50 years ago, late at night, I was a junior reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer*, sitting on blankets at the Franklin Institute breathlessly watching a black and white TV set. The picture was grainy, the action somewhat jerky, but the…more
In honor of National Puppy Day (March 23—who knew?), we wanted to share some practical leadership and communication lessons from dogs. While it’s not a prerequisite that you must be a dog lover to work at Spaeth Communications, we are…more
Sacha Baron Cohen is at it again with a show, “Who is America?” on Showtime. His first show aired an “interview” in his persona rightwing redneck character Billy Wayne Ruddick with 2016 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders. He has notched…more
We write often on the power of words and see one example today from the Consumer Financial Protection Board’s lawsuit, hinging on describing itself as “independent.” Departing Director Cordray is trying to perpetuate his ideology by naming his own successor…more
Much ink and verbal venom has flowed over President Trump's condolence call to an army widow, Myeshia Johnson, on the death of her husband, Sgt. La David Johnson. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., has claimed her 15 minutes of national fame by expressing…more
The news arrived that Nora Johnson, author of “The World of Henry Orient,” has died at age 84. Her obituary noted her many books, articles and essays and, of course, the screenplay she wrote with her father, Nunnally Johnson. “The…more
This year to celebrate Valentine’s Day we asked the Spaeth team to share why they “heart” comms. Here are the results: #7 You’re Punny…Trading puns is a favorite pastime in our household. One of my proudest moments was when my…more
On Feb. 6, 1987, President Ronald Reagan celebrated his 76th birthday. His Director of Media Relations had already left for Texas. In Dallas, she founded Spaeth Communications, Inc., on the faith of a couple clients and one key insight. We…more
Here at Spaeth, the power and relevance of storytelling proves a consistent message. While storytelling is a pivotal tool in any field, good attorneys know good storytelling can win a case. Recently ABC aired Truth and Lies: The Menendez Brothers,…more
I recently had the opportunity to tour Oxford, London and Stratford-Upon-Avon to witness all-things Shakespeare. While I work with “words” for a living, my husband does as well, albeit in a slightly different manner. He is a professor of acting,…more
Miss America and C-suite executives have more in common than you think. Having just finished a book written for pageant contestants and another with tips from a headhunter, I could almost switch the covers and not know the difference. I…more
Commanding and holding the attention of a large group of people is challenging under any circumstance. However, when those people are in a jury pool, getting and keeping their attention can be almost impossible. Recently, I was one of that…more
This past spring I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. During this time I travelled, drank sangria, ate a nauseating amount of Spanish ham and even attended a bullfight. While each was incredible, it was my immersion in the Spanish language…more
Muhammad Ali wasn’t just an international star. He was accessible. In 1977, Carol Bellamy was the President of the New York City Council. One of her projects was to make sure that all children, particularly minority and low income children,…more
What can regular citizens learn from the office of Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr.? Hint: it’s not foreign policy. (He’s the man in charge of military operations in the Asia-Pacific Region creating shockwaves with his blunt criticism of China.) …more
Nothing’s more rewarding than helping a client move from competent to great, from presenter to performer. Robert Edsel, author of “Rescuing Da Vinci: Hitler and the Nazis Stole Europe’s Great Art—America and Her Allies Recovered It,” created the Monuments Men…more
Believe it or not, this is not a Donald Trump quote. The only piece of advice you should take from Trump is his ability to use television to his advantage. He has benefitted significantly from his “The Apprentice” franchise in…more
As Special Assistant to President Reagan and Director of Media Relations at the White House, I had several unique interactions with Mrs. Reagan. When ABC's Dallas affiliate station, WFAA, contacted me for a few comments, we tried to follow the…more
What does Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton have in common with ex-drug company CEO Martin Shkreli? They both offer recent examples of some of the most common mistakes in communication--mistakes that cast them in a bad light. Even more serious,…more
One of the most rewarding things about having my own small company is mentoring successive generations of talented young people. The American Bankers Association invited me (again) to their annual conference for a panel. What began as a panel on…more
Does anyone know Alex, a lawyer in the U.K. who had the misfortune to be pleasant and reach out to Charlotte, another attorney, with the comment that her picture on LinkedIn was “stunning?” (Plus three exclamation points.) If this seems…more
If you’ve learned something invaluable and want others to benefit too, please vote to ensure Merrie appears at TEDxSMU! You can vote one time per email address between now and 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 27 (to be specific). Please…more
Recently at a meeting, I was chastised for taking notes. “You aren’t paying attention,” I was told. On the contrary, that’s exactly what I was doing. Taking notes is my way of embedding information into my brain as well as…more
When Merrie first made headlines it wasn’t due to her time at the Reagan Administration, but rather as a teen movie star. The headline stated, “Suddenly a Star in the House” and not much has changed since. Last year, Merrie…more
What you say and believe has a huge impact. Here’s a choice to think about in light of the recent holiday. The University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point has just posted a list of things we say, like “Everyone can succeed in…more
It seems no one these days can resist using “bad words,” especially on an international stage like the Women’s World Cup. Quite a few barbs have been thrown at the United States Women’s National Team. We hope it’s not because…more
Many of our clients know that I am an avid needle pointer and am always working on projects – even in meetings. I have found reinforcements! Described as “Google’s Steely Adversary,” Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s commissioner for competition has…more
BOOK REVIEW: “The Soft Edge: Where Great Companies Find Lasting Success” by Rich Karlgaard Author Rich Karlgaard is also the publisher of Forbes Magazine and writes the Innovation Rules column, which gives him a somewhat unfair advantage in the book…more
While it’s important to be credible and knowledgeable, speakers must also be interesting, exciting and motivating. Persuasive Presentations SkillsSM teaches you how to accomplish all of this and more. From an introduction that will capture your audience’s attention to an ending…more
Because we’re known for the BIMBO Memo© and its emphasis on how people get in trouble by saying inflammatory or thoughtless things, my son sent me this quote from former President Calvin Coolidge: "I have never been hurt by what…more
I love the saying, “there’s an app for that.” Did you know that Apple successfully trademarked that phrase back in 2010? When it comes to storytelling in the 21st Century—wait for it—there is an app for that! As fellow Spaethites…more
“Mind your manners. Don’t forget to say please and thank you.” It’s something most of us grew up hearing. And, if you’re a product of the South you probably wrote a thank you note for just about every gift you…more
Even more satisfying than accomplishing something yourself is when a great friend triumphs. Denny King, pilot extraordinaire, former board member of the Allied Pilots Association and valued client, sent us this note with the news about his new book, “Price…more
Many of you know our little peach stucco building is falling to Dallas’ development, so we’re moving. We tell clients to embrace change, so now we have to take our own advice. With the move, we have to downsize the…more
Once upon a time in the land of big dreams—and big hair—also known as Dallas, an accomplished young woman faced a dilemma. How could she leverage years of hard work and experience she had gained and turn it into her…more
Many know Spaeth’s founder and president, Merrie Spaeth, as a savvy public relations expert who was once credited for bringing the White House and Reagan Administration into the "Space Age." But what many don’t know is that Merrie first made…more
