Thomas "Fats" Waller performed "Ain't Misbehavin'" for decades, but I'm sure you can see from his facial expressions and eye rolls that he doesn't know what the lyrics might be about...

Here's my version performed at Baraboo's Village Booksmith where I host a 3rd Friday of the month open mic.

This is a mashup of Gershwin's "Summertime" and "Why Don't You Do Right."   You may remember a sultry version of "Why Don't You Do Right" from the movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?.   Amy Irving was the voice of Jessica Rabbit.  Also here is a video of Annie Lennox doing Summertime. 

"I Can't Give You Anything But Love" is done here by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett.  Taking a song from the era of the Great Depression and making it modern.  Billy Holiday had her 1937 version and mine is also here. 

Doyoursentencesseemtorunonwhenyouraregivingaspeech?

Doyoursentencesseemtorunonwhenyouraregivingaspeech? If you need some help on this topic, you
may enjoy Victor Borge in this video as he describes his system of Phonetic Punctuation. 

The Major Barrier to Mutual Interpersonal Communicaion

Carl Rogers said in the 1960’s, “… Suppose I say with some feeling, “I think the Republicans are behaving in ways that show a lot of good sound sense these days,” what is the response that arises in your mind as you listen? The overwhelming likelihood is that it will be evaluative. You will find yourself agreeing, or disagreeing, or making some judgment about me such as “He must be a conservative,” or “He seems solid in his thinking.””

He is giving an example of what he calls the major barrier to mutual interpersonal communication: “our very natural tendency to judge, to evaluate, to approve or disapprove, the statement of the other person, or the other group.”   

Much political fatigue from political campaigns, conventions and comments from friends to Facebook is felt.  By using Rogerian Listening, to understand and accept others, much of the angst, anger, frustration and other reactions that lead to political fatigue is eluded. 

It is a difficult challenge to open one’s mind to understand positions that are different from your own.  But that’s when communication is more likely to occur.  That’s when I feel like a more informed voter.

Christmas movie about organizational change

Been working too hard, not finding success and losing your happy family?  Here’s a movie for you.

A fundraiser with angst provides the scenario for an angel’s intervention in the 1947 B & W movie, The Bishop’s Wife. 

The Bishop, played by David Niven, has a stalled capital campaign to build a cathedral and is thwarted by a dowager that wishes to build an edifice to recognize her husband.  She even wants a stained glass window depicting St. George to show the countenance of her departed husband.  The Bishop is losing his purpose as a churchman and his family while striving for project completion.  Sounds like an organization in need of a consultant, or in this case an angel, played by Cary Grant.

The angel comes to offer help, not a cathedral, and is tempted by the Bishop’s Wife, characterized by Loretta Young.  Along with his charm, the angel offers an allegory for making a difference in the world.  Dudley, the angel use a light touchto bring the best out in others, and keep an eye on the corporate vision, be the corporation a marriage or a church.  After he’s gone, nobody knows he was there.  Sometimes divine intervention helps out.  

 

This charming older film was remade in 1996 as The Preacher’s Wife with Whitney Houston, Denzel Washington and Courtney B. Vance updating the production.  

Perhaps you’ve seen It’s a Wonderful Life to many times?  Maybe you need a role model for creating organizational change?  This movie might be your new holiday ritual. 

Not Many Women on List of Powerful Speeches

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

Recently I asked “Can You Suggest Examples of Powerful Speeches?”

Outcomes from this question include the list below that was suggested.  Interestingly only 2 women's names show up on the list.  Male privilege?  Likely so...historical speaking opportunities largely went to males.  Can you help round out the list with great speakers male or female?? 

Below are the responses I received

Great, moving speeches suggested:

General George Patton's address to his troops before D-Day

Sen. George Vest "Man's best friend" eulogy September 30, 1870

J.K. Rowling Harvard  commencement speech.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c

Robert Emmet's Speech from the Dock

Martin Luther King I Have a Dream,

Pres Obama Yes We Can

Pres Obama 1st inauguration,

Winston Churchill We Shall Never Surrender

BIll Clinton's A Place Called Hope

William Wilberforce address to British Parliament on the abolition of the slave trade

Randy Pausch "The Last Lecture" you tube

Martin Luther King I Have Been to the Mountaintop

Al Pacino's speech in "Any Given Sunday"

Robert F. Kennedy’s Indianapolis speech following death of MLK 1968
Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg address

Recommended presenters:

Andy Dooley just YouTube him

Joyce Meyer

Tony Robbins

Lou Holtz

Joel Osteen

Collections

American Rhetoric top 100 speeches http://www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall.html

Ted Talks http://www.ted.com/

Vital Speeches of the Day's Cicero Award Winners http://vsotd.com/cicero-awards

Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking you tube

William Safire's "Lend Me Your Ears." print