Personal Branding Tips and Trumpet Music

Are you familiar with the song "Narco," an instrumental tune featuring a lively trumpet? Today is a good day to learn about this memorable piece of music because it's National Trumpet Day.

According to WhatNationalDayIsIt.com. "During the 9th century, trumpets made of metal emerged in Europe. These early trumpets were straight and lacked valves or keys, making them limited in terms of the range of notes they could produce, but their bright and penetrating sound made them ideal for military signaling and fanfare. By the 14th century, musicians began experimenting with different ways to change the pitch of the trumpet. This led to the development of slide trumpets, also known as sackbuts. Slide trumpets featured a movable slide that allowed players to alter the length of the instrument, thus changing the pitch. This innovation expanded the range of notes that could be played, making the trumpet a more versatile instrument. The 19th century marked a major breakthrough in trumpet design with the invention of valves. In the early 1800s, valve mechanisms were first added to the trumpet, enabling players to easily change the pitch with the press of a finger. Valved trumpets quickly gained popularity in orchestras and brass bands. During the 20th century, the trumpet found its way into various genres of popular music, particularly jazz. Renowned jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis played a pivotal role in popularizing the trumpet as a lead instrument capable of expressive solo performances."

And now, some background about "Narco" from Wikipedia: "Narco is a song by Dutch DJ/production duo Blasterjaxx and Australian DJ/producer Timmy Trumpet, that was released as a single in 2017. The song has become widely popular for being the walk-out song for Edwin Díaz, a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Díaz first used "Narco" as his walk-out song during 2018, when he played for the Seattle Mariners. After he was traded to the New York Mets, he briefly changed his walkout song to "No Hay Limite" by Miky Woodz, though "Narco" retook its position as Díaz's walkout song in 2020...Matt Monagan, writing for Major League Baseball, said that the use of "Narco" as Díaz's entrance song is one of "the best all time" among baseball entrance music...As of August 16, 2022, the song was Number 18 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart...When Díaz joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, his Dodger debut would see local trumpeter Tatiana Tate welcoming him with a live performance of the song on March 27, 2026."

Here are three personal branding tips from Edwin Díaz and his walk-out music:

RECOGNITION

Each time that Díaz enters a game, his walk-out song is used as a way to announce him. The song is associated with him, so it's his calling card. How do you announce to your co-workers and/or teammates that you're available to provide feedback, attend meetings, etc.?

ENTHUSIASM

The choice of a personal walk-out song creates enthusiasm for the baseball fans in the stadium as well as the entire Dodgers team, coaches, and staff. Do you have a song, a brainstorming team activity, or another way to create enthusiasm or positive energy among your co-workers or team?

MOTIVATION

According to Díaz, the tune motivates him before pitching. He explained back in 2022, "The trumpets were unique. Something different from what everybody uses. That's why I picked it." Do you walk around the block or sing to yourself before an important presentation? How do you motivate yourself and your co-workers and teammates?

Sadly, Diaz was on the injured list for most of the 2026 season, but Dodgers fans hope he will be healthy during the 2027 season and that his trumpet song will be heard often.

What else can we learn from music and apply to the workplace and personal branding? Chime in and share.

SHARE THIS: Be yourself, everyone else is already taken. ~Oscar Wilde #PersonalBrandingTip #NationalTrumpetDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Amazon.

Watch Díaz's first arrival to the pitching mound as a member of the LA Dodgers on March 27, 2026:

https://x.com/SportsNetLA/status/2037756106727137738

Read my post, "Five Personal Branding Tips from Vin Scully" (September 2016):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2016/09/five-personalbranding-tips-from-vin.html

Celebrating a Special Milestone on #DebbieLaskeysBlog: Post Number 1,000!

Today is a big day on my blog because you're reading my 1,000th post. Similar to how Oscar winners begin their acceptance speeches, I'd like to thank the Academy. 

Seriously, since I'm reaching this amazing milestone after 17 years, I'd like to thank a webmaster colleague who, in 2009, encouraged me to start my own blog; my husband, who, after hearing interesting news stories on television or radio or after experiencing good or bad customer service, always patiently listened to me when my first comment was, "This would make a good blog post," and also provided much appreciated proofreading expertise; and lastly and most importantly, YOU, my readers, who've read my posts, shared them, and provided insightful comments. I'm both honored and grateful that you've been part of my creative journey as I've shared my commentary about marketing, leadership, brand experiences, customer experiences, employee experiences, social media, book reviews, and more.

