You’ve been 'rainchecked.' Are they busy – or blowing you off?
Plus: Top news of the week — New state budget released — Lockdown at 2 Charlotte schools — Plans for a Charlotte law school — NoDa Y deal falls through — Atrium CEO writes memoir
Good morning! Today is Saturday, September 23, 2023. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger’s Weekend Edition.
Need to subscribe — or upgrade your Ledger e-newsletter subscription? Details here.
Today's Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by SouthernEEZ Landscaping:
SouthernEEZ is the year-round choice of HOA & multi-family communities, commercial & warehouse properties, and municipalities across the Charlotte-Fort Mill-Rock Hill metro. Named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing U.S. companies (2022 & 2023).
Deciphering business euphemisms is a fine art. But perhaps we should simply be more direct?
by Colleen Brannan
After trying to get on someone’s lunch calendar for months, a friend who’s in business development received a one-word response: “Raincheck?”
Experience tells me, and I told her, if someone says “raincheck” but doesn’t offer other dates, it’s really a polite “no.” Frankly, everyone eats, so if they don’t suggest an alternative, it’s not something they want to do — at least not right now.
Of course, we can always make room for people being busy, but three attempts, like three strikes, and I believe you’re out.
This got me thinking about other mixed messages I’ve either received or given, including:
➡️ The dreaded thumbs-up👍: For me, there’s nothing worse than when I send a smart, well-worded text and it’s met with a thumbs-up emoji. What does that mean? OK? You like what I said? You don’t even have time to type the word “yes” or “no?” Better than a thumbs down? In some cases, I have been guilty of reading too much into these canned reactions but how do you know? This can be especially difficult to translate if you don’t know one another well, which is why text is not a good medium for doing business unless you are teammates.
➡️ “That’s one idea”: One of my favorite bosses of all time used to listen intently to my ideas, delivered with great enthusiasm, and when I was finished, he’d say “That’s one idea” …usually followed by “but not one we’re going to pursue.” Ouch! It became a big joke between us but he got high marks for being a great listener and delivering a “no” without crushing my creativity so I would keep those ideas coming. This is the same man who told me “even the blind squirrel finds an occasional nut,” so evidently some of my ideas were well-received!
➡️ “Let’s take this offline”: Usually said to an individual in a group setting, it either truly means “this requires more discussion but not here” or “I’m tired of talking about this, let’s move on.” Either way, it’s typically a show-stopper with no promise the conversation will continue at a later date. Best to ask for clarity and next steps before the meeting ends.
➡️ “I don’t carry business cards”: Nowadays, many people don’t carry business cards, but if someone plans to get in touch after you first meet, they usually get your contact information on the spot by putting your number in their phone or Linking in. If said at a networking event, it likely means “I don’t want to be added to your company newsletter list tomorrow.” I recently learned we all have a personal LinkedIn QR code found to the right of “search.” Click on it and whoever you’re talking to can scan and connect instantly. It’s so easy, that if you offer up your QR code and the other person doesn’t care to scan it, you know you’ve been dissed.
Certain tired phrases definitely need to be put out to pasture. These include “hit the ground running,” “reinvent the wheel” and “win-win.” All too often, we hear about win-win situations, when in fact, the mere mention of that term often suggests there will be no winners. However, one I hope never falls out of favor is “elephant in the room.” That one cracks me up every time.
From the department of direct: Everyone could save a lot of time and angst if we started saying what we mean the first time. Let’s practice:
Q: Would you like to have lunch?
A: No, I’m not going to be able to do that anytime soon, but try me again in a couple months.
Q: Can we grab a 15-minute coffee?
A: No, but I might be open to a virtual latte. (This acknowledges that there’s no such thing as a “quick coffee,” given that you have to drive there, order, meet and drive back.)
Q: Did you get my email?
A: Yes I did, and I will get back to you if I am interested. No need to follow up.
Q: Can I stop by your office to tell you more about our services?
