The laziest verb in the English language, in my opinion, is “get” (or “got”).

Why lazy? We use “get” for so many scenarios that the word now lacks any character. Instead, we should get a more descriptive verb.

See? There I go again with “get.”

Let’s try the sentence again.

Instead, we should choose a more descriptive verb.

Much better.

Here are three more uses of “get” and how to fix each one.

1. Before: I’m excited to get the front-row concert tickets. After: I’m excited to receivethe front-row concert tickets.
2. Before: He got up and walked right out of the meeting. After: He stood up and walked right out of the meeting.
3. Before: I can’t believe we were able to get her as a keynote speaker. After: I can’t believe we were able to land/book/secure her as a keynote speaker.

Get my drift? 🙂

I’m often asked a tricky but important question about business communication:

“When should I be formal or informal with my business emails?”

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By Joel Rubin

One reason I started this business in 1991 was the opportunity to be on the ground floor of big things. As a reporter, you generally know little about a new idea, a big event or an amazing product or service until some PR type tells you about it. Being there on day one to shape the story, or conceive it, is exciting and that’s what keeps me going at age 63.

So do the younger people on my staff whom I have the honor to mentor and lead. Sometimes they laugh at my suggestions, but other times, they say “great” and off we go. It works the other way too. We are now in the midst of formulating a big project that we created out of thin air, “Rock the Squads!”, next May 7 to call attention to the amazing and selfless work done by our volunteer EMTs in Virginia Beach. I thought of it, Jennifer named it and Ashley, who works year round on behalf of Kitty Schaum and the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad Foundation, will be in charge of it. That’s how we roll at RCG.

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By Joel Rubin

Every city in Hampton Roads, in partnership with the local Chambers of Commerce, conducts a State of the City event each year.

It typically features an uplifting speech by the mayor, a PowerPoint with lots of pictures and a feel-good video. Some are better than others (often based on the mayor’s speaking ability), and most are typically a bit too long for the audience of business people who are looking at their watches, wondering when they can get back to work after lunch. Still, they are popular and well-attended programs, which is why city staff invests a great deal of time in producing them.

I’ve attended lots of these state of the city events but rarely have had an opportunity to be consulted about the content. Hampton changed that this year, thanks to their dynamic economic development director Leonard Sledge and city manager Mary Bunting. They wanted some creative ideas because Hampton has a new mayor, Donnie Tuck, and they wanted to help him make his first State of the City memorable. (more…)

We can’t seem to get enough of “Coast Live.”

RCG clients like Diamonds Direct, Access College Foundation and Skydive Suffolk have already been guests on WTKR’s weekday show since its premiere in September 2016.

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