I’m not late to the game on this one, I swear.  It’s just that I’ve been waiting.  Watching to see what Sarah Palin will do next.  Ever since her disastrous turn with Katie Couric, I’ve been anticipating her next public speaking snafu.  Why did I think she would make one?  Quite simply, because she admitted she didn’t know too much about the office of Vice President.  This isn’t surprising, as she’s never been to Washington and only has experience governing a small state. 

Incredibly, though, Sarah Palin has done all right.  Since Katie, her campaign speeches, media interviews, and even her debate performance could even be called articulate.  I heard she rehearsed for days with speech coaches, and it paid off.  Though Sarah knew little about the issues she was called upon to discuss, she played on her natural strengths and delivered prepared messages in a way that made a good many people think that she was qualified to lead our country should something happen to John McCain.

Those of you who have been around a while know that Dale Carnegie is one of my heroes, and I’m fond of quoting Dale as saying that the person who can speak acceptably is considered to possess far greater ability that he actually has.  In modern day English, this means that if you look and act like you know what you’re talking about, people will think that you do regardless of the reality. 

This is particularly important for young professionals, because they often have to convince others of their point of view with a persuasive manner of speaking rather than documented expertise and success.  And make no mistake, it requires practice.  Sarah Palin has made the time.  Have you?