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Presentation Zen
Who says technical presentations can't be engaging?

Garr

29 Jun 2009 | 7:45 pm

People often ask if technical or science-related presentations can be as compelling as presentations covering other less technical topics. Now, not every presentation has earth-shattering, Nobel-Prize winning significance, but I assume if you are talking about your research or current issues in your field, etc. that your words have a benefit for someone else. I assume it is important, otherwise why waste your time and the time of others? And if it is important, then being effective matters. No one ever said that clarity and a connection with the audience were sufficient conditions for an…
Simplicity in Las Vegas

Garr

23 Jun 2009 | 2:16 am

As our world gets more complex, discussions about simplicity grow. Yet, ironically the issue of simplicity itself — what it is, how we attain it, etc. — is not at all simple. Or perhaps we should say it is not at all easy. Simplicity means many different things to many different people, and it seems difficult to ever get people to agree exactly what it is. Simplicity is elusive and words are often inadequate to illuminate its essence, yet most rational people agree that simplicity (how ever you define it) is a worthy goal so long as "it is not too simple." Like you, I'm very interested…
TED talk: How social media is making history by helping citizens report the real news

Garr

21 Jun 2009 | 9:08 pm

Clay Shirky, author of Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations, has a new TED talk that is not just appropriate for our times in general, but given what is happening in Iran, it's actually perfectly poignant for this particular week. The Internet and social media changed everything, as we know. For generations communication was one-to-one or one-to-many — the one-to-many being largely the domain of the professionals. Today, as Shirky points out, the new dimension is the many-to-many, where people for the most part have the ability to bypass censors. This talk…
Felix Jung's Pecha Kucha presentation Tips

Garr

19 Jun 2009 | 1:51 am

Recently Felix Jung gave an interesting talk at Pecha Kucha Chicago, Volume 9. Felix told me that he became so interested in the process of developing his 6-minute and 40-second presentation that he created his own guide of sorts to help others. I think there's some good stuff in there worth sharing. First, let's take a look at Felix's presentation below. (The presentation is good, but the audio capture was very poor which is a bit of a distraction; try to get past that and just imagine yourself there at the live event in chicago. Go here just to see the slides with the same audio. You can…
Portuguese & Finnish PZ books now available

Garr

17 Jun 2009 | 10:16 pm

The Presentation Zen book is now out in about 13 languages other than English. Portuguese and Finnish versions have just been been released.Apresentação Zen: Idéias Simples Sobre O Design de Apresentações e Performances I have a couple of copies of the Portuguese version of PZ. The Alta Books people did a great job with the design; the book feels really nice in the hand. Below is an iPhone snap of the cover and the opening to Chapter 3 (Planning Analog). The book is available here.Esityksen suunnittelu - zen ja pelkistämisen taitoI have not received a copy of the Finnish version yet,…

Create Your Communications Experience
Leadership Communications - the Fundamental State

bdecker

24 Jun 2009 | 2:45 pm

A leader grows into the "Fundamental State", according to Robert Quinn, and this is a concept we can apply to President Obama – and any new leader. In Obama's case, we could compare his effectiveness as a campaigner (Normal State) and his effectiveness as a leader now that he is President (Fundamental State). But maybe it's too soon in his leadership, but not too soon in his communications. For we can apply the concept to speaking and communicating as well. We know that effective leaders are usually great communicators – the confidence of leadership often self-evident in…
Open Communication - Now and Forever?

bdecker

17 Jun 2009 | 10:10 pm

(UPDATE: See this clip from CNN 6/20/09, 4 days after I wrote the following post. They now call it "the Internet Revolution.") The Iran protests and Twitter's hand in dramatically showing that an oppressive regime can no longer censor dissent may have changed communications forever.Ahmadinejad's regime thought they had shut down all social media sites and Iranian ISP's even before the election. But they couldn't do it. With Twitter leading the charge, onsite observers sent hundreds of thousands of instant messages, videos and pictures through Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The world perhaps…
The Green Light Approach

bdecker

12 Jun 2009 | 8:30 am

The Green Light Approach Most successful people have a 'forward lean.' In our Communicate To Influence program we draw a parallel to the Ready Position, a posture that comes from all types of athletics, where you are on the balls of your feet. You can't be back on your heels and be "ready" - ready to move fast in tennis, basketball, skiing - any sport. You have to always be fast on your feet to move in any direction. In speaking, when you are habitually in the Ready Position you are physically and psychologically forward. You WANT to get out there and talk, and convince…
The Visual Dominates - Mehrabian Revisited

bdecker

5 Jun 2009 | 1:03 pm

There's been a lot of unfortunate controversy among communication professionals about Professor Albert Mehrabian's oft quoted research (below). It's good to have discussion though, for his research has altered the communicating landscape and has helped to get people out of the 'curse of knowledge.' Here are my thoughts and personal experience on the issue:Mehrabian wrote the classic "Silent Messages" in 1981 (2nd Ed). From this book came the research that shows vocal and visual outweigh the verbal when you have a conflicted message. The weight is at the feeling level ('likability'), not at…
But PowerPoints are NOT Your Presentation

bdecker

18 May 2009 | 1:44 pm

With all the recent emphasis on the design of your PowerPoints (Keynote for the Mac), it's time to revisit the fact that your visuals are NOT your presentation. You and your Point of View are the centerpiece. I think that the emphasis on PowerPoints (we'll call them PP for brevity) is because 2008 WAS a great year for great design with the publication of Garr Reynolds' book "Presentation Zen" and Nancy Duarte's "slide:ology" (both still best sellers on Amazon.) Make no mistake that having powerful and visual support materials is critical to your impact. But it's still your impact - it's not a…

Ethos3
11 Presentation Tips

Scott Schwertly

1 Jul 2009 | 2:05 pm

In just a few more days, our new “Present” iPhone app will be available in the iTunes store. What is it? It’s an app that features 60 presentation tips. Our thanks to SixVoices for making this happen. In celebration of it’s release, here are the first 11 presentation tips. 1. Double tie your shoelaces literally and figuratively. Don’t trip over your feet or your unprepared-for presentation. 2. Squeeze a Lemon A little lemon juice in your water will help to clear your throat more effectively than just plain H2O. 3. Empty your pockets before you take…
5 Presentation Tips from Coldplay

Scott Schwertly

12 Jun 2009 | 9:06 am

Last weekend I enjoyed my first Coldplay concert. They are currently on tour in the U.S. plugging their Viva la Vida album. What can I say? It was the best concert I have ever attended, and I have seen my fair share of great acts. Not only did they cover all the good stuff from their current album, but they also performed some of their classics like Yellow, In My Place, Politik, and Fix You (highlighed below). I have been a fan of Coldplay for quite some time now so it was an experience that left me wanting more. In fact, my wife and I were looking up tickets last night to see if we…
Hello, World!

