Communicate With Confidence!®: Booher Banter

Bush’s State-of-the-Union Speech: An Analysis

Political pundits will be analyzing the President’s State-of-the-Union speech today as to length, applause, and flavor.  But politics aside, my interest as a communication consultant runs to the hows and whys rather than the whats.  Not what were the programs, policies, and people mentioned, but how did he shape his message, how did he phrase this or that reference to make it memorable, why did he include X or omit Y.

For starters, let’s just say the speech didn’t win any ribbons, ranking up there with his top three:  his 9-11 speech, his axis-of-evil speech, or his second inaugural speech that laid out the vision for his second term.  This one lacked a theme.  It sounded more like a list of talking points organized around issues or problems—those solved, those partially solved, and those set before Congress to be solved.

One exception:  When he got to the bullet point about terrorism, he contrasted “images that have inspired us” with “images that have sobered us.”  Had each of his “problem/issues” bullet points had such an organizational theme or structure, the speech would have been more than a briefing.

But that’s not to say that the several speechwriters’ handiwork didn’t show through here and there.  Alliterative phrases were laced throughout:
—“In this election year, let’s show them [the world] we can compete for votes and cooperate for results.”
—Judges should rule “by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel.”
—“decades of dictatorship” (speaking of Iraq)
—“calling of our conscious” (referring to genocide in Sudan)

The best line in the speech proved to be his comment regarding his intention not to let the current tax cuts expire.  “Some have said they don’t mind paying higher taxes. I welcome their enthusiasm.  The IRS accepts both checks and money orders.”  The line met hearty laughter from both sides of the aisle.

Finally, a speech is as much about the man as the message—about delivery as well as content.  Bush delivers the tough-guy lines best, “I’ll veto it.”  He delivers the straight lines like he’s chopping wood, slinging ax against tree stump time after time, sometimes hitting the precise target, and sometimes having the ax head bounce to the side just a little short or long of the targeted pause. 

And he looks equally relieved when he’s finished.

Brilliant Banter—The Value of Talking It Through

Our latest Get Your Book Published event January 10-12, 2008, wrapped up this past weekend.  Authors left here with exciting projects ready to add to their already distinguished product and service lines.  Independent consultants, employees of large organizations, novelists—they all understood the value of writing a quality book quickly and that the burden of marketing primarily falls to them as authors, not their publishers.

But the most amazing thing was NOT the gem of the book ideas presented—although there were many.  It was not the book titles created—although titles flowed readily.   It was not the clever marketing plans developed—and some were spectacular.   It was not spin-off products developed from the book ideas—although they popped like corn.

Decidedly, the real rush for all of us gathered in the room became the growing excitement in brainstorming ideas with brilliant colleagues committed to helping each other think through ideas until they became crystal clear and ripe for the writing.  The energy became thick enough to slice.  At five in the afternoon, the group felt as charged up as if they’d just arrived at 8:00 a.m.  Passionate people get pumped about communicating ideas clearly and compellingly.

Thus, the value of talk.  Talk too much and you talk your book (or any idea) away.  You spend all your energy on the talk, and have none left for the project or the book.  But focused talked with a skilled facilitator and brilliant colleagues committed to your goal can crystallize thinking on your core message, plan, or goals.

That’s what happened this weekend at our Get Your Book Published event.  And that’s why I’m dog tired today—and why I totally love my job.   

(If you have a book you’re itching to write, call for information on our fall event: 1.800.342-6621.)

Resolutions Galore—But Where Are the Resources?

For the next month, you’re going to be inundated with TV segments, magazine articles, ezines, and blogs telling you how to “Become A New You,”  “How to Be the Best You,” or “Make This Year Your Best Ever."   It’s not that most of us don’t want or need a fresh new start each year—even an extreme makeover occasionally.  It’s just that once we get past the resolutions, we often find ourselves short on resources and time.

So I thought I’d pass along three publications particularly useful as you tackle your 2008 personal growth goals.

Executive Excellence Publishing provides some of the best resources for business and thought leaders today.  Editor-in-Chief, Ken Shelton, publishes Leadership Excellence, Personal Excellence, and Sales & Service Excellence.  Preview the magazines at www.LeaderExcel.com.  Each month these print and online publications are chockfull of informative, practical, and inspirational articles that cover the gambit of topics in leadership and sales/customer service.

Topics in Personal Excellence spill over into an ever wider arena—everything from health and fitness to mediating conflict to parenting to wealth building to leaving a lasting legacy.

Contributing authors in all three magazines are among the top thinkers and leaders in personal development today. 

Each year the magazines publish “Top 100” lists based on eight criteria:  preparation, character, personality, performance, experience, expression, and influence.   Take a look at the complete “2007 Best in Leadership Development” list, and you’ll certainly see the gurus you’d expect to find there—plus maybe a name or two who are less familiar and with whom you’d like to become acquainted in 2008 through their books, TV programs, websites, or conference speeches.

A handful of those named to each list contribute articles on a regular basis to these three publications.  From time to time, I’m honored to have my articles appear there as well.  The staff at Executive Excellence puts out excellent publications. 

In fact, these may be just the resources you need to help keep you on target with your New Year’s resolutions.