After videotaping the Sorensen keynote I took the opportunity to engage in some good old-fashioned audio interviewing. There was a line of well over 150 people – half the audience – waiting patiently for Mr. Sorensen to autograph copies of his latest book, Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History

I asked some of these speechwriters from around the country what they thought of the keynote speech they had just heard.

To hear what they had to say, click on the podcast icon below.

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Last month I attended an introductory evening on Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). It was taught by Jeff Slayter of the World’s Hidden Masters publishing company.The course promised that the techniques were for applying NLP, easily and professionally in business. To survive in a retracted economy only those with top leadership skills and extraordinary ability to create results will thrive.

Here’s Jeff’s infomercial:

World’s Hidden Masters is a leadership training organization offering cutting edge education for group and corporate settings. The content of our workshops are a culmination of a decade of world travel interviewing the top executives, coaches, investors and professionals on the models and systems they have found to be the most effective in creating results in business and financial growth through investments. Using a combination of proprietary models in business & financial systems, neuro linguistics, executive leadership tools, collaborative systems & movement analysis, we train executives, investors and professionals on how to create unexpected and sustainable bottom line results in their businesses and investments.

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Jeff is holding another introductory evening in San Francisco at 6:30pm on February 24th.

I asked Jeff how and why NLP is useful for professional speakers. To hear what he told me, click on the podcast icon below.

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Thanks to Devon for an extensive list tips on podcasting: Part one and Part two.

Charlie Krackeler has been a professional speaker since 1990. His background as a successful real estate practitioner, manager of a large real estate brokerage office and the Director of Training for one of the nation’s largest real estate companies led him to become of California’s most popular continuing education seminar speakers.

Charlie holds a Master of Science (MS) degree in law and public policy from California University of Pennsylvania. And, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in history from Gonzaga University. He is a real estate broker, active investor, expert witness in real estate related cases and a mediator. Charlie has had more continuing education programs approved by the California Department of Real Estate than any other single individual in the State of California, and was rated a top evaluated speaker by the California Association of Realtors State Faculty five (5) years running.

From 2004-08 Charlie was elected and served as President of the California Real Estate Education Association (CREEA). In his continuing education seminars and negotiation seminars he has become known as one of the real estate industry’s most popular and entertaining seminar leaders. He is a regular on KRON Channel 4 news giving updates on the real estate market and hosted a popular radio program on a major bay area station.

Extra curricular activities Charlie enjoys include running, tennis, animals, fine dining and of course gossiping.

Mr. Krackeler’s company, Charlie Krackeler Presents, is an approved provider for real estate seminars by the Department of Real Estate on a diversity of topics. Charlie’s dedication to education, self improvement, achieving personal goals and being at the top of your game regardless of one’s chosen path, is what puts Charlie at the top of his game. Real Estate Professionals and Speaker Colleagues have given him the official nickname of the “C.E. King.”

Charlie Krackeler can be reached at (650) 941-4321 or by e-mail charlie@charliekrackelerpresents.com.

I asked Charlie to explain how speaking has helped his real estate business and what he is looking forward to learning from the 2009 NSA/NC Pro-Track class. To hear what he told me, double-click on the podcast icon below.

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Catherine Athans, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, is the author of several well-received books. She is a frequent guest lecturer on topics, which enable people to improve the quality of their lives. The recipient of several humanitarian awards, she is the founder of the Morgan Manor Foundation. Morgan manor donates to and supports the working poor in Santa Clara County, California. Dr. Athans wrote Make Your Dreams Come True Now! to supplement her series of lecturers entitled, How to Manifest Your Wishes, Dreams and Desires

Make Your Dreams Come True Now! supports our journey of discovery in terms of:

• Let go the lies – distinguish face from fiction.
• Get back on the path to love.
• Benefit from great teachers’ principles.
• Learn universal principles that operate just under the surface of life.
• Grow in your family relationships and have more satisfying social relationships.
• Find the healing power in your words.
• Re-establish hope for your life.
• Gain the life that God – the Source – meant for you to have.

In 2003, Catherine was a delegate to the global Peace Initiative for Women at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. There she lectured on How to Teach Children Peaceful Means of Communication.

She can be reached at catherine@angelsisland.com

Pro-Track Profile

To hear her discuss her book and experience with the NSA/NC Pro-Track Program, click on the podcast icon below.