Scott Schwertly

11 Jun 2009 | 3:07 pm

We just contributed a presentation to SlideShare’s Tell a Story Contest which is being sponsored by Fuze Meeting. I must admit… we had a blast. It was fun experimenting with original photography and drawing our own illustrations. Much better than using stock photography. Here is our entry: If you haven’t heard about the contest, be sure to check it out. The judges include big names like Pete Cashmore of Mashable and Tony Hsieh of Zappos.
G is for Ginormous: Presentation Lessons from the Incredible Hulk

Scott Schwertly

5 Jun 2009 | 8:36 am

H is for Huge Think big when it comes to your next presentation! You don’t need to turn yourself into the Incredible Hulk to catch people’s attention (although that wouldn’t hurt), but you should aim to be bigger than life. Dare to let your alter-ego take over for your next presentation. Just try not to terrify your audience.
What We Can Learn As Presenters from the Indy 500

Scott Schwertly

29 May 2009 | 1:16 pm

Last weekend I had the privilege to join a friend to drive up to Indianapolis to enjoy the 93rd running of the Indy 500. We were so enthused in the days leading up to the event that we even created a social networking site to help create community around race day and the rest of the season’s races. It was a day full of compelling racing, great food, and 300,000 raving fans. It was like nothing I have ever experienced before. Plus, watching 33 cars reach speeds as high as 220 miles per hour was one that I will not soon forget. Below are three observations I pulled from this…

Duarte Blog
Presentation Design: A Management Philosophy

Tracy Barba

1 Jul 2009 | 3:25 pm

It’s hard to stop Nancy Duarte once she gets started talking about design. And that’s exactly what happened when she met Jimmy Guterman, executive editor of MIT Sloan Management Review, at the most recent TED conference. It’s no surprise that Nancy views the world through a design lens, a skill which she has used to help world-renowned executives, politicians and thought leaders develop presentations, but it may surprise some to know that it is also her personal management philosophy. She sat down with Jimmy and shared her thoughts about how design thinking can be the one of…
How Decker Made Me Different

Nancy Duarte

1 Jul 2009 | 9:02 am

Spending the day at Decker was delightful. Shortly after arriving, the transformation of my delivery techniques was well underway. The meeting started at 9 a.m. in their San Francisco office. Their office is in a first-class building that is inspirational and professional. The path to their front door walks you through a zen-like garden with a large tiled circle. When you stand in the center of concentric tiles and talk, your voice is amplified (no idea how that worked). Kelly greeted me right on time and we started off reviewing my goals for the day. Even though I’m an…
SlideShare Storytelling Winners Announced Today!

Nancy Duarte

30 Jun 2009 | 11:14 am

Today the winners were announced for SlideShare’s “Tell a Story” contest. The contest was sponsored by Fuze Meeting and the top winner won $5,000! Drunkenomics won the $5,000 grand prize: Our very own Alex Varanese won for best design: Best story telling goes to Lubomir Panayotov: Most popular went to Denise Caron: Best use of multimedia went to Alan Brody: Congratulations to all the participants!
Memorable Presentations Go Beyond the Slides

Doug Neff

29 Jun 2009 | 9:19 am
Judging Books by Their Covers

Doug Neff

26 Jun 2009 | 8:15 am

Ready for a quick design lesson? Click on the picture to go to Joseph Sullivan’s list of Favorite Book Covers for 2008. (That one’s my favorite, by the way.) Now, imagine you wrote a book this year. And your book just entered the market, along with the 172,000 other books published in the U.S. that year.1 And it’s a FANTASTIC book: engaging characters, compelling story, a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter. And all you have to do is get people to choose your book out of the veritable ocean of other books in the world. (Yeah, welcome to the long tail.) When Mrs. Foster…

Speaking about Presenting
How to tweet during a presentation

Olivia Mitchell

29 Jun 2009 | 10:14 am

The latest academic research on Twitter and conferences addresses the issue of “snarky tweets” during presentations. What should be the guidelines of what is acceptable and what is not? My own experience of tweeting during presentations at Presentation Camp LA highlighted for me the new challenges we face around Twitter etiquette at conferences. The research Tony McNeil reports on a survey of 103 people from a conference on learning technology in April 2009: More than just passing notes in class? Reflections on the twitter backchannel. More than a quarter of the conference…
Powerpoint custom animation experiment - check out the animation for yourself

Olivia Mitchell

17 Jun 2009 | 1:27 am

Yesterday, I reported on the results of an experiment into the impact of Powerpoint custom animation on learning. I’ve now been given permission by the authors (Dr Stephen Mahar and colleagues) to publish samples of the screencasts used in the research. Summary of the experiment The purpose of the experiment was to test the hypothesis that: incrementally introducing information on PowerPoint slides via custom animation decreases student learning over having all information shown on the slide at the same time. Two screencasts were prepared - one animated and one non-animated. The…
New research questions the benefits of custom animation in PowerPoint

Olivia Mitchell

16 Jun 2009 | 1:43 am

I thought that simple, non-distracting animations that brought in slide elements one at a time as I verbally introduced them was helpful. I thought that it helped members of my audience focus on the slide element that I was talking about. Seems I might be wrong. Research carried out by Stephen Mahar, Ulku Yaylacicegi and Thomas Janicki found that students who were shown an animated PowerPoint slideshow learnt less than those that saw a non-animated slideshow. When I first read of the research on Science Daily Could PowerPoint presentations be stifling learning? I thought the researchers might…
How to create a “new” presentation from pre-existing slides

