Speechwriters Conference Closing Keynote – Ted Sorensen

Speechwriters Conference Closing Keynote – Ted Sorensen


Theodore C. Sorensen, special counsel, adviser and legendary speechwriter to President John F. Kennedy

In Ted Sorensen’s keynote he shared tips on speechwriting. He claims it is all a matter of writing ‘a few lines’:

1. Outline — used plan the speech.

2. Headline — what’s the news in the speech?

3. Front line — what’s the most important point?

4. Sidelines — quotes, poems or humor.

5. Bottom line — an ending the audience will remember.
 

He then lists the four features of a good speech:

1. Clarity – achieved if you have a good outline.

2. Charity – praise the audience.

3. Brevity – JFK believed anything worth saying can be covered in a 20 minute speech.

4. Levity – as evidenced by Kennedy’s ironic wit

My Fripp Associate Ian Griffin makes these great notes in his blog. Read more:

http://www.exec-comms.com/blog/2009/02/14/ted-sorensen-keynote-audience-reaction/http://www.frippassociates.com/iangriffin.html

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Top Speechwriters in Washington DC: A Peak Inside…

This week I am in Washington DC for the Ragan Speechwriters Conference. It is great to associates with people who write for Presidents of the United States and top corporate leaders. One of the other speakers who has me motivated to do more Podcasts is one of my Fripp Associates Ian Griffin. http://www.frippassociates.com

He is also President of the National Speakers Association of Northern California. I founded the group 30 years ago. http://www.nsanc.org

Here’s the link to Ian’s first blog posting with a video of Mike Long presenting morning on ‘Structure and Style’ http://www.exec-comms.com/blog/2009/02/11/mike-long-better-structure-better-style/

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Speak to Be Remembered and Repeated

“Speak to be remembered and repeated.” Isn’t that the goal of every communicator – to be remembered and repeated? This is a key idea I reinforce at every Fripp Speaking School. Actually, this is a key idea every time I have the opportunity to discuss speaking and presentation skills. Yes, it’s easier said than done. Here are a few strategies:

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Nice Sermon, Pastor-Who Wrote It?

Dear Visitor,
I found this blog item especially amusing because one of my favorite speaking engagements was addressing 350 Seventh Day Adventist ministers. The article was written by one of the most prolific writers and brilliant minds I have met, freelance speech writer Hal Gordon. I first met Hal when we were seated next to each other at the speaker’s dinner prior to my first Ragan Speechwriters Conference. You can imagine my excitement when Hal told me he used to write for Colin Powell and Ed Meese. He is now a popular speaker at speechwriter events. Giving him full credit and attribution, as well as my utmost respect, I thought you would this excerpt.
-Patricia Fripp

Written by Hal Gordon

Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal ran a front-page story on members of the clergy who buy sermons off the Internet. The Journal listed five websites that offer sermon ideas, and even entire transcripts, for modest fees. One of these sites, amusingly titled, desperatepreacher.com, offered this comforting quote of the day from Henry David Thoreau: “Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life.”

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Jay Leno Does It, Do You?

The following happened when I was recently in Orlando. It bugged me so much I had to write about it.

So there I was, along with Dave, standing in the front of an almost empty meeting room. Dave had heard me speak to a group of managerial accountants in Boston. It went over so well, he invited me to present to a group of 425 college accounting students. He knew my abilities and trusted my judgment.

So there we were, along with the AV guys, setting up the room for my motivational speech, “Want to be Good, Great, or a Champion?” I asked Dave how many students he expected? He told me “at best” 425, but we both surmised that the room had been set up for many more.

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Profile in Innovative Thinking or Death Takes a Holiday

During two decades as a professional keynote speaker, I have spoken before an amazing number of industries. One of the arenas in which I enjoy a significant amount of popularity is the “death-care” world. Joe Dispenza, Vice President and Director of Sales and Marketing for Forest Lawn Cemetery and Garden Mausoleums of Buffalo, New York, is perhaps one of the most dynamic and resourceful individuals I’ve had the pleasure to know. Joe embodies the kind of thinking we all need to do to excel in sales and marketing.

The cemetery business, (death care), focuses on pre-need sales-making burial arrangements, and selling plots today instead of trying to make decisions during a sorrowful time. Today, 92% of Forest Lawn’s business is pre-need sales. This high percentage is unheard of in the cemetery business. In fact, I’m certain many in that industry would say it’s impossible to achieve such a high level. But Joe Dispenza is largely responsible for Forest Lawn’s success.

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Communicate Your Expectations: Eliminate Meeting Planner’s Nightmares

It never ceases to amaze me. Association meeting planners spend money to hire me, publicize my presentation, pay my expenses, and then set up obstacles to my success. Of course they don’t do it intentionally, but all too often roadblocks are put in my way that prevent me from giving the best customer service. How does this happen? Being in the communications business, I believe that it is a result of missed communication signals — the association meeting planner and the speaker are speaking two different languages.

For example, what the speaker considers essential for the restful night preceding a presentation is often seen as “prima donna” requirements by the meeting planner. The speaker asks for assurances that the hotel room be quiet, away from the elevator or ice machine, and not located just above the cocktail lounge. The meeting planner thinks this is being too particular and merely reserves a room in the hotel. When the speaker arrives at the morning presentation bleary eyed and “out of sorts” because of lack of sleep, the meeting planner may question his or her decision about the speaker’s room selection. Who is to blame? Could it be a lack of communication?

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