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During my recent visit to the Toastmasters Conference in Oakland I was pleased to run into the 2000 World Champion of Public Speaking – Ed Tate. Ed won Toastmasters highest award – a world-wide contest open to all 175,000 members of Toastmasters International. He’s now an internationally known keynote speaker and fellow member of the National Speakers Association. He’s earned a reputation as the “speaker who energizes, educates, and entertains.” He has spoken professionally in 46 states and 10 countries, and on 4 continents. Ed is also a successful trainer and author.

I took the opportunity to ask Ed what are the three most important pieces of advice he has for business leaders who speak. I also asked him if he could remember the first time he delivered a speech. To hear what he told me, click on the podcast icon below.

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The 2008 Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference taking place November 16-19 in Sacramento, is focused on understanding the nature of individual and organizational behavior and decision making and using that knowledge to accelerate our transition to an energy-efficient and low carbon economy.

The Conference brings together a diverse group of policymakers, social scientists, program implementers, media, and energy experts to explore the practical application of social and behavioral insights to address our climate challenges. The goal is to achieve viable solutions for meeting long-term energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by improving the design, adoption, and continued effectiveness of policies, programs, technologies, and individual/organizational actions.

I met with an attendee, Mike Olson, who gave me an update on the importance of the behavioral aspects of climate change and energy consumption today. He highlighted why it’s important to make energy efficiency fun and the role communications plays in making people aware of the issues. To hear what Mike had to say, click on the podcast icon below.

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Think for a moment of corporate America in terms of Medieval England.

This is of course quite ridiculous. We’ve come a such a long way since the 14th Century. Back in the Dark Ages literacy was at all-time low. A minority of the population held a passport and had traveled overseas. The rabble was distracted by jousting, feasting and Mystery Plays. And the King gave speeches no-one listened to.

I can’t possibly imagine what this era of history has in common with our own.

But what if? What if we did imagine?

What roles would we all play? What do the characters in the Canterbury Tales, or Monty Python and the Holy Grail tell us about life today?

Obviously the CEO is the King (or, in rare cases, the Queen). An enlightened monarch or raging despot ruling over the organization. The EVPs and SVPs are the Barons at Court, consumed by intrigue and power plays. Sales managers are the Knights, conquering new territory. The staff are serfs and peasants, laboring in cubicle farms.

What about the speechwriter? What roles best suit the speechwriter in this Medieval analogy?

Actually, there’s quite a number which fit the job description.

For starters, how about the speechwriter as the Motley Fool?

The Motley Fool

The fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down,
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning ’round.
– The Beatles: Fool on the Hill

The Fool in the Medieval Court stands behind King’s throne. While Barons and Knights give measured advice the Fool whispers in the King’s ear “That’s boring. Rubbish! Claptrap! The people won’t buy it. You’ll have to spice it up to keep their attention at the Guild Hall Luncheon tomorrow. Make ’em laugh my liege. Tell ’em a story.”

The Fool adds Laughter! Humor! Interest! He has King’s ear, for the moment. The King tolerates him (just) and values his fresh point of view.

The role of the Motley Fool is politically cool. You get to hang out with the powerful and mighty in the land. You might even spend time with the King on the Corporate Jet. But never forget that you’re the only person in the room without 5,000 serfs reporting to you and a quarterly number to make.

Screw up and it’s “Off with his head!”

As Robert Schlesinger said about his role in JFK’s White House, speechwriters counter the “diplomatic blandness” the State Department bureaucracy produced.

Lessons for Speechwriters as Fools

• Step outside the corporate bureaucracy.
• Look at issues and topics with fresh eyes.
• Inject humor, levity, tell stories – audiences love it.
• Have the courage to speak frankly to the powerful.
• Don’t show fear when the King growls.

Enough with the Jester. What other role characterizes the job of an Executive Communications Manager (aka Speechwriter) in today’s corporation? How about …

The Ploughman

Businessmen they drink my wine
Ploughmen dig my earth
– Dylan: All Along The Watchtower

A world away from the gilded Court, Ploughmen till the fields. Tedious but necessary work plays a large part in speechwriting. Doing research. Fact-checking. Ploughing through the background papers which spew from Subject Matter Experts like weeds sprouting on a April morning after a few sweet showers.

Lessons for Speechwriters as Ploughmen

• It’s boring work, but learn to live with it. With any luck you’ll have the fields tilled by nightfall and the King will invite you to the feast that evening.
• Have systems in place to take care of the boring stuff. Tracking forms; checklists; everything to speed the plough.
• Divide up tasks. It’s less overwhelming to focus on today’s furrow than worry about the rest of the forty-acre field.
• Take breaks, quaff ale, be strong behind the plough.

