Acquisition of Spaeth Communications brings renowned methodology for media training and witness preparation, elevating Sunwest’s client services DALLAS (Oct. 18, 2023) – Sunwest Communications has acquired Spaeth Communications, bringing together two legendary Dallas-based public relations firms. Nationally recognized for her…more
What a month! President of the Spanish National Soccer Federation sets himself up for what you might predict would happen (and it did.) Elon Musk with a twisted BIMBO plus additional strange comments. National Association of Realtors CEO missed the @metoo movement.…more
What a great month of examples with lessons to learn! BIMBO comments from a Malaysian biologist about a bear and a very intellectual defense from writer Sohrab Ahmari. Wrong (really, wrong) new football slogan from the University of Texas and…more
This month we have BIMBO comments from Sen. Joe Manchin and the No Labels group, star rep Ari Emanuel, and Tyson Foods. The Limits of PR show up in Shein manufacturers, and What Not to Say from a pastor. Rep.…more
Lots of lessons this month. More BIMBO comments from Sen. Graham (defending Trump, what else?), self-inflicted verbal wounds from the PGA and a golf club manufacturer. Unbelievable example of the Wrong Thing to Say from Roseanne Barr. An example of…more
What a great month of lessons! BIMBO comments from KKR’s CFO, Rep. George Santos (sigh, again), and Andrew Tate’s lawyer. Wrong Thing to Say includes Noam Chomsky’s explanation of Jeffrey Epstein’s donation to MIT, Honeywell’s CEO on recruiting, and my…more
This is one of the fullest memos ever! More BIMBO comments from a pastor running for the Republican nomination for president, the head of Russian “child rights,” an AP headline writer on a mass shooter, the White House Press Secretary,…more
What a month chock full of material! Read on for BIMBO comments from an insect expert, a demoralized policeman, and a Texas State Senator. BIMBO comments that also illustrate why it’s a mistake to repeat your enemy’s allegations from a…more
In addition to the winning extraterrestrial-themed BIMBOs, this month features sensational What Not to Say examples from CNN’s Don Lemon, Dilbert creator Scott Adams, and Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful. Items of interest include an interesting visual example of statistics, what…more
A historic first! Could anyone other than Rep. George Santos be the winner and occupy both runner-up slots? Other BIMBO comments from the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, while Elon Musk gets the “why take a risk?” award (big surprise). There…more
At the end of every year, the Spaeth team evaluates the winning BIMBO comments from each month and selects the best (worst) comment of the year (check of the 2021BIMBO of the Year). We are excited to reveal the winning BIMBO…more
Interesting mix of examples to learn from: more BIMBO comments from Dr. Anthony Fauci, a New York designer, Kyrie Irving, and professional cornhole players. Wrong Thing to Say example from KFC in Germany (needed a history lesson) and a statistics…more
So much to learn from this month! We have comments from an economist discounting layoffs, ERCOT’s new CEO, and Rep. Liz Cheney. We learn What Not to Say from Kanye West, Smithfield Farms’ lawyers, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, members…more
This month we’re keeping it short and sweet! Enjoy a bite-sized BIMBO Memo as we head into colder weather. THE WINNING BIMBO He “is not a violent person; he doesn’t walk around the streets of NJ looking like Hitler,” wrote Cynthia Hughes,…more
What a full month! See comments from the Navy, Equifax, Mark Zuckerberg, a Chautauqua guide who witnessed the stabbing of Salman Rushdie, and podcaster Sam Harris. In a new and expanding section on bad and coerced apologies, examples from Alex…more
One of our most informative and funny memos. This month we have BIMBO comments from a White House economic advisor, a senior legal and policy advisor at Ipas (a global organization) and three international BIMBO comments! One of our readers…more
Maybe the best BIMBO Memo ever to demonstrate the importance of communication. We picked the “catfight” comment as the winner so we can all smile and feel morally superior. The Jussie Smollett comment came in second– with apologies for the…more
Really hard to pick a winner this month. We ultimately chose the altercation between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher because it was so jam packed. Note the North Carolina primary winner because we think most readers didn’t see it. Stiff…more
One of the best months ever! BIMBOs from Meta’s spokeswoman, a gubernatorial candidate, a Buddhist climate scientist, a congressional nominee, Elon Musk (naturally) and an oil company CEO. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney doesn’t get the analogy quite right, but we have…more
