From the monthly archives:

October 2009

Trust is the “killer app” for speechwriters and business leaders

by Cynthia J. StarksOctober 24, 2009

Recently, I heard a speech on personal branding by Pat Coyle, who runs a fast-growing online community in Indianapolis called Smaller Indiana (www.smallerindiana.com). Coyle got my attention with his description of the paradox of social media. In short, the more you share — i.e., give away in information, knowledge and experiences – the more you [...]

Read the full article →

The moral implications of writing a speech

by Cynthia J. StarksOctober 17, 2009

Years ago, I met a fellow who was speechwriter to the chairman of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. I remember wondering how he could write for such a client. Didn’t he know tobacco kills? I hadn’t thought about that fellow for a long time, but yesterday morning I sat down to breakfast with the head of [...]

Read the full article →

If I only had…a speechwriting degree

by Cynthia J. StarksOctober 13, 2009

I could while away the hours Conferring with the flowers Consultin’ with the rain, And my head I’d be scratchin’ While my thoughts were busy hatchin’ If I only had…a speechwriting degree.                                                        (with apologies to Yip Harburg) I recently came across an article about speechwriting degrees. I didn’t know such an animal existed, but did a [...]

Read the full article →