The Fisherman

Fish supplemented the Medieval diet. Carp was delicacy plucked from the castle moat by Fishermen. It’s always fun to throw a few lines in the water and see what slippery items of information you can catch. Today’s fisherman uses email and voice mail to leave requests for information with subject experts across the kingdom. Bait your hook with the name of the CEO. (“I’m doing some research for a speech Mark is giving next month and wanted your views…”). Always use the King’s first name. When the fish bite, reel them in.

Lessons for Speechwriters as Fisherman

• Plan ahead. The fish might not be biting today. You need to get your lines in the water early on in the process.
• Have patience. But if you don’t get an answer after a few days, fish in another part of the corporate millpond.
• Don’t forget to bait your email requests with the first name of the executive you are writing for.

The Miller

The Miller is an important member of every Medieval community. Without him, there would be no flour and no loaves of bread. Bread and circus’s are what keep the serfs fed and happy. Every Miller is dusty from grinding wheat into flour; separating wheat from chaff.

Subject Matter Experts (SME’s – rhymes with please) will bring sacks and sacks and sacks and sacks of data to your mill. Each direct report likes to provide at least 45 minutes of content for a 15 executive minute speech. If the executive has 10 reports that means you’ll have to sieve through eight hours of content.

It’s the speechwriters job to grind it down, then bake fresh loaves to feed the audience.

Lessons for Speechwriters as Millers

• This is your biggest single value-add. No-one else wants to stand there while the mill-wheels are a-turning.
• Edit ruthlessly – throw out 90% of the data the engineers and SME’s send you.
• Say ‘No’ to requests for more data and facts from Knight’s and Baron’s who pile on the grain as a CYA strategy.
• Keep the mill-wheels turning. Don’t send un-milled sacks of data to the court. They are paying you to sift and select.

The Alchemist

The Alchemist turns base metal into Gold. Like Rumpelstiltskin’s daughter you’ll take their words and sit in your room all night spinning them into gold. And next morning no-one will know how you did it.

Lessons for Speechwriters as Alchemists

• Study the book of spells – text-books on speechwriting such as those listed at the end of this parchment.
• Safeguard the Mystery. Don’t reveal your secrets to the other members of the Court.
• Practice makes perfect. Alchemy is an art, not a science. Cultivate your Craft.
• Understand that what you do is magikal to ordinary mortals.

The Monk

Scriptorium: a place for writing – commonly used to refer to a room in medieval European monasteries devoted to the copying of manuscripts by monastic scribes.
– Wikipedia

Monks spent hours, days, weeks, months, years in the Scriptorium illustrating manuscripts like the Book of Kells. Everyone admires their artistry but wonders why they spent so much time coloring basic information and making it, actually, harder to comprehend.

That was then. This is now.

The speechwriter today spends hours, weeks, months, years in front of the computer illustrating presentations in PowerPoint. Future archeologists will gaze in wonder at the endless decks of slides. Beautiful, mindless illustrations of…what? Will anyone be able to comprehend these charts in the future? Can members of the audience comprehend them today?

Who cares. Monks may have had a diet of thin gruel, but illustrated manuscripts occupied them on winter evenings.

Lessons for Speechwriters as Monks

• Learn cutting-edge PowerPoint skills. Take time to study and learn techniques.
• Develop a good relationship with your graphics team who support you in this.
• Read two of the Bibles of the modern era: Nancy Duarte’s slide:ology and Garr Reynold’s Presentation Zen

The Wandering Minstrel

Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me,
I’m not sleepy and there is no place I’m going to.
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me,
In the jingle jangle morning I’ll come followin’ you.
– Dylan: Mr. Tambourine Man

OK. I saved the best for last. All of the previous roles are aspects of life at Court, inside the hierarchical corporate world, bound by proscribed roles and strict protocols.

The Wandering Minstrel travels the land a free man composing sonnets and madrigals for clients.

Today the speechwriter as consultant wanders freely, far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow. If this sounds like the life for you, there’s important lessons you need to learn.

Lessons for Speechwriters as Minstrel

• Aim for niche markets. Become an expert in a specific industry. You’ll make good money if your expertize is an inch wide and a mile deep.
• Work fast, bill clients a flat fee, clean up and move on (just like Joe the Plumber).
• Stay at the top of your game. You have to be good, darned good.
• Work by referrals. People love to hire a Minstrel who has performed for the crowned heads of Europe.

