LeBron James and Lindsay Lohan.
Ouch, I know, that hurt to read. Your home pages, nightly news, and even email inbox have probably been filled with these two names over the past month and you're bound to be sick of it. I am too, but I did notice something regarding these two now infamous names, that separates the nauseatingly obnoxious stories of both media darlings.
Lindsay Lohan hasn't always been a mess, even though it seems that way. She started as a child actor (which many say was where she went wrong to begin with) and was America's sweetheart in The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday, and Mean Girls. Then she hit puberty, started dating creeps and going to nightclubs, and the next thing we know, she's getting caught driving drunk and possessing cocaine. Since she lost her damn mind, it seems like all we've heard is another mistake she's made, and how she's somehow still walking around L.A..
LeBron James on the other hand, has always been a hero. A stand-up man who came from nothing to become the biggest basketball player in the world. His life has gotten continuously better, and some can argue that his success isn't going to stop now, even with his city-altering decision to play for Miami instead of Cleveland.
What do these two seemingly opposites have in common? Coverage.
Both people have been unrelentingly in the news for the past month. Lohan is in jail, and she's still covering our television screens! What makes their stories different, is the way coverage was attained, and the outcome.
James coverage was calculated, very thought out, and controlled to the miniscule details. He set up a live announcement that was even titled "The Decision" on ESPN to tell the world where he would be playing next season. It was PR at it's finest. Or at least, that's probably what James was thinking.
In reality, he got the logistics and planning right. What he failed to realize, is that he was missing tact and heart. By announcing to the world on live television that he was leaving his hometown to play with two other superstars in Miami, it felt like a slap in the face to all of his fans. Sure, I may be biased since I myself am a Cleveland-er, but his idea to televise his decision has been critiqued by announcers and experts every day since it aired. It's not just me that was a little ticked off.
Then we take a look at Lohan. The girl didn't set up a press conference to announce she had to wear an alcohol detecting ankle bracelet or that she was sentenced to jail. We all just knew. Her life has always been in the tabloids, and it seems we know everything and more about the details of her daily routine. It's gross, and it's annoying, yet we can't look away. While Lindsay certainly didn't do any planning for her media coverage, she certainly didn't do anything to stop it for the past 5 years. Because of her actions previous to her sentencing, we don't feel bad for her. The media coverage is making her out to be what we like to see in Hollywood...a failure.
So what can we learn from both of these mistakes in the public eye?
To never lose the importance of careful planning and outside assistance. James and Lohan both made mistakes. They weren't of the same caliber, but could have been avoided if they had handled them differently.
We may not all be royal messes like Lindsay Lohan, or a self-proclaimed "King" of basketball. But we can take their lives and apply to our own individual professional life. It's important to remember that we can never lose sight of who we are affecting when we make a professional or life decision. Whether it is an entire city, or just your own well-being, don't forget that decisions have repercussions, and it's up to you to look at all angles to ensure you're doing the right thing.
So do your co-workers and peers a favor. Don't hold any press conferences for news that doesn't deserve it, and don't let your personal life spiral into a story that is more exciting than you are.
If we don't ever hear of James or Lohan again after tonight, at least we can learn that much.
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