My first post was published on October 9th, 2009, and was entitled, "GM Hired a Woman to Lead US Sales - Yes, a Woman." I still recall my discussion with my company's web designer as we discussed this exciting announcement. He said, if I felt strongly about the news, I should start a blog to share my commentary. I did, and here we are, 1,000 posts later.

I've met dozens of amazing people over the years through my participation on Twitter, and many have appeared here on my blog. To quote Matthew Kobach, "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." From the early days of Twitter, the social network became an international water cooler for me. I met people from all around the world who wanted to discuss marketing and leadership, and so, TweetChats and Twitterverse had meaning. In addition, hashtags such as #branding #brandmarketing #brandstrategy #brandexperience #leadership #CX #employeeexperience and #employerbranding became part of my lexicon. And after meeting many people on Twitter, I invited many to appear on my blog in a Q&A. So, while some people have left Twitter for other social networks, I send my gratitude to the social network that started my social media journey.

And on a side not, if the back-to-back World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers can refer to Twitter as Twitter (and not "X"), then I will continue to do so too.

As the URL evolved into the name of the blog, DEBBIE LASKEY'S BLOG, it was time for a hashtag to also appear, thus, the creation of #DebbieLaskeysBlog in August 2021. This hashtag, as a form of marketing and brand-building, has since accompanied all posts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more.

And now, please join me as I celebrate 1,000 posts by sharing my favorite series, posts, quotes, and more!

HERE ARE MY 10 FAVORITE BLOG SERIES:

(1) "Top 10 Marketing Highlights" of the previous year (so far, 16 of these posts each January)

(2) "Best Social Media Post" of the previous month (so far, 20 of these posts each month since February 2025)

(3) "Best Book I Read Last Year" (so far, 3 of these posts each February)

(4) "Brand Identity Changes" of previous year (so far, 6 of these posts each January)

(5) "Words and Terms" that told the story of the previous year (so far, 4 of these posts each January) (plus "National Ampersand Day" and "National Dictionary Day" and "My Favorite Marketing Terms" posts annually)

(6) "Women's Equality Day Posts" (so far, 7 of these posts every August 26th) (plus several for "Women's HERstory Month" during March annually)

(7) "National Leadership Day Posts" (so far, 4 of these posts every February 20th)

(8) My commentary about the Pantone color of the year (so far, 10 of these posts each December)

(9) My commentary about the TIME Magazine person of the year (so far, 8 of these posts each December) 

(10) My "Monday Morning Quarterbacking" of the Super Bowl Ads (so far, 14 of these posts each Monday following each year's Super Bowl since 2012)

HERE ARE MY 15 FAVORITE QUOTES THAT HAVE APPEARED ON MY BLOG OVER THE YEARS:

(1) "Leadership doesn't require you to be the smartest person in the room. It requires you to block and tackle for others." ~Mark Herbert

(2) "Great leaders don't do it alone...they get help." ~Erika Andersen

(3) "True leadership has nothing to do with your job title or what's on your business card, true leadership is earned." ~Michael Kerr

(4) "Products are made in a factory, but brands are created in the mind." ~Walter Landor 

(5) "Give something of meaning to your audience by inspiring, engaging, and educating them with story. Stop marketing. Start storytelling." ~Storyteller Agency

(6) "Great leaders seek honest and open feedback and then use that input to become better leaders." ~Eric Jacobson

(7) "A customer-focused culture is one in which everything is designed with the "lens of the customer" in mind." ~Dennis Snow

(8) "A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit." ~Arnold Glasow

(9) "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning." ~Bill Gates

(10) "Books are an infinite treasure chest, available at any time." ~Erika Andersen

(11) "Reading is the master key to everything important in life and work." ~James Strock

(12) "Reading encourages curiosity and critical thinking - and convinces us to get outside our echo chambers." ~Gail Robertson

(13) "A recurring business lesson from the Olympics is the capacity to serve as part of a team." ~James Strock

(14) "Slapping a logo everywhere and calling it a day is the opposite of strategic branding." ~Julia Carcamo

(15) "If you can, always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be Batman." ~Jenn McKinlay

In addition, I have featured nine series in which thought leaders responded to questions over the last several years. Questions have included topics such as marketing, personal branding, leadership in TV shows and films, team-building, reading, the Olympics, and more. If you'd like to read any, type the hastag into the search box, and enjoy!

