I love my job and my clients and the media I work with, but I love three-day weekends.  Especially in summer when you can swim, or go to the beach, or just generally be outside in the fresh air and sunshine! 

What?!  You didn’t have a three-day weekend?  But it was Flag Day yesterday!  Isn’t that a day-off like Memorial Day and Labor Day and Thanksgiving?  Nope.  Ever wonder why?

Flag Day is set always on June 14^th, not the first Monday, or the last Monday, or the third Thursday.  But, you say, Veteran’s Day is set always November 11^th, and it’s a day off!  Good point.  Veteran’s Day was set on the day of the WWI ceasefire, on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month.  And, for a while Veteran’s Day was on the fourth Monday of October in the early 1970’s, but Veteran’s groups got it put back to the day it was supposed to be.  

What makes Flag Day different?  Simple, it’s an Observance, not a Federal Holiday.  The Second Continental Congress adopted the design of the flag as we know it today on June 14, 1777. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day, but it wasn’t until August 1949 when President Harry Truman signed a resolution making Flag Day a permanent observance. 

So, banks are open, mail is delivered, and you have to go to work – except, if you live in Pennsylvania where the day is marked as a State Holiday! 

You can fly the flag every day, but it’s particularly flown to show patriotism on these days: New Year’s Day, Inauguration Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Armed Forces Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Patriot Day, Constitution Day, Columbus Day, Navy Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon.

Now that we’re officially into Summer (I know, the first day of Summer is officially June 20^th, but don’t most people start on Memorial Day?) we here in Florida are spending a lot more time at/in our pools.  Hopefully, those of you in Northern regions will get to use yours soon.

It has occurred to me that how a person enters a pool is a good metaphor for life.  Now, I know different people may enter a pool differently at different times, but that’s also how you approach life, differently at different times.  But still, let’s look at several popular ways of entering a pool.

One I like to call, just jump in!  This is my favorite.  I go to the deep-end and just jump.  I plunge under, getting my hair wet, and swim back to the surface.  I think many of the speakers and consultants we work with at PR/PR are similar swimmers.  To be in this business, sometimes you just have to leap!  Now, of course, you don’t want to leap if you don’t know how deep it is, or if the water is too murky to see the bottom.  However, if it’s your pool and you know it’s been treated, or you’re the guest of a host you trust, then hold your breath, take the dive, make a splash, and get enveloped in the cool, refreshing water!

Some people are half-way’ers.  They go in up to their waist to ‘test’ the water.  Sometimes they take the second step of going into their shoulders, but it can take a long time to get all the way in.  Now, maybe they have a drink in their hand and don’t want to spill it – well, put it aside and jump in!  Maybe they don’t want to get their hair wet – well, you can always fix it later, so jump in!  To fully enjoy the water, you need to commit to going all the way in! 

Those that sit on the side, and just stick a toe in might as well stay in the house and sweat!

So, enjoy your summer, enjoy your pool, and enjoy your life!

I always heard the phrase as, “You miss 100% of the opportunities you don’t take.”  However, in a Google search, it turns out the more popular phrase is, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” by hockey great Wayne Gretzky.  Either way, the sentiment is the same – if you don’t take the risk, you’ll not have the reward.

Another phrase along the same vein that comes to mind is, “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.”  My father, who would have celebrated his 84^th birthday today, always told me that was bunk!  We were very blessed as a family and dad could afford many things without asking, but he still always said, “how do you know if you don’t ask!” 

Dad was also one to take opportunities.  My freshman year in college, after the College President addressed the first-year students, my father went right up to the man and introduced himself and me.  Believe it or not, I was a little shy back then, and mortified that my dad would be so bold to a man of such respected letters.  However, this taught me that College Presidents were just people, too.  You should respect them, as you should everyone, but not be in such awe that you’re intimidated. 

Take the risks in life!  You’ll not be any worse off than you were when you started, because you won’t be losing anything, you just won’t have the gain.  In the show Cash Cab I always think they should go for the bonus round at the end.  If you win – you get the extra cash; but if you lose – you leave the cab with nothing (which is exactly what had when you got into the cab), so why not take the opportunity?!?