Olivia Mitchell

12 Jun 2009 | 7:48 pm

In a perfect world, every new presentation would be prepared from scratch, tailored exactly to the specific audience. But in reality, you sometimes have to cobble together a “new presentation” from pre-existing material. How can you create an effective presentation in the shortest possible time using pre-existing slides from different sources? There are two phases to this. First, organizing the content of the presentation and second, creating slides to go with it. Organize the content 1. Gather all your pre-existing slides First gather all the pre-existing slides you may want to…
The secondary misinterpretation of Mehrabian’s research

Olivia Mitchell

6 Jun 2009 | 1:19 am

Bert Decker has written a comprehensive reply on his blog to my first post on the Mehrabian myth. However, I disagree with his interpretation of Mehrabian’s research and in a moment I’ll show you why. But before I do, I want to say that I greatly appreciate Bert and his contribution to the presentation and public speaking blogosphere. He is a great friend and mentor to me. He has encouraged me in my blogging and helped me to take my first steps on Twitter. Regarding this issue, we’ve had e-mail correspondence behind the scenes and I think we’re both quite comfortable…

Dave Paradi's PowerPoint Blog
PowerPoint Tip: Keyboard shortcuts when editing slides

Dave Paradi

30 Jun 2009 | 5:50 am

In past issues on the newsletter, I’ve shared some tips on keyboard shortcuts you can use when in Slide Show mode. If you missed some of the past issues or want to remind yourself of those tips, click here (if this link does not work, copy and paste the full link as follows into your browser: http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/newsletter/cutnov112008.htm). Today I’ll share a few keyboard shortcuts to use when creating and editing your slides.One of the tips I share in my workshops that most people tell me is new information to them, is how to break a line at a specific word when writing…
Think before you add slide numbers

Dave Paradi

29 Jun 2009 | 7:51 pm

Today I watched two presentations where the presenter had the slide numbers feature turned on, so we saw a slide number in the lower corner of each slide. And it got me thinking, why were the slide numbers there? What did they add to the presentation?The answer was: Nothing. The slide numbers did not help explain the ideas or help the audience understand the message. The only time I think slide numbers are useful is when you are presenting using a flipbook (where the slides are printed one per page and the presentation is done flipping through the book of slides). In this case, it can be…
PowerPoint Slide Makeover - Putting Multiple Ideas on One Slide

Dave Paradi

23 Jun 2009 | 10:49 am

Just a quick note to let you know that a new Slide Makeover Video Podcast based on the ideas in "The Visual Slide Revolution" is available for your viewing through the iTunes Store, online or through my YouTube channel. Sometimes you are restricted in the number of slides you can use and may need to put more than one idea on a slide. This makeover shows how to put two related ideas on a slide using persuasive visuals.This slide was submitted by one of the subscribers to the newsletter - someone just like you who is looking for a way to make their presentations more effective. If you want to…
PowerPoint Tip: Reformatting a presentation

Dave Paradi

16 Jun 2009 | 10:55 am

Often in my workshops, someone shares how they struggle when trying to merge slides from different presenters into one presentation or when they have to reformat a presentation using a new slide design. What should be easy turns into a nightmare with content moving all over the place and hours spent reformatting each slide by hand. In today's newsletter I want to share a few tips that can help when you find yourself in this situation.The first thing I suggest you do is check the Slide Layout of the existing slides. This is the one area that causes more problems than almost any other area.
The importance of structure first

Dave Paradi

16 Jun 2009 | 7:13 am

Last week I was consulting with a client who was developing a presentation that will be put online to attract potential employees to their organization. Originally, they had asked me to help with the design and construction of the slides. But as we started to talk, it was obvious that they did not have a clear structure to their message, and this was inhibiting our ability to move forward with the slides.So I took out a pad of paper and we stepped back and talked about what the call to action was and what reasons led to the conclusion that someone should take this action. Once we were clear…

Six Minutes
How to Add Power or Humor with the Rule of Three

Andrew Dlugan

8 Jun 2009 | 9:30 pm

In the first two articles of this series, we learned how using the rule of three can improve your speeches by [1] writing triads of words, phrases, and sentences and [2] by applying three-part speech outlines. In this article, you will learn how adding an unexpected twist to the third element can add power or humor to your speech. Rule of Three + Unexpected Twist = Speech Gold As we’ve learned in the earlier articles, there’s something magical about words, phrases, or sentences that come in sets of three. Three-element sets are found in many cultural areas, including religion. In…
Best Public Speaking Tips and Techniques: Weekly Review [2009-06-06]

Andrew Dlugan

6 Jun 2009 | 12:03 am

On Saturdays, we survey the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere. This review features topics including: new public speaking books; creating strong speech outlines; opinions on filler words; persuasive speech strategies; explanations of the misinterpretation of Mehrabian’s research [7%=content; 38%=voice; 55% = body language]; step-by-step slide makeovers; and elevator pitches for professional speakers and speechwriters. Week in Review: Six Minutes Why Successful Speech Outlines follow the Rule of Three The second of a three-part series on the…
Why Successful Speech Outlines follow the Rule of Three

Andrew Dlugan

3 Jun 2009 | 11:05 pm

Previously, we learned how the rule of three improves speeches when used at the micro-speech level, to craft memorable triads of words, phrases, and sentences. In this article, we will learn how the rule of three improves speeches at the macro-speech level when applied to speech stories or to entire speech outlines. Storytelling and the Rule of Three Last week, my daughter and I visited our local library to fetch another bounty of children’s books. We returned with a diverse collection that included: the educational Sesame Subjects: My First Book About Fish, the hilarious Caps for…
Are… um… Filler Words… ah… Okay?

