Interesting article on publicity in today’s American Express Open Forum publication entitled, “What Did We Learn from Chick-Fil-A?”  In the article the author, Rieva Lesonsky, gives a very valuable take away that can be applied to ABSOLUTELY everyone and everything we do and it goes like this:

“The business world is more transparent than ever. Whatever you (and sometimes your employees) say, whether in your business role or in your personal life, is going to reflect on your business. Before you speak, be aware that what you say can help or hurt your business.”

Whether this is right or wrong is really not the issue.  We don’t live in the days of the pony express anymore.  Our world is online, our learning is online, our friendships are online and news becomes news the moment you or someone posts it on the internet.  Whether you just created a new application or you said something about a competitor or you simply voice your thoughts, everyone in the world will know and the more important you are, the faster the world will know.

When you write a document you have spell check.  Take that concept out into the world with you.  Create a “spell check” system for communicating in business and in private and always, always remember to make sure it is on.