Well gang, this is a test to see if I can post a video to my blog from YouTube without bringing the world wide web to a crashing halt.
Given that one of the purposes of my blog is to create awareness for my speaking business via keywords, I suppose I should reference that this is a video titled Motivational Speaker Healthcare, but as those of you who have seen me speak you will also know that I speak to organizations as diverse as Foodservice, Harley-Davidson, Cancer and anyone who needs a boost to their business or morale.
If you like the video, spread the word.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Humorous Motivational Speaker - Healthcare
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
BAN "unemployment"
Those of you who have been to Ireland will know that the “F” bomb is part of our vernacular. It is used as a verb, an adjective and a noun – often in the same sentence! So I’m not easily offended. There is one word though that drives me absolutely crazy and to me is akin to a swear word. The word “unemployed” or “unemployment.”
I spend a lot of time speaking to people in job search and job transition. If you’re in that situation right now, you know how painful and dispiriting it can be. About the only thing that gets me rankled when speaking to jobseekers is when someone says “I’m unemployed.” NO, YOU ARE NOT!
I’m not playing with semantics here. The person in job search is doing THE most important job they will probably ever do in their life, searching for and securing a well paid job. The results of the work the job seeker is doing now will determine the pay level, benefits, vacation, colleges the kids go to and indeed maybe even preventing the family home going into foreclosure. If that is the work that is being done, do not tell me you are “unemployed.”
I harp on this because vocabulary is hugely important. Words matter. Words can define you. Words can define how you are perceived.
Let’s be honest. Today we have as President a man who achieved very little prior to gaining the White House. (I voted for him and am glad I did.) Barack Obama gained the White House because of the vocabulary he used and how he made people feel. Indeed the last President to secure the Presidency with such an insipid senatorial record was JFK. It was words and oratory that were his key weapons in achieving the White House. It was words and oratory that helped America feel young and vibrant after the relatively sedate Eisenhower presidency. The same can be said of Ronald Reagan who made Americans and USA feel good simply because of what he said at a time when American self pride was at a low ebb.
When the job seeker uses the word “unemployment,” it says nothing positive. It is a self-knocking, self defeating word that skewers self confidence; and the job seeker desperately needs self confidence and to believe in themselves. If you are in the job search, use words that make a difference to you. Use words that say something positive – “I am in job search,” “I am between successes,” “I am in transition,” “I am in unpaid employment, the pay isn’t good but the ultimate benefits will be.”
Go on BAN unemployment (I refuse to capitalize the word) from your vocabulary. It will ultimately help you to ban the concept from your life, because when you believe in yourself, when you believe you are doing something positive in unpaid employment, you will then walk into that interview 12 feet tall and bulletproof!
Go on: BEAT the living daylights out of the recession. I know you can.
I spend a lot of time speaking to people in job search and job transition. If you’re in that situation right now, you know how painful and dispiriting it can be. About the only thing that gets me rankled when speaking to jobseekers is when someone says “I’m unemployed.” NO, YOU ARE NOT!
I’m not playing with semantics here. The person in job search is doing THE most important job they will probably ever do in their life, searching for and securing a well paid job. The results of the work the job seeker is doing now will determine the pay level, benefits, vacation, colleges the kids go to and indeed maybe even preventing the family home going into foreclosure. If that is the work that is being done, do not tell me you are “unemployed.”
I harp on this because vocabulary is hugely important. Words matter. Words can define you. Words can define how you are perceived.
Let’s be honest. Today we have as President a man who achieved very little prior to gaining the White House. (I voted for him and am glad I did.) Barack Obama gained the White House because of the vocabulary he used and how he made people feel. Indeed the last President to secure the Presidency with such an insipid senatorial record was JFK. It was words and oratory that were his key weapons in achieving the White House. It was words and oratory that helped America feel young and vibrant after the relatively sedate Eisenhower presidency. The same can be said of Ronald Reagan who made Americans and USA feel good simply because of what he said at a time when American self pride was at a low ebb.
When the job seeker uses the word “unemployment,” it says nothing positive. It is a self-knocking, self defeating word that skewers self confidence; and the job seeker desperately needs self confidence and to believe in themselves. If you are in the job search, use words that make a difference to you. Use words that say something positive – “I am in job search,” “I am between successes,” “I am in transition,” “I am in unpaid employment, the pay isn’t good but the ultimate benefits will be.”
Go on BAN unemployment (I refuse to capitalize the word) from your vocabulary. It will ultimately help you to ban the concept from your life, because when you believe in yourself, when you believe you are doing something positive in unpaid employment, you will then walk into that interview 12 feet tall and bulletproof!
Go on: BEAT the living daylights out of the recession. I know you can.
Monday, March 30, 2009
GM's Wagoner: Right to go but questionable timing
Well I suppose if you're tenure in charge sees a drop in U.S. market from 32% to 18% you can't complain if you are shown the door. Rick Wagoner is out as GM chief. The action is not that surprising – the company lost $80 billion in the past four year, but the timing might be questionable.
The benefits of pushing Wagoner out might include:
1) It sends a very strong message to GM partners – employees, shareholders, suppliers (God help them), customers that things must change fast
2) The Obama administration is SEEN to play hardball. If nothing else (and there is a lot more) this is a great PR move
3) Improved strategy. This one is a bit more questionable. GM has a relatively good strategy plan geared towards fuel efficient vehicles which are built well. The problem has been the speed with which it moved. The government is obviously forcing a faster pace but GM is as much an ocean liner as the economy that Obama spoke about last week
4) It forces change in the boardroom. One of the real mysteries of the whole GM story is how the board did not ask for change at the top some time ago. Wagoner may be a very competent, intelligent (obviously persuasive) manager, but there are few industries where a CEO with his results would have maintained board confidence.
There are a number of ironies.
GM’s Chevy Malibu is rated by most auto journalists as comparable to the best selling Toyota Camry. It is a very good car but one that just does not have the brand credibility of anything from the magnificent Toyota stable. So Wagoner at least leaves with the satisfaction of knowing GM can produce good cars.
The drive to fuel efficient vehicles might cause GM even greater problems. To succeed in the long term, fuel efficient vehicles must be priced competitively and must be profitable for the manufacturer. Even with the Toyota Prius neither of these elements apply. The Prius is a relatively expensive vehicle and there is much industry skepticism that it generates anything but minimal profits for Toyota.
GM’s major play on the electric car – the Chevy Volt, is a huge investment and an even bigger gamble. The car likely will command a $3-5,000 premium over a regular vehicle with comparable features. The regular consumer will not pay that premium until gas hits $4-5 again. However, you can be sure that the government focus will be on this type of vehicle. Despite all the hype about fuel efficiency, consumers are not buying these vehicles in large numbers.
Toyota sold 143,000 Prius last year. Vehicles that outsold it include, Camry, Civic, Corolla, Altima, Impala, Honda CR-V. In fact, hybrids account for less than 5% of total vehicles sold in the U.S. Some of this is due to limited supply but the real reason is that the consumer is not as interested in these vehicles (at current prices) as government and media would like us to believe.
A final word on Wagoner. Industry sources suggest he is a genuinely OK guy. Today he is just one more number added to those in job search. No matter how financially well off you are, getting the bullet is not easy. I wish him well. Given his knowledge of restructuring and cost cutting, he may well be a great resource to other companies.
The benefits of pushing Wagoner out might include:
1) It sends a very strong message to GM partners – employees, shareholders, suppliers (God help them), customers that things must change fast
2) The Obama administration is SEEN to play hardball. If nothing else (and there is a lot more) this is a great PR move
3) Improved strategy. This one is a bit more questionable. GM has a relatively good strategy plan geared towards fuel efficient vehicles which are built well. The problem has been the speed with which it moved. The government is obviously forcing a faster pace but GM is as much an ocean liner as the economy that Obama spoke about last week
4) It forces change in the boardroom. One of the real mysteries of the whole GM story is how the board did not ask for change at the top some time ago. Wagoner may be a very competent, intelligent (obviously persuasive) manager, but there are few industries where a CEO with his results would have maintained board confidence.
There are a number of ironies.
GM’s Chevy Malibu is rated by most auto journalists as comparable to the best selling Toyota Camry. It is a very good car but one that just does not have the brand credibility of anything from the magnificent Toyota stable. So Wagoner at least leaves with the satisfaction of knowing GM can produce good cars.
The drive to fuel efficient vehicles might cause GM even greater problems. To succeed in the long term, fuel efficient vehicles must be priced competitively and must be profitable for the manufacturer. Even with the Toyota Prius neither of these elements apply. The Prius is a relatively expensive vehicle and there is much industry skepticism that it generates anything but minimal profits for Toyota.
GM’s major play on the electric car – the Chevy Volt, is a huge investment and an even bigger gamble. The car likely will command a $3-5,000 premium over a regular vehicle with comparable features. The regular consumer will not pay that premium until gas hits $4-5 again. However, you can be sure that the government focus will be on this type of vehicle. Despite all the hype about fuel efficiency, consumers are not buying these vehicles in large numbers.
Toyota sold 143,000 Prius last year. Vehicles that outsold it include, Camry, Civic, Corolla, Altima, Impala, Honda CR-V. In fact, hybrids account for less than 5% of total vehicles sold in the U.S. Some of this is due to limited supply but the real reason is that the consumer is not as interested in these vehicles (at current prices) as government and media would like us to believe.
A final word on Wagoner. Industry sources suggest he is a genuinely OK guy. Today he is just one more number added to those in job search. No matter how financially well off you are, getting the bullet is not easy. I wish him well. Given his knowledge of restructuring and cost cutting, he may well be a great resource to other companies.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Who's More Incompetent? AIG or Congress
These descriptions relate to:
1) The AIG bonus situation
2) Congress’s pathetic, barnstorming, mob oriented performance on AIG
3) Both
Disgraceful
Diabolical
Delusional
Delirious
Dopey
Despicable
Daft
Dreadful
Dire
Discombobulating (my wife gave me that word!).
You decide.
1) The AIG bonus situation
2) Congress’s pathetic, barnstorming, mob oriented performance on AIG
3) Both
Disgraceful
Diabolical
Delusional
Delirious
Dopey
Despicable
Daft
Dreadful
Dire
Discombobulating (my wife gave me that word!).
You decide.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Beat The Recession with the GIFT of GAB - A Fable for St. Patrick's Day
Location: O’Hara’s Bed & Breakfast, West Coast Ireland.
Characters: Mary Margaret O’Hara, proprietor: Michael Patrick (husband), Patrick Michael (son), American Hank Devlin and his long time golf- buddy Martin Boyd, both on first visit to Ireland
_____________________________________________________________
Mrs. O'Hara
“Well, now lads I hope you enjoyed that lovely Irish breakfast – the three slices of black pudding – blood pudding to you – the slices of bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, the two fresh eggs sunny side up as you Americans like to say and of course the giant sausages –from McCool’s the Butcher – he’s a brother-in-law of my sister-in-law you know, although they haven’t spoken for over twelve years, but that’s only temporary. Tell me, what do you fine lads plan to do today. You’re off to the golf course, are ye?”
“Mrs. O’Hara we sure are. We need directions. We don’t have GPS.”
Where the Angels Swim
“And what would ye be needin’ that for, Sir? Doesn’t everyone around here know where everyplace is, around here like? But I’ll tell ya how to get to the golf course. If you go down this road for about two miles, you’ll see a road to the right. That road takes you over the beautiful green hillside and you’ll get a great view of the lakes. They say it is where the angels swim. Some people say they swim in the nude, but I don’t think Father Murphy would approve of that, although there’s been a lot of talk about the long walks he takes with Mother Octavia of the Seven Sorrows - she’s from Six Flags, she has five brothers, four sisters, three are nuns, two priests and one is the black sheep of the family – he’s a politician! Aye, very long walks.”
Mrs. O’Hara paused.
“Anyway, if you see the lakes, you’ve taken the wrong road. Don’t take that road. About a kilometer – ‘tis kilometers we use here now, you know. Kilometers are shorter than miles, but the funny thing is you don’t get there any faster. Anyway - before that road, there is a turn to the left – take that, and the golf course is down there. Have you gentlemen visited these parts before?”
“No. No. We have not, although I sure do love it. My grandfather emigrated from here years ago. I remember sitting on his knee and telling me about the beautiful Irish people and countryside. He never told me about the great Irish golf courses you have.”
“Ah, the only things walking the land in those days were the sheep. Off you go now, gentlemen and par for putt or whatever you guys do. You don’t know that Tiger Weeds guy, do you?
“Woods.”
“Woods? Well, there is a forest about 5 miles from town, but I thought you wanted to play golf”
“We do Mrs. O Hara, we do. The golfer’s name is Woods – Tiger Woods.”
What Do I Want My Attitude To Be
“And there’s me saying … oh well. It’s a funny game that golf. My son Patrick Michael says they even have names for each golf hole down at the golf course – names like White Sox, Wrigley and Sears Tower, although I hear they’re going to change that name for some reason. Now where do they get names like that from? Can you credit that? Well, now off you go and keep an eye out for sheep on the road. When you are near the golf course, they might delay you. But as my late husband, Michael Patrick said when things go wrong –‘What do I want my attitude to be?’ ”
“Sorry to hear that your husband passed away, Mrs. O’Hara, that must have been a blow.”
“My husband? – Ah no, he’s just late – late back from the creamery.”
“Oh, I’m glad to hear that. Don’t worry – we’ll keep an eye out for the sheep on the road.”
“Do that. As Willie Nelson might sing ‘On the road again.’ Off you go now.”
As the would-be golfers drove off, Mrs. O’Hara smiled, took out her sleek iPhone hit a speed key and said:
“Hi Patrick Michael? Morning. Quick one for you. I’ve just had a couple of guests heading off to the golf course. Are you out on the land at the moment? Good. Good. Look they’ll be going by your place in about 10 minutes. Put a few sheep out on the road for them. Give them a touch of old Ireland.”
“Mom, you’re nuts.”
The Brand Experience
“Ah now Son, you are the one that told me about this Brand Experience thing. That it will help us beat the recession. Those guys came looking for the old Ireland. Aran sweaters. Friendly people. Crazy directions.”
“And what’s with the sheep, Mom? That could make them late for their golf.”
“Sheep? That’s the added value son which you tell me should always be provided. And if they get a little anxious about being late, just tell them to remember that great question when things go slightly wrong.”
“Yea, I know, ‘What do I want my attitude to be?’ It’s a powerful question, recession or not.”
“That it is Son. So put those sheep out, create that Brand Experience thing, I’ll get repeat business and pay off your student loans. It’s the Gift of GAB son and for God’s sake don’t be playing Gun’s n’ Roses on the tractor when they go by. It’ll confuse them. And remember that Gift of GAB son.”
“I know, I know. Goals, Attitude, Behavior. It’s the key to BEATING the recession. OK, Mom, I’ll put the sheep out. Where are they from?”
“Chicago, the Windy City.”
“Ah Barack O’Bama country! I wonder will they be saying ‘Yes – we can, Yes – we can’ after losing a dozen golf balls on that course. But why are you sending them this direction? All you had to do was give them MapQuest details.”
