by Rob Cottingham | Jan 22, 2013 | Speechwriting
Back in December, NRA spokesperson Wayne LaPierre finally broke the gun lobby’s silence after the Newtown massacre. And David Murray made this crucial point on his blog at Vital Speeches of the Day: NRA chief reveals another valuable social purpose of speeches: They force leaders to say their position with a straight face. And we get … Keep reading →
by Rob Cottingham | Jan 18, 2013 | Speaking, Speechwriting
Alex Honeysett offers a solid set of 5 Public Speaking Tips for Entrepreneurs who are nervous at the thought of getting up in front of an audience. Her advice includes practicing knowing your space (really important, and so often overlooked) knowing your audience finding the balance between self-promotion and the content people came to hear breathing – … Keep reading →
by Rob Cottingham | Dec 24, 2012 | Everything Else, Speaking, Speechwriting
Jeff Hurt reports on a study that suggests tweeting during a class isn’t distracting – it actually increases engagement: Education Professor Christine Greenhow, Michigan State University, conducted a study on Twitter as a new form of literacy. Her results showed that adults who tweet during a class and as part of the instruction: are more … Keep reading →
by Rob Cottingham | Dec 21, 2012 | Communicating, Politics
The scariest thing of all? This wasn’t the dumbest thing he said. At all. By a wide margin.
by Rob Cottingham | Dec 21, 2012 | Speechwriting
…consider how long it takes Jerry Seinfeld to write a joke. Of course, consider as well the attention to craft and detail – particularly timing – that he devotes to the process. Chances are, many speechwriting clients aren’t so vested in the process that they’ll be willing to give you that kind of running room… not … Keep reading →
by Rob Cottingham | Dec 12, 2012 | Speechwriting
Nominations for the 2013 Cicero Speechwriting Awards have opened. I love the thought of honoring speechwriters; our jobs are entirely about helping others make the most of their time in the spotlight, and it’s nice to see smart, talented folks get public acclaim for outstanding work. For me, it highlights a dilemma – because I’ve always shied … Keep reading →