(1) #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026

(2) #OlympicsLeadershipSeries2026 

(3) #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025

(4) #SpringLeadershipSeries2025

(5) #HolidayLeadershipSeries (2024)

(6) #PostElectionSeries (2024)

(7) #OlympicsLeadershipSeries (2024)

(8) #SpringLeadershipSeries (2024)

(9) #FallBacktoReadingSeries (2023)

My most consistent posts each month are my "Marketing News of the Week," and "Recent Marketing News" and "Marketing News of the Month." These posts feature recaps of recent mainstream news with a marketing twist or highlight sections of the marketing pie such as advertising, brand identity, brand marketing, brand messaging, brand names, brand partnerships, brand storytelling, brand strategy, brand experiences, competitive positioning, customer experience marketing, cobranding, digital content strategy, holiday marketing, logo design or redesign, packaging, personal branding, product design or redesign, product launches, promotions, rebranding, social media marketing, special event marketing, or technology PLUS leadership, employee experiences, corporate culture, onboarding, communications, teamwork, employer branding, or more.

Writers often talk about writer's block. But this recap has demonstrated that, when you view the world through "marketing-tinted glasses," then writer's block is definitely NOT a problem. There are simply TOO MANY marketing-related topics to write about. 

Thank you for joining me in today's celebration and for continuing to read my posts and share your comments! Also, my gratitude to everyone who has appeared on my blog in a Q&A or by sharing a quote over the years. 

Do you have a fave post here on my blog? If yes, please chime in and share the title.

Are you curious as to what I will write about next? Swing by soon for post number 1,001 to find out - and thanks again for being a treasured member of my blog community!

SHARE THIS: The best way to view the world and mainstream news is through "marketing-tinted glasses." ~Debbie Laskey #DebbieLaskeysBlog #CelebrationMarketing #Blogging

SHARE THIS: Blogs are still one of the best channels to create narratives. They offer us the opportunity to address market trends and explain how those trends impact the reader. ~Alex Girard via Eric Jacobson #DebbieLaskeysBlog #CelebrationMarketing #Blogging

SHARE THIS: It's been estimated that approximately 80 percent of all Internet users read blogs. #DebbieLaskeysBlog #CelebrationMarketing #Blogging

Image Credit: Abposters.com.

A Tale of Customer Data, Email Marketing, and Fast Food

Do you know what's happening this week in the world of business? It's Customer Service Week, which means that organizations should make the extra effort to acknowledge the importance of customer service and its impact on profits. With that objective in mind, I'd like to share a recent customer experience.

I received an email from a doctor's office. The email served as confirmation for an upcoming appointment. While I definitely prefer an email confirmation rather than an intrusive phone call or text, this email stood out due to its poor customer service.

The email included the date and time for my upcoming appointment but also included the following sentence: "If this is your first visit, make sure to arrive 15 minutes early to fill out new patient paperwork."

Since I'm a long-time patient, and this upcoming appointment will probably be my tenth visit, that sentence should not have been included in the email.

The inclusion of that sentence made me wonder why the doctor's office doesn't have two different versions of its email appointment confirmations. Would it be too difficult to send one version without that sentence to existing patients?

In today's era of data overload, the doctor's office has my name, address, date of birth, insurance information, dates of previous appointments, and my medical records. So, when sending an email confirmation, it would have been simple to remove the sentence about "first visit/new patient paperwork."

According to RestaurantDive, "The problem isn't that you don't have data. It's that none of it connects."

And according to Joe Rospars, Founder and CEO of Blue State Digital, "Big data is about having an understanding of what your relationship is with the people who are most important to you - and an awareness of the potential in that relationship."

Lastly, here's an excellent example of looking at customer data and then taking action. Juan Castro of West for Elavon shared an analogy from the early days of fast food: "Chains used to sell burgers, fries, and sodas separately, until the data showed that customers were buying all three nearly every time. The combo meal is a business improvement from that observation."

SHARE THIS: The problem isn't that you don't have data. It's that none of it connects. ~RestaurantDive #CX #CustomerServiceWeek #BrandExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Vecteezy/Shohor Ali.

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES 2026 featuring Joseph Lalonde

Following in the footsteps of eight previous series where thought leaders responded to questions on my blog over the last several years to discuss leadership, marketing, reading, and the Olympics, I'm thrilled to announce that it's time for my 9th series!