The Gift of GAB
“And wouldn’t that ruin the experience Son? You know Ireland has one of the best educated young populations in the world. You are not a good example of that. You’ve got your father’s brains – he’s still not back from the creamery. My Goal is to make sure my guests have a great time, they’ll have a great Attitude and the end Behavior is they will come back to Ireland again. I’ve got to go now son. That nice man, Padraig Harrington is on the Golf Channel. Hurry up with those sheep. You’ll hear my guests coming. They’re driving a stick shift. Oh by the way, tell them to keep the ball out of the woods -or even weeds!”
“I will Mom, I will. I might even tell them about the Gift of GAB – How Goals, Attitude, Behavior can BEAT the living daylights out of the recession.”
“That’d be nice Son. I think I hear your father coming. He’s going to need the Gift of GAB to explain what kept him.”
Characters: Mary Margaret O’Hara, proprietor: Michael Patrick (husband), Patrick Michael (son), American Hank Devlin and his long time golf- buddy Martin Boyd, both on first visit to Ireland
_____________________________________________________________
Mrs. O'Hara
“Well, now lads I hope you enjoyed that lovely Irish breakfast – the three slices of black pudding – blood pudding to you – the slices of bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, the two fresh eggs sunny side up as you Americans like to say and of course the giant sausages –from McCool’s the Butcher – he’s a brother-in-law of my sister-in-law you know, although they haven’t spoken for over twelve years, but that’s only temporary. Tell me, what do you fine lads plan to do today. You’re off to the golf course, are ye?”
“Mrs. O’Hara we sure are. We need directions. We don’t have GPS.”
Where the Angels Swim
“And what would ye be needin’ that for, Sir? Doesn’t everyone around here know where everyplace is, around here like? But I’ll tell ya how to get to the golf course. If you go down this road for about two miles, you’ll see a road to the right. That road takes you over the beautiful green hillside and you’ll get a great view of the lakes. They say it is where the angels swim. Some people say they swim in the nude, but I don’t think Father Murphy would approve of that, although there’s been a lot of talk about the long walks he takes with Mother Octavia of the Seven Sorrows - she’s from Six Flags, she has five brothers, four sisters, three are nuns, two priests and one is the black sheep of the family – he’s a politician! Aye, very long walks.”
Mrs. O’Hara paused.
“Anyway, if you see the lakes, you’ve taken the wrong road. Don’t take that road. About a kilometer – ‘tis kilometers we use here now, you know. Kilometers are shorter than miles, but the funny thing is you don’t get there any faster. Anyway - before that road, there is a turn to the left – take that, and the golf course is down there. Have you gentlemen visited these parts before?”
“No. No. We have not, although I sure do love it. My grandfather emigrated from here years ago. I remember sitting on his knee and telling me about the beautiful Irish people and countryside. He never told me about the great Irish golf courses you have.”
“Ah, the only things walking the land in those days were the sheep. Off you go now, gentlemen and par for putt or whatever you guys do. You don’t know that Tiger Weeds guy, do you?
“Woods.”
“Woods? Well, there is a forest about 5 miles from town, but I thought you wanted to play golf”
“We do Mrs. O Hara, we do. The golfer’s name is Woods – Tiger Woods.”
What Do I Want My Attitude To Be
“And there’s me saying … oh well. It’s a funny game that golf. My son Patrick Michael says they even have names for each golf hole down at the golf course – names like White Sox, Wrigley and Sears Tower, although I hear they’re going to change that name for some reason. Now where do they get names like that from? Can you credit that? Well, now off you go and keep an eye out for sheep on the road. When you are near the golf course, they might delay you. But as my late husband, Michael Patrick said when things go wrong –‘What do I want my attitude to be?’ ”
“Sorry to hear that your husband passed away, Mrs. O’Hara, that must have been a blow.”
“My husband? – Ah no, he’s just late – late back from the creamery.”
“Oh, I’m glad to hear that. Don’t worry – we’ll keep an eye out for the sheep on the road.”
“Do that. As Willie Nelson might sing ‘On the road again.’ Off you go now.”
As the would-be golfers drove off, Mrs. O’Hara smiled, took out her sleek iPhone hit a speed key and said:
“Hi Patrick Michael? Morning. Quick one for you. I’ve just had a couple of guests heading off to the golf course. Are you out on the land at the moment? Good. Good. Look they’ll be going by your place in about 10 minutes. Put a few sheep out on the road for them. Give them a touch of old Ireland.”
“Mom, you’re nuts.”
The Brand Experience
“Ah now Son, you are the one that told me about this Brand Experience thing. That it will help us beat the recession. Those guys came looking for the old Ireland. Aran sweaters. Friendly people. Crazy directions.”
“And what’s with the sheep, Mom? That could make them late for their golf.”
“Sheep? That’s the added value son which you tell me should always be provided. And if they get a little anxious about being late, just tell them to remember that great question when things go slightly wrong.”
“Yea, I know, ‘What do I want my attitude to be?’ It’s a powerful question, recession or not.”
“That it is Son. So put those sheep out, create that Brand Experience thing, I’ll get repeat business and pay off your student loans. It’s the Gift of GAB son and for God’s sake don’t be playing Gun’s n’ Roses on the tractor when they go by. It’ll confuse them. And remember that Gift of GAB son.”
“I know, I know. Goals, Attitude, Behavior. It’s the key to BEATING the recession. OK, Mom, I’ll put the sheep out. Where are they from?”
“Chicago, the Windy City.”
“Ah Barack O’Bama country! I wonder will they be saying ‘Yes – we can, Yes – we can’ after losing a dozen golf balls on that course. But why are you sending them this direction? All you had to do was give them MapQuest details.”
The Gift of GAB
“And wouldn’t that ruin the experience Son? You know Ireland has one of the best educated young populations in the world. You are not a good example of that. You’ve got your father’s brains – he’s still not back from the creamery. My Goal is to make sure my guests have a great time, they’ll have a great Attitude and the end Behavior is they will come back to Ireland again. I’ve got to go now son. That nice man, Padraig Harrington is on the Golf Channel. Hurry up with those sheep. You’ll hear my guests coming. They’re driving a stick shift. Oh by the way, tell them to keep the ball out of the woods -or even weeds!”
“I will Mom, I will. I might even tell them about the Gift of GAB – How Goals, Attitude, Behavior can BEAT the living daylights out of the recession.”
“That’d be nice Son. I think I hear your father coming. He’s going to need the Gift of GAB to explain what kept him.”
Friday, March 13, 2009
Jon Stewart 2. Jim Cramer 0
Wow!
Jon Stewart really wiped the carpet with Jim Cramer last night. Stewart last week raised a really important point about the lack of aggressive reporting by the financial media and pointed fingers at CNBC and Jim Cramer in particular. The tone of his message was accurate even if it was supported by some clever editing.
Jim Cramer did what every good PR agency would tell him to do. Face your accuser. So Jimbo sauntered on to The Daily Show last night expecting - it seems - to have a relatively light-hearted debate with this very humorous speaker and comedian. I presume that is what he expected because he appeared stunned by the vigor and intensity of Stewart's questioning.
In boxing parlance, the fight should have been stopped early. Cramer's inability to respond and Stewart's increasingly aggressive tone almost became uncomfortable as the interview continued. I don't recall one good laugh in the whole show which is really unusual for that program.
A few points strike me about all of this.
1) As a humorous motivational keynote business speaker (motivational humorist is shorter Conor) (I know but not as effective for search engines as motivational, humorous, inspirational keynote speaker) (Get to the point, will you?)
As I was saying as a humorous motivational keynote business speaker, I do my homework to understand my audience before I get in front of them. Jim Cramer did not.
2) I also prepare aggressively: I rehearse: I articulate my keynote out loud. I prepare.
Jim Cramer did not prepare and paid for it - Bigtime. I find The Cramer Report completely off-putting but when I see Cramer interviewed on Street Signs or other shows, he seems a genuinely likable guy, so I felt a little sorry for him, but it was his own fault or that of his PR people.
3) I blogged some time ago about the fawning interviews the financial press does with the hero of the day. The first time I realized Enron's Jeffrey Skilling was 'special' was when I saw an obsequious fawning interview with him on a financial show.
The same type of hero worship is now being presented to J.P. Morgan's Jamie Dimon. Just to make sure there is no confusion I am not comparing Dimon to the criminal Skilling. My point is how the media treat financial superstars. To be fair, as a TV producer or Booker, I'd jump at the chance of having Dimon on my show. As well as doing apparently a good job at J.P. Morgan he is a very media friendly personality. Even if he is the only saint on Wall Street (OK my geography is suspect) let's stop canonizing him.
4) Why are the best interviews done by Comics? Stewart / Cramer is one example. Dave Letterman's interview with John McCain was excellent as was The View's interview with the same candidate.
GO ON - BEAT THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF THE RECESSION
Jon Stewart really wiped the carpet with Jim Cramer last night. Stewart last week raised a really important point about the lack of aggressive reporting by the financial media and pointed fingers at CNBC and Jim Cramer in particular. The tone of his message was accurate even if it was supported by some clever editing.
Jim Cramer did what every good PR agency would tell him to do. Face your accuser. So Jimbo sauntered on to The Daily Show last night expecting - it seems - to have a relatively light-hearted debate with this very humorous speaker and comedian. I presume that is what he expected because he appeared stunned by the vigor and intensity of Stewart's questioning.
In boxing parlance, the fight should have been stopped early. Cramer's inability to respond and Stewart's increasingly aggressive tone almost became uncomfortable as the interview continued. I don't recall one good laugh in the whole show which is really unusual for that program.
A few points strike me about all of this.
1) As a humorous motivational keynote business speaker (motivational humorist is shorter Conor) (I know but not as effective for search engines as motivational, humorous, inspirational keynote speaker) (Get to the point, will you?)
As I was saying as a humorous motivational keynote business speaker, I do my homework to understand my audience before I get in front of them. Jim Cramer did not.
2) I also prepare aggressively: I rehearse: I articulate my keynote out loud. I prepare.
Jim Cramer did not prepare and paid for it - Bigtime. I find The Cramer Report completely off-putting but when I see Cramer interviewed on Street Signs or other shows, he seems a genuinely likable guy, so I felt a little sorry for him, but it was his own fault or that of his PR people.
3) I blogged some time ago about the fawning interviews the financial press does with the hero of the day. The first time I realized Enron's Jeffrey Skilling was 'special' was when I saw an obsequious fawning interview with him on a financial show.
The same type of hero worship is now being presented to J.P. Morgan's Jamie Dimon. Just to make sure there is no confusion I am not comparing Dimon to the criminal Skilling. My point is how the media treat financial superstars. To be fair, as a TV producer or Booker, I'd jump at the chance of having Dimon on my show. As well as doing apparently a good job at J.P. Morgan he is a very media friendly personality. Even if he is the only saint on Wall Street (OK my geography is suspect) let's stop canonizing him.
4) Why are the best interviews done by Comics? Stewart / Cramer is one example. Dave Letterman's interview with John McCain was excellent as was The View's interview with the same candidate.
GO ON - BEAT THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF THE RECESSION
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Ryanair - Best Entertainment In Airline Business
I have decided to run a Ryanair watch. As well as being a very effective low fare carrier and Europe’s largest airline, the company is really entertaining to watch. Not necessarily to fly but to watch and in many ways CEO Michael O'Leary is the best humorous speaker out there. He provides THE best entertainment in the airline business.
Some people say O’Leary is a few seats short of a full aircraft but I think he’d be OK with that description as the plane would be lighter, fuel consumption less and he’d get to his destination faster and cheaper. That’s all the guy promises. He breaks so many customer service rules – abusing customers, talking down to them (sometimes throwing in the f-bomb), refusing to provide free wheelchair service for disabled passengers. The list goes on and on.
But he keeps one promise so well that almost sixty million people fly the airline annually. He provides THE lowest cost fares in the business – by miles (which is probably one of the reasons he doesn’t offer frequent flyer miles!! Sorry my little effort to bolster my reputation as a humorous inspirational motivational speaker!)
O’Leary is at it again. Last week he got enormous press for threatening to charge for use of aircraft toilets. (See below for some great puns from media reports.) Now Ryanair is to stop using airport check-in desks!
The company expects EVERY passenger to check in online from October 1st. Passengers with bags – which they will pay extra for – will be expected to drop them at one of Ryanair’s drop desks “before proceeding through airport security to the boarding gate. This will free passengers from wasting hours at airports prior to departure and will dramatically reduce travel times for all Ryanair passengers.” What a thoughtful company!
This is lunatic or is it? The airline will save significant costs by not paying for airport space and presumably reduce personnel costs also. Currently 75% of Ryanair passengers check in online (cost $5 each time) so it should not be that difficult to push the number up substantially.
However, what happens when Grandma arrives at the airport without checking in? Worse scenario for Ryanair staff – what happens when Grandma’s grandson arrives at Doncaster airport after a stag weekend, hung over, tired and hungry and he has not checked in? God help Ryanair staff then.
I say the man is nuts, but he is brilliant.
Some potty humor generated by the furor over pay to pee (sounds like Illinois politics!)
“If you only have dollars, can you still euro-nate?” –Washington Post
“Flush with interest in the idea of mounting credit card-operated toilets.” – numerous
“Crap PR from Ryanair.” IrishmanSpeaks Blog
I hate to spoil a good story with the truth, but Michael O’Leary has since admitted that charging “a pound to spend a penny” is not realistic. He told a hugely entertained tourism conference in Dublin a few days later that it was a “new visionary strategy and a wonderful idea,” but conceded that it could be construed as “taking the piss”.
He went on to say, “Boeing can put people on the moon, design fighter aircraft and smart bombs, but they can’t design a bloody mechanism to go on doors that will accept coins. It is not likely to happen, but it makes for interesting and very cheap PR.”
The man is nuts, but he is brilliant.
Some people say O’Leary is a few seats short of a full aircraft but I think he’d be OK with that description as the plane would be lighter, fuel consumption less and he’d get to his destination faster and cheaper. That’s all the guy promises. He breaks so many customer service rules – abusing customers, talking down to them (sometimes throwing in the f-bomb), refusing to provide free wheelchair service for disabled passengers. The list goes on and on.
But he keeps one promise so well that almost sixty million people fly the airline annually. He provides THE lowest cost fares in the business – by miles (which is probably one of the reasons he doesn’t offer frequent flyer miles!! Sorry my little effort to bolster my reputation as a humorous inspirational motivational speaker!)
O’Leary is at it again. Last week he got enormous press for threatening to charge for use of aircraft toilets. (See below for some great puns from media reports.) Now Ryanair is to stop using airport check-in desks!
The company expects EVERY passenger to check in online from October 1st. Passengers with bags – which they will pay extra for – will be expected to drop them at one of Ryanair’s drop desks “before proceeding through airport security to the boarding gate. This will free passengers from wasting hours at airports prior to departure and will dramatically reduce travel times for all Ryanair passengers.” What a thoughtful company!
This is lunatic or is it? The airline will save significant costs by not paying for airport space and presumably reduce personnel costs also. Currently 75% of Ryanair passengers check in online (cost $5 each time) so it should not be that difficult to push the number up substantially.
However, what happens when Grandma arrives at the airport without checking in? Worse scenario for Ryanair staff – what happens when Grandma’s grandson arrives at Doncaster airport after a stag weekend, hung over, tired and hungry and he has not checked in? God help Ryanair staff then.
I say the man is nuts, but he is brilliant.