This month we have BIMBO comments from a serial killer, a Russian, and a very toney magazine editor. Wrong Thing to Say examples from a Republican congressional candidate (do they have a lock on this category?) and Kim Kardashian. Yet…more
People must have been on their best behavior this month. Still, a few BIMBO comments to learn from and one attached to a real “mug shot”. You can decide what you think the visual represents. And lastly, an example of…more
This month we have BIMBO comments from Pentagon press secretary John Kirby, the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, and two examples showing why it’s a mistake to ignore the questions. We also have an executive that fired 900 people via Zoom,…more
At the end of every year, the Spaeth team evaluates the winning BIMBO comments from each month and selects the best (worst) comment of the year (check out the 2020 BIMBO of the Year). We are excited to reveal the winning BIMBO…more
What a full month! BIMBO comments from alleged musician Sophia Urista, Congressman Paul Gosar and Gov. Gavin Newsom, but VP Harris gets unfairly tagged with a BIMBO. Too much truth from Milwaukee County DA John Chisholm. An example of why…more
What a month! Is there more in the air? We had a record-breaking number of submissions. See BIMBOs from the founder of Elio Motors and a government virologist (not Dr. Fauci), plus examples of the really Wrong Thing to Say…more
This month’s BIMBOs come from a Republican member of Congress (Sylvster Stallone’s not worried), a celebrity architect, and are rounded out by missed opportunities from World Rugby and the maker of McDonald’s McFlurry machine. Other examples include bad optics of…more
Lots of material this month. Click through for the astonishingly full list of comments about the evacuation in Afghanistan and the saga of resigned New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. See BIMBOs from Rudy Giuliani, a passenger on Frontier Airlines who…more
This month we have several examples to learn from—see BIMBO comments from Megyn Kelly and the brother of a senior White House counselor. Negative words from (surprise) former President Trump and what former Attorney General Barr should have said. We…more
This month’s memo features a new addition and a special request. In the Full BIMBO there is an example of truth versus facts plus an expanded Wrong Thing to Say category starring a new definition of personhood, a new alleged…more
This is one of our most interesting BIMBO Memos, which ends with a personal plea for your comments and reaction. Included is a BIMBO comment from an advisor to New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang, a great example of…more
This month our memo includes BIMBO comments from Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Michigan Gov. Whitmer and a frozen-yogurt store. NBC News anchor Lester Holt and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky say the wrong things, and…more
This month’s winning BIMBO comment was a close race between the British royal family and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but the royals won. Among others, you’ll read additional BIMBO comments from White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Rep. Ted Lieu and…more
This month, we feature BIMBO comments from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Time Magazine Correspondent Molly Ball, Sen. Ben Sasse, Elon Musk, the former CEO of one of the largest shoe companies in Pakistan, Johnny Manziel, White House Press Secretary…more
What a treat! This is one of the richest BIMBO Memos we’ve ever compiled. Below are BIMBO comments from the co-leader of PwC’s national tax office, Fox News anchor Bret Baier, President Biden’s Press Secretary Jen Psaki and the about-to-be-ousted…more
There’s been much discussion following recent tragic and inexcusable events in Washington about how words influence behavior. President Biden has an opportunity to articulate clearly what he expects from those joining his administration. He should listen to critically important advice…more
Finally, a real poet! Twenty-two-year-old Amanda Gorman’s poem, as part of the inauguration of President Joe Biden, signals a return to real poetry. We’ve seen what used to be described as “free verse,” but there’s rarely been any verse at…more
At the end of every year, the Spaeth team evaluates the winning BIMBO comments from each month and selects the best (worst) comment of the year (check out the 2019 BIMBO of the Year). This year, we solicited YOUR opinion on…more
At the end of every year, the Spaeth team evaluates the winning BIMBO comments from each month and selects the best (worst) comment of the year (check out the 2019 BIMBO of the Year). This year, we want YOUR opinion…more
After Thanksgiving, we’re all stuffed…enjoy a bite-sized BIMBO Memo this month! THE WINNER “We’re not some demonic cult like we’re portrayed to be,” said Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., when commenting on his recent 20-point loss to Republican Tommy Tuberville. (Jones…more
