Dan Janal | Publicity and PR Leads Blog

Times are tough, but you can get through it. Recessions build character. Lean times call for a return to basics, to marketing and financial prudence.

Here are nine things I do make the world a better place and feel better about myself.

1. Tip big. People who rely on tips are at the bottom end of the food chain. They need the money more than you do. Without the tips, they can’t pay the rent, buy food or childcare. They grease the wheels of the people on the next level up the food chain, like small grocery stores, landlords and restaurants.
2. Eat out. Maybe not the five-star restaurant with the five-star price tag. But dine at the local Chinese restaurant or pizza parlor. If they go out of business, your city won’t have a downtown any more. You get shuttered businesses, urban blight and crime. It can get worse. Don’t let it.
3. Get a haircut more often than you do now. You’ll feel better and you’ll put money into the economy for people who are really hurting.
4. Wash your car. You’ll feel better and people who you meet will think you are successful. Nothing looks worse than a dirty car.
5. Get a new outfit. It’ll make you feel better and you’ll look up to date. No one wants to do busy out of pity. Don’t worry about being criticized for conspicuous consumption. You have a long way to go before people compare you to Paris Hilton or Donald Trump.
6. Donate money or time to the local food bank. There are people who need it. Really.
7. Invest in yourself. What got you here won’t get you to the next level. Read books. Take courses. Attend seminars. Get coaching. It’s not an expense. It’s an investment that will make you money.
8. Beware of swindles. If it looks too good to be true, well, look at Bernie Madoff. Bad economic times bring out the worst of people.
9. Bring out the best in people.
10. Go to a religious service. The camaraderie and reflection will do you good.

Dan Janal is an early thought leader in the field of publicity and the Internet. He delivers thought-provoking keynote speeches across the world. For information about his seminars, go to www.janal.com He is the founder of www.PR LEADS.com and several other sites for publicity and speaking resources. 

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When I signed for Facebook, I left out certain pieces of personal info, like marital status, religion and politics. After all, who really cares? If this is for a business purpose, then those questions are more likely to raise concerns than cement bonds.

But after using FB for a while, it seems like the more fully developed a profile you have, the better you are rated. So I updated my marital status to married.

Low and behold, my friends started congratulating me on my new nuptuals! One good friend even asked if my wife knew about this. Cute.

So let it be known, that if you update a field, your whole network will know about it, and could think the info if new. No big deal, but it did cause a few laughs and a few raised eyebrows.

So, let it be known that I am not newly married, but have been happily married for many years. If you are really interested, then we are registered at Macy’s.

Only kidding.

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