Beethoven and Mozart employed themes, or repeatable musical phrases in many of their compositions. The same technique can benefit speakers. Themes represent the whole idea of a talk, and orient an audience. Although usually suggested in the opening, a great theme can be employed anywhere...
After watching The Inventor documentary, we decided to delve deeper into Elizabeth Holmes' masterful con. First, there was her odd contralto voice, seemingly modeled on Yoda. (Note: British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher also lowered her voice and hired a speech coach to be perceived as powerful.) Then, Holmes...
Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos dreamed of inventing something extraordinary. Her goal was to diagnose a hundred diseases from a single drop of blood. George Schultz and other powerful men sat on her Board. Fortune and Forbes magazines showered her with accolades. And she raised over $700 million...
Last week we had a visit from our nephew Cody and his wife Carly. Their two daughters Harper (aged 8) and Vivian (aged 3) are boisterous, thrilling and exhausting. When we wanted to catch up with their parents, Deborah dusted off her expertise in hosting...
When making an introduction, Emily Post recommended you first look at the person you are introducing-- and then turn to the audience. Speak clearly. Use courteous language as in, "I'd like to introduce...
A recent Wall Street Journal article: No one listening? Maybe you're the problemcited a common communication failure. If you've ever said "I can't make myself heard in meetings or conversations" the WSJ article suggests self-examination. Do you ramble on, without purpose and unaware of your listener's...
Melissa McCarthy presented the Oscar for Best Costume Design at the recent Academy Awards. McCarthy wore an over-the-top, Alice in Wonderland costume jam-packed with stuffed rabbits. And as Bryan Tyree Henry's costume proved, bold patterns will attract the eye and capture the spotlight. McCarthy's bit...
While visiting a Canadian wellness hotel, we passed Bob Won as we entered the Serenity room. It's a quiet space where you can look out over the rolling mountains, and on this morning, watch the snow drift silently down.But in this stillness, Bob Won is...
August, 2017. The USS John McCain collides with a tanker near Singapore, resulting in the tragic loss of 10 lives and $223 million. The crew members in charge didn’t notice the other ship in time, and take appropriate action. They weren’t paying attention. As the world...
One of history’s finest artists, Leonardo da Vinci, was demeaned by his biographer. Giorgio Vasari described da Vinci as touched by God. In fact, da Vinci was mortal, but endowed with two critical traits-- unbridled imagination and intellectual curiosity. Surprisingly, Da Vinci had almost no schooling. But...