6 Abraham Lincoln quotes to inspire communicators

This year, the acclaimed film “Lincoln” leads the Oscar race with 12 nominations, and it has grossed nearly $221 million worldwide at the box office since its release in November.

Celebrate the 16th president’s birthday with a few bits of his wisdom that have been inspiring communicators for nearly two centuries.

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax.”

Preparation is a key ingredient for success. Careful planning and adequate preparation help to ensure a project goes smoothly. You won’t get far trying to sink a dull ax into a tree trunk—nor will you produce impressive results with a dull communications plan.

“Reputation is like fine china: Once broken it’s very hard to repair.”

This is a no-brainer for PR pros, whose job it is to manage and uphold reputations—and occasionally piece together a reputation that took a nose dive from the top shelf of the proverbial china cabinet. PR people aren’t kidding when they advise clients to create a plan—before a crisis occurs—to minimize damage and protect reputations.

“Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.”