Those of you who know me know that I am a glass-half-full person. I believe there is always something positive on which to focus. That’s the purpose of this post, as well as to share an intensely personal story on…more
This month ahead of election day, we have examples that include a range of leaders spanning the political aisle from Sen. Lindsey Graham to former First Lady Michelle Obama. We also have misquotes from Robert Downey Jr. and the Wrong…more
This month brought BIMBO comments from the International Association of Fire Fighters, a restaurant in China and an adviser supporting J.C. Penney shareholders. You’ll also find examples of the improper use of statistics and examples of the Wrong Thing To…more
This month brought BIMBO comments from FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, a Texas judge, a member of the DNC and an Austin City Council member. You’ll also find examples of a really Wrong Thing To Say from Former Liberty University…more
A great teaching month! We have BIMBO comments from the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Dr. Anthony Fauci and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Examples of the Wrong Thing to Say from a Republican…more
We feature BIMBO comments this month from the White House press secretary, China and Iran. Examples of the power of communication and Wrong Thing to Say come from companies in the payday lending industry and CrossFit. You’ll also read several…more
We feature BIMBO comments this month from a European Union diplomat who still gets an A for honesty and a White House official. You’ll also read examples of the Wrong Thing To Say from New York City’s health commissioner, Trump’s…more
Just as the world has seemingly turned upside down, we’re flipping the order of this month’s BIMBO Memo. This is a one-time format change. Due to the severity of the COVID-19 situation, we chose to highlight critically-important communication lessons. LESSON…more
This month’s memo features a variety of BIMBO comments delivered by officials attempting to quell the fears of and instill confidence in the public, we also feature a classic BIMBO comment from a spokesperson for a Chicago-based rent-a-bank and a…more
Because I love all things positive (No BIMBOs), here is a listicle featuring the top ten things you can DO to stay sane, productive and positive when working from home. #1 DO CREATE A QUIET SPACE where you can concentrate…more
As readers of our BIMBO Memo know, convincing someone not to panic isn’t achieved by saying “Don’t panic.” This is fast becoming one of the top denial mistakes in recent history. It’s understandable. When there’s great uncertainty and potential deadly…more
There are a few juicy BIMBO comments this month and one of our winners features a bad word and a shocking picture. Other BIMBO comments come from the Japanese Ministry of Justice, a Dallas businessman, Mitt Romney and Delta’s CEO.…more
There are a variety of classic BIMBO comments this month, examples of statistics, the power of bad words from an article about Southwest Airlines– and we solicit your opinion of our analysis– and The New York Times Columnist Paul Krugman…more
2019 BIMBO OF THE YEAR “The man was not operating a harem, or a sex cult, or holding people hostage or anything like that,” said Steven Greenberg, lawyer for singer R. Kelly who is the subject of a six-part Lifetime docuseries…more
We have BIMBO comments this month from a super liberal Texas politician who gets points for honesty and former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford who does not, as well as an example from a CEO who needs a better understanding…more
BIMBO comments from an anguished woman that provide insight into a difficult issue, filmmaker Michael Moore, writer of iconic song “American Pie,” Don McLean, conservative Jonah Goldberg and Former Rep. Charlie Dent. Examples of the power of words from Sen.…more
We have BIMBO comments from a former New York Times editor, former South Carolina Governor (and, apparently, Republican candidate for president) Mark Sanford, Cory Booker’s campaign manager plus Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Examples of the Power of Words…more
Have you ever heard an expert talking about a topic and thought, “That’s right on target but … it’s missing one important component”? Doctoral Fellow Dana Kanze’s TED Talk, “The real reason female entrepreneurs get less funding,” shared her analysis of why the amount of venture capital (VC) funding women receive is so disproportionate (2 percent) to their market share as company…more
Trust is a major buzz word these days. Joel Peterson, chairman of JetBlue Airways and successful serial investor, wrote “The 10 Laws of Trust” just in time to contribute to the discussion. No one is against trust, but rarely does…more
What a month! BIMBOs from the IRS’s National Taxpayer Advocate, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the owner of a company that tracks its workers’ every move (scary), a world-famous canoe athlete and a lawyer for a plaintiff suing CNN’s Don Lemon. You’ll…more
