Theme:– “The Year of ‘Growmance’
Where Love Beats Fear in Upping Our Game This Year” (Old-School Flava)

It seems like Paula Deen’s ‘bread & butter’ franchise is in a tailspin. Reports surfaced that she used racial slurs in the past. One by one the big-box retailers began dropping her like a hot potato. Her public responses have been more ‘miss than hit.’ Has Paula Deen’s food franchise gotten lost in the sauce?

So she’s hired Judy Smith to help with crisis management. Smith is the inspiration behind the highly-rated TV show Scandal. To help make a comeback Deen has gone from PR to ER in handling the situation. Her public relation has been a disaster. Now things call for an emergency response to stop the bleeding.

Where did Deen go wrong, and can Smith make things right? She might help Deen see the difference between being closed versus locked. A door that is locked is also closed. But a door can be closed without being locked. Career or brand comebacks are possible before doors go from closed to locked.

R&B Music star Charlie Wilson is a good example of a comeback after being ‘down but not out.’ His career went from highs to lows. Sort of like Deen and others faced with a business setback or slow job market. But with the right support, focus and pure genius he found a way to go from zero to hero.

We tend to forget scandals after a while. The short-term pain can be difficult. But the long-term effects are lessons for a lifetime. Smith will coach Deen on putting her brand back on the block. It’s probably not too late since comebacks are a matter of leaving a mark so that when you’re gone you’re not forgotten.

The Year of ‘Growmance’
Where Love Beats Fear in Upping Our Game This Year” (New-School Flava)

Seems like Paula Deen’s franchise is in a spin. Many lost opportunities to win. Reports surfaced of using racial slur. Saying her past was just a blur. Big-box stores dropped her one by one. Like a hot potato her biz put under the gun. Public responses haven’t been a hit. Will these troubles cause her to quit?

Added Judy Smith to her crisis team. A point of inspiration from a bad dream. With TV show Scandal based on Smith’s story. Deen hoping to strike-up new glory. Going from PR to ER in this situation. As an emergency response to bad public relation. To help stop the bleeding and personal frustration.

Where did Deen go wrong? This was like a bad song. With branding advice Smith is stocked. Knowing the difference between closed and locked. Door that is locked also closed. But doesn’t always mean your chances are hosed. Market comeback may still be doable. Closed, not locked says brand is renewable.

R&B Music star Charlie Wilson a good example. Of a ‘down but not out’ music gamble. Going from career highs to new low. Falling out the pop culture flow. Like Deen and other biz setbacks. A slow job market means a hard comeback. But with the right support and focus. Takes pure genius, ditch the hocus pocus.

Scandals are forgotten after a while. Short-term pain can affect your style. Long-term effects are lessons in forever. As the saying goes, “never say never.” Smith will coach Deen through the paces. To put her brand in good graces. Not too late to be back on the block. From leaving a mark while punching the clock.

Tip: Upping your game means seeing ‘down but not out’ as a preview for going from zero to hero.

Talkback: What do you think Paula Deen can do to get back in good graces?