Beginner's Mind: Diary of a Speechwriter

Where is the rest of this speech?

I am reading the fascinating book "Switch" by Chip and Dan Heath, two wicked smart guys who, along with Malcolm Gladwell, make me think we just might get this meaning of life thing figured out one day after all.

"Switch" is subtitled "How to change things when change is hard." One of the first examples in the book is the story of Donald Berwick, now the U.S. administrator of Medicare and Medicaid. Several years ago, as leader of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Berwick set out to save 100,000 lives in 18 months simply by getting hospitals to follow six specific intervention protocols. He issued this challenge in a speech to a large group of hospital administrators in 2004. His speech ended with this vision of how success would look:

And, we will celebrate. Starting with pizza, and ending with champagne. We will celebrate the importance of what we have undertaken to do, the courage of honesty, the joy of companionship, the cleverness of a field operation, and the results we will achieve. We will celebrate ourselves, because the patients whose lives we save cannot join us, because their names can never be known. Our contribution will be what did not happen to them. And, though they are unknown, we will know that mothers and fathers are at graduations and weddings they would have missed, and that grandchildren will know grandparents they might never have known, and holidays will be taken, and work completed, and books read, and symphonies heard, and gardens tended that, without our work, would have been only beds of weeds.

Anyone know where I can find this speech in its entirety? I've searched online but no luck. I would love to read the rest of it, as I find this closing quite compelling. Apparently the audience did, too.

(Are you wondering if Berwick reached his ambitious goal to save 100,000 lives? Pick up a copy of "Switch" and see for yourself whether a speech can, in fact, change the world.)

Hypnotizing chickens

The New York Times recently charmed me with their mention of the name the military has for the kind of deadly dull Powerpoint presentations where "the goal is not imparting information, as in briefings for reporters. The news media sessions often last 25 minutes, with 5 minutes left at the end for questions from anyone still awake." Conducting this type of presentation is known as "hypnotizing chickens."

Now, unless your mission in life is to deceive, inveigle and obfuscate, don't make a presentation like that. Please.

If you've been asked to speak, it's because people want to hear what you have to say. If someone needs you to speak, it's because you have knowledge, expertise or insight that might just make a difference.

And when you're finally given the chance to speak, it's like grabbing the ring from Frodo - the power can be astounding but it can destroy you (and your audience) if you're not careful. Use it judiciously. Use it for good. People are listening... give them something worth listening to.

A favorite quote of mine comes from comedy legend Mel Brooks: "If you're going to step up to the bell, ring it." (He also said "Anyone can direct, but there are only eleven good writers.")  If you're going to step up to the podium, make it count. Tame lions, slay dragons, get loaded for bear... but enough with the chickens.

Round 2: Speechwriter's Workout - Listening

The holidays have dragged me behind schedule! Here's the promised Round 2 of the Speechwriter's Workout, engaging our listening muscles to internalize what makes great speech.

A few of my favorite online resources for speech listening include:

Ten Historical Speeches That Every Student Should Listen To - and since we're all students with our Beginning Minds, this is a great place to visit periodically to remember what speeches can be.

TED - If you've never been, you're missing out. This conference bringing together innovators in Technology, Entertainment and Design always provides fascinating speakers with crazy, cool ideas that you'll remember long after their presentations have ended.

American Rhetoric - one of the best online resources for transcripts, audio and video of many remarkable and memorable speeches.

iTunesU - This site includes not just speeches, but lectures to "help ensure continuity in case of a pandemic or natural disaster." So when the Big One strikes L.A., you can still log on and brush up on your Algebra Basics or Civil War history. One of my favorites on here is Chip Heath's presentation on "What Makes Ideas Stick."

And while you're at it, get a real workout: climb on the bike, stepper or just head out the door and get your body and mind going at the same time.

What are your favorite sources for building your listening muscles?

Next time: Websites with the best professional resources for speechwriters