Andrew Dlugan

31 May 2009 | 9:56 pm

Um. No other two letter word says so much when a speaker says so little. Except perhaps ah or uh or so. Are filler words the most sensational speaking sin you can commit? Or do they make you imperfectly human and help you connect with your audience? The topic has created quite a buzz in public speaking blogs recently, so read on to find out what the experts are saying. Um… the Book Authored by Michael Erard, Um… : Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders and What They Mean aims to be the most authoritative work on the topic. Personally, I haven’t read it, but I am curious due to…
Best Public Speaking Tips and Techniques: Weekly Review [2009-05-30]

Andrew Dlugan

30 May 2009 | 12:10 am

On Saturdays, we survey the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere. This review features topics including: the Rule of Three unmasked; TEDxTokyo review; tips for using analogies; essential humor skills; toastmasters pros and cons; marketing advice for emerging professional speakers; and answers to the question “which women are the best speakers?” Week in Review: Six Minutes How to Use the Rule of Three in Your Speeches A comprehensive review of this powerful (yet easy) speechwriting technique. What is the rule of three? What are some famous…

Photostream from Daylife

Speak Schmeak
You're not done yet

Lisa Braithwaite

2 Jul 2009 | 4:06 pm

In a previous post, I wrote about resting on your laurels, that thing people do when they feel they've reached the pinnacle of success and decide they no longer have to make an effort.That post was about Michael Phelps, a phenomenal swimmer who, after breaking several US and world records and winning seven medals at the 2004 Olympics, went on to win all of his events in the Olympic trials and break additional world records. Of course, you all know what happened next.Here's another Michael who was never content to rest on his laurels. From an interview with Geraldo Rivera in 2005:Geraldo…
Budget cuts kill public speaking classes

Lisa Braithwaite

1 Jul 2009 | 10:04 am

There are certain classes we all took in high school and college that we never would have taken if it were up to us. Many of us struggled through math or science or history or English, but in the long run we've understood why those classes were important, and we've integrated the knowledge and skills into our daily lives and work.I was reading about a school board budget debate recently and the chairperson of the school board said this:"I'm not sure we need drama, debate and public speaking."These were all courses with low enrollment, so the school board was recommending cutting them. First…
Facing the unknown and surviving

Lisa Braithwaite

26 Jun 2009 | 8:00 am

Something I neglected to mention in my roundup of PresentationCampLA is that, from the very beginning, I was apprehensive. An "unconference" that is created on the day by the people who attend? Scary!I'm a planner, an organizer, and a recovering control freak. I like to be very well-prepared. As you may have noticed, I talk a lot about preparation on this blog.So how exactly was I going to help pull off this unconference if there was no planning involved? Yes, we got a space, solicited sponsors, scheduled lunch delivery and did PR and marketing. But the event itself was pretty much a blank…
Interview in Santa Barbara News-Press is up

Lisa Braithwaite

25 Jun 2009 | 10:40 am

I've posted the article from the Santa Barbara News-Press where I was one of the local Twitter users interviewed. They did a great job of formatting it for my website!Here's my picture from the front page of the Life Section, if you missed it. It was fun to be part of this article and share my love of Twitter!
How to aggravate your audience

Lisa Braithwaite

24 Jun 2009 | 10:12 am

Like the graduation we attended two weeks ago, I was hoping to write about some speeches at our niece's 8th grade promotion ceremony from last week.Except that we couldn't hear a dang thing. The principal spoke, a school board member spoke, students performed a song (with piped-in music that drowned out whatever voices were audible), the student body president spoke... and only the first few rows of the audience heard anything.Audience members became more and more agitated, yelling out, "We can't hear you!" and "Louder!" It didn't seem like the officials even understood what was going on. A…

The BBP Blog
8 Ways to Extend Your Presentations

Meryl Evans

29 Jun 2009 | 4:03 pm

With social media growing as a popular resource for businesses to reach out and connect with customers and prospects, presenters need to look outside of the room where they give presentations. Sharing them on the Internet establishes your expertise, shows how you think, spreads your brand and provides yummy link juice. Here are eight ways you can squeeze more out of your hard work in creating your beautiful bullet-free presentation. Record your presentation. With so many digital cameras and technologies readily available for low prices today, it’s easier to record your presentation.
Book Review: How to Win a Pitch

Meryl Evans

5 Jun 2009 | 2:58 pm

Need make a pitch to win a deal? Take a look at How to Win a Pitch: The Five Fundamentals that Will Distinguish You from the Competition, a new book by Joey Asher that hones in on building presentations that help your business surge ahead of its competitors. The book’s approach fits BBP like two well-crafted puzzle pieces meant for each other. Asher’s formula for creating a pitch contains three acts, just like in the BBP approach. Asher introduces and explains five fundamentals to produce an outstanding presentation using a flowy and easy-going writing style. This is not another…
Product Review: Papershow

Meryl Evans

1 Jun 2009 | 11:27 am

If you don’t have a Tablet PC to write directly on your slides during a BBP presentation, you can always use a whiteboard as a companion to your screen. But if you want even more flexibility to write from other places in the room, or to let your audience write on the screen, try Papershow, a more portable solution that works around the shortcomings of white boards and it works with imported PowerPoint presentations. What Comes in the Package The Papershow package consists of a dongle (like a USB stick), pen and pad. The pen uses the readily available AAA battery. These don’t…
Product Review: Anoto penPresenter

Meryl Evans

25 May 2009 | 1:27 pm

If you don’t have a Tablet PC, it can be tough to make full use of BBP to sketch your slides or write directly on your screen during a presentation. If that’s the case, you may want to try Anoto penPresenter, which comes with a digital pen and special paper to help you get started drawing on your presentations. After you print your slides on the drawing paper, the system allows the presenter to write on the paper slides while your actions appear on the PowerPoint screen as you highlight items, point to a specific part of the page and move forward and back in the presentation…
Improve your skills at a Presentation Un-Conference on June 20 in LA

Cliff Atkinson

14 May 2009 | 6:47 pm

If you’d like to improve your presentation skills or grow your speaking-related business, join us in Los Angeles from 10 am- 6 pm Pacific on Saturday, June 20 at PresentationCampLA! The event is called an “un-conference” because it’s completely run by the people who show up on the day of the event - whoever wants to present has 1 minute to make a pitch, and then the group decides on the schedule of the day based on consensus. People with a wide range of skills are coming from as close as the Hollywood Hills to as far away as New Zealand to collaborate, teach and learn…

