Speech Tip: Text vs Style Great speeches always involve a great message. Personal charisma can help tell that message well, but it is the substance you need to be extraordinary. We envision great speakers as having amazing podium skills. They do, but what sets them apart is something quieter: the writing of their speech itself. […]
Speech Tip: Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! (Speeches Aren’t Safe) Speeches aren’t safe. To the contrary. Speakers have been killed because of how afraid others were/are of their message. Free Speech This isn’t a free speech post. Free speech, as I see it, is the legal unencumbrance of what we can say and where. True free […]
Speech Tip: Eulogizing President Bush The eulogy for President George Bush is loaded with challenges. I wrote similar things when John McCain died. Eulogies about public figures such as President Bush, 41, are hard for several reasons. Death is always personal, but the death of a president is always public. How do we reconcile that? […]
Speech Tip: Politics as Unusual: Love, Not Hate in Political Speeches Politics. Can’t live with ’em. Can’t… I just can’t. I will write speeches for good people who want good things who are willing to say it all in a good way. There are two major ways to write a political speech. Ask most people, […]
Presidential Alert Update: Bid now (through GoDaddy Auctions). I own the Presidential Alert domain. It is for sale. http://PresidentialAlert.com It redirects to a page I have on voicemail and text blasts. I am open to selling it if someone offers me an embarrassingly high amount of money. More information. I will only sell it to […]
Adventures in Speech Writing I have a sexy job. It isn’t really, but that’s the impression some people have. Too many movies romanticize my type of work. In the course of conversation, someone might say, “So, what do you do?” There’s a range of reasons people ask such a thing — maybe they want to […]
The TIME 100: The Most Influential People of 2018 list was released. Here’s how they sorted out who made the cut. Below are my thoughts on such things. Some of these leaders are true leaders, those whose influence will push us into a better world. Others are media darlings, those who, in this moment, intrigue […]
Speech Tip: Simple Power: Senator Barack Obama’s Speech at 2004 DNC Convention was effective. The question is why and what can be learned for use in our speeches. As I’ve often been quoted, speeches are theater. So is was with this one. Obama delivered some of the most impactful words in a campaign. He seemed […]
Speech Tip: Simple Power: Senator Barack Obama’s Speech at 2004 DNC Convention was effective. The question is why and what can be learned for use in our speeches. As I’ve often been quoted, speeches are theater. So is was with this one. Obama delivered some of the most impactful words in a campaign. He seemed […]