Beep. Beep. Thoughts from the road on escaping our East Coast sensibilities
By Steven V. Dubin
Sometimes my best ideas come to me as I remove myself from traditional brainstorming venues and sessions.
On a recent trip to the Midwest to visit friends, families, and the great rolling landscape, I had a number of thoughts – in addition to “Where the heck is the next bathroom?”
My first thought was, as an amateur deer tracker, where and when do the deer really reveal themselves. For example, deer very rarely appear anywhere near the deer crossing signs. Send me a photo, not AI doctored, that shows a deer posing next to a deer crossing sign and I’ll send you venison for two.
Perhaps these signs work as a warning to deer rather than motorists. Good news is that I saw eight live deer during my recent vacation and only one deceased by the roadside.
Apparently, deer are drawn to the road for sunshine and the vegetation it produces. Perhaps they also like to show off all their majestic beauty.
It only seems fair that there should be parking and an opportunity to pet the deer. A simple glance is not enough for me.
My other deer thought is how great it would be to be a deer. You spend your whole life meandering through the woods and grazing. Never a care about what outfit to or what your schedule might be for the day.
The other thing that struck me as we traveled was the different tone of customer service that we received.
In Baltimore, which I consider the beginning of the South, waitstaff couldn’t be more friendly and helpful. There were lots of references to sweetheart, honey, and darling. Service was quick and attentive.
In South Bend Indiana, the opposite occurred. There was more of an attitude of “Why are you bothering me and invading my space?” than “How can I help you?” I could almost hear the wise-guy refrain of “What? What? What are you looking at? Hey?”
Then there is the Iowa coffee klatch in the back of a convenience store. All are welcome to join the conversation and hard-core coffee. The trick is to not get eye contact, or you will have to bring these people home.
Overall, I would say that travel to the heartland is a great escape from our East Coast sensibilities. Both a cleansing and a reset.
I’d love to hear your travel adventures and insights as well. Please email me at SDubin@PRWorkZone.com.
About the Author: Steven V. Dubin is the founder of PR Works, a lightly used public relations firm based in Plymouth, which helps small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies navigate the overwhelming options of advertising. Steve lives in Plymouth with his wife, Wendy. He is a contributing author to “Get Slightly Famous” and “Tricks of the Trade,” the complete guide to succeeding in the advice business. He recently authored “PR 101,” an E-book.