During the Fall season (each Monday from September 28th through December 20th), I'm welcoming a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. Today, Joseph Lalonde is my featured expert. Based in Michigan, Joe is experienced in all aspects of IT, leadership, project/sales, and design with a history of working with small businesses and individuals. He is also an award-winning leadership blogger ranked in the top 40 leadership blogs in the world, and his book "Reel Leadership" showcases the intersection of leadership and entertainment. As Joe says, "I love great stories and feel we all have a great story to tell."

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

JOSEPH LALONDE: The last book I read was "The Hoarder In You" by Robin Zasio. Zasio is a psychologist and has been featured on the show Hoarders. It's helped me understand why some of us collect and hoard items while others don't have the same compulsion. 

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

JOSEPH LALONDE: I'm really excited to read "X-Men: Elsewhen" by John Byrne. It's a graphic novel that revisits the X-Men after the Phoenix Saga. It's an alternative timeline and one Byrne had wanted originally, but his vision had been nixed by Marvel's leadership. 

QUESTION: With all the streaming services available, many works of fiction are now adapted into films or TV series. During the last year, have you watched a film or TV show and been impressed and/or inspired by the adaptation? (If you haven't watched any adaptations, are you looking forward to any currently in the planning or production phases?)

JOSEPH LALONDE: I watched "Project Hail Mary" when it was released in theaters. The film was adapted from the book of the same name by Andy Weir. The story was fun and engaging. It was a blast seeing the book brought to life.

QUESTION: If you're a fan of the TED LASSO series on Apple TV, have you watched the new season (that returned on August 5th)? If yes, what stands out about Ted's leadership lessons or leadership style from the new season? Alternatively, if you're not a fan of the show or have not yet watched it, is there another CURRENT TV show that showcases inspiring leadership?

JOSEPH LALONDE: As you mentioned, there are so many streaming services available to viewers today. Apple TV is not a service I subscribe to currently, so I'm missing out on the current Ted Lasso series. I have watched previous seasons and enjoyed them. I did notice quite a few leadership lessons from Ted. Here's one from a previous season: There's a team relationship between two players, Jamie and Roy. Roy is frustrated with Jamie because he's the hotshot, up-and-coming football player with a lot of attitude. He's good, great, in fact. However, he brings the team down because of his actions and attitude. Through the episodes so far, there's a great scene where Roy realizes he's been the Jamie of the team. He had the same type of attitude and opinion that he's seeing in the younger player.

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

JOSEPH LALONDE: I'd choose to have dinner with Dan Miller (1947-2024). He's the author who really set me on the path of personal development and self-improvement. He literally changed the course of my life. I'd love to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with him about his personal faith, how he overcame so many obstacles, and how he feels, knowing that he's impacted so many lives.

SHARE THIS: I've found so many books to be powerful, impactful, and life-changing. ~@josephlalonde #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Joe for participating in this year's fall back to reading series and for sharing inspiring recommendations! Until next time, happy reading!

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Mariana Serdynska/Shutterstock via Portland Monthly.

Meet Joe at this link:

https://www.jmlalonde.com

Read Joe's previous appearance here on my Blog:

WINTER OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES 2026 - Featuring Joseph Lalonde (February 13, 2026):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2026/02/winter-olympics-leadership-series-2026_01510336309.html

Check out these related recaps here on my Blog:

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025 (December 21, 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/highlights-of-fallbacktoreadingseries20.html

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2023 (January 31, 2024):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/01/highlights-of-my-fallbacktoreadingseries.html

Let's Celebrate Emily Warren Roebling on World Architecture Day!

Have you ever heard the name Emily Warren Roebling? If not, you definitely know the bridge that she's associated with - whether by walking across it in person or by seeing it in movies or Law & Order television shows. After her husband was incapacitated in an accident, Emily Warren Roebling took over supervising the construction of the bridge over New York's East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan that became known as the Brooklyn Bridge. So today, on World Architecture Day, let's celebrate this often overlooked member of the architecture history books.

According to History.com, "The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began with a freak accident. In late June 1869, John Augustus Roebling, the designer and builder of wire rope suspension bridges, was surveying his new project site in Lower Manhattan when an approaching ferry crushed his foot against some wooden pilings. Roebling died of tetanus three weeks later, and the job of chief engineer went to his eldest son, Washington Roebling, who had been his father's right-hand man for construction of the great bridge spanning the Ohio River in Cincinnati, as well as on the design of the new bridge.

