fb

ACCA SPRING SALE 25% OFF

Was this as easy as 1,2,… (now what was the next one)?

Was this as easy as 1,2,… (now what was the next one)?

There’s a well known technique in public speaking of batching topics in groups of three.

The general idea is that it helps with the flow of the presentation and it’s easier for the audience to remember.

Unfortunately for US presidential hopeful Rick Perry, three topics were one too many when he spoke last night at the live presidential nomination debate for the US Republican candidate.

The speakers at the debate were all candidates to lead the Republican Party in next year’s US Presidential election against President Obama.

Mr Perry was in the process of listing the three US government departments he would abolish if he was elected president when he forgot what the third one would be.

His exact words were:

“I will tell you: It’s three agencies of government, when I get there, that are gone: Commerce, Education and the….. what’s the third one there? Let’s see….. OK. So Commerce, Education and the…..the third agency of government I would…..I would do away with the Education, the….. Commerce and…..let’s see….. I can’t. The third one, I can’t. Sorry. Oops.”

Now, we all make mistakes at one stage or another when speaking in public so is this really something for Mr Perry to worry about?

After all, the debates are only seen as one of the key deciders in whether somebody will win the nomination or not and they were only seen live on primetime TV across America. The press and TV in American are also only talking about it all the time.

Now, any of you studying professional exams will appreciate that two out of three is 66.67% and I’m sure that if you got 67% in your exams you’d see that as a success.

A potential future president of America only being able to remember 2 out of 3 of his proposed policies though probably isn’t so good.

The video of Mr Perry’s performance can be found here and get ready to cringe with embarrassment.

Share this entry

Recent articles

View All Articles
Nothing to whine about…
Apr 22, 2025
Title
Nothing to whine about…
Excerpt

The wine industry, steeped in centuries of tradition, is experiencing a shake-up that’s sparking debate among enthusiasts and […]

PwC exits 9 African countries
Apr 18, 2025
Title
PwC exits 9 African countries
Excerpt

PwC, one of the Big Four accounting firms, recently announced the closure of its operations in nine Sub-Saharan […]

Using AI to reward staff
Apr 12, 2025
Title
Using AI to reward staff
Excerpt

In a bold move that combines innovation with employee incentives, UK-based law firm Shoosmiths has become the first […]

Barking up the right tree?
Apr 07, 2025
Title
Barking up the right tree?
Excerpt

In a world where businesses are constantly seeking that elusive “wow” factor to stand out, a historic Parisian […]

10 reasons CFOs are leaving…
Apr 02, 2025
Title
10 reasons CFOs are leaving…
Excerpt

Last year, chief financial officers (CFOs) left their roles at the fastest rate in six years, according to […]

Women at the top: EY becomes first Big 4 firm with dual female leaders
Apr 01, 2025
Title
Women at the top: EY becomes first Big 4 firm with dual female leaders
Excerpt

EY has just made history – Alison Duncan will take over as UK Chair of EY, joining forces […]

When Audits Fail: PwC, Wyelands Bank, and the £2.9M Mistake
Mar 26, 2025
Title
When Audits Fail: PwC, Wyelands Bank, and the £2.9M Mistake
Excerpt

What happens when auditors fail to properly understand the business they’re auditing? That’s the question at the heart […]

Volkswagen sells more sausages than cars
Mar 18, 2025
Title
Volkswagen sells more sausages than cars
Excerpt

No, we’ve not made an early April Fools Joke. It’s true. Volkswagen do sell more sausages than cars. […]