Some potty humor generated by the furor over pay to pee (sounds like Illinois politics!)
“If you only have dollars, can you still euro-nate?” –Washington Post
“Flush with interest in the idea of mounting credit card-operated toilets.” – numerous
“Crap PR from Ryanair.” IrishmanSpeaks Blog
I hate to spoil a good story with the truth, but Michael O’Leary has since admitted that charging “a pound to spend a penny” is not realistic. He told a hugely entertained tourism conference in Dublin a few days later that it was a “new visionary strategy and a wonderful idea,” but conceded that it could be construed as “taking the piss”.
He went on to say, “Boeing can put people on the moon, design fighter aircraft and smart bombs, but they can’t design a bloody mechanism to go on doors that will accept coins. It is not likely to happen, but it makes for interesting and very cheap PR.”
The man is nuts, but he is brilliant.
Monday, March 09, 2009
What Rush Limbaugh and The Sex Pistols have in common
Here’s a little quiz for you. The following applies to
a) The Sex Pistols
b) Rush Limbaugh
c) Both
Angry
Rude
Energetic
Drug addicted
Disenfranchised audience
Offensive content
Rank Generalizations
Hugely entertaining
No depth
Media savvy
You decide.
a) The Sex Pistols
b) Rush Limbaugh
c) Both
Angry
Rude
Energetic
Drug addicted
Disenfranchised audience
Offensive content
Rank Generalizations
Hugely entertaining
No depth
Media savvy
You decide.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Crap PR from Ryanair
You have to hand it to Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary. He has built the Irish airline into the most popular (in terms of passengers flown) airline in Europe while basically breaking almost every customer service rule in the book.
O’Leary promises one thing – to be the lowest fare airline. Nothing else. He doesn’t promise and doesn’t provide great airplane environment, great food or a feel good customer relationship. But he does keep his promise to be the lowest fare airline by keeping his costs to the minimum and charging you for ancillary services.
Ryanair has flown 58 million passengers in the last year with a load factor of 81% and has the best on time record of any European airline. Although it recently reported a quarterly loss of €101m, it is promising strong profits for 2009. O’Leary keeps his promises.
He is a brilliant PR artist who generates thousands of pages of free publicity by often making ludicrous often inflammatory statements. The man has probably abused every European Union official that has anything to do with the industry. He is often humorous, rarely inspirational or motivational but is a speaker you would go a long way to hear. He is also the only CEO who has suggested his airline might offer (jokingly) sexual favors on long haul flights! You think I’m joking? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfIY24BErBE
His most recent stroke of PR genius is to suggest that Ryanair will operate coin operated toilets in planes. The comment was mentioned in passing during a BBC interview and has garnered worldwide attention. Google “Ryanair pay for toilets” and you get 129,000 references. Who knows if O’Leary is serious about this one? He does like to mess with people’s heads but he does not mess around in running one of the most successful airlines in the world (OK, he doesn’t have much competition).
Marcus Buckingham wrote a fine book some years ago titled Break all the Rules. It could have been the Michael O’Leary autobiography.
O’Leary promises one thing – to be the lowest fare airline. Nothing else. He doesn’t promise and doesn’t provide great airplane environment, great food or a feel good customer relationship. But he does keep his promise to be the lowest fare airline by keeping his costs to the minimum and charging you for ancillary services.
Ryanair has flown 58 million passengers in the last year with a load factor of 81% and has the best on time record of any European airline. Although it recently reported a quarterly loss of €101m, it is promising strong profits for 2009. O’Leary keeps his promises.
He is a brilliant PR artist who generates thousands of pages of free publicity by often making ludicrous often inflammatory statements. The man has probably abused every European Union official that has anything to do with the industry. He is often humorous, rarely inspirational or motivational but is a speaker you would go a long way to hear. He is also the only CEO who has suggested his airline might offer (jokingly) sexual favors on long haul flights! You think I’m joking? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfIY24BErBE
His most recent stroke of PR genius is to suggest that Ryanair will operate coin operated toilets in planes. The comment was mentioned in passing during a BBC interview and has garnered worldwide attention. Google “Ryanair pay for toilets” and you get 129,000 references. Who knows if O’Leary is serious about this one? He does like to mess with people’s heads but he does not mess around in running one of the most successful airlines in the world (OK, he doesn’t have much competition).
Marcus Buckingham wrote a fine book some years ago titled Break all the Rules. It could have been the Michael O’Leary autobiography.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Books on The Birthday Boy - Abraham Lincoln
Happy Birthday Abe!
Given that everyone has to make a comment today on the 200th birthday of the great inspirational leader and motivational speaker (who was also extremely humorous), I thought I should get in on the act and show what a well read chap I am!!
I’ve written quite a few book reviews related to this great motivational, inspirational speaker and writer. Below are reviews on:
- The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech that Nobody Knows
-Team of Rivals
- Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America
THE GETTYSBURG GOSPEL: THE LINCOLN SPEECH THAT NOBODY KNOWS
Author: Gabor Boritt
It truly is amazing that so many words and books can be written about a speech that is but 272 words long. Gabor Boritt's book is an enjoyable and easy read on Lincoln's most famous speech. Much of the book deals with the immediate aftermath of the terrible Gettysburg battle with the author painting a vivid picture of the terrible scene which must have greeted the eye on July 4th. It is interesting that the famous address did not get immediate general approval. Boritt shows that the great leader’s speech was almost forgotten until the 1880's. As with most Lincoln supporters, the author attempts to show that the speech was not written on the train to Gettysburg and that Lincoln gave the speech considerable thought. The truth is no one knows, but a good argument can be made for the proposition that Lincoln must have given it little thought prior to the event.
Who in their right mind is going to travel from Washington to Gettysburg and DECIDE to present an address of only 272 words? The words came from the heart and from years of experience and empathy. Just as Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech was somewhat spontaneous (although a very similar speech was presented at Cobo Hall, Detroit some weeks previously), there is strong circumstantial evidence that Lincoln put this speech together at short notice.
I have no idea why the book is sub-titled "The Lincoln Speech that Nobody Knows," but Boritt does provide a number of slightly different versions of the speech in the appendix. Most of the differences are minor to put it mildly. The author's description of how the speech initially got little response but grew to be appreciated over time to be a work of genius is well developed. Paradoxically, the most enjoyable section of the book is the full text of Edward Everett's speech which I read fully for the first time. You can appreciate why Everett was seen as a great orator because of his ability to paint pictures with words although his two hour address can hardly be described as uplifting. Almost all of the speech was taken up with a chronological history of the events at Gettysburg (spoken from memory) and the aging orator failed to properly commend and eulogize the thousands who had given their life on the adjacent battlefield.
Paradoxically, the most enjoyable section of the book is the full text of Edward Everett's speech which I read fully for the first time. You can appreciate why Everett was seen as a great orator because of his ability to paint pictures with words although his two hour address can hardly be described as uplifting. Almost all of the speech was taken up with a chronological history of the events at Gettysburg (spoken from memory) and the aging orator failed to properly commend and eulogize the thousands who had given their life on the adjacent battlefield.
Everett did appreciate that his speech did not match Lincoln's eloquence. He wrote the President, "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."
The book has copious appendices, bibliography, notes which provide a rich resource for serious students of Lincoln and Gettysburg. Overall, an enjoyable not too studious read on the topic.
MENTIONS
Ward Hill Lamon, Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln, Robert Lincoln, The Perfect Tribute, Garry Wills, Mary Lincoln, David Wills, Andrew Curtin, James B. Fry, William Saunders, John Nicolay, John Hay, Salmon Chase, Edwin Stanton, William H. Seward, Edward Everett, Seminary Ridge, Round Top, James C Conkling, Frederick Douglass
_____________
TEAM OF RIVALS
The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Author: Doris Kearns Goodwin
The book’s premise is that Abraham Lincoln was not just a great President but one who also had the motivational ability to create a highly effective team comprised of many of his rivals. These were men who had hoped to become President. Instead, they took a subservient role to a President whom Goodwin writes about in hagiographic terms.
The team of rivals consisted of one time Republican presidential candidates William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Salmon P. Chase, Treasury Secretary, and Edward Bates Attorney General. The other major player in this detailed work is Edwin M. Stanton, War Secretary.
This is a very good read although the author is stretched at times to continually bring the overall premise together. The opening section of the book paints individual pictures of the major players, which I did not find particularly interesting. This I think is partly because some of the characters – Chase and Bates, at least to this reader are just not compelling in their own right. Thus it takes quite some time for the book to grasp this reader’s attention.
Although peripheral to the main story, the hardships of live during the first half of the 19th century are very obvious. Chase lost three wives and two daughters before he was forty four, while Stanton between 1841 and 1846 lost his wife, a daughter and his only brother.
Another fascinating and heart rending aspect portrayed is how the Civil War tore families apart. Four of Mary Lincoln’s siblings and three brothers-in-law fought on behalf of the Confederacy, while Chase’s son also too up arms for the seceding states.
Team of Rivals is basically a biography of Lincoln with a different twist. It is not as detailed as other works – especially in relation to some Civil War episodes, because the author tries to paint pictures of so many characters. Her portrait of Lincoln to some extent lacks objectivity. Every Lincoln weakness or vacillation has a logic or rationale.
Lincoln undoubtedly was underestimated by rivals and media. One Democratic newspaper referred to him as “a third rate Western lawyer … a fourth rate lecturer, who cannot speak good grammar.” As a lawyer and in his early presidential years, the term “inspirational” does not come to mind. To some extent, his behavior did warrant this lack of respect.
His lack of authority over his generals in the early stages of the war must have been disturbing for his cabinet. General McClellan treated him with a disdain and discourtesy that was mind boggling. Had Lincoln been more forceful with Generals Meade and McClellan, it is entirely conceivable the war would have ended much earlier. Kearns (and other writers) has tried to paint Lincoln as an accommodating, understanding head of state. It is probably more accurate to suggest as Martin Luther King did that he was at some stages a “vacillating” president. Much has been written about Lincoln’s leadership, but I think, the student of leadership can learn as much from what Lincoln did poorly as he did well.
Lincoln “grew” into the Presidency, winning over doubters and opponents slowly but surely with his down to earth, homely style. He most definitely has won over the author who paints Lincoln in very favorable terms no matter what the occasion. There is a tendency for the reader to become seduced by the portrait. Lincoln becomes more and more likeable, more and more presidential as the book develops. Ultimately, the reader does appreciate what a dreadful tragedy the death of this president was for the nation and almost certainly for what had been the confederate states. Although, no one can say for certain, it does seem likely that the assassinated president would have been able to salve much of the bitterness and hatred that followed the cessation of violence.
______________
LINCOLN AT GETTYSBURG – THE WORDS THAT REMADE AMERICA
Author: Gary Wills
This is one scholarly work. It is also a work that takes slow careful reading. The author devotes more than one page to each of the two hundred and seventy two words in the famous Gettysburg address.
Wills suggests that Lincoln was heavily influenced by the oratorical skills of the Greeks and also Transcendentalists – a nineteenth century philosophical movement much advocated by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and other luminaries.
One fascinating aspect of the Gettysburg address is how brief it was. Lincoln was not the featured speaker at the event, indeed by some accounts he was invited as an afterthought. This may well be one of the reasons why his speech was so brief, particularly as short speeches were not the norm. In 1858, Lincoln and Stephen Douglas engaged in three hour debates, while Edward Everett delivered a two hour oration prior to Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. While the three minute address was out of character for the period or indeed any period, the speech proves the point “that less is often more.”
The book should be of particular interest to the Lincoln scholar, but beware, it is a tough book to get through, simply because it is such a detailed, intense work.
One of the many interesting elements in the book is the full reproduction of Everett’s speech. Everett was lauded as the finest speaker of his generation, but to be honest, I found his speech to be tedious, lacking in passion and being primarily a chronology of the events at Gettysburg. Everett wrote to Lincoln following their respective addresses, "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes." How right he was.
_____________________________
_____________________________
Conor Cunneen is a Chicago based Irish keynote speaker – motivational, humorous, inspirational - on topics as diverse as BEAT the RECESSION, Foodservice, Cancer (a two time survivor), Business Growth and Presentation Skills, who likes to repeat keywords such as motivational, humorous, inspirational, Irish, Chicago based, Motivational Humorist in an ongoing effort to garner search engine attention and BEAT the RECESSION.
His Brand Promise is:E4 - Energize, Educate, Entertain AND Easy to work with.
Clients agree:
“In my close to thirty years of association work, I have never seen a speaker as well received as you.” Incentive Marketing Association
“Working with Conor Cunneen has been a pleasure both for our company and our clients. Conor is a great speaker who obviously knows the importance of a good and well planned speech according to the wishes of our clients.” SpeakersForum, Finland.
Given that everyone has to make a comment today on the 200th birthday of the great inspirational leader and motivational speaker (who was also extremely humorous), I thought I should get in on the act and show what a well read chap I am!!
I’ve written quite a few book reviews related to this great motivational, inspirational speaker and writer. Below are reviews on:
- The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech that Nobody Knows
-Team of Rivals
- Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America
These and other reviews can be read at Book Reviews on my website.
THE GETTYSBURG GOSPEL: THE LINCOLN SPEECH THAT NOBODY KNOWS
Author: Gabor Boritt
It truly is amazing that so many words and books can be written about a speech that is but 272 words long. Gabor Boritt's book is an enjoyable and easy read on Lincoln's most famous speech. Much of the book deals with the immediate aftermath of the terrible Gettysburg battle with the author painting a vivid picture of the terrible scene which must have greeted the eye on July 4th. It is interesting that the famous address did not get immediate general approval. Boritt shows that the great leader’s speech was almost forgotten until the 1880's. As with most Lincoln supporters, the author attempts to show that the speech was not written on the train to Gettysburg and that Lincoln gave the speech considerable thought. The truth is no one knows, but a good argument can be made for the proposition that Lincoln must have given it little thought prior to the event.
Who in their right mind is going to travel from Washington to Gettysburg and DECIDE to present an address of only 272 words? The words came from the heart and from years of experience and empathy. Just as Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech was somewhat spontaneous (although a very similar speech was presented at Cobo Hall, Detroit some weeks previously), there is strong circumstantial evidence that Lincoln put this speech together at short notice.
I have no idea why the book is sub-titled "The Lincoln Speech that Nobody Knows," but Boritt does provide a number of slightly different versions of the speech in the appendix. Most of the differences are minor to put it mildly. The author's description of how the speech initially got little response but grew to be appreciated over time to be a work of genius is well developed. Paradoxically, the most enjoyable section of the book is the full text of Edward Everett's speech which I read fully for the first time. You can appreciate why Everett was seen as a great orator because of his ability to paint pictures with words although his two hour address can hardly be described as uplifting. Almost all of the speech was taken up with a chronological history of the events at Gettysburg (spoken from memory) and the aging orator failed to properly commend and eulogize the thousands who had given their life on the adjacent battlefield.
Paradoxically, the most enjoyable section of the book is the full text of Edward Everett's speech which I read fully for the first time. You can appreciate why Everett was seen as a great orator because of his ability to paint pictures with words although his two hour address can hardly be described as uplifting. Almost all of the speech was taken up with a chronological history of the events at Gettysburg (spoken from memory) and the aging orator failed to properly commend and eulogize the thousands who had given their life on the adjacent battlefield.
