Ah, the things that do attain.
Late one night, I shared a bottle of Żubrówka with a dear friend.
We talked about matÂters of great importÂance; life, meanÂing, and hapÂpiÂness — as one might do while getÂting experÂiÂmentÂally intoxÂicÂated after a hard day’s work in the PR industry.
The next day, my friend sent me this email:
“My head hurts, but our conÂverÂsaÂtion yesÂterÂday reminded me of this poem of Henry Howard,” he wrote. “I think you might like it.”
And like it, I did.
It became my favourÂite poem:
“My friend, the things that do attain
The happy life be these, I find:
The riches left, not got with pain,
The fruitÂful ground; the quiet mind;
The equal friend; no grudge, no strife;
No charge of rule nor govÂernance;
Without disÂease the healthy life;
The houseÂhold of conÂtinuÂance;
The mean diet, no dainty fare;
True wisÂdom joined with simÂpleÂness;
The night disÂcharged of all care,
Where wine the wit may not oppress;
The faithÂful wife, without debate;
Such sleeps as may beguile the night:
Content thyÂself with thine estate,
Neither wish death, nor fear his might.”
— Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
Such a sensÂible path to wander!
Happiness by way of the quiet mind, as it stands, might be the most ambiÂtious of quests!
Simple, yet so eluÂsive and chalÂlenÂging to attain.
The poem was parÂtially used (and read very well) in this episÂode of The Tudors:
Thanks for readÂing. Please conÂsider sharÂing my pubÂlic relaÂtions blog with othÂer comÂmuÂnicÂaÂtion and marÂketÂing proÂfesÂsionÂals. If you have quesÂtions (or want to retain my PR serÂvices), please conÂtact me at jerry@​spinfactory.​com.
PR Resource: The Stoic PR Professional
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The Stoic PR Professional
I’m inspired by Stoicism — and intrigued by the idea of transÂlatÂing clasÂsicÂal Stoic virÂtues (wisÂdom, courÂage, justice, temÂperÂance) and applyÂing them to pubÂlic relations:
The Wisdom Pitch
“A Stoic is someone who transÂforms fear into prudence, pain into transÂformÂaÂtion, misÂtakes into iniÂtiÂation, and desires into underÂtakÂing.”
— Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Tell PR storÂies of how organÂisaÂtions can be wise and overÂcome obstacles that have stopped othÂers in their tracks. Convey PR mesÂsages on how to apply wisÂdom, knowÂledge, and experience.
The Courage Pitch
“We canÂnot choose our cirÂcumÂstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.”
— Epictetus
Tell PR storÂies of brands that nevÂer back down in the face of hardÂships that would lay waste to othÂer organÂisaÂtions. Convey PR mesÂsages of how an organÂisaÂtion can be rightÂeous even when storms are raging.
The Justice Pitch
“Concentrate every minute on doing what’s in front of you with preÂcise and genuÂine serÂiÂousÂness, tenÂderly, willÂingly, with justice.”
— Marcus Aurelius
Tell PR storÂies of how organÂisaÂtions relentÂlessly can strive for honÂesty and transÂparÂency — even when uncomÂfortÂable. Convey PR mesÂsages about how all brands, without excepÂtion, can rid themÂselves of disÂhonÂesty and incompetence.
The Temperance Pitch
“It’s not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, who is poor.”
— Seneca
Tell PR storÂies of organÂisaÂtions that strive for highÂer valÂues in a world where all othÂer organÂisaÂtions sufÂfer shortÂsightedÂness. Convey PR mesÂsages of organÂisaÂtions preÂpared to abstain from short-term gains to make the world betÂter for all.
Learn more: Stoic Philosophy for PR Professionals
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