A PowerPoint Blog
Winning at Trial with a Dynamic PowerPoint Presentation

Geetesh

2 Jul 2009 | 1:47 am

A lot is at stake—power, money, reputation, future plans, justice. You need to win this case. Your presentation materials surely will play an important role in helping the judge and jury experience the sights, sounds, and details of the case … or not. The choice is up to you, says one tech-savvy attorney. It all depends upon whether you are willing to push PowerPoint beyond its normal boundaries to maximize its interactive and persuasive potential. This article by Robert Lane and Bruce A. Olson provides a better idea of using PowerPoint in court. Read this now...Categories:…
Learn PowerPoint 2007: Using Adobe's PDF Print Driver

Geetesh

2 Jul 2009 | 1:37 am

In an earlier tutorial of this PowerPoint to PDF series, I have shown you how to use the Office 2007's Save as PDF option, which is an easy way to convert a PowerPoint presentation to a PDF. But this option does have some limitations -- primarily you can only save your slides as PDFs. You cannot save your handouts as PDFs, or print multiple slides on a single PDF page. For that, you'll need to use Adobe's PDF Print Driver.Learn how to create PDFs now...Categories: pdf, powerpoint_2007, tutorials
Learn PowerPoint: Password Protecting Adobe Acrobat PDFs

Geetesh

1 Jul 2009 | 3:39 am

This is the final part of the PowerPoint to Secure PDF series in which I show you how to do more than just create a secure PDF from your PowerPoint slides. You learned how you could create PDFs that played full screen and also had transitions! Now, it's time to make your PDF entirely secure with password access.Follow these steps to get started...Categories: pdf, powerpoint_2007, tutorials
Learn PowerPoint: Search Google for PowerPoint Files

Geetesh

30 Jun 2009 | 10:40 pm

Google is a web search engine which indexes all sorts of information on the World Wide Web. Search results on Google typically contain results that consist of web pages, images, information and other types of files. What many users don't know is that Google allows you to restrict your search for a particular file type, such as a PowerPoint presentation! In this tutorial, I'll show you how you can search for PowerPoint presentations only using Google's Advanced Search option.Learn more now...Categories: google, powerpoint, tutorials
PPTools PPT Merge: The Indezine Review

Geetesh

27 Jun 2009 | 12:50 am

Out of the box, Microsoft builds little or no integration or relationships within PowerPoint to other Microsoft Office applications. To provide a quick example, PowerPoint users have nothing close to the mail merge options in Word or Outlook that can access data from an Excel or database source. And that's sort of sad, since PowerPoint is one application that can act as a glue to all sorts of content -- from text to pictures, and movies to charts! Our review product, PPT Merge does try to cover this vacuum -- does it succeed?Read more to find out...Categories: add-in, powerpoint

Business Innovation Speaker and Consultant Stephen Shapiro
The Magic of Innovation

Stephen Shapiro

30 Jun 2009 | 7:00 am

In a previous blog entry, I discussed why watching “Pitchmen” (the Discovery TV show) can give you ideas on how to create more marketable solutions. [Sadly Billy Mays, the show’s co-star, passed away the other day] It is time to admit another guilty pleasure of mine. I also like to watch “Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed.” [...]
InnoCentive’s Chief Innovation Evangelist

Stephen Shapiro

29 Jun 2009 | 5:00 am

I am thrilled to announce that as of July 1st, I will become the “Chief Innovation Evangelist” for InnoCentive. If you are not aware, InnoCentive is an incredible company that is changing the world. They are leaders in the Open Innovation space. If you have a problem you want to solve, you can post the challenge [...]
Innovation Blogs - We’re #15

Stephen Shapiro

26 Jun 2009 | 6:30 am

The blog you are reading is #15 on Blogrank’s list of innovation blogs. I am in good company, with Information Week and Richard Branson in the top 10. What I find interesting is that they know more about my website and traffic than I do. For example, I did not know that I am the #2 [...]
My New T-Shirt

Stephen Shapiro

25 Jun 2009 | 5:00 am

For any die-hard Boston Red Sox fan, the New York Yankees are the evil empire. Therefore, being a native Bostonian, this T-shirt makes me laugh. I particularly like it because it uses the suits from poker cards. This is perfect for me, the creator of Personality Poker.
Innovation Lessons from Around the House

Stephen Shapiro

24 Jun 2009 | 7:41 am

Last night I was hungry and decided to make some tuna fish. I opened my refrigerator and found an 18 ounce squeeze bottle of mayonnaise. As I started to make my meal, I realized that the mayo had expired 6 months ago. I guess I don’t use it very often because the bottle [...]

The Extreme Presentation(tm) Method
Ballroom style presentations as video: Xplane on Leadership

Andrew Abela

26 Jun 2009 | 7:18 am

I have long suspected that with the growth of online video as a communication medium, that ballroom style presentations will start to evolve into documentary style videos. It doesn't take much; create a ballroom style presentation, add voice or music, click File/Save as Movie, and upload to YouTube. Of course, the greater your skill, the more professional-looking you can make it. Xplane, the company founded by Dave Gray, has always been at the forefront of visual thinking. Yesterday they released a video on leadership, in conjunction with the Leadership…
Presenting to the Pope?

