| Current Category is: Presentation | Select Another Category | |
|
|
| Home | Search | Categories | Links | About Us | Contact Us |
|
|
 |
How to Attract New Business Like George W. Bush Wins Elections
THE LITTLE-KNOWN SPEECHWRITING SECRETS THAT WON GEORGE W. BUSH THE US ELECTION He's been accused of "mangling the language, destroying its meaning by avoiding the use of verbs, twisting nouns into verbs, and endlessly repeating phrases until they become zombified" (Source:'Bush and Blair accused of mangling English' by Kate Kelland, Reuters.com.uk, Mon 15 November, 2004 12:50). But despite this George W. Bush has become the first Republican president to win re-election since Ronald Reagan in 1984. And he's been able to motivate the US public to vote in record numbers. In a time of stress and crisis, Bush was able to connect with the masses. Bush - who according to language experts once famously used the word "misunderestimate", romped home with a record majority receiving 3.5 million more votes than John Kerry. Why did Bush win by so much when analysts were predicting one of the closest elections in years? Well, the shocking truth is that Bush and his advisers are masters of modern-day speechwriting. What would you do if you had this skill to move and motivate others? Well, here are the little-known speechwriting secrets of how George W. Bush won the US election? Because they are universal principles, you can apply these to your own career and personal situation: 1. Strong Self-Belief Bush has always had a strong sense of purpose to "build a safer world" and to make a difference. He is unswerving in his belief and mission to achieve this. One of the most memorable lines in his acceptance speech summarises his own home-grown optimism and sense of destiny. "There is an old saying, "Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks." What is your passion and purpose in life? 2. Certainty in an Age of Uncertainty In times of fear and uncertainty, sitting politicians have a greater chance of being re-elected. Bush reinforced this message in all his speeches. For example: "To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust." Trust was Bush's central campaign message to overcome people's anxiety about the future. What is your central theme for your next speech? 3. Visual Imagery Visual imagery is just as important as words in a speech, especially for people who take in information through visual rather than auditory channels. Here are some clever ways Bush and his team maximised positive visual images in an election that was staged for television. Pictures of his family, including that wonderful election night shot of George W relaxing in the White House with three generations of the Bush family, including his daughter, father and mother. (PS - only mothers with sons could appreciate that proud look on Barbara Bush's face as she looked over to George W) He also used his tangible evidence of power such as alighting from the Presidential helicopter and plane to reinforce the trust and security message. The American flag he wore on his lapel helped reinforce patriotism, as did his red tie when out on the election stump. Interestingly, Bush wore a blue tie for his acceptance speech. This was subtle and sent the message "I'm in a different phase now, I've won the battle and its time to move on". What non-verbal signal does your appearance send to your audience? 4. The Bush Personal Brand The Bush personal brand is very interesting. Of course it is built on stories and everyone knows the story of the hard drinking, hard working Texan wildcat oil investor who at 40 years of age gave up drinking, found God and committed himself to public office. In his acceptance speech, Bush reinforced this personal story and his special relationship with the people of Texas where his political career started. "On the open plains of Texas, I first learned the character of our country: sturdy and honest, and as hopeful as the break of day. I will always be grateful to the good people of my state. And whatever the road that lies ahead, that road will take me home." Notice the visual imagery he uses to paint a picture of Texas and the warm feelings of home in middle-America. How can you use this technique for your next speech? 5. Relentless Discipline Bush ran a tight, disciplined campaign and his speeches never wavered or wandered from their key message. Even in the glory of his win, he was focused: "Our military has brought justice to the enemy and honor to America. Our nation has defended itself and served the freedom of all mankind." 6. Family Values Bush campaigned on family values - a common theme in both the US and Australian elections. In his acceptance speech this is how he articulated these values: "There are many people to thank and my family comes first. Laura is the love of my life. I'm glad you love her too. I want to thank our daughters who joined their dad for his last campaign. I appreciate the hard work of my sister and brothers. I especially want to thank my parents for their loving support." 7. Shared Set of Values Bush was attuned to the values of the heartland of America, "that heartland is spiritually and geographically the Mid West, a place of small town, conservative family values," according to Tom Carver, the BBC's correspondent in Washington. Carver adds "Bill Clinton was a fair reflection of the laissez-faire mood of the confident, prosperous 90s. And President Bush is a mirror to the darker, more nervous post-9/11 America." For Bill Clinton's 14 Speechwriting Secrets read my new book 'Understanding Influence for Leaders at All Levels' to be released by McGraw-Hill in February 2005. 8. Staying on Message In the US, news is about emotion and is more orientated towards entertainment than just the facts. Bush knew this and while he may not have the charisma of Clinton and his aversion to media conferences is well-known, his media performance during the election was one of his best. Again, Carver from the BBC provides a great example of the legendary Bush media-savvy skills: "There was a telling moment in his press conference ... when he was asked about the "big business" image that he and his party have. He completely ignored the question and talked instead about small businesses and how they are the engine of growth in the economy. He doesn't even allow the phrase "big business" to pass his lips." 9. Ability to Read, Reflect and Relate to Issues of Concern Analysts predicted the US election would be a referendum on the war against Iraq. How wrong they were. The big issues for voters were about patriotism, and in particular, who do the American people trust on: i) Moral grounds, ii) The economy, iii) Terrorism, and lastly iv) The War on Iraq. Bush won the moral argument in a landslide and again played this card in his acceptance speech: "America has spoken, and I'm humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens. With that trust comes a duty to serve all Americans. And I will do my best to fulfill that duty every day as your president." How can you relate to the issues and concerns of your audience? 