BIMBOs from a general nominated for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a Colorado state representative on the state’s experience with legal pot, the Association of National Advertisers and a past BIMBO that’s become all too relevant from accused…more
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
When audiences can choose to watch Netflix while getting their news on Twitter, what’s to incentivize them to tune in to the evening news? Reporters have responded with longform, sensational investigative stories. In a crisis situation, this means they have…more
This month features BIMBO comments from Chinese company Huawei, Former Vice President (and current presidential candidate) Joe Biden, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and anti-vax doctor Andrew Wakefield. We also explore an interesting examination of how a number inadvertently became the…more
In this BIMBO Memo, you’ll learn how not to handle a political crisis and read about a Muslim school counting on the fact that Americans don’t speak Arabic. There are also several examples of the power of what we call…more
The 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer: Expectations for CEOs revealed that people (63 percent of respondents) want a CEO who “speaks spontaneously over one who delivers well-rehearsed speeches.” We submit this is a totally false choice. What people are really asking for…more
BIMBOs from DC luminary lawyer Greg Craig, former aide to Hillary Clinton Neera Tanden, Twitter and Facebook spokespersons and an anti-gun activist group. A New York restauranteur hopeful learned the power of a word. A basketball player got good advice…more
Is it just me, or does it seem as if the 2020 campaign season has already started? See contributions from Maryland's governor (and yes, potential 2020 presidential candidate) plus most of the other presidential candidates (with a special shake of…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
Today is a special day for me. It’s the anniversary of the release of “The World of Henry Orient,” the movie I did with Peter Sellers and Angela Lansbury. Just five years ago, I was back on the red carpet…more
Great examples to learn from this month. BIMBOs from the founder of Chinese company Huawei Technologies Co., Sen. Thom Tillis and an internet hoaxster. Examples of the “Wrong Thing to Say” from former executive editor of The New York Times…more
Examples galore! This edition of the BIMBO Memo features one of the largest compilations of examples to date. In the Memo, you’ll find BIMBOs from former Governor of South Carolina and outgoing Congressman Mark Sanford, Johnson & Johnson, former FBI…more
2018 BIMBO OF THE YEAR “Alien abduction doesn’t define me,” read headlines from Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera, Republican primary candidate for a Florida U.S. House of Representatives seat. “It has nothing to do with what I have done. It happened when I was…more
Amazon’s recent announcement of its HQ2 sites created quite the buzz and left other cities feeling like big losers. However, some city officials still won with their post-announcement communication – others, not so much. Winner – Dallas How could we…more
BIMBOs are an international issue and our top three winners this month are all Brits. Joining them are BIMBO nominees ranging from infamous lawyer Michael Avanetti, a Dallas real estate developer, the owner of a small toy store and the…more
The Wall Street Journal just savaged GE’s new CEO, Larry Culp. Many of their criticisms are unfair but reporter John Stoll’s column provides an excellent coaching tool for communication staff. Culp went on CNBC, and the company stock fell 10…more
This month, BIMBOs from Sen. Claire McCaskill, former Google executive Andy Rubin, a Georgia Democrat, a mother mad at President Emmanuel Macron, a mob-justifying comment from a director at the University of Minnesota and, even, a historical BIMBO from 1937.…more
Sometimes you get to see the heart and soul of a city. Yesterday was one of those times for anyone at the memorial service in Memphis for a man named Phil Trenary. Phil was the former CEO of Pinnacle Airlines…more
Lots of material this month. Additional BIMBOs from author Max Boot, White House senior staff, Michael Avenatti, a UK reality TV star, former president Barack Obama and more. Examples of the power of bad words include those from Elon Musk,…more
News outlets and commentaries are talking about the tenth anniversary of Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy, an event that many experts believe pushed the U.S. into the worst recession since the Depression. Analysts are again debating the wisdom of the Treasury Department…more
Lots of material this month! Additional BIMBOs from the CEO of MoviePass, Meghan Markle’s father, a teacher at Dallas’ St. Mark’s school (this one is scary), a Boston Globe editorial writer, a senior director at The Catholic Health Association, the…more