Andrew Abela

17 Jun 2009 | 1:01 pm

Not exactly, but I did get to meet him in person. Last week I attended the best conference of my life. It was held in Rome, at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and the theme was "Values and Rules for a New Model of Development.Highlights were, on Thursday evening, a private tour of the Sistine Chapel, and then an audience with the Pope on Saturday morning, during which the conference speakers, including myself, got to meet him personally. I had only met him once before, twenty-three years ago as an undergraduate when he gave a lecture at my university (he…
Extreme Presentation blog - top 10 posts

Andrew Abela

8 May 2009 | 9:04 am

Earlier this year, the Extreme Presentation blog reached its fourth birthday. To celebrate, I would like to offer a “best of” listing. I took the ten most popular posts as measured by past six months' traffic, and with some minor modification, here they are; they provide a pretty good cross section of the work I've done on this blog in the past four years. #1: Chart Chooser This was overwhelmingly the most popular post I have ever made (in large part thanks to it being picked up by Lifehacker, via Digital Inspiration, via Chris Lyons).The post features a…
Maytag

Andrew Abela

5 May 2009 | 1:25 pm

May 8, 2009 update: I received a call from a supervisor at Maytag, who had read this blog post. They have now agreed to refund the full amount of the parts. I still wish that this whole thing never happened, but I am satisfied with this outcome.The original post: I've never done this before, and I probably won't again, because branding, product quality, and customer service don't have much to do with presentation design. But I am just so annoyed that I had to vent. Less than two years after we bought our house, which had all new appliances,…
Chart Chooser in MATLAB

Andrew Abela

20 Apr 2009 | 11:38 am

Another addition to the Chart Chooser series, with a difference. This time the language is MATLAB. Doug at Mathworks wanted to show that it was possible to create all the charts in the Chart Chooser in MATLAB, which he did, as you can see below. Details on how he did this are on his blog.The original Chart Chooser post is here, and all the other languages are here.

Great Public Speaking
Build Instant Trust

Tom Antion

2 Jul 2009 | 8:09 am

Build instant trust and ease with your personal and business relationships. The tips in this e-book will help prepare you for any challenging meeting, so you are calm and confident. You will learn to use difficult situations to your advantage. Plus as a bonus,, you will receive individual telephone coaching. These powerfully effective skills are not taught in business schools or college. For easier personal and business relationships, click here to have the downloadable PDF book instantly......... http://www.walkyourtalk.org/tips2.htm Advertisement
Last chance to register for tonight's teleclass

Tom Antion

2 Jul 2009 | 8:04 am

"Outsourcing: How to Get Rich Using Other People’s Labor and Ideas" This teleclass is guaranteed to make you more productive and save you thousands of dollars when hiring people to help you achieve your goals. Tonight, Thursday July 2nd 9:00 PM Eastern Time Can't make it? The first 200 to register get a complimentary CD of the call and I pay the shipping. In this teleclass I'll be showing you tons of ways you can make your business move forward whether you are still working a regular job, have family obligations, or you're just lazy hahaha You Will Learn: => The 5 top sites…
Public Speaking: Simple Sells

Tom Antion

1 Jul 2009 | 7:53 am

I've come up with example after example over the past coupleyears of how having a simple, yet professional website attractsbusiness better than a complicated flashy site. Again, this monthI've got an awesome example of a site that for a very tinyinvestment has brought me an enormous return. That site ishttp://www.public-speaking.orgThis month it got in the very prestigious section of "Inc.Magazine" called "Best of the Web." Not only did it get in thesection, it got the highest rating of all the other sites, someof which were backed by extremely large corporations. You canread the entire…
Public Speaking: Closing A Speech

Tom Antion

29 Jun 2009 | 8:12 am

The last thing you say may be the most remembered. You must putas much time into selecting and practicing your closing as youput into any other part of your presentation.Your closing could be motivational, challenging, humorous,thoughtful, respectful of the length of the presentation, or itcould restate your point in a different way. This ending segmentwill have a strong influence on what the audience takes home withthem when you are done.TOM'S PET PEEVEPlease, at sometime during your talk ask the audience to dosomething. Many a great NO ZZZZZs talk went no further than thewalls of the…
Public Speaking: Spread Your Content

Tom Antion

26 Jun 2009 | 8:23 am

The business model for a content website is that the site ownersgather as much content as they can on a particular topic. Theythen try to attract as many people as possible who are interestedin that topic. The more people that visit the site, the more theadvertising on the site is worth. You can tap into this largevolume of website visitors for free.Let's say a site is totally about automobiles. They have all thenew models listed along with articles on leasing, finance,insurance, how to buy a used car etc. Guess where they get allthese articles. Of course, from subject matter experts like…

SpeakerSue Says...
Presentation Mastery: Billy Mays and the Story

speakersue

30 Jun 2009 | 10:10 am

Before Billy Mays, there was another great pitchman. True, it was years ago and in a galaxy far-away, but if you’re from the New York region, you may remember a guy named Jerry. Jerry sold appliances and the TV commercials would start with a Brooklyn-ese off stage voice, asking Jerry, ‘What’s the stawry (rhymes with cawfee!), Jerry?” Jerry would rant about his great deals, then throw his hands in the air and say, with an accent that only a New Yawker could love, “And that’s the stawry!” The “stawry” moved appliances. According to…
Sales Tip: One easy and thoughtful way to control the sale

speakersue

22 Jun 2009 | 9:14 am

Pushy salespeople give me the creeps. Maybe it’s just my rebellious nature, but as soon as I feel someone - even in a transactional sale - getting pushy, I run the other way. I’m betting you’re a lot like I am. The goal, whether their meeting is next week, or your product is a one -time sale (really, there is no such thing as a one-time sale…. everything runs down, changes technology, becomes out of date) is to always control the sale and build and sustain the relationship. The key: Thinking about your customer’s needs before your own. That, however,…
Presentation Mastery: Be yourself because it’s all you’ve got (Part 2)

speakersue

18 Jun 2009 | 10:14 am

It’s been a long time since I heard such a manipulative speaker; a speaker who could not only make his voice quiver at the drop of a syllable, he could also sell product like a snake oil salesman and make fun of the wonderful caricature of a motivational speaker that SNL’s, “Matt Foley” (Chris Farley) created (that I swear was patterned after HIM), all the time he was saying that applause and a standing ovation weren’t important to him. Oh, and did I mention that he told us (more than once) that the time he was given was too short for all his…
Presentation Mastery: Learning from expert manipulators, Part 1

speakersue

17 Jun 2009 | 2:49 pm

I had about an hour in the Charlotte, NC airport and sat down with my Starbucks non-fat, venti Chai, in the first row of chairs, closest to the three folks “inviting” travelers to sign up for a USAir credit card. The only flights coming in and out of this specific terminal were USAir flights. And that was why I was so fascinated by the credit card sales folks. The first question they posed to the people they were hopeful would stop was this: Excuse Miss, Sir, Are you traveling on USAir today? Of course Miss and Sir were. If not, they would not have been in that terminal! Once…
5 ways to turn on-line comments into raving fan mail

speakersue

7 Jun 2009 | 2:06 pm

Dissatisfied customers? You really can’t please everyone, every time. Ignore their social media complaints however at your own risk. You have the power to shape the future of your company by the way you respond to online comments. Keep customers loyal by knowing what to say — and what not — when they complain in person, via email, or on a public site. Here are 5 tips: Be human. If you’re upset or worried by the comment, tell them. You might begin with a sincere thank you and then say (in your own words!) something like: I am so upset about this situation because I thought…