10. A Great Call to Action I believe the purpose of every speech should be to make a difference and move people to action. For Bush it was for people to trust him and win their vote. The "who do you trust theme" worked well for Bush and won him the election. In his closer to his acceptance speech, Bush articulates this trust issue well with a clear and strong call to action: "The campaign has ended, and the United States of America goes forward with confidence and faith. I see a great day coming for our country and I am eager for the work ahead." What is the 'call to action' for your next speech? © 2004 8M Media & Communications Thomas Murrell. All rights reserved worldwide. Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries. You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Building a Trade Show Display If you are taking your newest products to a trade show then you will need to come up with some ideas on how to build a trade show display in order to adequately market your products. You might seem at a loss and cannot think of anything, however building a trade show display is not so difficult if you sit down and think about it. How To Make Your Best Ever Presentation The most important tip.. How You Can Save On Conference Calling In recent years, companies have recognized the need to expand their businesses in the international arena. Breakthroughs in communications and transportation have facilitated this move and have enabled these companies to trade in various countries all over the globe. Story Telling As a Business Tool Long long ago, it was the time when time itself stood stillThat was the time this story of story telling beganWhen everyone listened to the story and people learnedAnd that was the time people were also very happyBecause they were listening to a story.Stories have been the purveyor of knowledge from time immemorial. Don't Give Presentations Or Speeches - Give Leadership Talks Instead The CEO of a worldwide business asked me to help him develop a talk he planned to give to several hundred of his top executives. He said, 'I feel as if I'm Daniel going into the lion's den. Tips to Energize Your Presentations "There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be aware of a truth, yet until we have felt its force, it is not ours. Preparation for Your Presentations (Excerpted From the Jim Rohn Millennium Weekend Event)Persistence in your presentations, this is one secret to success. After my first presentation, I got up and did it again. Tough Talk: Bad News Delivered the Right Way Communicating Bad News The Right WayIt's the rare executive who actually enjoys speaking before groups of people, even under the best of circumstances. Public speaking routinely ranks highest on people's list of fears. Top Ten Tips For Better Business Presentations To Asian Audiences Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and religious differences impact on how people learn, take in information and interact with presenters. Move Key Audiences to Actions You Want How?Try a blueprint like this: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished. Tech Tips: PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts for PowerPoint Slide Shows Whether you use a mouse or a remote control to navigate through a PowerPoint slide show presentation, it is also handy to use keyboard shortcuts. Here is a selection to try:? Run a slide show: [F5]. Data Visualization Flash Charts: Information in a Flash Flash chart, flash map, flash graph may be mistaken for flashy visual aids. It is true that many data visualization tools are flashy and consequently overwhelming and counterproductive, but the market has produced data visualization capable of simplicity and speed-thus "flash" does not stand for flashy; it stands for information in a flash. Plasma Screen Hire - What Do You Need to Know for Presentations How many people will need to see the screen? A 42" plasma screen is the most common size and will usually be sufficient for a smaller meeting - up to 20 people. Several other sizes, bigger and smaller, are available, including 32, 37, 40, 50, 61 inches and now up to 81". Communication Barriers and Simplifying the Communication Process The communication process can be much more difficult than a person thinks. Unfortunately, many times a presenter does not realize that their message is being lost until it is too late and they have gone through an entire meeting/lecture talking away about something that their colleagues/audience thinks is absolutely meaningless. Beetle Bailey and Presentation Skills In March 2002, the comic strip Beetle Bailey contained a valuable lesson for business presenters. As General Halftrack walked into his office, his secretary asked: "How was Lt. How to Attract New Business Like George W. Bush Wins Elections THE LITTLE-KNOWN SPEECHWRITING SECRETS THAT WON GEORGE W. BUSH THE US ELECTIONHe's been accused of "mangling the language, destroying its meaning by avoiding the use of verbs, twisting nouns into verbs, and endlessly repeating phrases until they become zombified" (Source:'Bush and Blair accused of mangling English' by Kate Kelland, Reuters. 10 Profitable Tips for Creating Better Sales Presentations No matter what your business is, you will enhance your level of success by developing a well-organized sales presentation. A good sales presentation involves two primary elements:(1) The pre-planned sales talk. Top 6 Reasons Why You Need a Remote for PowerPoint Presentations A top complaint from audience members is that many presenters put too much emphasis on PowerPoint and technology while neglecting the message and interaction with participants. One way to deliver more effective presentations that improve your connection to your audience is to add a remote control to your presentation tools. 10 Tips For Bringing Your Event To Life Your job as an event planner doesn't stop with the meeting in the company boardroom. You may be call upon to organize an employee appreciation event, an awards dinner, a product launch, the celebration of a company milestone, a gala recognizing a longtime employee's retirement, an incentive event for the company's sales force, a fundraising event, a holiday celebration?the list goes on and on. Presentation Paranoia "The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public." (Sir George Jessel)Have you had this feeling before? Rest assured you are not alone.
|
| Home
| Sitemap
| Disclaimer
| Privacy
| Contact
Us © COPYRIGHT 2011 BRAINBELLY.COM |
