Weathering the Storm

A year ago, a wicked monsoon storm uprooted our massive 30-year-old Chinese elm tree.

Not only did it tear up our front yard but it gave both our house and our entire cul-de-sac a different look.

It wasn’t like a crisis communication plan that was written in advance and pulled off the shelf when needed.  We were caught completely off-guard and devastated by the act of nature.

It reminded me of Warren Buffett’s quote: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”

Our downed tree sent us reeling for a couple weeks as we tried to clean up the mess and worked to replace what we lost.   We planted a new tree, fixed our sprinkler system and watered our tree regularly.

Now, 12 months after the storm, our new tree is thriving.  While my next-door neighbor’s and my houses look a little different from the street – they are still the same homes.

That reminds me of a company with a commitment to its reputation.  One that has a crisis communication plan in place.  One that has a PR plan in place.  And one that actually pays attention to – and follows that plan.  Reputations and the look of a neighborhood can both be restored with proper care.