The International Association of Business Communicators offers the Gold Quill awards program. Consider submitting one of your speeches. It’s a great way to stand out from the crowd in today’s competitive job market.
Winners will take the stage to accept their awards at the 2009 IABC World Conference in San Francisco.
Entries and fees must be received on or before 3 February 2009.
Get complete entry details at http://www.iabc.com/awards/gq.
This date in history:
On January 28, 1961, the U.S. Department of State announced plans to set up a Peace Corps of Young Americans.
This announcement took place just eight days after John F. Kennedy had been inaugurated President.
Today marks the anniversary of the National Geographic Society (founded in 1888 in Washington, DC).
An aphorism to keep in mind: “Geography is where they make history.”
Q: “I have a great staff job as a speechwriter, and I’m not looking to leave … but I’d like to ‘moonlight’ with some freelance writing. Where should I start? What kinds of freelance work should I look for?”
A: Start by visiting the website for the American Society of Journalists and Authors, www.asja.org. If you’re serious about freelance non-fiction writing, you’ll want to attend their annual conference in NYC. It’s absolutely first-rate.
Continuing to answer the questions I received from NY Roundtable members last week …
Q: “I’ve had good staff jobs for more than 15 years. I’m in my 40s now. In terms of age, when is the best time to ‘hang out my shingle’ and start my own freelance speechwriting business?”
A: Age is not the deciding factor in starting a freelance speechwriting career. If you want to begin your own business as a freelance speechwriter, you’ll need a great portfolio (with a solid track record of speechwriting success).
Age does not limit you. Whether you’re 30 or 60, you’re as good as your portfolio.
The key factor: What can you offer as a speechwriter? Prospective clients will look at your portfolio … and proceed accordingly.
The lesson here? Improve that portfolio!
January 26, 1830:
The United States Senate was debating the issue of states’ rights. Daniel Webster (eloquent as always) summed up our nation’s doctrines this way: “Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable.”
Yesterday, I went to NYC to speak at the Speechwriter’s Roundtable. So many members had so many great questions. I’ll try to answer them here over the next few weeks so everyone can benefit from this information.
Q: “Are foreign languages an asset for US speechwriters?”
A: Foreign language skills are a tremendous asset for US speechwriters. We do business in a global world … and we need to bring global skills to our speechwriting assignments.
Take heart: You do not have to be fluent in a foreign language (although it’s a certainly a career advantage if you are). Simple conversational skills are a “plus” in themselves. I’m far from fluent in German, but I can exchange pleasantries with German-speaking executives … and they appreciate it enormously.
A speechwriter who recently attended my “Business of Six-Figure Speechwriting” seminar told me she’s traveled in Russia, appreciates the culture, and speaks the language. I told her: Put that on your resume! You might not have the fluency skills to write full speeches in Russian, but your understanding of the culture and language would be appreciated by many executive speakers.
Preparing speeches to recognize Presidents Day? Here’s a reference book that’s useful for a wide range of speechwriting assignments: The Bully Pulpit: Quotations from America’s Presidents, edited by Elizabeth Frost (Facts on File Publications).
It’s held a prime spot on my bookshelf since it was published in 1988. There are newer reference books … but none better.
Topics range from Agriculture, Army, Atomic Warfare, Banks, China, Corruption … to Trade/Commerce, Veterans, Vietnam, Women, and Washington, DC.
You’ll find excerpts from FDR’s acceptance speech … Reagan’s remarks on foreign relations with Libya … and Millard Fillmore declining a degree from Oxford University (”I had not the advantage of a classical education, and no man should, in my judgment, accept a degree he cannot read.”)
Perhaps my favorite? Gerald Ford’s great line: [Richard Nixon] “viewed Congress in much the same way that the chairman of the board of a huge corporation regards his regional sales managers.”
Today marks the anniversary of the service organization, Kiwanis International. On January 21, 1915, the first Kiwanis Club was chartered in Detroit, Michigan.
This morning, TV news reported that President-elect Obama had not tinkered with his manuscript today. After rehearsing his inaugural address last night, he let the speech stand as he had rehearsed it.
What a model for any executive: Write it. Edit. Improve it. Rehearse. Edit a bit more. Rehearse well. And then stop editing. Go to bed.
There’s a point at which re-writing becomes non-productive. Some executives keep changing their manuscript until the very last minute … making the speech worse with every sentence they add. Those speakers never get an effective rehearsal because their lines change with every practice session.
As President-elect, Obama knew what he wanted to say in his inaugural address. And today, as President Obama, he said it. Very effectively.