Speaking Tips

 

The Gloaming

There is a time each day when it’s neither day nor night. The ancient Celts named it the Gloaming—we call it dusk or twilight. The earth seems to pause and breathe as it eases into the next phase. It’s a time when anything can happen,...

I Power

Last week we read a NY Times article on religion and spirituality in America. Although worth a read, we weren’t truly engaged until the author revealed her personal connection. No surprise. Many writers and speakers, out of politeness or habit, favor reporting on an issue...

Desert Bloom

In the high desert of New Mexico, spring is finally making an appearance. While other parts of the country are awash in blooms, at 7,000 ft, not so much. This makes new blossoms on our trees, bushes and plants more dramatic and pleasing. Colorful flowers...

Obedient or Good

Earlier this week, we saw an American treasure. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed a solo concert along with commentary about his life and influences on his music. In his teens, after studying and playing the cello from the age of four, Ma’s father asked him to do...

Power Multiplier

When you tune into entertainment award shows, you’ll notice actors gushing about fellow cast members. This high praise comes from working on complicated projects with looming deadlines.David performed in Otherwise Engaged at the Berkeley Rep. The cast was inspired by an intelligent script, so they...

Bounce Back

Who hasn’t blown a pitch, failed to connect with an audience, or muffed an important presentation?  But when we’re ready to get back on our feet, we need inspiration and rehearsal.Lindsey Vonn is 40, ancient in terms of Olympian skiers. She competed from 2002 -...

Granny Throw

Oscar Wilde famously said that “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.”  We enjoyed the TV series Running Point with Kate Hudson about the life of pro basketballers. A young player, Dyson Gibbs has trouble making free-throw shots, so the team brings in...

No Need for Speed

On a dawn hike, we took time to breathe in the fresh air and scenery in Santa Fe. Scanning arroyos, mountain ranges and miles of open space took us back in time, imagining when dinosaurs fed on grasses from the inland seas. Being in the...

Peel the onion

We took a break from airports and client gigs and booked a stay at Vermejo, one of Ted Turner’s ranches in northern New Mexico.  Covering 550,000 acres, the ranch is a jewel, with herds of elk and bison, hiking, horseback riding, hunting and fishing.One of...

Aardvark Porcupine

AARDVARK PORCUPINEThe writing skills of Americans are on the wane. But judging by the verbal skills of current public figures, the decline is not limited to the written word. Reading great authors informs your writing, which strengthens your speaking. But there are also techniques that...