Who IS this guy?
"A trusted person who was cool to me when I was nobody, and helped me just to help me."
Christine Bellport, WMTV NBC15
"Holland, you told me a long time ago that the two most important words in Talk Radio are 'YOU' and 'YOUR.'"
Author, national radio talker, and MSNBC host Ed Schultz
"Holland is one of those guys who always has the ball rolling. He is an entrepreneur with so many incredible ideas and original projects. Being around him will breed a lot of creativity."
Michelle Jerson, New Jersey 101.5
"You have done excellent work in an amazingly short period of time. We couldn't be happier."
Senator-turned-talk-host Tom Scott
"I consider you an expert in communication."
Heidi Harris, a familiar face if you devour political talk on cable; morning host, KDWN/Las Vegas
"Holland Cooke is one of the smartest guys in the Talk Radio business. He is a leading expert on the nuts and bolts of the trade as well as the changing universe in which it operates. That's why so many broadcasters seek his advice."
Michael Harrison, Publisher, Talkers magazine
"Thank you so much for all you do."
Author and WordsYouNeverHeard.com host Carolyn Davidson
“One of the brightest minds in the spoken word formats. Holland is as skilled in new media as he is in the traditional transmitter based stations and programs.”
Nick Michaels, the voice who said "Excedrin, the Extra-Strength Pain Reliever," and which you will instantly recognize from umpteen other commercials; and host, "The Deep End with Nick Michaels"
“Holland Cooke's name is known throughout the news and talk industry as the 'go-to-guy.' Trust him.”
Donna Francavilla, CBS News Radio correspondent
“Holland will probably tell you that he knows me, and that we're friends, and that he knows nothing of Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance....”
Jim Bohannon, Talk Radio big shot
How NOT to annoy people you call today?
How to avoid what might be THE-most-annoying, most-common phone faux pas?
HC explains, on the KDWN/Las Vegas Heidi Harris Show.
Social Media Horror Stories
Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. can be powerful marketing tools…or damaging to brands that misunderstand social media.
Read about the “Where do lost Chapsticks go?” faux pas and two other case studies.
Looking for work? First, exhale…
The person interviewing you may be more nervous than you are!
HC explains why, on Dick Heatherton’s “Success Again” show:
And the winner is…YOU!
In a nutshell, all of this Survival Speech lore is about sticking-out, in a world where much of what’s said simply blends-in. And “speech” isn’t just verbal. In various other ways you express yourself, seeming-different will advantage you. Remember that the next time you enter a prize drawing. And remember, you can’t win if you don’t enter.
When you’ve filled-out your entry blank, wrinkle it up. Then smooth it out.
Doing this will improve your chances of winning, and I speak from experience.
Why this works:
If they’ll be spinning the drum before drawing, your entry blank will move-around more than – and not-adhere-to – other perfectly-flat entry blanks.
If they don’t spin the drum, and merely reach into a box full of other perfectly-flat entry blanks, many of which are sticking together, yours will feel different to the person reaching-in.
When you win, act surprised.
How flattering is THIS???
I’ve had several requests — from Speech teachers, no less! — for permission to re-print The Survival Speech Manifesto.
DARN flattering that they’d even ask, let-alone find what-I’ve-written of-value.
Being a long-ago Speech teacher myself, I’ll make it easy:
Simply send an E-mail to manifesto@hollandcooke.com, and, in mere moments, the E-robot will deliver you a PDF download. Copy anyone-and-everyone you’d like!
And THANKS for asking!
Avoid committing THE rudest, most common gaffe.
“Unless you have children or you’re waiting for news about a liver transplant,” John Tesh says “it’s too tempting to keep checking who is calling each time it rings, and your date might just think it’s another man or woman. Same thing goes for your BlackBerry.
It’s disrespectful to divide your attention between the person in front of you and a beeping little piece of plastic. It also says, ‘You’re only semi-important to me.’”
And puh-LEEEZ…
Listen to your voicemail before returning calls.
Does your wireless phone send calls you didn’t answer into voicemail? Does it list phone numbers of calls you missed? If so, DON’T call-back callers-you-missed until you have first listened to your voicemail.
Otherwise, you frustrate them, asking them to repeat a message they just left, as your voicemail greeting instructed them to, which you didn’t bother listening to.
If you’re a job applicant, this-alone could be a deal killer. There are few things you can convey that are as-fundamentally-maddening-as, “I didn’t hear you.”
