Wander around Mind & Media and you’ll find plenty of electronic antiques—outdated TVs, radios, record players, and cameras. For us, this is more than an eclectic collection; it’s a constant reminder that communications technology is always evolving. One thing that doesn’t evolve, however, is the importance of communicating with clairity and impact. The medium, in short, will inevitably change; the message, however, remains essential.

Visiting my parents not long ago, I dug up the old 8-track player I had as a kid. As luck would have it, I also found a couple

favorite tapes: Billy Joel’s 52nd Street and KISS’ Double Platinum. There was no question that I had to bring the player to work.

Back at the office, I plugged in that player for the first time in almost 26 years, and it lit up like the past quarter-century hadn’t even happened. I decided to roll the dice and put in the Billy Joel album. On came “Big Shot” and there I was, tapping my foot and singing the lyrics.

That’s when it hit me again: It’s the message, not the medium! It didn’t matter if it was on an iPod or an 8-track. Of course, it was pretty awesome that my beloved player was still rocking.

If you want to know more about the 8-track medium, check out 8-Track Heaven.