HMPRESENTLY: Would You? For the Money?

You might wonder, sometimes…

What if some company, or some industry, some organization, or some individual — you didn’t much believe in — wanted to hire you to handle their PR?

Would you do it… for the money?

We’d talk about that, at home, sometimes — hypothetically — when I was in my PR career.  And I’ve been thinking back to that, after hearing Donald Trump describe Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, as an “average Republican Governor with great Public Relations.”

No question about it, the Florida governor is in the news, spreading his political thinking all around. And with speculation DeSantis may run for president in 2024, beefing up his PR staff could be on the drawing board, perhaps with seasoned PR people on a ‘DeSantis for President’ campaign committee’s shortlist?

What if he, himself, were to reach out, saying, ‘Join up with us. We can make it worth your while.’  And what if, even if you’re feeling flattered as all get-out, you’re also realizing your political thinking hardly meshes at all with his. What would you do?

I remember hoping, if I had qualms about something — about a particular business, or an industry — that I’d stick to my guns, and refuse to be, so to speak, a hired gun.

So… Governor DeSantis, if I’m on some shortlist, somehow, don’t waste your time!

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert… don’t even think about it!

Former President Trump… In your dreams!

Archuleta County commissioners? Now, for them, I’d have some advice, free of charge…

From what I can tell, various commissioners may need to search their souls, and decide what’s truly, and honestly, good for the people residing in their community.

If short-term rental companies came knocking at my door, I might feel the same about them as I’d feel about publicizing some political officials.

I worked in the financial industry during much of my career, as readers may have noted, and if you’re wondering about that, I’d probably mention that I’ve known financial firms with a deep heritage and deep vision.  Financial firms, when they’re at their best, can help people with what they set out to do.

There are good things about various businesses and industries, and organizations and individuals… that is to say, when they’re at their very best!

Harvey Radin

Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.