The mojologic blog
Insights on communication, influence, sales and leadership
Speech 33: Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Argument in Frontiero v Richardson)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, US Supreme Court Justice dies at 87. Her legacy as the notorious RBG is replete with stories of accomplishment throughout her legal career. When sworn in as US Supreme Court Justice in 1996, Bill Clinton remarked that Ruth Bader Ginsburg had already made her mark on...
Speech 32: Richard Feynman (The Scientific Method)
In 1964 Richard Feynman spoke about the scientific method. His blend of humour, conviction and unbounded curiosity make this a compelling speech. "Guessing is a dumb man's job. Actually, it is quite the opposite and I will try to explain why..." He is a funny man with an endearing New York...
Speech 31: Nancy Astor (Maiden Speech)
Nancy Astor was the first woman to sit in the British House of Commons, serving from 1919 to 1945. Her maiden speech was delivered on the 24th of February, 1920. "I know that it was very difficult for some honourable members to receive the first lady MP into the house. It was almost as difficult...
Speech 30: Joe Biden (a message of unity)
Joe Biden speaks at the 2020 Democratic National Convention The 2020 Democratic National Convention was the first to be delivered as a virtual event. There must have been hundreds of challenges to overcome - logistics, technology and participation. But the most critical would have been how to...
Speech 29: Michelle Obama (Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country…)
This week, Michelle Obama delivered a keynote speech on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention. A convention like no other. In the new world of virtual delivery, Obama spoke to camera whilst seated. The speech was just over 18 minutes long and covered a bit of territory, but the...
Speech 28: Theodore Roosevelt (The Man in the Arena)
Words have power. This is the belief that has powered the Speech a Week series. There are many fine speeches that have captured the attention of the audience, inspired action and reverberated through the years. But few speeches punch quite so much power into every word as this one. The Man in...
Speech 27: Amelia Earhart (A Woman’s Place in Science)
"Not only has applied science decreased the toil in the home, but it has provided undreamed of economic opportunities for women." Amelia Earhart delivered the speech; A Woman's Place in Science, as a radio broadcast in 1935. In 1928 Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. ...
Speech 26: Tim Minchin (9 Life Lessons)
The musings of Tim Minchin are genius. Irreverent, foul-mouthed and derisive, but genius.
Minchin bestows his advice on a group of graduates at his alma mater, The University of Western Australia. This is a familiar engagement for many celebrities including; Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Natalie Portman and even Kanye West. These are usually presentations worth watching – well crafted, polished, insightful and thought-provoking.
But none are quite like this.
Speech 25: Nora Ephron (be the heroine of your life)
“What I’m saying is, don’t delude yourself that the powerful cultural values that wrecked the lives of so many of my classmates have vanished from the earth.”
Nora Ephron is the writer that brought us such classics as When Harry Met Sally, Julie and Julia and Silkwood. So, we would expect sharp wit combined with humour and this speech delivers both. Ephron goes further in her delivery a compelling feminist message and a warning to the graduating class of Wellesley College in 1996.
Speech 24: Malcolm X (The Ballot or the Bullet)
The Ballot or the Bullet speech was delivered by American civil rights activist Malcolm X on 3rd April 1964 at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. "Once you change your philosophy, you change your thought pattern. Once you change your thought pattern, you change your attitude. Once you...