Everett did appreciate that his speech did not match Lincoln's eloquence. He wrote the President, "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."
The book has copious appendices, bibliography, notes which provide a rich resource for serious students of Lincoln and Gettysburg. Overall, an enjoyable not too studious read on the topic.
MENTIONS
Ward Hill Lamon, Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln, Robert Lincoln, The Perfect Tribute, Garry Wills, Mary Lincoln, David Wills, Andrew Curtin, James B. Fry, William Saunders, John Nicolay, John Hay, Salmon Chase, Edwin Stanton, William H. Seward, Edward Everett, Seminary Ridge, Round Top, James C Conkling, Frederick Douglass
_____________
TEAM OF RIVALS
The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Author: Doris Kearns Goodwin
The book’s premise is that Abraham Lincoln was not just a great President but one who also had the motivational ability to create a highly effective team comprised of many of his rivals. These were men who had hoped to become President. Instead, they took a subservient role to a President whom Goodwin writes about in hagiographic terms.
The team of rivals consisted of one time Republican presidential candidates William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Salmon P. Chase, Treasury Secretary, and Edward Bates Attorney General. The other major player in this detailed work is Edwin M. Stanton, War Secretary.
This is a very good read although the author is stretched at times to continually bring the overall premise together. The opening section of the book paints individual pictures of the major players, which I did not find particularly interesting. This I think is partly because some of the characters – Chase and Bates, at least to this reader are just not compelling in their own right. Thus it takes quite some time for the book to grasp this reader’s attention.
Although peripheral to the main story, the hardships of live during the first half of the 19th century are very obvious. Chase lost three wives and two daughters before he was forty four, while Stanton between 1841 and 1846 lost his wife, a daughter and his only brother.
Another fascinating and heart rending aspect portrayed is how the Civil War tore families apart. Four of Mary Lincoln’s siblings and three brothers-in-law fought on behalf of the Confederacy, while Chase’s son also too up arms for the seceding states.
Team of Rivals is basically a biography of Lincoln with a different twist. It is not as detailed as other works – especially in relation to some Civil War episodes, because the author tries to paint pictures of so many characters. Her portrait of Lincoln to some extent lacks objectivity. Every Lincoln weakness or vacillation has a logic or rationale.
Lincoln undoubtedly was underestimated by rivals and media. One Democratic newspaper referred to him as “a third rate Western lawyer … a fourth rate lecturer, who cannot speak good grammar.” As a lawyer and in his early presidential years, the term “inspirational” does not come to mind. To some extent, his behavior did warrant this lack of respect.
His lack of authority over his generals in the early stages of the war must have been disturbing for his cabinet. General McClellan treated him with a disdain and discourtesy that was mind boggling. Had Lincoln been more forceful with Generals Meade and McClellan, it is entirely conceivable the war would have ended much earlier. Kearns (and other writers) has tried to paint Lincoln as an accommodating, understanding head of state. It is probably more accurate to suggest as Martin Luther King did that he was at some stages a “vacillating” president. Much has been written about Lincoln’s leadership, but I think, the student of leadership can learn as much from what Lincoln did poorly as he did well.
Lincoln “grew” into the Presidency, winning over doubters and opponents slowly but surely with his down to earth, homely style. He most definitely has won over the author who paints Lincoln in very favorable terms no matter what the occasion. There is a tendency for the reader to become seduced by the portrait. Lincoln becomes more and more likeable, more and more presidential as the book develops. Ultimately, the reader does appreciate what a dreadful tragedy the death of this president was for the nation and almost certainly for what had been the confederate states. Although, no one can say for certain, it does seem likely that the assassinated president would have been able to salve much of the bitterness and hatred that followed the cessation of violence.
______________
LINCOLN AT GETTYSBURG – THE WORDS THAT REMADE AMERICA
Author: Gary Wills
This is one scholarly work. It is also a work that takes slow careful reading. The author devotes more than one page to each of the two hundred and seventy two words in the famous Gettysburg address.
Wills suggests that Lincoln was heavily influenced by the oratorical skills of the Greeks and also Transcendentalists – a nineteenth century philosophical movement much advocated by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and other luminaries.
One fascinating aspect of the Gettysburg address is how brief it was. Lincoln was not the featured speaker at the event, indeed by some accounts he was invited as an afterthought. This may well be one of the reasons why his speech was so brief, particularly as short speeches were not the norm. In 1858, Lincoln and Stephen Douglas engaged in three hour debates, while Edward Everett delivered a two hour oration prior to Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. While the three minute address was out of character for the period or indeed any period, the speech proves the point “that less is often more.”
The book should be of particular interest to the Lincoln scholar, but beware, it is a tough book to get through, simply because it is such a detailed, intense work.
One of the many interesting elements in the book is the full reproduction of Everett’s speech. Everett was lauded as the finest speaker of his generation, but to be honest, I found his speech to be tedious, lacking in passion and being primarily a chronology of the events at Gettysburg. Everett wrote to Lincoln following their respective addresses, "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes." How right he was.
_____________________________
_____________________________
Conor Cunneen is a Chicago based Irish keynote speaker – motivational, humorous, inspirational - on topics as diverse as BEAT the RECESSION, Foodservice, Cancer (a two time survivor), Business Growth and Presentation Skills, who likes to repeat keywords such as motivational, humorous, inspirational, Irish, Chicago based, Motivational Humorist in an ongoing effort to garner search engine attention and BEAT the RECESSION.
His Brand Promise is:E4 - Energize, Educate, Entertain AND Easy to work with.
Clients agree:
“In my close to thirty years of association work, I have never seen a speaker as well received as you.” Incentive Marketing Association
“Working with Conor Cunneen has been a pleasure both for our company and our clients. Conor is a great speaker who obviously knows the importance of a good and well planned speech according to the wishes of our clients.” SpeakersForum, Finland.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Obama Grows into Presidency - FAST
We will BEAT this recession. I believe it and Barack Obama is trying to get America to believe it also. The man has probably had the toughest immediate baptism of fire of any President since Lincoln. He is learning fast and it has to be said his obvious knowledge of so many factors - economic, political, military is quite impressive.
His public performances in the past two days show he has got comfortable with the office very fast. Most people accept he is an inspirational, motivational speaker but some might have questioned whether there was steel there. His first press conference dispelled any worries on that front.
The President explained very clearly and cogently just how much trouble the economy is in. That he was able to recount anecdotes from his visit to Elkhart, Indiana was fortunate for him but also effective. Indeed his visit to the unemployment capital of the United States provided him with a lot of credibility and goodwill. But his overall performance was powerful. He was stately and truly presidential. His command of the speech process is uncanny, something that is not necessarily true when he is involved in Q&A sessions where he hesitates, thinks, pauses a lot before he comes out often with pretty vacuous answers.
He overcame this flaw at last night’s conference by answering many questions with almost mini-speeches. He was also feisty, consistently criticizing the previous administration for the huge debt racked up - "It's a little hard for me to take criticism from folks about this recovery package after they presided over a doubling of the national debt." Whether this was accurate or not is questionable as the Dems have controlled the House for the past few years, but hey! as most inspirational motivational speakers know there is nothing wrong with a little bit of hyperbole.
Footnote I: Things must REALLY be serious when 37 million people watched Obama’s press conference last night. That is 7 million more than watched American Idol debut in January.
Footnote II : The foot in mouth award of the week must go to Texas Rep. Pete Sessions who suggested the 2010 GOP strategy should be comparable to that of the Taliban – one of insurgency. The irony is that his statement has some validity. You should learn from effective operational strategy in any environment and unfortunately the Taliban are murderously effective. But you’d think Sessions – a six term representative – would have had more political moxy. The Democrats should send him a case of his favorite beverage for providing such a juicy political morsel. Of course I would never suggest that either parties ability to mangle the truth for their own benefit is Taliban-like. That would just be too cynical.
And remember:
WE WILL BEAT THIS RECESSION - But we MUST work Harder. We MUST work Smarter.
*************************************************************************************
Conor Cunneen is a Chicago based Irish keynote speaker – motivational, humorous, inspirational - on topics as diverse as BEAT the RECESSION, Foodservice, Cancer (a two time survivor), Business Growth and Presentation Skills, who likes to repeat keywords such as motivational, humorous, inspirational, Irish, Chicago based, Motivational Humorist in an ongoing effort to garner search engine attention and BEAT the RECESSION.
His Brand Promise is:
E4 - Energize, Educate, Entertain AND Easy to work with.
His public performances in the past two days show he has got comfortable with the office very fast. Most people accept he is an inspirational, motivational speaker but some might have questioned whether there was steel there. His first press conference dispelled any worries on that front.
The President explained very clearly and cogently just how much trouble the economy is in. That he was able to recount anecdotes from his visit to Elkhart, Indiana was fortunate for him but also effective. Indeed his visit to the unemployment capital of the United States provided him with a lot of credibility and goodwill. But his overall performance was powerful. He was stately and truly presidential. His command of the speech process is uncanny, something that is not necessarily true when he is involved in Q&A sessions where he hesitates, thinks, pauses a lot before he comes out often with pretty vacuous answers.
He overcame this flaw at last night’s conference by answering many questions with almost mini-speeches. He was also feisty, consistently criticizing the previous administration for the huge debt racked up - "It's a little hard for me to take criticism from folks about this recovery package after they presided over a doubling of the national debt." Whether this was accurate or not is questionable as the Dems have controlled the House for the past few years, but hey! as most inspirational motivational speakers know there is nothing wrong with a little bit of hyperbole.
Footnote I: Things must REALLY be serious when 37 million people watched Obama’s press conference last night. That is 7 million more than watched American Idol debut in January.
Footnote II : The foot in mouth award of the week must go to Texas Rep. Pete Sessions who suggested the 2010 GOP strategy should be comparable to that of the Taliban – one of insurgency. The irony is that his statement has some validity. You should learn from effective operational strategy in any environment and unfortunately the Taliban are murderously effective. But you’d think Sessions – a six term representative – would have had more political moxy. The Democrats should send him a case of his favorite beverage for providing such a juicy political morsel. Of course I would never suggest that either parties ability to mangle the truth for their own benefit is Taliban-like. That would just be too cynical.
And remember:
WE WILL BEAT THIS RECESSION - But we MUST work Harder. We MUST work Smarter.
*************************************************************************************
Conor Cunneen is a Chicago based Irish keynote speaker – motivational, humorous, inspirational - on topics as diverse as BEAT the RECESSION, Foodservice, Cancer (a two time survivor), Business Growth and Presentation Skills, who likes to repeat keywords such as motivational, humorous, inspirational, Irish, Chicago based, Motivational Humorist in an ongoing effort to garner search engine attention and BEAT the RECESSION.
His Brand Promise is:
E4 - Energize, Educate, Entertain AND Easy to work with.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Friday, February 06, 2009
The Creep Who Outed Michael Phelps
Stand up you brave upstanding citizen.
Stand up and tell us who you are, so we can laud you for bringing to our notice the horrible crime that Michael Phelps has committed.
Stand up and show us what a wonderful law-abiding citizen you are.
Stand up - in order that the many companies who are so ethically challenged can hire you immediately to bring honesty, openness, good character, genuine friendship (‘I’m doing this for your own good,’) to the great unwashed.
Yes please stand up so America and the world can salute you.
Stand up and explain to Michael Phelps why you are happy that Kellog’s have pulled their multi-million dollar sponsorship.
Somehow or another I don’t think you will, but I hope you are proud of yourself, because you are probably the only one in the world that is.
Michael Phelps commented that it was “obviously bad judgment.” It was bad judgment. It was bad judgment smoking pot in such an open location, bad judgment in his choice of “friends” and to be honest bad judgment in smoking pot in the first place. But to that age group, pot smoking is the equivalent of driving 12 miles over the speed limit on the highway. The only problem occurs when you get caught.
As an inspirational, motivational, humorous keynote business speaker, I am impressed by inspirational, motivational personalities even if they are not Irish keynote speakers! Phelps is only 23 years old, a kid who has worked incredibly hard to become a genuine success based on phenomenal ability. To the surprise of the media, the man is human. His DUI offence after his first great Olympics was a much more egregious and potentially dangerous offence, but he is a powerful study in having a vision, working incredibly hard to achieve it and then making it happen. We can all learn from him.
Kudos to the major sponsors who are sticking by Phelps. This is a not a knock on Kellogg’s who market aggressively to kids and probably had to drop the gold medal star.
But I’d still like for that upstanding law abiding citizen who outed Phelps to make himself known so he can get the kudos he or she deserves.
Stand up and tell us who you are, so we can laud you for bringing to our notice the horrible crime that Michael Phelps has committed.
Stand up and show us what a wonderful law-abiding citizen you are.
Stand up - in order that the many companies who are so ethically challenged can hire you immediately to bring honesty, openness, good character, genuine friendship (‘I’m doing this for your own good,’) to the great unwashed.
Yes please stand up so America and the world can salute you.
Stand up and explain to Michael Phelps why you are happy that Kellog’s have pulled their multi-million dollar sponsorship.
Somehow or another I don’t think you will, but I hope you are proud of yourself, because you are probably the only one in the world that is.
Michael Phelps commented that it was “obviously bad judgment.” It was bad judgment. It was bad judgment smoking pot in such an open location, bad judgment in his choice of “friends” and to be honest bad judgment in smoking pot in the first place. But to that age group, pot smoking is the equivalent of driving 12 miles over the speed limit on the highway. The only problem occurs when you get caught.
As an inspirational, motivational, humorous keynote business speaker, I am impressed by inspirational, motivational personalities even if they are not Irish keynote speakers! Phelps is only 23 years old, a kid who has worked incredibly hard to become a genuine success based on phenomenal ability. To the surprise of the media, the man is human. His DUI offence after his first great Olympics was a much more egregious and potentially dangerous offence, but he is a powerful study in having a vision, working incredibly hard to achieve it and then making it happen. We can all learn from him.
Kudos to the major sponsors who are sticking by Phelps. This is a not a knock on Kellogg’s who market aggressively to kids and probably had to drop the gold medal star.
But I’d still like for that upstanding law abiding citizen who outed Phelps to make himself known so he can get the kudos he or she deserves.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Ticketmaster: Held Up Without A Gun
The Bruce Springsteen song title Held up without a gun just about represents the awful, pathetic brand experience from ticketmaster (I wouldn't bother with a capital 'T') when selling tickets to the great rocker's concerts.
When it comes to screwing every last cent out of valued customers, ticketmaster must be top of the heap. The company's ludicrous service and billing charges have long been a bane to ticket buyers but the way the company handled Bruce Springsteen ticket sales this week is appalling.
What is even more appalling is consumers really do not have a choice when purchasing tickets.
Springsteen Chicago tickets went on sale at 10.00am Monday morning. I hit buy tickets at 10.00 on the button and get ‘processing order – one minute’ which goes to ‘three minutes’ to ‘four minutes.’ At about 10.05, ON the ticketmaster website I am offered scalped tickets by a tickmaster subsidiary TicketsNow which claims hands off relationship with ticketmaster. The site claims “Tickets listed on TicketsNow come from licensed brokers, as well as individual sellers.”
I am sure this is correct, but what kind of system provides hundreds of higher priced tickets – purchased supposedly on a hands off basis – within such a short period of time?
