His first sentence included the remembrance of the past. This is important as it sets the tone for helping the audience understand that the current crisis need not be insurmountable.
Biz Application: This is where the importance of organisational story-telling applies.
Observation 2: He thanked George Bush and had a positive that Bush helped in the transition.
Observation 2: He thanked George Bush and had a positive that Bush helped in the transition.
Biz Application: The CEO should always be gracious.
Observation 3: "..faithful to the ideals of our forbearers"
He reiterates the aspirations of past generations of Americans
Biz Application: The CEO should have a good understanding of the organisation's goals and mission statement.
Observation 4: "Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age."
I am amazed by Obama's directness in mentioning "...to make hard choices". It seems that he is admonishing the past American feeling of worshipping all forms of excesses.
Biz Application: The CEO should be a futurist, yet looking rationally at daily operational procedures.
Observation 5: "..each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."
He uses the term energy and adversaries in the same sentence. This is interesting. Is he implying that America has too much reliance on oil and is at the mercy of the price manipulation of OPEC?
He uses the term energy and adversaries in the same sentence. This is interesting. Is he implying that America has too much reliance on oil and is at the mercy of the price manipulation of OPEC?
Biz Application: Not sure
Observation 6: "..a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights."
Obama show's an acute understanding of how the rest of the world is currently viewing America..as a country that is too distracted by its domestic woes to pay attention to the war in Gaza, North Korea and even global poverty. The end of the American single Superpower model?
Biz Application: The CEO is allowed to bring in cost-cutting measures but must also have a strategic plan for the future.
Observation 7: "In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame."
Obama is referring to the age old ethos of hard work and honesty. I am wondering if he has hinting that there must be an overhaul of the American Financial System - maybe more government supervision and involvement.
Observation 8: "..it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things"
Is Obama referring that there must be a new spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in America? The Fords? Gates?
Observation 9: "We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished."
This is one of the rare occasions where Obama brings in some basic economics in this historic speech. He is definitely spot on about America being the most prosperous, at least in GDP terms. However, I think it is unsubstantiated rhetoric when he brings in the productivity of the typical American worker. He should have quoted some relevant statistics to back up this claim.
Observation 10: "..we are ready to lead once more."
In my own opinion, this is the climatic part of Obama's speech. He is reaffirming the desire that there will at least be one Superpower country and there must be leadership to move global issues forward.
Observation 11: "..and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."
This is an obvious reference to America's never-ending fight against terrorism.
Observation 12: "Let it be said by our childrens children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and Gods grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
Obama ends his speech with a bang - he encourages Americans to think themselves as history-makers.
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