A: That’s not something we’re in the market for right now, but we’ll certainly keep you in mind if the need arises.
Business waters are tricky enough to navigate without wondering what someone means. I’ve found the key to success is being responsive and honest about your time and interest. Polite but firm communication is critical.
And to those on the receiving end, it’s best to respect the message — even if it’s not the one you wanted.
Colleen Brannan, who owns BRANSTORM PR, likes to “think outside the box” and “push the envelope” regularly. Email her with your favorite business euphemisms, or follow her on Instagram (Colleen_Brannan), Twitter (@colleenbrannan) and LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/ccbrannan)
Today’s supporting sponsor is the 2023 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon:
You can do this! (Yes, YOU!) There’s an event for every goal and pace at the 2023 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon: Full marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, or the Chick-fil-A 5k! It all happens Saturday, November 4. REGISTER NOW
This week in Charlotte: Elon to open law school in South End; State budget brings lots of changes; Johnston Y deal falls through
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
The upsides of a Charlotte law school: (Ledger) With Elon University announcing plans to open a law school in Charlotte, we checked in with veteran Charlotte lawyers about the impact the new school will have on the legal community, and heard from Elon officials about how their program will differ from that of the former Charlotte School of Law, which closed in disgrace in 2017.
2 south Charlotte schools on lockdown: (WFAE) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating a hoax call about an armed person that led to the lockdown of Ardrey Kell High School and Community House Middle School in south Charlotte on Friday.
Politics
State budget: (Ledger) The newly released North Carolina state budget includes accelerated tax cuts, a new tax on ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, expanded private school vouchers, funding for a River District tennis tournament, raises for state workers, Medicaid expansion and various local grants for organizations and projects in the Charlotte area. Gov. Roy Cooper said he will let the budget become law without his signature.
Public records threat? (WRAL) The new state budget in North Carolina includes a provision that allows state legislators to determine which records in their offices are public, sparking concerns among open government activists who view this as a major blow to transparency.
Cotham brings millions to Mint Hill: (WFAE) Mint Hill has received significant funding in the state's new budget, including $750,000 for its police department and $16M for a new community center. The town is home to state Rep. Tricia Cotham, who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party this spring.
Local news
Renovating StarMed building for foster children: (Ledger) Mecklenburg County commissioners have approved a $3.9M expenditure to renovate a building owned by StarMed in west Charlotte, providing a solution to the issue of foster children sleeping in county offices due to a severe shortage of foster homes. The Ledger exposed the issue of children sleeping on office floors in an article in July.
Airport workers march: (WFAE) Some 300 people marched in support of Charlotte airport workers Tuesday aimed at improving pay and working conditions for subcontracted airline workers, particularly those from Jetstream Ground Services, which cleans American Airlines’ jet cabins.
Business
NoDa Y deal falls through: (Observer) A deal for an apartment developer to buy the Johnston YMCA in NoDa has fallen through, and the Y branch will continue to operate and won’t close at the end of 2023 as previously thought. The YMCA of Greater Charlotte is still seeking a buyer for the property.
New Charlotte ‘unicorn’: (Biz Journal) A clean-energy software company called Palmetto is moving from Charleston to a new headquarters on Camden Road in South End. The company was valued in 2021 at more than $1B, which is known as a “unicorn” in startup lingo. The office can accommodate 200 workers.
Good reads
‘Papertown’ perseveres through mill closure: (Ledger) Three months after the long-standing paper mill closed in Canton, N.C., former mill workers are adapting to new jobs as the town strives to preserve its identity as a mill town.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Q&A with Johnson & Wales president: Richard Mathieu, president of the Johnson & Wales University Charlotte campus, sat down with Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling to talk about his vision for Johnson & Wales Charlotte, how the campus is growing as enrollments decline at many small universities nationwide, and whether he’s become more of a foodie since taking the job.
