Best quote of the month
‘We were as surprised as anyone to have beachfront property.’
James Balsillie, co-chief executive of Research in Motion, New York Times, April 29.
James Balsillie was commenting on how Research in Motion went from an obscure supplier of paging systems to having its Blackberry product seen being used by top celebrities and politicians in just a few short years. Intended message: We didn’t realize years ago how we would gain the preeminent position in our marketplace. Analysis: Balsillie is quotable because, first, ‘we’ is a personal reference. Second, ‘surprised’ is an emotion. Third, ‘surprised as anyone’ is a cliché. Fourth, ‘beachfront property’ is an analogy meaning top positioning; it is bold and visual.
Worst quote of the month
‘I’ve worked four ten-hour days this week and I’m not sticking around.’
Jerome Oslick, general counsel at Farmer Mac, New York Times, April 28.
Oslick was being asked questions by a reporter about Farmer Mac’s CEO, Henry Edelman. Not wishing to answer any more tough questions, Oslick put forth this excuse to justify ending the interview. Intended Message: Oslick was simply looking for a graceful way of ending the interview. Instead, he came across sleazier than Martin Short’s chain-smoking Saturday Night Live corporate lawyer character. Working 8 am to 6 pm doesn’t seem too onerous considering that in the previous paragraph the Times mentioned Oslick annual take-home of $1 mn. Analysis: Oslick is quotable because, first, ‘I’ve’ is highly personal. Second, ‘worked four ten-hour days’ is highly emotional, albeit the emotion is petulance. Third, ‘ten-hour days’ is a specific example of this man’s hardships. Fourth, ‘I’m not sticking around’ is personal, visual and a cliché. The whole quote smacks of the desperate emotionalism of a caged and suffering corporate fat cat who will do or say anything to escape the reporter’s questions.
TJ Walker, a New York City-based media/speech trainer, coaches senior executives for media and speaking appearances. See www.tjwalker.com.