TicketsNow was offering hundreds of tickets within five minutes and as I write this today, it has 1,411 tickets for sale for the Chicago concert alone. That is about 7% of the United Center capacity. If you are really interested in seeing The Boss, you can buy 8 good tickets for $6,756 at this site. The good news is that this is the total price as the figure includes a service charge of $108.45 PER ticket. Service charge! $108.45! PER TICKET! The bad news is those tickets were originally listed at $95 on the ticketmaster website.
I do believe TicketsNow is technically operating on a ‘hands off’ basis. ClickitNow, another online scalper had over 800 tickets for sale by 10.30 Monday morning. Where do these companies get these tickets so fast?
In one sense it is a tribute to the entrepreneurial culture that this country so badly needs right now. The profit margins in this business are enormous and the investment in time and infrastructure is well worth the effort. I can even appreciate why ticketmaster wonders why it loses out on the increased premium, but its system stinks. When it comes to awful, bad taste in the mouth brand experience ticketmaster is top of the dung heap.
And the great news is the next time I want to purchase tickets for Springsteen who provides an astonishing BRAND EXPERIENCE, I have to go to ticketmaster.
Even a humorous, inspirational, motivational, business, keynote speaker like me has difficulty in finding a bright spot in that.
Enough of the wailing! As The Boss might sing, It’s hard to be a Saint in the City but we were Born to Run, so I’m Waitin’ on a Sunny Day to get my Springsteen tickets.
In the meantime, I’m going to beat the living daylights out of the recession, work harder, work smarter and fulfill my BRAND PROMISE of E4: Energize, Educate, Entertain AND Easy to work with. Phone me today at 630 718 1643 if you are looking for a speaker to ROCK your next event.
Have a Top o’ the Morning day.
When it comes to screwing every last cent out of valued customers, ticketmaster must be top of the heap. The company's ludicrous service and billing charges have long been a bane to ticket buyers but the way the company handled Bruce Springsteen ticket sales this week is appalling.
What is even more appalling is consumers really do not have a choice when purchasing tickets.
Springsteen Chicago tickets went on sale at 10.00am Monday morning. I hit buy tickets at 10.00 on the button and get ‘processing order – one minute’ which goes to ‘three minutes’ to ‘four minutes.’ At about 10.05, ON the ticketmaster website I am offered scalped tickets by a tickmaster subsidiary TicketsNow which claims hands off relationship with ticketmaster. The site claims “Tickets listed on TicketsNow come from licensed brokers, as well as individual sellers.”
I am sure this is correct, but what kind of system provides hundreds of higher priced tickets – purchased supposedly on a hands off basis – within such a short period of time?
TicketsNow was offering hundreds of tickets within five minutes and as I write this today, it has 1,411 tickets for sale for the Chicago concert alone. That is about 7% of the United Center capacity. If you are really interested in seeing The Boss, you can buy 8 good tickets for $6,756 at this site. The good news is that this is the total price as the figure includes a service charge of $108.45 PER ticket. Service charge! $108.45! PER TICKET! The bad news is those tickets were originally listed at $95 on the ticketmaster website.
I do believe TicketsNow is technically operating on a ‘hands off’ basis. ClickitNow, another online scalper had over 800 tickets for sale by 10.30 Monday morning. Where do these companies get these tickets so fast?
In one sense it is a tribute to the entrepreneurial culture that this country so badly needs right now. The profit margins in this business are enormous and the investment in time and infrastructure is well worth the effort. I can even appreciate why ticketmaster wonders why it loses out on the increased premium, but its system stinks. When it comes to awful, bad taste in the mouth brand experience ticketmaster is top of the dung heap.
And the great news is the next time I want to purchase tickets for Springsteen who provides an astonishing BRAND EXPERIENCE, I have to go to ticketmaster.
Even a humorous, inspirational, motivational, business, keynote speaker like me has difficulty in finding a bright spot in that.
Enough of the wailing! As The Boss might sing, It’s hard to be a Saint in the City but we were Born to Run, so I’m Waitin’ on a Sunny Day to get my Springsteen tickets.
In the meantime, I’m going to beat the living daylights out of the recession, work harder, work smarter and fulfill my BRAND PROMISE of E4: Energize, Educate, Entertain AND Easy to work with. Phone me today at 630 718 1643 if you are looking for a speaker to ROCK your next event.
Have a Top o’ the Morning day.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Beat the Recession
Doom and gloom, doom and gloom! No matter where you look, the news seems to be getting worse. “Not bad” is now being termed the “new good.” Yesterday’s 38% decline in auto sales could not even be referred as the “new good.” They were absolutely frightening and with Chrysler’s 55% decline in sales, there must be serious concern that this historic company can survive the recession. As I write this, Costco has issued a warning for this quarter due to a poor January.
So what are you doing to beat the recession? As a keynote speaker (humorous, business growth, foodservice, marketing, cancer, healthcare) I’m in the same boat as everyone else. I’ve had leadership and strategy events cancelled and potential clients say ‘We’re slashing budgets everywhere.’ One thing is certain, doing the same thing, in the same way, to the same target market is not going to get me the same good results I was getting.
A few tips to beat the recession
1) Work Harder
Outgoing Wal-Mart CEO Leo Scott was interviewed recently on CNBC. The comment that really resonated with me was “I’m at my desk at six every morning reviewing yesterday’s figures.” If the chief exec of the world’s largest retailer is at his desk at six, why not you? ‘Why not me?’ I said. In the current environment you HAVE to work harder to get the same results. I am working harder and I am working longer hours than previous including commencing this blog before six this morning. That is one reason why I’m going to beat the recession.
2) Work Smarter
‘Hey, as a motivational humorous speaker on business, you’re not giving me a lot of new ideas,’ I hear you saying. ‘Work smarter’ is a simple concept. DOING IT is not simple. ‘Work smarter’ will help you beat the recession. I have ramped up a number of my activities including:
Better lead follow-up. I recently purchased a new ACT! Software program which is a pain in the butt to work with, but it definitely has improved my productivity with alerts popping up regularly reminding me to contact clients.
Continuous website development. As an Irish motivational humorist – Chicago based, who relies a lot on search engines for business development, I am adding a lot of content to my website with some over the top hyperbolic commentary related to my keywords. I have added more new content this month than any other comparable period – not just blog pages but Mark Twain speeches (the finest most inspirational humorous keynote speaker ever), Great Speeches and State of the Union addresses. All these pages include relevant commentary about the Chicago based Irish humorous keynote business speaker on topics as diverse as cancer, foodservice, business growth, beat the recession etc.
3) Network, Network, Network.
I attend every single cat and dog show that has any relevance to my business. I’ve signed up for more breakfasts, more luncheons than are good for my health. I am particularly interested in business associations which have regular networking meetings.
The more networking you do, the more networking works!
It is difficult to make a solid impression on anyone after one short introduction at a business meeting. However if you see that person again next week and the week after, you are on the way to creating a genuine business connection. Make sure you follow up on every business card you receive. You do not know always know who can make a difference to your business. So keep hammering away! I had a potential client contact me two weeks ago whose name seemed vaguely familiar. I had contacted him and sent a copy of my book Why Ireland Never Invaded America THREE years ago. That’s a long lead time that I don’t want to repeat too often, but the initial contact came about via networking.
Go to it – Beat the recession.
Let’s get more energetic here.
Go to it – Beat the crap out of the recession!
So what are you doing to beat the recession? As a keynote speaker (humorous, business growth, foodservice, marketing, cancer, healthcare) I’m in the same boat as everyone else. I’ve had leadership and strategy events cancelled and potential clients say ‘We’re slashing budgets everywhere.’ One thing is certain, doing the same thing, in the same way, to the same target market is not going to get me the same good results I was getting.
A few tips to beat the recession
1) Work Harder
Outgoing Wal-Mart CEO Leo Scott was interviewed recently on CNBC. The comment that really resonated with me was “I’m at my desk at six every morning reviewing yesterday’s figures.” If the chief exec of the world’s largest retailer is at his desk at six, why not you? ‘Why not me?’ I said. In the current environment you HAVE to work harder to get the same results. I am working harder and I am working longer hours than previous including commencing this blog before six this morning. That is one reason why I’m going to beat the recession.
2) Work Smarter
‘Hey, as a motivational humorous speaker on business, you’re not giving me a lot of new ideas,’ I hear you saying. ‘Work smarter’ is a simple concept. DOING IT is not simple. ‘Work smarter’ will help you beat the recession. I have ramped up a number of my activities including:
Better lead follow-up. I recently purchased a new ACT! Software program which is a pain in the butt to work with, but it definitely has improved my productivity with alerts popping up regularly reminding me to contact clients.
Continuous website development. As an Irish motivational humorist – Chicago based, who relies a lot on search engines for business development, I am adding a lot of content to my website with some over the top hyperbolic commentary related to my keywords. I have added more new content this month than any other comparable period – not just blog pages but Mark Twain speeches (the finest most inspirational humorous keynote speaker ever), Great Speeches and State of the Union addresses. All these pages include relevant commentary about the Chicago based Irish humorous keynote business speaker on topics as diverse as cancer, foodservice, business growth, beat the recession etc.
3) Network, Network, Network.
I attend every single cat and dog show that has any relevance to my business. I’ve signed up for more breakfasts, more luncheons than are good for my health. I am particularly interested in business associations which have regular networking meetings.
The more networking you do, the more networking works!
It is difficult to make a solid impression on anyone after one short introduction at a business meeting. However if you see that person again next week and the week after, you are on the way to creating a genuine business connection. Make sure you follow up on every business card you receive. You do not know always know who can make a difference to your business. So keep hammering away! I had a potential client contact me two weeks ago whose name seemed vaguely familiar. I had contacted him and sent a copy of my book Why Ireland Never Invaded America THREE years ago. That’s a long lead time that I don’t want to repeat too often, but the initial contact came about via networking.
Go to it – Beat the recession.
Let’s get more energetic here.
Go to it – Beat the crap out of the recession!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Metallica Rocks, Madame Butterfly Flutters!
It’s been an interesting few weeks culturally. I saw Madame Butterfly last week and this week heavy metal band Metallica. Yahooo! Hey, I might not be very religious, but I do have catholic tastes when it comes to music.
As I stayed quiet for Madam Butterfly and behaved like an aging rocker at Metallica I pondered the lessons inspirational, humorous, and motivational, business keynote speakers – Irish or not, might learn from both performances. (The references to motivational, humorous, Irish, Inspirational business keynote speakers are a gratuitous effort to gain search engine attention). Anyway, back to the lessons!
Did the performances have much in common? Well you felt exhausted after Metallica’s non-stop hard-driving performance while you slept (just a little) during Madame Butterfly. I don’t know what real opera buffs think but the length of some of the scenes in Butterfly was a weakness. It sometimes took too much time to get to the point which is a regular failure for keynote speakers – inspirational or not.
On the other hand Metallica were in your face all the time, rarely pausing for breath which is great for that audience. If there was one minor weakness in the performance of the heavy metal icons it was they operated at two speeds – fast and very fast. Keynote speakers who do not vary their performance, pacing, voice projection will lose their audience very fast.
Metallica and Butterfly both provided awesome music. OK, I know some of you might not have that opinion of … of Madame Butterfly. Metallica and Madame Butterfly have great longevity and status because they make a connection with their respective audiences – something that is critical for a motivational keynote speaker.
The world’s best selling heavy metal band provided another crucial lesson to the budding keynote speaker irrespective if she is an expert on foodservice, humor, inspirational, cancer – whatever. The band really "turned up." Once on stage, they performed like their lives depended on it making good visual contact with all sides of the arena as they pranced around the stage located in the center of the arena.
Many motivational keynote speakers rarely change their material and rehash the same material over and over. Metallica did play some really good old material but the bulk of the show was comprised with songs from their latest and really powerful CD Death Magnetic. The lesson for the up and coming and even seasoned inspirational keynote speaker – Keep creating new material and new products. You’ll stay relevant longer and people will come back again and again. Metallica have been playing Chicago since 1983. Long may it continue.
And in an effort to come up with a really snappy end line, I’d have to say Metallica Rocks, Madame Butterfly Flutters. As Metallica fans will know ‘And nothing else matters.’
As I stayed quiet for Madam Butterfly and behaved like an aging rocker at Metallica I pondered the lessons inspirational, humorous, and motivational, business keynote speakers – Irish or not, might learn from both performances. (The references to motivational, humorous, Irish, Inspirational business keynote speakers are a gratuitous effort to gain search engine attention). Anyway, back to the lessons!
Did the performances have much in common? Well you felt exhausted after Metallica’s non-stop hard-driving performance while you slept (just a little) during Madame Butterfly. I don’t know what real opera buffs think but the length of some of the scenes in Butterfly was a weakness. It sometimes took too much time to get to the point which is a regular failure for keynote speakers – inspirational or not.
On the other hand Metallica were in your face all the time, rarely pausing for breath which is great for that audience. If there was one minor weakness in the performance of the heavy metal icons it was they operated at two speeds – fast and very fast. Keynote speakers who do not vary their performance, pacing, voice projection will lose their audience very fast.
Metallica and Butterfly both provided awesome music. OK, I know some of you might not have that opinion of … of Madame Butterfly. Metallica and Madame Butterfly have great longevity and status because they make a connection with their respective audiences – something that is critical for a motivational keynote speaker.
The world’s best selling heavy metal band provided another crucial lesson to the budding keynote speaker irrespective if she is an expert on foodservice, humor, inspirational, cancer – whatever. The band really "turned up." Once on stage, they performed like their lives depended on it making good visual contact with all sides of the arena as they pranced around the stage located in the center of the arena.
Many motivational keynote speakers rarely change their material and rehash the same material over and over. Metallica did play some really good old material but the bulk of the show was comprised with songs from their latest and really powerful CD Death Magnetic. The lesson for the up and coming and even seasoned inspirational keynote speaker – Keep creating new material and new products. You’ll stay relevant longer and people will come back again and again. Metallica have been playing Chicago since 1983. Long may it continue.
And in an effort to come up with a really snappy end line, I’d have to say Metallica Rocks, Madame Butterfly Flutters. As Metallica fans will know ‘And nothing else matters.’
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Spoof Obama Inaugural - (with a nod to JFK, FDR, LBJ, Abraham Lincoln, Bill Clinton)
Mr. Vice President, Chief Justice, President Cheney – sorry, President Bush, VP Cheney and friends.
Just 48 years ago another young skinny senator kid with a paltry senate record stood before you - John Fitzgerald Kennedy. His words have echoed through the ages. I recall those words when I say we should banish from this great land the logic of “Ask Not” as in - 'Ask Not what Bernie Madoff can do for you, ask what you can do for Bernie Madoff' or, as some might suggest ask what YOU can do to Bernie Madoff.
This indeed is a historic moment.
We must think bigger. We must go beyond the words of that fine upstanding Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt who said the only thing “we have to fear is, fear itself.”
We must think bigger.
Not only should we fear - fear itself but:
We should also fear a tanking economy:
We should fear high unemployment rates:
We should fear falling prices and as politicians:
We should fear most of all - Illinois District Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
We are going through tough times. Yes we are. Some worried Americans ask - 'Is the economy in depression?' I say to you – it depends upon what the meaning of ‘is’ - is.