Start the presses: Statewide newspaper North State Journal bought The Charlotte Observer’s printing facility from the Observer’s parent company, McClatchy Co., last week.
New park in SouthPark: Anne O. Moffat Park is opening in the SouthPark neighborhood, owned and maintained by the Sharon Towers retirement community. It’s a half-acre park located between Fairview and Sharon View roads.
CMS superintendent shares family background: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Crystal Hill shared her family story with the Hood Hargett Breakfast Club meeting Tuesday.
Charity spotlight: Baby Bundles provides baby items to expectant and new mothers in Mecklenburg County who live at or below the poverty line.
Atrium CEO writes memoir: Atrium Health CEO Gene Woods has written a memoir, "Health, Hope and Healing for All: Toward More Affordable and Equitable Healthcare."
Ilva Lucchesi journeyed from the picturesque town of Bagni di Lucca in Italy through World War II to Milwaukee and beyond with her beloved husband, Albert. Lucchesi recently passed away at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy of love, resilience and a passion for life.
Reader mailbag: Readers weigh in on past Transit Times news, including comments on the light rail, speed cushions and road widening.
A difficult path to the playoffs: Charlotte FC faces a challenging task in making the playoffs, needing to secure wins in several of its remaining matches to have a shot at a top-nine finish in the Eastern Conference.
Hats off to The Ledger’s Premium members — supporters of independent local journalism
Media can be a tough business — especially local media. It is an industry undergoing a lot of change.
The Ledger has settled on a business model that we think is primed to succeed in this new era. We are building a foundation on paid subscriptions. It’s a refreshingly simple proposition: We produce something people want, and they pay us for it. In our case, the product is smart, original information from experienced reporters and writers, delivered in a modern format without annoying pop-up ads and auto-play videos.
We’re grateful to the 2,600+ Charlotteans who are paying Ledger members, who understand the importance of trustworthy local sources of information.
And we are especially grateful to our 60+ Premium subscribers. They pay $379 a year, receive paid subscriptions for up to 6 email addresses, and are thanked monthly in this newsletter for their commitment to helping us deliver independent local journalism to the community. We can’t do it without them.
So many thanks today and every day to our Premium members:
Ally Financial
ATCO Properties
Arden 55+ Living
Axios Charlotte
Carroll Financial
Catapult
CBRE
Charlotte Center City Partners
Charlotte Pipe & Foundry
Chernoff Newman
Corporate Information Technologies
Crown Castle
Drew Long Productions
Dyer & Co.
Eagle Commercial
Foundation For The Carolinas
Greenway Wealth Advisors LLC
HopeWay
Interact Studio
Jessica Grier
JLL Capital Markets
Ann Doss Helms
John Miller Law Firm, PLLC
K&L Gates LLP
Kearns Properties
Levine Properties
McGuireWoods LLP
Meagher Real Estate
Meeting Street Properties
MVA Public Affairs
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Next Stage
Nichols Architecture, PA
NorthMarq
Northwood Office
Pink Mentor Network
The Providence Group
Queens University of Charlotte
Rachel Sutherland Communications
SignatureFD
Chris Skibinski
Social Pet Hotel and Daycare
SouthernEEZ Landscaping
SouthPark Community Partners
SPARK Publications
Starrett Law Firm
Sycamore Financial Planning, LLC
Tassel Capital Management Inc.
Thrift CRES
T.R. Lawing Realty Inc.
Tribek Properties
Trinity Partners
The Village on Morehead
Worth Supply
Joan Zimmerman
For more information on paid memberships to The Ledger, including Premium memberships, check out this post. If you or your company wants in as a Ledger Premium member, you can take care of that here:
The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news through e-newsletters and on a website. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing, or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.
➡️ Opt in or out of different newsletters on your “My Account” page.
➡️ Learn more about The Charlotte Ledger
Like what we are doing? Feel free to forward this along and to tell a friend.
Social media: On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Sponsorship information/customer service: email support@cltledger.com.
Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks