Matthew Arnold Stern » Communication in General

How to give an Opening Day speech

Matthew Arnold Stern — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:19:17 +0000

I’ve been getting a lot of visits to my site lately from people looking for ideas on giving Opening Day speeches. Many baseball and softball leagues are starting their seasons this weekend. So, here are a few tips from my experience as a Little League president that may help. 1. Be brief Next to graduation …

A lesson about confidence from Toddlers and Tiaras

Matthew Arnold Stern — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:13:35 +0000

There’s a lot one can say about TLC’s show Toddlers and Tiaras (such as “What happened to all the outrage about JonBenét Ramsey?”) Once in a while, it actually shows something useful. In one episode, it provided a lesson in the importance of self-confidence. At the “Rodeo Princess” pageant, three girls were competing in the …

Review — Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Matthew Arnold Stern — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:24:15 +0000

Modern society puts a high premium on extroversion. In school, we have “show and tell” and are graded for “playing well with others.” At work, good eye contact, a firm handshake, and the ability to present a PowerPoint deck are requirements for success. If we are successful enough, the only avenue for advancement in most …

What is good technology? — Part II

Matthew Arnold Stern — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:37:29 +0000

Some big technology news came out over the past few weeks. First, the gadget-fest known as the Consumer Electronics Show. Second, Apple’s iBook announcements. And finally, the collapse of Congressional support for SOPA after the Internet’s show of force on Wednesday. What do all these tell us about good technology? Good technology is useful technology. …

The dying art of Cursive

Matthew Arnold Stern — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:46:37 +0000

I had to write a note to my son’s teacher. As an old-timer, I wrote my note by hand. That’s how a teacher can tell that the note came from a parent and not something the child had forged. My son looked at the note and said, “Why did you write it in Cursive? No …

Another redesign?

Matthew Arnold Stern — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:29:29 +0000

Apple isn’t the only one messing around with their product line today. I’m working on a new design for my Web site. It will be cleaner. It will not have ads popping up in the wrong spots. It will be easier to subscribe to a feed and follow me on Twitter (and later, Facebook). I’m …

“To the graduating class of 2011…”

Matthew Arnold Stern — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:41:41 +0000

I’ve never been asked to give a graduation speech. I don’t mind because a graduation speech is probably the most useless one anyone can give. You try to impart 5–7 minutes worth of wisdom (which the students should have been given over the past 18 years) at a time when people are the least inclined to …

What Justin Bieber can teach us about Web marketing

Matthew Arnold Stern — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 15:38:08 +0000

One of the things that I saw in the Justin Bieber concert film Never Say Never (besides disturbing scenes of prepubescent lust) is how important the Internet is in promoting artists. Justin Bieber is an Internet creation. He was discovered from his YouTube videos and built his fan base through Twitter. So, what can the rest …

The King’s Speech and Finding Your Voice

Matthew Arnold Stern — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 05:46:36 +0000

There are a couple of things I got out of watching The King’s Speech. The first is how ridiculous the MPAA can be. Did this movie really deserve an R rating because it exceeded its quota of f-words? The second, and most important thing, is the importance of finding your own voice. This movie, like Helen Mirren’s …

“So, what are you doing to your Web site?”

Matthew Arnold Stern — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 06:56:25 +0000

I’m doing lots of things to my Web site… First, I’m (finally) starting to integrate the rest of my Web site’s content with this blog format. This will make it easier for you to get around by giving you a consistent interface. You can also post comments to my articles and speeches. With a few …