Has Pro Football Hall of Fame wide-receiver Randy Moss found a path out of the tricky situation the NFL finds itself in? The issue, of course, is the situation with the national anthem and Old Glory, the American flag. The…more
The Transportation Security Administration has set off a storm of criticism for its proposal to stop screening passengers at approximately 150 of the nation’s small airports. Travelers, regulators, elected officials and others are conjuring up scenarios of brazen criminals and…more
A recent news story tells the tale of government workers in a small Alaskan town who became dependent upon typewriters to do their jobs after cyber criminals infected their computer systems with ransomware. How are your typewriter skills? Are your…more
Lots of interesting and good teaching examples this month, including BIMBO comments from Lesley Stahl in the developing story about sexual harassment at CBS (and an example of how not to write a statement) and Whoopi Goldberg. You’ll also find…more
Readers of the BIMBO Memo are familiar with our focus on “bad words” and their tendency to replicate and cause trouble. This is certainly true of Papa John’s founder John Schnatter and his now-infamous use of the “n-word.” Our comment…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
Maybe the Wall Street Journal’s crack writer on personal technology, David Pierce, should talk to our team of up-and-coming stars. He recently wrote “Voice Chat is Way of the Future” and I started to think that this was one more…more
This month we have great examples of the “Wrong Thing To Say” from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Roseanne Barr (of course), agent David Sloane, Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen, a Dallas pastor, Rudy Giuliani and more. You’ll…more
It’s going to happen. The European Union’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is so comprehensive and far-reaching, that at some point a company that thought it had covered itself will get hit with a charge of non-compliance or data…more
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the European regulation drastically changing how companies collect and track everyone’s data. There are scores of articles about it – and that’s the problem. There’s too much information! How should you inform and enlist…more
This month we have BIMBOs from -- of course Roseanne Barr -- the lawyers for travel and convenience store chain Buc-ee’s, GOP Senate candidate Joe Arpaio, the House Agriculture Committee and the Mayor of Pittsfield. You’ll also find examples of…more
Wells Fargo has a new, multi-million-dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing consumers that its well-publicized regulatory problems have been settled. (Recap: Wells has been fined over a billion and a half dollars to settle revelations that it opened hundreds of…more
This month we have BIMBOs from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, two councilmen – one in Texas and another in D.C. – and, even, two ads from a wealth management firm. See also an example…more
We’ve just wrapped a week of a two-part series of Persuasive Presentation SkillsSM trainings in the UK. While many of our clients come to us seeking a specific need (“I have a speech coming up”), an increasing amount are looking…more
This month there are more good and bad examples in all sorts of categories – misuse of statistics, employees as ambassadors and more! THE WINNING BIMBO “The special counsel is not an unguided missile,” said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein fending…more
I’m frequently asked “What kind of research backs up your teaching?” While we believe that our thirty years of experience is our first credential, we also voraciously look for studies and other material we can apply. We pay attention to…more
Dilbert Wins! Other BIMBOs from a Plano, Texas Councilman, several members of the administration, a brouhaha over journalistic ethics, a homeless advocate versus the Queen’s Windsor Castle, the woman who allowed her husband to drown and a new kind of…more
Stop with the criticism of President Trump for using notes during his visit with the victims and families of the Florida school shooting. I tell all my clients that it’s ok and even desirable to use notes. It’s very easy…more
One of my favorite annual events is the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s legislative briefing (near and dear to my heart because my late husband, Tex Lezar, co-founded TPPF). This year, former Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, and former Rep. Kent Hance,…more
A version of this article originally appeared in the January/February 2018 issue of Human Resource Executive Magazine. Communication is a hot topic for HR professionals these days. The importance of communication popped up in HRE’s coverage, “Building a Team of Teams,” in…more