My fellow Americans, a number of comments have been made about my godlike qualities and where I was born. It reminds me of a story about Lyndon Johnson. President Johnson once corrected a supporter who asked was he born in a log cabin. ‘Heck no,’ he replied, ‘You’re thinking of Lincoln. I was born in a manger.’
Me – a Messiah?
While I will not admit it, neither … will I deny it.
Some of the comments about my circumstance have occurred because of the three wise men. Three wise men who came bearing gifts (No, I do not mean Tony Rezko). I mean of course the three wise men - Warren Buffet, David Axelrod and Joe Biden who brought gifts of Gold, Frankly Sense and - Mirth.
I want to thank all of you who provided good wishes to me not least my Irish friends who I understand sing a song that goes “O’Leary, O’Reilly, O’Hare and O’Hara, there is no one as Irish as Barack Obama.”
Me - Irish?
While I will not admit it, neither … will I deny it.
However Ireland’s favorite drink – Guinness – must surely be a memorable symbol that we can all look to. Where else? - in such a confined space have we seen black and white come together in such a magical, wonderful combination – a combination of black and white that makes you believe - you can rule the world, yes a combination of black and white that helps you forget any problem. But we have not achieved full equality. We have not yet achieved full equality in this country and we will not know we have reached full equality until the chief diversity officer in a major Fortune 500 company is … a white middle aged male.
My ideas, my strength, my belief in American comes from you the people, the people who elected George Bush – twice. I would not be here today without your support, your ideas.
Your ideas, your words have give me strength. I recall early in the election campaign visiting a Campbell’s soup factory. While walking the production line speaking to carefully vetted factory employees to show that I related to the common man, I spoke with Dmitri Martin, a man whose parents emigrated to the United States penniless to live the American dream, a man who is struggling to make ends meet.
Asking penetrating questions at this soup factory I said:
“Dmitri, do you can French Onion soup? ”
He responded “Yes - we can.”
“And New England Clam Chowder”?
“Yes – we can”
“And Italian Wedding soup?”
“Yes - we can.”
“And Scotch Broth?”
"Yes - we can."
I left that factory with the seed of an idea. Yes - we can.
It also made me realize that this country is one large melting pot of different ethnic flavors and origins.
I have been elected on a platform of change. Even since my election there has been more of this. For instance, many of Bernie Madoff’s clients have been left with nothing, nothing but … change.
I want to address some words to my republican friends.
To Joe the plumber I say “Joe, pay your taxes.”
To Russ Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter and others, I paraphrase the words of that fine singer Paul Simon and say,
Hop on the bus Russ,
Don’t be a Yawn Sean,
Ann, Ann, Yes We can - Ann
And get yourself free.
I have spoken previously about bi-partisanship.
This great country was built on respect for people’s opinion, yes respect for people’s opinion, as long as it was the same opinion as your own. This great country needs more bi-partisanship. This great country needs more inclusiveness. As President, I want to and I will - include everyone. Yes everyone except Governor Rod Blagojevich.
My fellow Americans, I want this to be a presidency of hope - hope for amazing things.
As I take the office of President;
Yes - you can hope:
That your whites will wash whiter - Yes you can hope,
That green traffic lights will stay greener - Yes you can hope,
That someday a police car will come to a complete stop at a stop sign - Yes, you can hope,
that we move away from --- an economy of bankers, for the bankers, by the bankers.
Finally, you can hope that this fine country will see better and brighter days. Some fine Americans have noted that even since my election, the days are already getting longer!
Can I take credit for this?
My friends I will not admit it, neither - will I deny it.
Dream? Yes - we can. We can bring the sound of recovery, we can bring the Sound of Music back to America
Climb every mountain? Yes – we can.
Ford every stream? Yes – we can.
Follow every rainbow? Yes – we can.
‘Til we find our dream. Yes – we can.
God Bless America
Just 48 years ago another young skinny senator kid with a paltry senate record stood before you - John Fitzgerald Kennedy. His words have echoed through the ages. I recall those words when I say we should banish from this great land the logic of “Ask Not” as in - 'Ask Not what Bernie Madoff can do for you, ask what you can do for Bernie Madoff' or, as some might suggest ask what YOU can do to Bernie Madoff.
This indeed is a historic moment.
We must think bigger. We must go beyond the words of that fine upstanding Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt who said the only thing “we have to fear is, fear itself.”
We must think bigger.
Not only should we fear - fear itself but:
We should also fear a tanking economy:
We should fear high unemployment rates:
We should fear falling prices and as politicians:
We should fear most of all - Illinois District Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
We are going through tough times. Yes we are. Some worried Americans ask - 'Is the economy in depression?' I say to you – it depends upon what the meaning of ‘is’ - is.
My fellow Americans, a number of comments have been made about my godlike qualities and where I was born. It reminds me of a story about Lyndon Johnson. President Johnson once corrected a supporter who asked was he born in a log cabin. ‘Heck no,’ he replied, ‘You’re thinking of Lincoln. I was born in a manger.’
Me – a Messiah?
While I will not admit it, neither … will I deny it.
Some of the comments about my circumstance have occurred because of the three wise men. Three wise men who came bearing gifts (No, I do not mean Tony Rezko). I mean of course the three wise men - Warren Buffet, David Axelrod and Joe Biden who brought gifts of Gold, Frankly Sense and - Mirth.
I want to thank all of you who provided good wishes to me not least my Irish friends who I understand sing a song that goes “O’Leary, O’Reilly, O’Hare and O’Hara, there is no one as Irish as Barack Obama.”
Me - Irish?
While I will not admit it, neither … will I deny it.
However Ireland’s favorite drink – Guinness – must surely be a memorable symbol that we can all look to. Where else? - in such a confined space have we seen black and white come together in such a magical, wonderful combination – a combination of black and white that makes you believe - you can rule the world, yes a combination of black and white that helps you forget any problem. But we have not achieved full equality. We have not yet achieved full equality in this country and we will not know we have reached full equality until the chief diversity officer in a major Fortune 500 company is … a white middle aged male.
My ideas, my strength, my belief in American comes from you the people, the people who elected George Bush – twice. I would not be here today without your support, your ideas.
Your ideas, your words have give me strength. I recall early in the election campaign visiting a Campbell’s soup factory. While walking the production line speaking to carefully vetted factory employees to show that I related to the common man, I spoke with Dmitri Martin, a man whose parents emigrated to the United States penniless to live the American dream, a man who is struggling to make ends meet.
Asking penetrating questions at this soup factory I said:
“Dmitri, do you can French Onion soup? ”
He responded “Yes - we can.”
“And New England Clam Chowder”?
“Yes – we can”
“And Italian Wedding soup?”
“Yes - we can.”
“And Scotch Broth?”
"Yes - we can."
I left that factory with the seed of an idea. Yes - we can.
It also made me realize that this country is one large melting pot of different ethnic flavors and origins.
I have been elected on a platform of change. Even since my election there has been more of this. For instance, many of Bernie Madoff’s clients have been left with nothing, nothing but … change.
I want to address some words to my republican friends.
To Joe the plumber I say “Joe, pay your taxes.”
To Russ Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter and others, I paraphrase the words of that fine singer Paul Simon and say,
Hop on the bus Russ,
Don’t be a Yawn Sean,
Ann, Ann, Yes We can - Ann
And get yourself free.
I have spoken previously about bi-partisanship.
This great country was built on respect for people’s opinion, yes respect for people’s opinion, as long as it was the same opinion as your own. This great country needs more bi-partisanship. This great country needs more inclusiveness. As President, I want to and I will - include everyone. Yes everyone except Governor Rod Blagojevich.
My fellow Americans, I want this to be a presidency of hope - hope for amazing things.
As I take the office of President;
Yes - you can hope:
That your whites will wash whiter - Yes you can hope,
That green traffic lights will stay greener - Yes you can hope,
That someday a police car will come to a complete stop at a stop sign - Yes, you can hope,
that we move away from --- an economy of bankers, for the bankers, by the bankers.
Finally, you can hope that this fine country will see better and brighter days. Some fine Americans have noted that even since my election, the days are already getting longer!
Can I take credit for this?
My friends I will not admit it, neither - will I deny it.
Dream? Yes - we can. We can bring the sound of recovery, we can bring the Sound of Music back to America
Climb every mountain? Yes – we can.
Ford every stream? Yes – we can.
Follow every rainbow? Yes – we can.
‘Til we find our dream. Yes – we can.
God Bless America
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Interesting Reads related to the Inauguration
The inauguration of Barack Obama is historic by any standards. For many older African-Americans it must be one of the momentous events in their lives and one that many would never have believed possible in the dark days of Jim Crow.
As a humorous inspirational keynote business speaker (sorry, I’ve got to use that hyperbole to attract search engines and anyone looking for a keynote speaker, humorous, inspiration, Irish, Chicago based etc!), I’ve read a lot of books on the Civil Rights era. Some months ago, I posted a review of Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr . Given what has transpired in recent days I thought it might be interesting to present it here again.
Other relevant material on this subject includes my review of Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement by Congressman John Lewis. This is one of my favorite books, written by a truly brave man.
Something that might also be of interest is Bill Clinton’s speech on What Would Martin Luther King Say – Remarks to the Convocation of the Church of God in Christ, November 1993
Following is the review of Call to Conscience.
This work is available in book form, CD and also available for download. I have it on my iPod. This is a true test to see if a download can wear out, because I listen to it a lot.
Note, some of the audio quality is not good. To fully appreciate King’s talent and speech construction, you do need the book. The advantage of the audio is that you can hear the real thing and appreciate this wonderful orator’s speech pattern, intonation and delivery.
Rosa Parks said that Martin Luther King told her he spent up to fifteen hours on sermon development. I believe it.
This book provided King’s speeches in chronological order and it is interesting to see how his style develops from the first speech referenced to his final poignant, prophetic address in Memphis, April 3rd 1968, the night before he was assassinated.
Three things strike me about this era as I go through the work.
1) The horrors, humiliation and fear which the “negro” community endured and which King fought so hard to overcome are painted graphically in some of his speeches. Probably the most poignant speech is the address at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Birmingham Alabama following the murder of four young children.
King’s words are powerful, full of pain, anguish, and controlled anger. But it is the audience response that hit me hard. In almost every other speech on this work, the reaction is upbeat and lively. Here, there is just pain and sadness in the intermittent responses of his congregation. This speech came after King’s acclaimed “I have a dream” speech and the march on Washington, which may have led the leaders of the black community to a misleading sense of hope for the immediate future.
2) The genuine Christian ethic that pervaded King’s thinking. He regularly extols his audience to “love” their persecutors. He does differentiate strongly between “mushy” love, but he continuously asks his audience, many of whom suffered dreadful hardship and pain during this era, to forgive their persecutors.
3) King was a brave man. Not just because of his defiance of the whole “Jim Crow” ethic which ultimately resulted in his assassination. This was a fate that probably would not have surprised him, given the murders of other activists including Medgar Evers. However, his bravest speech may well have been “Beyond Vietnam” April 4th 1967, where he stingingly indicted the United States for its involvement in the war. It was a war which he saw as “an enemy of the poor” because it diverted resources from the war on poverty. But his criticism was even more basic.
“We were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them eight thousand miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem. And so we have been repeatedly faced with the cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools. And so we watch them in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village, but we realize that they would hardly live on the same block in Chicago. I could not be silent in the face of such cruel manipulation of the poor.”
King knew the speech would be seen by Lyndon Johnson as a stab in the back. It also raised to an even greater level, the ire of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover who was paranoid about King’s activities.
King undoubtedly was an inspirational speaker and motivator. His speeches got better as his audience warmed to him. This, I think is proof positive, that a speech is not just about the words but the delivery of those words. The great speaker feeds of the audience, accepting applause almost as a fuel to deliver even greater energy. This is very obvious with his “I have a dream” speeches, (yes speeches) where great motivating words generate great audience reaction which generates greater energy from the speaker. Compare this to his address on receipt of The Nobel Peace Price, December 1964, where before a very high profile audience, he is restrained and projects little charisma.
Critiquing King is difficult and maybe even foolhardy. But on a few occasions I think he broke one of the key rules for a good speech – speak the language of your audience. For instance in his “Where do we go from here” speech to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference he said:
“My inspiration didn't come from Karl Marx; my inspiration didn't come from Engels; my inspiration didn't come from Trotsky; my inspiration didn't come from Lenin. Yes, I read Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital a long time ago, and I saw that maybe Marx didn't follow Hegel enough. He took his dialectics, but he left out his idealism and his spiritualism. And he went over to a German philosopher by the name of Feuerbach, and took his materialism and made it into a system that he called "dialectical materialism."
On this and a few other occasions, King I think liked to show the audience how clever he was.
The other area where he could genuinely be criticized is in the length of his speeches. Maybe this is part of the Baptist tradition he was raised in, but sometimes ‘less is more’. King also had a tendency to reference the fact that he was moving to a conclusion, one that would not occur for maybe another ten minutes.
These are minor criticisms of a wonderful motivational inspirational speaker whose greatest skill was the ability to paint pictures with words. His use of imagery and imagery enhancing adjectives brought so much life to his speeches. He truly is an inspiration to the keynote speaker (inspirational, humorous, motivational, business - whatever) who wishes to craft inspirational, motivating speeches.
As a humorous inspirational keynote business speaker (sorry, I’ve got to use that hyperbole to attract search engines and anyone looking for a keynote speaker, humorous, inspiration, Irish, Chicago based etc!), I’ve read a lot of books on the Civil Rights era. Some months ago, I posted a review of Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr . Given what has transpired in recent days I thought it might be interesting to present it here again.
Other relevant material on this subject includes my review of Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement by Congressman John Lewis. This is one of my favorite books, written by a truly brave man.
Something that might also be of interest is Bill Clinton’s speech on What Would Martin Luther King Say – Remarks to the Convocation of the Church of God in Christ, November 1993
Following is the review of Call to Conscience.
This work is available in book form, CD and also available for download. I have it on my iPod. This is a true test to see if a download can wear out, because I listen to it a lot.
Note, some of the audio quality is not good. To fully appreciate King’s talent and speech construction, you do need the book. The advantage of the audio is that you can hear the real thing and appreciate this wonderful orator’s speech pattern, intonation and delivery.
Rosa Parks said that Martin Luther King told her he spent up to fifteen hours on sermon development. I believe it.
This book provided King’s speeches in chronological order and it is interesting to see how his style develops from the first speech referenced to his final poignant, prophetic address in Memphis, April 3rd 1968, the night before he was assassinated.
Three things strike me about this era as I go through the work.
1) The horrors, humiliation and fear which the “negro” community endured and which King fought so hard to overcome are painted graphically in some of his speeches. Probably the most poignant speech is the address at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Birmingham Alabama following the murder of four young children.
King’s words are powerful, full of pain, anguish, and controlled anger. But it is the audience response that hit me hard. In almost every other speech on this work, the reaction is upbeat and lively. Here, there is just pain and sadness in the intermittent responses of his congregation. This speech came after King’s acclaimed “I have a dream” speech and the march on Washington, which may have led the leaders of the black community to a misleading sense of hope for the immediate future.
2) The genuine Christian ethic that pervaded King’s thinking. He regularly extols his audience to “love” their persecutors. He does differentiate strongly between “mushy” love, but he continuously asks his audience, many of whom suffered dreadful hardship and pain during this era, to forgive their persecutors.
