Loitering one day in my office I decided to look for words that denigrate styles of speech. I found 84 words that did just that. For example, “That guy is a blabber mouth.” The next day I looked for words… Read More »The Speech We Need Now
Unfortunately many people have had–and will have–occasion to write a letter of condolence to a friend, relative, colleague or acquaintance who has suffered the death of a loved one to Covid-19. It’s an uncomfortable task, but you shouldn’t put it… Read More »The Hardest Letter to Write
Bill Bradley, also known as Dollar Bill, the Ivy League star of the now bedraggled New York Knicks, once said, “When you’re not practicing, someone somewhere is, and when the two of you meet, assuming roughly equal ability, the other… Read More »Don’t be Afraid of Rehearsal. Professionals Rehearse.
Vervet monkeys have three confirmed predators: leopards, eagles, and pythons. With that many enemies, they are always on guard for danger, and when they perceive a threat, they give an alarm that is specific to the threat. If it’s an… Read More »Vervet Monkeys to the Rescue
Use analogies and metaphors to your advantage. To remind you: an analogy uses the word “like,” as in “this drug is like a protective shield around the cells.” A metaphor links an idea to an unrelated object, as in, “Our… Read More »The Power of Analogies and Metaphors
Gary Forman is a friend of mine and a really good speech writer. He came over to my place to get my feedback on a speech he was working on. It was short and fierce, and so was he–a fierce… Read More »Youie Youness of You