Three years later, with construction well underway on what would be the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, and the first to use steel wires, Washington himself was incapacitated by "caisson disease" (now known as decompression sickness or "the bends"). With the chief engineer confined to his bed in his Brooklyn Heights home, his wife, Emily Warren Roebling, stepped up and steered the completion of one of the 19th century's most impressive architectural achievements."

According to Sacyr.com, "With her husband unable to work, Emily Warren Roebling assumed a crucial role: she managed her husband's communications, studied his plans, copied his specifications, and relayed instructions to assistant engineers. Washington described her as his "wisest counsellor" and "a woman of infinite tact." She visited the construction site daily, attended board meetings, and oversaw the project, all the while carefully concealing the extent of her involvement in order to protect her husband's reputation. Along the way, she learned about material strength, stress analysis, cable construction, and the mathematics of the catenary curve."

History.com further explained, "The day before its grand opening on May 24, 1883, Emily Warren Roebling earned the honor of driving the first carriage across the completed Brooklyn Bridge carrying a rooster as a symbol of victory. And her unconventional achievements were not limited to her role in the Brooklyn Bridge's construction. In 1899, at the age of 55, she graduated with high honors from the Woman's Law Class of New York University, making her among the first female lawyers in New York state, and wrote a prize-winning article in the Albany Law Journal arguing for greater equality for women in marriage."

In addition, according to Sacyr.com, "After the bridge's completion, she travelled alone to Europe, where she met Queen Victoria in London and attended the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II in Moscow. Upon her return, she gave lectures about her experiences in Russia for the Federation of Women's Clubs, becoming increasingly active in the fight for gender equality. She toured the country, speaking in defense of women's suffrage and social services for the poor, and urged women to study law."

From a personal branding perspective, despite advice in her early years that women needed no higher education, Emily Warren Roebling studied mathematics and science. Above all, she placed the importance of the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge plus her husband's personal brand above hers - truly admirable.

According to Natiba Guy-Clement, director of special collections at the Brooklyn Public Library's Center for Brooklyn History, "Being one of 12 kids, being the daughter of a politician, I think that she just had to have that level of empowerment within herself."

And CBS News reported, "Underneath the Brooklyn tower of the bridge is Emily Warren Roebling Plaza. Unveiled in 2021, the public green space is now used to see the engineering marvel up close."

Lastly, to quote the United Nations, “Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes, and violence, a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights, and opportunities for all. To get there, the world needs women at every table where decisions are being made.”

SHARE THIS: If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. ~Shirley Chisholm #WorldArchitectureDay #EmilyWarrenRoebling #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Britannica (Brooklyn Bridge) and Brooklyn Museum (Portrait of Emily Warren Roebling).

Check out these books and resources to learn more:

The Engineer's Wife: A Novel of the Brooklyn Bridge by Tracey Enerson Wood:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1728226252

Silent Builder: Emily Warren Roebling and the Brooklyn Bridge:

https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Builder-Warren-Roebling-Brooklyn/dp/1790626609/

Women of Steel and Stone: 22 Inspirational Architects, Engineers, and Landscape Designers:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1613736673

Read more from the American Society of Civil Engineers:

https://www.asce.org/about-civil-engineering/history-and-heritage/notable-civil-engineers/emily-warren-roebling

Read more from A Mighty Girl: The Woman Who Saved The Brooklyn Bridge:

https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=25975

Oppose Censorship During Banned Books Week!

If reading books is important to you and you enjoy the freedom of reading any book you want, then you know this week's significance: Banned Books Week takes place October 4-10, 2026.

Co-sponsored by the American Library Association and Banned Books Week Coalition, 2026's theme is "Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read."

According to Banned Books Week, "The struggle against book bans is too immense to capture in a single image. This year's Banned Books Week campaign features three illustrations showing how libraries and access to information enrich our lives. The artwork from award-winning illustrators Hyesu Lee, Loveis Wise, and Mikey Burton embraces joy and creativity as acts of resilience, reminding our communities that a handful of people running organized censorship campaigns should not be allowed to dictate what the rest of us can read."

According to American Library Association President Sam Helmick. "Banned Books Week is a celebration of the freedom to read and the joy that comes from discovering stories that expand our understanding of ourselves and one another. Every person has the right to seek information and choose books without censorship. When we say "Let Books Be," we're showing up for readers everywhere and reaffirming that libraries are for everyone."