3) King was a brave man. Not just because of his defiance of the whole “Jim Crow” ethic which ultimately resulted in his assassination. This was a fate that probably would not have surprised him, given the murders of other activists including Medgar Evers. However, his bravest speech may well have been “Beyond Vietnam” April 4th 1967, where he stingingly indicted the United States for its involvement in the war. It was a war which he saw as “an enemy of the poor” because it diverted resources from the war on poverty. But his criticism was even more basic.
“We were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them eight thousand miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem. And so we have been repeatedly faced with the cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools. And so we watch them in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village, but we realize that they would hardly live on the same block in Chicago. I could not be silent in the face of such cruel manipulation of the poor.”
King knew the speech would be seen by Lyndon Johnson as a stab in the back. It also raised to an even greater level, the ire of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover who was paranoid about King’s activities.
King undoubtedly was an inspirational speaker and motivator. His speeches got better as his audience warmed to him. This, I think is proof positive, that a speech is not just about the words but the delivery of those words. The great speaker feeds of the audience, accepting applause almost as a fuel to deliver even greater energy. This is very obvious with his “I have a dream” speeches, (yes speeches) where great motivating words generate great audience reaction which generates greater energy from the speaker. Compare this to his address on receipt of The Nobel Peace Price, December 1964, where before a very high profile audience, he is restrained and projects little charisma.
Critiquing King is difficult and maybe even foolhardy. But on a few occasions I think he broke one of the key rules for a good speech – speak the language of your audience. For instance in his “Where do we go from here” speech to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference he said:
“My inspiration didn't come from Karl Marx; my inspiration didn't come from Engels; my inspiration didn't come from Trotsky; my inspiration didn't come from Lenin. Yes, I read Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital a long time ago, and I saw that maybe Marx didn't follow Hegel enough. He took his dialectics, but he left out his idealism and his spiritualism. And he went over to a German philosopher by the name of Feuerbach, and took his materialism and made it into a system that he called "dialectical materialism."
On this and a few other occasions, King I think liked to show the audience how clever he was.
The other area where he could genuinely be criticized is in the length of his speeches. Maybe this is part of the Baptist tradition he was raised in, but sometimes ‘less is more’. King also had a tendency to reference the fact that he was moving to a conclusion, one that would not occur for maybe another ten minutes.
These are minor criticisms of a wonderful motivational inspirational speaker whose greatest skill was the ability to paint pictures with words. His use of imagery and imagery enhancing adjectives brought so much life to his speeches. He truly is an inspiration to the keynote speaker (inspirational, humorous, motivational, business - whatever) who wishes to craft inspirational, motivating speeches.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Inaugural Uncertainty
Today, we expect nothing but confidence and assurance from incoming presidents as they make their inaugural speech. It was not always so, with many of the earlier presidents expressing a (claimed) deep sense of humility and uncertainty about their new role. The following are some interesting expressions from inaugural addresses. You can read complete inaugural addresses at Inaugurals on www.IrishmanSpeaks.com . Brace yourself though as some of them are extraordinarily tedious and not the work on inspirational, humorous keynote speakers.
Thomas Jefferson: First inaugural – March 4th 1801
Called upon to undertake the duties of the first executive office of our country, I avail myself of the presence of that portion of my fellow-citizens which is here assembled to express my grateful thanks for the favor with which they have been pleased to look toward me, to declare a sincere consciousness that the task is above my talents, and that I approach it with those anxious and awful presentiments which the greatness of the charge and the weakness of my powers so justly inspire.
James Monroe: First Inaugural – March 4th 1817
I should be destitute of feeling if I was not deeply affected by the strong proof which my fellow-citizens have given me of their confidence in calling me to the high office whose functions I am about to assume.
As the expression of their good opinion of my conduct in the public service, I derive from it a gratification which those who are conscious of having done all that they could to merit it can alone feel. My sensibility is increased by a just estimate of the importance of the trust and of the nature and extent of its duties, with the proper discharge of which the highest interests of a great and free people are intimately connected. Conscious of my own deficiency, I cannot enter on these duties without great anxiety for the result. From a just responsibility I will never shrink, calculating with confidence that in my best efforts to promote the public welfare my motives will always be duly appreciated and my conduct be viewed with that candor and indulgence which I have experienced in other stations.
James Polk : March 4th 1845
I am deeply impressed with gratitude for the confidence reposed in me. Honored with this distinguished consideration at an earlier period of life than any of my predecessors, I can not disguise the diffidence with which I am about to enter on the discharge of my official duties. If the more aged and experienced men who have filled the office of President of the United States even in the infancy of the Republic distrusted their ability to discharge the duties of that exalted station, what ought not to be the apprehensions of one so much younger and less endowed now that our domain extends from ocean to ocean, that our people have so greatly increased in numbers, and at a time when so great diversity of opinion prevails in regard to the principles and policy which should characterize the administration of our Government?
Franklin Pierce: March 4th 1853
My Countrymen:
It is a relief to feel that no heart but my own can know the personal regret and bitter sorrow over which I have been borne to a position so suitable for others rather than desirable for myself. The circumstances under which I have been called for a limited period to preside over the destinies of the Republic fill me with a profound sense of responsibility, but with nothing like shrinking apprehension.
I repair to the post assigned me not as to one sought, but in obedience to the unsolicited expression of your will, answerable only for a fearless, faithful, and diligent exercise of my best powers. I ought to be, and am, truly grateful for the rare manifestation of the nation's confidence; but this, so far from lightening my obligations, only adds to their weight. You have summoned me in my weakness -- you must sustain me by your strength.
Thomas Jefferson: First inaugural – March 4th 1801
Called upon to undertake the duties of the first executive office of our country, I avail myself of the presence of that portion of my fellow-citizens which is here assembled to express my grateful thanks for the favor with which they have been pleased to look toward me, to declare a sincere consciousness that the task is above my talents, and that I approach it with those anxious and awful presentiments which the greatness of the charge and the weakness of my powers so justly inspire.
James Monroe: First Inaugural – March 4th 1817
I should be destitute of feeling if I was not deeply affected by the strong proof which my fellow-citizens have given me of their confidence in calling me to the high office whose functions I am about to assume.
As the expression of their good opinion of my conduct in the public service, I derive from it a gratification which those who are conscious of having done all that they could to merit it can alone feel. My sensibility is increased by a just estimate of the importance of the trust and of the nature and extent of its duties, with the proper discharge of which the highest interests of a great and free people are intimately connected. Conscious of my own deficiency, I cannot enter on these duties without great anxiety for the result. From a just responsibility I will never shrink, calculating with confidence that in my best efforts to promote the public welfare my motives will always be duly appreciated and my conduct be viewed with that candor and indulgence which I have experienced in other stations.
James Polk : March 4th 1845
I am deeply impressed with gratitude for the confidence reposed in me. Honored with this distinguished consideration at an earlier period of life than any of my predecessors, I can not disguise the diffidence with which I am about to enter on the discharge of my official duties. If the more aged and experienced men who have filled the office of President of the United States even in the infancy of the Republic distrusted their ability to discharge the duties of that exalted station, what ought not to be the apprehensions of one so much younger and less endowed now that our domain extends from ocean to ocean, that our people have so greatly increased in numbers, and at a time when so great diversity of opinion prevails in regard to the principles and policy which should characterize the administration of our Government?
Franklin Pierce: March 4th 1853
My Countrymen:
It is a relief to feel that no heart but my own can know the personal regret and bitter sorrow over which I have been borne to a position so suitable for others rather than desirable for myself. The circumstances under which I have been called for a limited period to preside over the destinies of the Republic fill me with a profound sense of responsibility, but with nothing like shrinking apprehension.
I repair to the post assigned me not as to one sought, but in obedience to the unsolicited expression of your will, answerable only for a fearless, faithful, and diligent exercise of my best powers. I ought to be, and am, truly grateful for the rare manifestation of the nation's confidence; but this, so far from lightening my obligations, only adds to their weight. You have summoned me in my weakness -- you must sustain me by your strength.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Beckham has 'IT'
To most Americans, David Beckham is a flash highly paid soccer player married to a pop singer and fashion diva. Most soccer fans would suggest that his period with LA Galaxy has not set the world on fire, indeed it has to date been a major disappointment.
Beckham’s flare for publicity hides his greatest characteristic. The guy has a world class attitude, strength of character and dedication to his craft that is not unlike that of golfer Tiger Woods. For the uninitiated, Beckham is on a two month loan to Italian soccer giants AC Milan. At 33 years of age, he knows he must prove his fitness to England coach Fabio Capello if he wants to play in the World Cup next summer. Many soccer commentators expected he would be a bit player for Milan. But selected for his first game this Sunday against Roma, he received rave reviews from the Milan manager and his co-players. Even the British press who love nothing better than to bash an icon were hugely impressed.
This is not the first time Beckham has made a comeback. Playing for England against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals, he was sent off for kicking out at an opponent. The tirade of abuse he received from the UK press and soccer ‘fans’ was sickening and there was real fear he would be forced to play abroad. You need to attend an English soccer game to appreciate the venom which opposing fans spew at opposition players. Beckham’s dismissal brought fan frenzy to new heights of profanity laced vitriol. Much of it was directed towards his wife Posh Spice.
Beckham stuck it out and eventually won over the English public.
It was a triumph of perseverance and can do attitude.
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson eventually tired of Beckham’s high profile and sold him on to Spanish giants Real Madrid where now England boss Capello was installed as boss. After Beckham announced (mid season) he would be signing for LA Galaxy at season end, Capello famously announced that Beckham would never play for Madrid again. Beckham sucked it up, worked tirelessly and eventually forced a rare u-turn from Capello. The resilient Englishman played a vital part in Madrid ultimately winning the Spanish championship.
It was a triumph of perseverance and can do attitude. And now he has done it again in Milan.
Beckham has achieved much. He has achieved this because of talent and ‘IT.’
‘IT’ is perseverance and can do attitude.
‘IT’ is what we can all benefit from.
‘IT’ is what we all need in these trying times.
‘IT’ is what will help you.
Perseverance and can do attitude – how do you rate?
************
Chicago based Irish keynote speaker and business humorist speaks to corporations and associations on business growth and productivity interspersed with a large dollop of Irish blarney.
Beckham’s flare for publicity hides his greatest characteristic. The guy has a world class attitude, strength of character and dedication to his craft that is not unlike that of golfer Tiger Woods. For the uninitiated, Beckham is on a two month loan to Italian soccer giants AC Milan. At 33 years of age, he knows he must prove his fitness to England coach Fabio Capello if he wants to play in the World Cup next summer. Many soccer commentators expected he would be a bit player for Milan. But selected for his first game this Sunday against Roma, he received rave reviews from the Milan manager and his co-players. Even the British press who love nothing better than to bash an icon were hugely impressed.
This is not the first time Beckham has made a comeback. Playing for England against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals, he was sent off for kicking out at an opponent. The tirade of abuse he received from the UK press and soccer ‘fans’ was sickening and there was real fear he would be forced to play abroad. You need to attend an English soccer game to appreciate the venom which opposing fans spew at opposition players. Beckham’s dismissal brought fan frenzy to new heights of profanity laced vitriol. Much of it was directed towards his wife Posh Spice.
Beckham stuck it out and eventually won over the English public.
It was a triumph of perseverance and can do attitude.
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson eventually tired of Beckham’s high profile and sold him on to Spanish giants Real Madrid where now England boss Capello was installed as boss. After Beckham announced (mid season) he would be signing for LA Galaxy at season end, Capello famously announced that Beckham would never play for Madrid again. Beckham sucked it up, worked tirelessly and eventually forced a rare u-turn from Capello. The resilient Englishman played a vital part in Madrid ultimately winning the Spanish championship.
It was a triumph of perseverance and can do attitude. And now he has done it again in Milan.
Beckham has achieved much. He has achieved this because of talent and ‘IT.’
‘IT’ is perseverance and can do attitude.
‘IT’ is what we can all benefit from.
‘IT’ is what we all need in these trying times.
‘IT’ is what will help you.
Perseverance and can do attitude – how do you rate?
************
Chicago based Irish keynote speaker and business humorist speaks to corporations and associations on business growth and productivity interspersed with a large dollop of Irish blarney.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Bush's Last Press Conference
When George W. Bush took office (finally) January 2001, he was on top of the world. He probably felt ‘it can’t get better than this.’ In that he was right. That is not to bash Bush. It is quite likely that the same will apply to Barack Obama when he is sworn in January 20th.
The presidency is likely the most onerous job on earth. Almost every incumbent ages far more than four years during his presidential term. Even though he was in his fourth term, FDR was only 63 when he died in office. In his biography of Harry Truman, Robert Dallek quotes FDR’s successor as saying “Nobody but a damn fool would have the job in the first place.” Truman was unprepared for office, but a man who grew into it. He went on to say “But I’ve got it, damn fool or no and I have to do it as best I can.”
It is well documented that Jackie Kennedy was not happy in the White House while Lady Bird Johnson wrote in 1967 "I do not know whether we can endure another four-year term in the Presidency.” Her husband LBJ is probably the President who suffered the most passionate antipathy from the US voter in recent times. He suffered dreadfully as he heard protestors shout “Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today.” Johnson was one of the most vibrant characters to walk the Washington stage but the White House broke this larger than life workaholic, bullying taskmaster. Thus, on March 31st 1968, he announced to a surprised American public, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your President.”
Paradoxically, LBJ’s successor almost broke the presidency as a result of Watergate.
The two Presidents who genuinely reveled in the White House are Reagan and Clinton. The presidency for Reagan was the ‘Role of a Lifetime’ according to biographer Lou Cannon while Clinton in general (scandals aside) genuinely enjoyed the role.
There are few who would suggest that Bush has enjoyed the role. The outgoing President is one of the most likeable personalities to inhabit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but likeability does not a great president make. Watching Bush this morning in his final press conference, I have to admit I felt a little twinge of sympathy for him which is probably one of the more kind emotions directed to the man.
Even out of office, at least for some time, Bush will feel little good will. He likes to compare himself with Harry Truman who left office under a cloud.
Maybe he might take more comfort from Nixon who eventually did regain a level of respect and also Bill Clinton – much reviled by many during his term in office – who is now an enormously popular figure.
The presidency is likely the most onerous job on earth. Almost every incumbent ages far more than four years during his presidential term. Even though he was in his fourth term, FDR was only 63 when he died in office. In his biography of Harry Truman, Robert Dallek quotes FDR’s successor as saying “Nobody but a damn fool would have the job in the first place.” Truman was unprepared for office, but a man who grew into it. He went on to say “But I’ve got it, damn fool or no and I have to do it as best I can.”
It is well documented that Jackie Kennedy was not happy in the White House while Lady Bird Johnson wrote in 1967 "I do not know whether we can endure another four-year term in the Presidency.” Her husband LBJ is probably the President who suffered the most passionate antipathy from the US voter in recent times. He suffered dreadfully as he heard protestors shout “Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today.” Johnson was one of the most vibrant characters to walk the Washington stage but the White House broke this larger than life workaholic, bullying taskmaster. Thus, on March 31st 1968, he announced to a surprised American public, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your President.”
Paradoxically, LBJ’s successor almost broke the presidency as a result of Watergate.
