Sometimes great public speaking comes in unexpected packages, and here’s a prime example. This video’s “special message,” delivered by Chris Rock on Jimmy Kimmel Live, is one of the funniest and most pointed commentaries on race I’ve ever seen. By cataloging Barack Obama’s “white” habits, Chris Rock manages to skewer how we think about racial Read More
communications
For Disaster Communications, Keep a Wired Telephone Handy
In 2012, my husband and I were among the lucky east-coasters who didn’t lose power during Hurricane Sandy. But if we had, we would have been prepared to communicate with the outside world through a handy-dandy, old school device that doesn’t need to be charged, as a cell phone does. It’s called a wired (in our case, Read More
Life, Death, and Your Contact Lists
Lots of people struggle these days with how to: Keep up with FB, Twitter, blogs, newsletters, text, emails, phone calls; Allocate our time between those “channels”; and Handle the overlap between personal and business relationships. Recently, though, I was reminded that “staying in touch” can mean something much more basic. This happened when my friend Read More
Quarreling Couples, You Can Find a Way to Compromise!
There are Many Ways to Compromise You’d think it would be easy for people in a couple to compromise — but sometimes, given the frequent annoyances and pressures of daily life — it’s harder. I thought of this when I was heading to the subway one Saturday night and heard a quarreling couple walking up the street behind me. The woman Read More
Botox: “Smile When You Say That” — If You Can!
Facial expressions are the most important communications tool we have. That’s why, in old-time cowboy movie culture, “Smile when you say that, Pardner!” is such a chilling threat: It warns your listener that he’d better put the right expression on his face! Even though, apparently, no one ever said this in a movie, the iconic Read More