Barbara Stripling, chair of the Banned Books Week Coalition, added, "We must let books be a window into ourselves and others, a door to new ideas and possibilities, and a path to full participation in our society."

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~Kristin Harmel #TheParisDaughter #BannedBooksWeek #DebbieLaskeysBlog

And Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop warned, "When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part."

DID YOU KNOW?

Banned Books Week launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of book challenges in libraries, schools, and bookstores.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

(1) Write a letter to your state and federal elected officials and let them know you oppose censorship and support public schools, libraries, diverse books, and the value they bring to your community.

(2) Read a banned book.

(3) Read a banned picture book with a child.

(4) Stand for the freedom to read by joining literacy and advocacy organizations to fight censorship and book banning efforts nationally and internationally.

(5) Make a financial contribution to an organization that fights censorship and book banning.

SHARE THIS: Banned Books Week highlights open access to information and brings together the entire book community (librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers) in shared support of the freedom to seek and express ideas. ~Banned Books Week #BannedBooksWeek #ReadingInspires #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: As we look toward the next 250 years, the choice is ours. We can let our libraries fade, viewed as charming relics of a bygone era. Or, we can choose to invest in them as a bedrock of our future. Let us decide, right now, that they are not optional. They are the very breath of a free society and they are worth fighting for. ~Sam Helmick, President of American Library Association #BannedBooksWeek #ReadingInspires #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Getty Images and Banned Books Week Coalition.

Read more about Banned Books Week 2026:

https://pen.org/banned-books-week

Read "How Will You Recognize BANNED BOOKS WEEK?" (October 5, 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/10/how-will-you-recognize-banned-books-week.html

Best Social Media Post of the Month of September 2026

How many social media posts do you recall? Do some go viral because they are for charity, like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Or do some go viral because they happened at the right moment in time, like my favorite tweet of all time, the Oreo tweet when the lights went out at the 2013 Super Bowl? Or do some go viral and become memorable simply because they're funny?

In a monthly series on my blog appearing during the first week of each month (hard to believe I've been writing these posts since February 2025!), I share my choice for the best social media post of the preceding month. My choice may appear on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.

According to Google, "The best social media post of the month is typically one that effectively combines high engagement with relevance to current events, holidays, or trending topics, while also aligning with your brand identity and authentically connecting with your audience. This could include a thought-provoking question, a relatable story, a visually appealing image, a timely meme, or a behind-the-scenes look, depending on your platform and target demographic."

Without further ado, the post that earns my applause as the best social media post of the month from September 2026 was a post on September 4th on Instagram by 3M's Post-it Notes, everyone's favorite adhesive note brand. I am such a big fan and user of Post-it Notes that I wish I had invented them!

The post's message was, "You bring the burgers. We'll bring the Post-it Notes."

Since the post appeared on the Friday before Labor Day weekend when many people would be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, the post was especially timely. An image of a hamburger comprised of colorful Post-it pads (green to represent lettuce, red to represent ketchup, yellow to represent mustard, and orange to represent meat) within a top and bottom of a roll accompanied the message, as well as containers of ketchup and mustard.

The "Goldfish Smiles" account commented, "Taking notes."

The "Lewis Bake Shop" account commented, "We've got the buns."

The "Scotch Painters Tape" account liked the post.

The "Hammermill" (paper) account liked the post.

The "Staples" (store) account liked the post.

Brands that can align their products or services with an event, holiday, or trending news that everyone is talking about have the potential to be memorable. And 3M's Post-it Notes definitely succeeded in my book!

Check out these fun facts about Post-it Notes:

(1) Post-it Notes had their nationwide launch on April 6, 1980.

(2) The iconic canary yellow color happened because yellow scrap paper was the only kind available during early prototyping.

(3) There are 30 colors of Post-it Notes today.

(4) Post-it Notes are sold in more than 150 countries today.

(5) In 2019, a Post-it Note app was launched. Instead of teams spending hours transcribing notes after a brainstorm, teams can now instantly capture and share notes with the team without recaps or delays.

Which brand will stand out during October, and why? Swing by #DebbieLaskeysBlog during the first week of November to read about my choice.

SHARE THIS: Brands that align their products or services with trending news have the potential to be memorable. ~@DebbieLaskeyMBA #SocialMediaMarketingStrategy #BrandExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: 3M/Post-it Notes via Instagram.