Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

IABC’s Snooze Festival 2009

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This is how the video starts.

“I’m a director of corporate communications,” says a pink blond, proudly.

“I’m a writer and editor,” pronounces a humble fellow who appears to be suffering from an Excedrin headache.

“I’m a strategist,” insists a scowling young woman.

Cut to the Brady Bunch squares. All together now, “I am IABC Dallas!”

Oh, for crissake.

Irresistibly titled, “IABC Dallas—Informed, Effective and Empowered Communicators—Helping You Find Your Voice,” this near self-parody is the first entry in IABC’s “Film Festival 2009.”

The mother association hopes IABC members and chapters will help promote the organization to prospective members through two-minute videos: “This is your chance to let your creativity shine. Your video could be in the style of a TV commercial, a documentary, or even a musical! … Whether it’s a glitzy Hollywood style production or a low-frills ‘indie’ movie, we want to capture the faces, voices, and stories of the people who make IABC what it is.”

IABC Dallas chose to do this video in the style of the “corporate waterboarding,” where real people spontaneously mouth the strategic talking points.

“Our online resources and monthly events help professionals gain knowledge, grow their skills, and evolve their careers!”

“When the phone rings and it’s someone I’ve recently met at an IABC meeting who’s interested in doing business with me … there’s few things as exciting.”

“You never feel like you’re alone when you’re part of IABC Dallas.”

“That is the embodiment of empowering people to not only, you know, move ahead in their career, but just in life in general.”

“They empower me to do my best and to be my best and to constantly look for opportunities to be able to help others.”

Well, if these are “the people who make IABC what it is,” then IABC is the home of the kinds of uninformed, inneffective, powerless non-communicators that companies hire when they only want to give the appearance
of communicating.

Here’s what the video really communicates:

When you
want to sell something, bring in advertising people. When you want
to tell something, bring in a PR firm. When you want to influence
somebody important, hire a lobbyist.

And when you want to blather on about doing your best and being your best and always looking for opportunities to help others … call IABC Dallas.

The beauty of 9/11

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Working out just now in front of MSNBC's real-time replay of NBC's live coverage on Sept. 11, 2001, I kept fighting off this inappropriate feeling of longing.

As the white-gray smoke drifted across the blue sky off the south tip of Manhattan that morning, Americans may not have known what was going wrong exactly or what was needed—remember, people sent millions of dollars to the Red Cross, which didn't know what to do with it?—but we all agreed that there was a problem and that it was urgent.

People often allow nostalgia to creep into their voice when they remember the JFK funeral, and even Pearl Harbor.

It was terrible; but we were going through it together, and we remember that sense of comfort, too.

Aussie dame pol praises Obama as girly man

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In addition to editing Vital Speeches of the Day, I also compile Vital Speeches International, a monthly collection of international talks.*

I know what you're thinking: "God is Murray productive! But Lord he must be bored!" (Or, as a smart-assed in-law put it, "Congratulations on being named editor of Vital Speeches. Too bad there are no vital speeches.")

But then I find myself reading a speech from Maxine McKew, a member of the Australian House of Representatives who I've never heard of, and I stumble across a fresh and well-expressed notion like this one:

I
know that many feminists are disappointed that a woman is still to be elected
as Commander in Chief in the United States…. and that 2008 represents for them
something of a missed opportunity.

I have
a slightly different view. I think the girl won and her name is Obama! If
we look at this in Jungian terms, Barack Obama has an exceptionally well
developed anima …. that is, his feminine side sits easily alongside his male
persona.

Obama
prevailed I think because he had a conversation with America. He talked in a
different way—and my God, can’t he talk! His campaign was expansive,
empathetic, full of promise. Above all, he got the tone just right. People felt
that he was on their side, and it wasn’t all about him.

Obama to me is a symbol of how gender roles, both male and female are
shifting, and how showing traits that are considered ‘female’ are no longer a
negative for a male politician.

* Get your own snootful of international eye-openers. Go here to get the first year—all nine months we've published and the three we're working on—for free.