Professionally Speaking
Professionally Speaking Magazine - Summer 2009

Ian

29 Jun 2009 | 3:54 pm

Looking Back The last year has seen four editions of Professionally Speaking. When we launched this magazine a year ago I wrote that “Hewlett-Packard’s innovative MagCloud system makes magazine publishing available to anyone with a message to share. This describes most the members of the National Speakers Association.” Creating the first edition was easy. The [...]
50 Free Resources That Will Improve Your Writing Skills

Ian

28 Jun 2009 | 7:48 pm

Thanks to @jayphilips Tweeting about these 50 free resources that will improve your writing skills. Courtesy of Smashing Magazine. Nested tips run into the hundreds. Write on!
The author as performer

Ian

22 Jun 2009 | 8:28 am

For many authors the book tour is a necessary evil. The reclusive scribe is forced into the public eye to read extracts from the podium to an indifferent audience. Authors, researchers, accountants - subject matter experts of all kinds find it difficult to speak about their passion in a compelling and engaging manner. These [...]
Interview: Dr. Ellen Taliaferro

Ian

17 Jun 2009 | 5:55 pm

Ellen Taliaferro, MD (aka Dr T) is a recovering emergency physician now serving as the Medical Director of the San Mateo Medical Center Keller Center for Family Violence Intervention in San Mateo, CA. Using her background in emergency medicine, stress management, and writing, she has created a program called Healing the Wound Within with a [...]
Interview: Women’s Radio and Audio Acrobat

Ian

15 Jun 2009 | 11:17 pm

I spent the day at the Women In Technology International (WITI) 20th Anniversary conference in Santa Clara. One of the exhibitors was Pat Lynch, CEO and Editor in Chief of Women’s Radio, an online media and education network which carries podcasts on a wide variety of topics: business, relationships, lifestyle and politics. Women’s Radio uses a [...]

Slides that stick
Chart concept - stable industries, not much going on here

2 Jul 2009 | 3:31 am

Certain industries do not seem to be subject to change (but maybe a new startup is about to change all this!). I like to use images of the moai on Easter Island to visualize this kind of market environment.Photo credit: Natmandu. For these type of "real" images it is much better to go to sites like Flickr then to stock image sites (check the image license though).
Using impressionist painters in PowerPoint slides

1 Jul 2009 | 2:06 am

My life and business partner Anat Naschitz has a strong interest in the arts. She recently created a chart for a client that needed to show how its solution makes it possible to see beyond the dots and construct the full picture (in a medical application).The painting "The Seine at La Grande Jatte" by Seurat is an example of the pointillism style. An approach similar to the CYMK technique used in many printers today. (Seurat starred in a previous post on this blog as well).The round cutouts were made by setting the background of the PowerPoint shape to "slide background". The curly font used…
Screen shots made easy with Aviary

30 Jun 2009 | 12:21 am

Mashable pointed to this usefull tool yesterday. Aviary is an "in-the-cloud" image manipulation utility (trying to take on Photoshop and others). To lure more users to their site, they have created a neat screen shot capture tool (bookmark this URL).I use screen shots a lot, and until now relied on CTRL-PRT SCR, followed by a paste into a PowerPoint slide. (For example to extract tag clouds from Wordle) Two drawbacks:A huge, very wide image (I have a large screen resolutions) gets plopped into your slide that you need to crop by switching the PowerPoint zoom to 33%A partial web page image…
Looooong shadows to add depth

29 Jun 2009 | 1:28 am

Long shadows can add great perspective to a slide. Lucky Luke needs them to show off his speed. Photographers like Heinrich Heidersberger have used them nicely in photo compositions (see the "Street Scene" image below)They are very easy to make in PowerPoint. I suggest forgetting about the built-in shadow functions of PowerPoint, they can be tricky control. Instead, draw your shadows using rectangular boxes.Below a chart that can be used as a setting to display the 3 (or so) key messages of a presentation on a final slide (excuse the bullet points):
Filling PowerPoint letters with an image background

28 Jun 2009 | 2:01 am

A neat trick. Select your text, go to "format" and select "text fill". The font I used in the example below is "Showcard Gothic".

Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing
Speech writing tips – How many words?

Gavin

12 Jun 2009 | 3:11 am

When I first started writing speeches, I struggled to know how many words to write for a speech of a given length. The only way I would know was to rehearse the speech and time how long it lasted. Now I have learned that I typically speak at an average of 80-100 words per minute when presenting in public and so I can quickly calculate how many words I need to write i.e. 400-500 words for a five minute speech and so on. Now not everybody speaks at the same pace. Some books quote the normal speaking rate as around 125 words per minute but remember that there is a big difference…
Match the pace to your content – Changing gear in a speech or presentation

Gavin

10 Jun 2009 | 1:04 am

Last night I attended a meeting of a new public speaking club called Hamwic Speakers- Southampton. Hamwic have only been going since March but are doing extremely well. At last nights meeting I was entranced by a wonderful speech by a young man called Rich Watts, who talked about “A trip to grandma’s“. On the face of it, not the most exciting of topics but Rich delivered a most entertaining and excellent speech in which, by describing in vivid detail, what it was like to visit his grandmothers, from the perspective of his five year old self, he evoked powerful memories…
A different way to look at your speech – Wordle.net