The two Presidents who genuinely reveled in the White House are Reagan and Clinton. The presidency for Reagan was the ‘Role of a Lifetime’ according to biographer Lou Cannon while Clinton in general (scandals aside) genuinely enjoyed the role.
There are few who would suggest that Bush has enjoyed the role. The outgoing President is one of the most likeable personalities to inhabit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but likeability does not a great president make. Watching Bush this morning in his final press conference, I have to admit I felt a little twinge of sympathy for him which is probably one of the more kind emotions directed to the man.
Even out of office, at least for some time, Bush will feel little good will. He likes to compare himself with Harry Truman who left office under a cloud.
Maybe he might take more comfort from Nixon who eventually did regain a level of respect and also Bill Clinton – much reviled by many during his term in office – who is now an enormously popular figure.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
The Wounded Celtic Tiger (temporary condition)
For the best part of twenty years, the Irish economy has been the miracle child of Europe, to such an extent it became known as the Celtic Tiger. Ireland consistently had the highest European economic growth rate and the lowest unemployment levels.
Today, the Celtic Tiger is wounded – much like the rest of the world. Dell has just announced that it will cease manufacturing in Ireland with a direct loss of 1,900 jobs to the city of Limerick, significant by any standards but a disaster for a city of 90,000 people. Earlier this week, Waterford Wedgwood announced receivership with the likely loss of 800 jobs to Waterford city.
These are tough times for a country that had got used to the good life. Ireland has long lost the Quiet Man feel although it is still a really fun, hospitable country to visit. Today’s Irish citizen is used to flying to New York for a weekend’s shopping (fueled by a ludicrously weak dollar / euro rate) or flying to Dubai for a short vacation. Property prices made Seattle or San Francisco look cheap. A 1,600 square foot house on a miniscule plot of land could sell for up to $2 million last year. As with the rest of the world, the property market has tanked.
There is no need to despair though. Ireland has significant advantages that will ensure long term prosperity. We have one of the best and deepest education systems in the western world. With some exceptions university education is free. This has paid dividends drawing major pharmaceutical and software companies to Ireland. Today’s piece of totally useless information: - the largest Viagra plant in the world is in Kinsale, County Cork. In recent years, Google and Facebook have located their European HQs in Ireland. The cosmopolitan face of Ireland is evidenced by the fact that Google’s Dublin office hosts over 40 nationalities speaking over 50 languages.
Yup, it is tough right now, but being an ever optimistic Irish keynote speaker, it will turn around and soon again Irish eyes will be smiling.
Today, the Celtic Tiger is wounded – much like the rest of the world. Dell has just announced that it will cease manufacturing in Ireland with a direct loss of 1,900 jobs to the city of Limerick, significant by any standards but a disaster for a city of 90,000 people. Earlier this week, Waterford Wedgwood announced receivership with the likely loss of 800 jobs to Waterford city.
These are tough times for a country that had got used to the good life. Ireland has long lost the Quiet Man feel although it is still a really fun, hospitable country to visit. Today’s Irish citizen is used to flying to New York for a weekend’s shopping (fueled by a ludicrously weak dollar / euro rate) or flying to Dubai for a short vacation. Property prices made Seattle or San Francisco look cheap. A 1,600 square foot house on a miniscule plot of land could sell for up to $2 million last year. As with the rest of the world, the property market has tanked.
There is no need to despair though. Ireland has significant advantages that will ensure long term prosperity. We have one of the best and deepest education systems in the western world. With some exceptions university education is free. This has paid dividends drawing major pharmaceutical and software companies to Ireland. Today’s piece of totally useless information: - the largest Viagra plant in the world is in Kinsale, County Cork. In recent years, Google and Facebook have located their European HQs in Ireland. The cosmopolitan face of Ireland is evidenced by the fact that Google’s Dublin office hosts over 40 nationalities speaking over 50 languages.
Yup, it is tough right now, but being an ever optimistic Irish keynote speaker, it will turn around and soon again Irish eyes will be smiling.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
There is NO unemployment
Alcoa’s announcement yesterday that it is to cut its global workforce by 13% or 13,500 jobs is just one more gloomy story on the job front. This morning, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas said December’s job cuts - 166,348 - were the most for the last month of the year since the company began compiling data in 1993.
Those are the bald numbers, but if you are one of those who have been affected by this economy and have been laid off, you are NOT unemployed. As a job seeker, you must work on the basis that there is NO unemployment in your life. You may not have a salary or wages coming in right now, but all this means is that you are in unpaid employment. Huh!
If you are in job search, you are likely involved in THE most important job you will ever do in your life. Right!
The results of this job will determine what your income will be, whether you can afford vacation, send the kids to college and retire at some reasonable age. Right!
If you are doing this job, you are NOT unemployed.
I hate the word ‘Unemployed’ with a vengeance. Those of you who have visited my wonderful homeland Ireland will be well aware that the Irish are not averse to profanities and swearing.
One swear word I work really hard to get out of my vocabulary is ‘Unemployed.’ It is a word which does nothing for the self consciousness of the job seeker and should NOT be a description of the work pattern of the job seeker.
Call it what you will – Job Search, In Transition, Between Successes, Seeking the Future but do not use that ugly ‘U’ word.
If you are in job search, change your vocabulary. It will help you to find that well paying job.
It will help you stay energized and focused during what is undoubtedly a tough time, emotionally and financially. If you believe you are in Unpaid Employment, If you believe you are a NIGEP (that’s Non-Income Generating Employed Person), you will be more motivated, you will be more structured in your job search and when the day arrives that you get that first check from your next company, make sure that the energy level you bring to that new job is the same energy level you brought to your current unpaid employment. Get rid of the ‘U’ word today. A true NIGEP does not use it.
As a keynote speaker and business presenter, when I present SHEIFGAB the World, Eight Building Blocks to Successful Transition, I hit this concept early and often. I have challenged outplacement people, commentators and others on the use of it. Even the government should not be using it as more than anyone, they should hope the people on the register ARE in job search – ergo not **employed.
Remember and say it proudly, "I am a NIGEP, a Non-Income Generating EMPLOYED Person."
Those are the bald numbers, but if you are one of those who have been affected by this economy and have been laid off, you are NOT unemployed. As a job seeker, you must work on the basis that there is NO unemployment in your life. You may not have a salary or wages coming in right now, but all this means is that you are in unpaid employment. Huh!
If you are in job search, you are likely involved in THE most important job you will ever do in your life. Right!
The results of this job will determine what your income will be, whether you can afford vacation, send the kids to college and retire at some reasonable age. Right!
If you are doing this job, you are NOT unemployed.
I hate the word ‘Unemployed’ with a vengeance. Those of you who have visited my wonderful homeland Ireland will be well aware that the Irish are not averse to profanities and swearing.
One swear word I work really hard to get out of my vocabulary is ‘Unemployed.’ It is a word which does nothing for the self consciousness of the job seeker and should NOT be a description of the work pattern of the job seeker.
Call it what you will – Job Search, In Transition, Between Successes, Seeking the Future but do not use that ugly ‘U’ word.
If you are in job search, change your vocabulary. It will help you to find that well paying job.
It will help you stay energized and focused during what is undoubtedly a tough time, emotionally and financially. If you believe you are in Unpaid Employment, If you believe you are a NIGEP (that’s Non-Income Generating Employed Person), you will be more motivated, you will be more structured in your job search and when the day arrives that you get that first check from your next company, make sure that the energy level you bring to that new job is the same energy level you brought to your current unpaid employment. Get rid of the ‘U’ word today. A true NIGEP does not use it.
As a keynote speaker and business presenter, when I present SHEIFGAB the World, Eight Building Blocks to Successful Transition, I hit this concept early and often. I have challenged outplacement people, commentators and others on the use of it. Even the government should not be using it as more than anyone, they should hope the people on the register ARE in job search – ergo not **employed.
Remember and say it proudly, "I am a NIGEP, a Non-Income Generating EMPLOYED Person."
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Lazarus Lives
Once upon a time, long long ago, before the start of this century, as far back as BG (Before Greenspan), when I was but a lad in Ireland searching for that pot of gold under the rainbow (I’m still searching!), I remember when Paul Volcker retired as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. He was ancient then. Hey 60 seemed ancient then!
Now I see him popping up regularly as an advisor to President Elect Obama who tapped Volker to head the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. This big man (he is 6 foot 7 inches tall) looks phenomenal for 81 years of age and obviously in great mental health. Lazarus lives and I’m impressed.
Once upon a time, long long ago, before the start of this century, as far back as BW (Before Wagoner, Rick), when I was but a lad in Ireland searching for that pot of gold to buy my first car, Chrysler was about to go under. Then Lee Iacocca rode into Washington in 1979 and got his $1 billion dollar loan and saved Chrysler for another crisis. One of the key people involved in that turnaround was Gerald Greenwald. Greenwald held various executive positions with Chrysler including Chairman from 1985 to 1988. And now Lazarus like I see Greenwald regularly interviewed about the current Detroit bust. He looks great – well he is only 72, and I’m impressed.
What prompted this blog is the re-emergence of Leon Panetta (he’s only a kid of 70) as CIA Director. Do these guys ever go away and retire like our parents used to do? And then as I’m penning this, I notice that Tyson Foods – the world’s largest meat processor, has appointed a new interim CEO, who just happened to have retired from the company last century – 1998. Former former Chairman and Chief Executive Leland Tollett ( age 71)has been invited back to attempt a turnaround for a company that has failed to perform for quite some time.
You know as a key note speaker (foodservice, business growth, branding interspersed with a large dollop of Irish blarney), I regularly look to interesting, inspiring stories to gain the audience attention. Kudos to all these guys. They make me believe I haven’t even hit middle age yet!
So if you are looking for a humorous keynote business speaker who can present a keynote titled
Lazarus Lives, give me a call!
Now I see him popping up regularly as an advisor to President Elect Obama who tapped Volker to head the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. This big man (he is 6 foot 7 inches tall) looks phenomenal for 81 years of age and obviously in great mental health. Lazarus lives and I’m impressed.
Once upon a time, long long ago, before the start of this century, as far back as BW (Before Wagoner, Rick), when I was but a lad in Ireland searching for that pot of gold to buy my first car, Chrysler was about to go under. Then Lee Iacocca rode into Washington in 1979 and got his $1 billion dollar loan and saved Chrysler for another crisis. One of the key people involved in that turnaround was Gerald Greenwald. Greenwald held various executive positions with Chrysler including Chairman from 1985 to 1988. And now Lazarus like I see Greenwald regularly interviewed about the current Detroit bust. He looks great – well he is only 72, and I’m impressed.
What prompted this blog is the re-emergence of Leon Panetta (he’s only a kid of 70) as CIA Director. Do these guys ever go away and retire like our parents used to do? And then as I’m penning this, I notice that Tyson Foods – the world’s largest meat processor, has appointed a new interim CEO, who just happened to have retired from the company last century – 1998. Former former Chairman and Chief Executive Leland Tollett ( age 71)has been invited back to attempt a turnaround for a company that has failed to perform for quite some time.
You know as a key note speaker (foodservice, business growth, branding interspersed with a large dollop of Irish blarney), I regularly look to interesting, inspiring stories to gain the audience attention. Kudos to all these guys. They make me believe I haven’t even hit middle age yet!
So if you are looking for a humorous keynote business speaker who can present a keynote titled
Lazarus Lives, give me a call!
Monday, January 05, 2009
A Great Brand Struggles
When I was just a wee lad growing up in Ireland, there was a pride about the Waterford crystal brand that was unique. My mother took out the Waterford goblets about once every millennium and God help you if you broke one.
Today, Waterford announced it was going into receivership which in Irish financial terms is a cross between Chapter 11 and bankruptcy. The company has been decimated by a strong euro, changes in consumer demand and now the global credit crisis.
When former Heinz Chairman Sir Anthony O’Reilly acquired a significant stake in Waterford back in the nineties, few could have predicted the almost non-stop hemorrhaging the company would suffer. Acquisition of another financially challenged but superb English brand name Wedgwood did not provide the strategic oomph or supply chain benefits expected.
In a year (2008 or 2009 – take your pick) when many fine companies are likely to bite the dust, the demise of Waterford may not garner significant attention outside of Ireland. As a Chicago based Irish keynote speaker, I take particular pride in the successes of my country and incur a deep sorrow when I see it struggling right now. Today 800 people in the city of Waterford don’t know what the future holds for them, but it doesn’t look pretty. I wish them well and know that the indomitable Irish spirit will prevail.
On a personal note: I do not know Sir Anthony (Tony as he was in his Heinz days) O’Reilly, but I can relate one genuinely positive experience I had with the man who today resigned from the board of Waterford having invested and lost somewhere north of 400 million dollars in the company. When finalizing my book, Why Ireland Never Invaded America a few years back, a mutual acquaintance gave me O’Reilly’s contact details. I was brazen enough to send him a copy of my manuscript with a few suggested testimonials for the back cover. He ignored them all. To my surprise he obviously read the manuscript and then penned a wonderfully literate and prosaic testimonial. O’Reilly is a master story teller and business humorist and I truly do appreciate the following words which brilliantly captured the essence of Why Ireland Never Invaded America: “An enchanting mélange of good business sense wrapped in a mixture of Irish situation comedy and straightforward whimsy. …..I believe this book has a little something for everybody on life’s tumultuous voyage.”
An extremely literate man, I offer him these words from another wonderful Irish raconteur Oscar Wilde and know that he will live them – “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
Today, Waterford announced it was going into receivership which in Irish financial terms is a cross between Chapter 11 and bankruptcy. The company has been decimated by a strong euro, changes in consumer demand and now the global credit crisis.
When former Heinz Chairman Sir Anthony O’Reilly acquired a significant stake in Waterford back in the nineties, few could have predicted the almost non-stop hemorrhaging the company would suffer. Acquisition of another financially challenged but superb English brand name Wedgwood did not provide the strategic oomph or supply chain benefits expected.
In a year (2008 or 2009 – take your pick) when many fine companies are likely to bite the dust, the demise of Waterford may not garner significant attention outside of Ireland. As a Chicago based Irish keynote speaker, I take particular pride in the successes of my country and incur a deep sorrow when I see it struggling right now. Today 800 people in the city of Waterford don’t know what the future holds for them, but it doesn’t look pretty. I wish them well and know that the indomitable Irish spirit will prevail.
On a personal note: I do not know Sir Anthony (Tony as he was in his Heinz days) O’Reilly, but I can relate one genuinely positive experience I had with the man who today resigned from the board of Waterford having invested and lost somewhere north of 400 million dollars in the company. When finalizing my book, Why Ireland Never Invaded America a few years back, a mutual acquaintance gave me O’Reilly’s contact details. I was brazen enough to send him a copy of my manuscript with a few suggested testimonials for the back cover. He ignored them all. To my surprise he obviously read the manuscript and then penned a wonderfully literate and prosaic testimonial. O’Reilly is a master story teller and business humorist and I truly do appreciate the following words which brilliantly captured the essence of Why Ireland Never Invaded America: “An enchanting mélange of good business sense wrapped in a mixture of Irish situation comedy and straightforward whimsy. …..I believe this book has a little something for everybody on life’s tumultuous voyage.”
An extremely literate man, I offer him these words from another wonderful Irish raconteur Oscar Wilde and know that he will live them – “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
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