That’s the end of my tour of the Middle Ages. If you’d like to hear how this sounded when I delivered it as a talk to a District 57 Toastmasters meeting in Oakland, California, on November 15th 2008, click on the podcast icon below. (Since this is 35 minute presentation, you might prefer to choose the Download option to save it to your computer.)

Book of Spells

Here’s some reference books I keep close by:

• Writing Effective Speeches, by Henry Ehrlich Practical advice from a master of the craft.
• Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln, by James C . Humes Notes from Nixon’s ‘Rose Garden speechwriter’ with an anglophile twist.
• Say It Like Shakespeare, by Thomas Leech Speechwriting illustrated by the dramaturgy of the Bard.
• Powerwriting, by Suzan St Maur UK-based St Maur offers advice on business writing in general.
• Writing Great Speeches, by Alan M. Perlman Experienced corporate speechwriter shares his secrets.
• Speeches That Changed the World: The Stories and Transcripts of the Moments That Made History Study the text of great speeches.

As useful as reading books is, you should also spend time listening to speeches. Here’s a list of 100 great ones.

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Shining Spirit

12 years ago, Cindy Light emigrated from her native China to America not knowing a single person or how to speak a word of English. All she had were four simple things: one small suitcase, two hard working hands and a heart filled with American dreams. Today, she is a successful entrepreneur, a certified image consultant, a professional speaker, and the author of an upcoming book about Chinese culture and its business impact.

Chinese background

Cindy graduated at age 19 from Beijing University. She started her career as an assistant professor of philosophy in Hangzhou Business University. Then she become a marketing and PR director for a big company in Hong Kong. Later, she was hand-picked by the Chinese Government to be a policy consultant helping foreigners set up their business in China.

Life in the United States

Despite her impressive accomplishments in China, setting out in the U.S. not knowing a word of English was not easy. However, while growing up with her grandmother, a master-tailor in Shanghai, she learned how to sew and design clothes when she was only five years old.

In 1999, she started her first business “Cindy’s Sewing and Design Studio” at her home in Atlanta. She designed and hand-crafted suits, dresses, home decor and even matching outfits for people and their dogs! Her work quickly attracted discerning people in the South-East.

Next, with improving English skills, she started to teach sewing, design and dress-making classes in local fabric stores. Soon, she was invited by clubs, corporations, and organizations to teach people how to dress right for their business and personal life. She had a flair for suggesting how to put together a powerful, beautiful and professionally appropriate wardrobe without spending a fortune.

In 2007, Cindy was hired as a speaker for the Association of Image Consultants International Conference on the topic of Chinese culture and it’s business impact. She now plans a book on this topic.

Pro-Track Profile

Following her success as a speaker, Cindy found the National Speakers Association website.

In early 2008, she flew to San Francisco and attended an NSA/NC chapter meeting. She signed up for the Pro-Track program and commuted to the next three meetings from her home in Atlanta before relocating to Sausalito.

To here what she told me about her image consulting business and her three tips for Professional Speakers on how to dress for maximum impact, click on the podcast icon below.

(Cindy Light is a certified image consultant, professional speaker, and author of an upcoming book about Chinese culture and it’s business impact. She can be reached at 415-889-9399 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              415-889-9399      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or via email at LittleBigSmile@aol.com)

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Following a presentation on podcasting to the Saturday morning CPC Job Connections meeting I held a drawing for the name of a lucky job seeker who would like to be profiled in a podcast interview. Aaron was the name that was pulled out of the hat.

Coincidentally, he’s a writer as well as a blogger. Aaron currently blogs for AOL on personal finance while he continues to look for a full-time position as a writer or editor. He also writes his own blog Tales of an Unemployed Dad.

This podcast interview with Aaron is an example of publicizing your skills and background with a different vehicle than the written word (resumes, cover letters, websites, blogs). That’s soooo last century, right?

As the economy tanks, job seekers need to think differently to brand and market themselves. Podcasting is a low-cost, viable alternative.

Listen to Aaron describe his background and experience by clicking on the podcast icon below. If you are looking for a writer or editor (or know someone who is) and like what you hear, you can contact Aaron at aaron.crowe.consulting@gmail.com or by calling his cell phone: 925.482.5934.

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