I bought Vital Speeches of the Day magazine, which was founded in 1934, and also the Professional Speechwriters Association, which was founded by me on behalf of another company, in 2013.
Fucking bought them.
How hard was that to say? Kind of hard, actually.
I closed on the deal last Monday, but the truth is I'd written a couple of posts on this before that, and I've written one since. I've erased them all, because they were disingenuous attempts to appear cool about the largest decision of my professional career, and one of the largest decisions of my life—bigger than buying a house (which seemed awfully large at the time), and requiring far more agonizing than I spent deciding whether to get married or have a child.
The decision took place over years and months and days and midnights, and required the help of a surprisingly large number of brilliant people in my life who are ridiculously generous or who enjoy watching a bird swallow a bowling ball or both.
I couldn't figure out how to tell you—or any of my writer pals—or family members, for that matter. And you can't figure out what to tell me.
"It's worth an awful lot of money to be your own boss," a retired newspaper editor friend said.
"You'll have people working for you?" my big sister said. "Yuck!"
I wonder how my own mind and soul will respond long-term to that straight-up bottom-line pressure and the direct temptation of greed. I've always been a little disdainful of the hard-charging entrepreneur. Was all that monomaniacal pushiness really necessary? I guess I'm about to find out.
"Are we going to get more money?" Scout asked.
"Like, as a family?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"No—not at first, anyway."
"Then why did you do it?"
"For the future, honey."
Will I ever be as serious a writer as I once was? How serious was I, in the first place?
Shouldn't I have an operation for this, or at least be taking some hormones?
I'm fully alive, I can tell you that much.
On the rest, I'll have to keep you posted, as you'll have to keep me honest.
David! You’ve become a capitalist! How cool is that? Of course, this means you’ve become one of those Wall Street / CEO types that everyone rants about.
Seriously, congratulations.
Thanks, Glynn. I figure it’s a win-win: I don’t expect to make enough money with this venture to earn anyone’s envy. But if I do, I do!
And so begins the Murray Media Empire (watch out Mark Ragan). Does this make you a media mogul now? I think you should call yourself a media mogul. Sets the right tone right out of the gate 🙂
Words. Is that all you fucking writers ever think about?
See, you’re a natural.
Congratulations, David! I’m proud of you for going for it!
Thanks, Kate. Pretty big deal for a kid from Ohio, don’t you agree?
I remember a time when we were just trying to “make it in the big city.” Now you’ve made it and are running it.
Hire me???
Congrats, David! I think you’re going to do great things with those assets.
We’re a tiny operation at present, Kate. We’ll know things are up and running when we can think of hiring you! If you’re still freelancing, do email me your copyediting/proofreading rates, to writingboots@gmail.com. Cheers, David
Congrats David! What a big deal you are now. BTW if you could use some IT consulting on a small scale, I could help you out. You could pay me in drinks.
Bohdan, I need all the help I can get, and if I need yours, I will let you know. THANKS. (And you know that when I pay in drinks, I pay a lot!)
@Ron: I will do great things, just as soon as I can find my assets with both hands.
Yes, you can!
Don’t know if I ever told you this, but I used Vital Speeches of the Day all the time as an evidence source when I was on the debate team in high school. I had lots of 3X5 cards with really good quotes, probably mostly completely out of context, but what the heck. Congrats and best of luck.
Hi David–you might consider sending your post to Crain’s so they can share it with the world. You’re good news for this city and it’s another thing that helps keep Chicago a writer’s city. Congratulations Bravo and Yipee
…you were always serious about writing.
David, congratulations! Your “coming out” post leaves me speechless (sorry), but tremendously excited for you. And for the craft of putting words into others’ mouths. Awesome.
I want in on your IPO.
@Tad, @Barb, @Susy, @Unanymous, et al—thanks for your encouragement and faith. I need ’em, and I’m gonna us ’em.