Gavin

20 May 2009 | 2:30 am

A good friend of mine and fellow trainer Stella Collins drew my attention to this unusual new application which creates a “word cloud” from any web page or piece of text. The frequency with which the words appear in your text determines how large they appear in the Wordle image. Apart from creating interesting graphics, it occurs to me that this little tool may give us a new way to analyse the key messages in our speeches and presentations. Check it out at wordle.net Here’s one I prepared earlier:
Speechwriting lessons from Barak Obama

Gavin

18 May 2009 | 12:27 pm

I recently read an excellent post by Andrew Dlugan where he draws some powerful lessons in speech writing from President Obamas inauguration address. We can all learn much from the study and deconstruction of effective speeches and this article is one of the clearest I have read for a while. I recommend that you set aside five minutes to read this post. Read andrews post here
Impromptu speaking tips – part 2

Gavin

14 May 2009 | 12:00 am

In my last post I focused on the delivery side of an impromptu speech but what about the content? How do I stop by brain going blank and running out of things to say? Well here are two further technique to help you wow your audience ; Use the PEP model Position – Start by stating your position on the topic – do you agree or disagree? Explain – Now expand on that by explaining why you hold this view. How can you justify it? What evidence support it? What alternatives have you considered and why have you dismissed them? Position – End by restating your position…

More than PowerPoint...
The Creepiest PowerPoint Design Trend of 2009

29 Jun 2009 | 2:59 pm

architecture.revolutionary.relationships.re-contextualize.Those were four words on four slides in a 15 minute PowerPoint presentation I witnessed last month. The remaining 700 slides in the presentation each had one word on them, as well.OK, I'm exaggerating. There couldn't have been 700 slides in that presentation.But it seemed like it.In the presentation I saw, random buzzwords that the speaker used in his narrative kept fading in-an-out of the PowerPoint slides projected behind him. Oh-so-slowly.After a few minutes, I blinked, shook my head, and looked away. I was getting too mesmerized by…
Stop! In the Name of Acronyms!

4 Jun 2009 | 11:45 am

"Stop! Police!"That's what I'd yell if I was a police officer chasing a suspect. And apparently, I'd be wrong. photo credit: stevendepoloA buddy was watching a crime drama a while ago. I came in late. As I settled on the couch, a police officer was chasing a suspect."Stop! NYPD!" shouted the policeman. The bad guy kept running."What's NYPD?" I asked my chum."This story is set in New York. NYPD is New York Police Department. Everyone knows that.""Really?" I asked. "If I was visiting New York, and some nut with a gun was chasing me screaming out alphabet soup. I'd run faster."Of course,…
Presentation Diet Plan - Or Superstition?

20 May 2009 | 10:37 am

I get a little asparagus happy this time of year. Honestly, Michigan asparagus is at its absolute prime between Mother's Day and Father's Day. So for one month, I cannot seem to get enough of this fresh, local, delicious vegetable. I eat it at least once a day.After Father's Day, I'm pretty much over it. Until next year, that is!But between the Michigan asparagus seasons, I eat a much more varied diet. Unless it's the day of a major presentation -- then, I rely on a somewhat ritualized food quirk.The Presentation Diet Plan. You see, I can't just eat ANYTHING on the day of a major…
The 4 Most Important Elephants of Presentation

8 May 2009 | 8:24 am

In grad school, a marketing professor insisted on an oral report. One student in class did not speak English as her first language. When she gave her report, she began talking about "The Most Important Elephants of International Marketing". We all thought, of course, that she mispronounced "elements". After the first time, most audience members, including myself, merely smiled. But after a few minutes, it became clear that she was going to repeat the word "elephants" -- multiple times -- for the remainder of her presentation! So our professor interrupted the speaker. "Excuse me," he said…
Your PowerPoint Is Not Your Presentation

29 Apr 2009 | 11:53 am

"May I have a copy of your PowerPoint presentation?" asks an audience member."What for?" I ask."So that I can look at it later.""Is there something I said that isn't clear? Do we need to go back?" I ask."No, no. Great presentation. I just want a hard copy.""Well, no," I answer. "My PowerPoint slides are my props. They're not my presentation."OK, I don't actually say that last bit.I often want to, but I don't! Instead, I usually say,"I'm glad you liked the presentation. But public speaking is a part of my livelihood, and I give this presentation multiple times, in multiple venues. I don't want…

PowerPoint Tips Newsletter
For a professional image: Good-bye filler words & hello eye contact

30 Jun 2009 | 1:54 pm

Do you strive to look, sound, and perform your best when you present? When you're at an event where several people speak, you'll notice that some people sprinkle their talk with filler words, especially "uh." By contrast, those who speak without filler words sound polished and eloquent... One problem some speakers have is lack of eye contact. They speak to the air over the audience's head. Here's my technique...
July 2009 Resource of the Month - Speaking Pro Central

29 Jun 2009 | 1:09 pm

Speaking Pro Central collects blog posts from many PowerPoint, presentation, and speaking sites, including EllenFinkelstein.com. It's a blog, too. On the right, you see a list of the sources and you can quickly go to a page with the latest posts on each one.
In these tough economic times, how can your presentations stand above the rest?

24 Jun 2009 | 3:13 pm

In these tough economic times, we all need to be doing more to be valuable to our organization and to our customers. How can you stand above the rest? You have a toolbox of skills that you use. Perhaps you need to sharpen your tools. The National Association of Colleges and Employers did a survey of employers a few years ago, asking them what qualities employers want from college graduates. And guess what? Communication skills came in at #1, tying with honesty/integrity. Interestingly, employers also found that communication skills were the skills most lacking. You can read the article at…
Put a YouTube video in PowerPoint

20 Jun 2009 | 1:09 pm

You can embed a YouTube video into a PowerPoint presentation. For example, your company may have videos on YouTube that you would like to show. If you're sure that you'll have a live Internet connection when you present, you can use this method.
Error in tip Convert PowerPoint to video fixed

14 Jun 2009 | 6:57 pm

There was a coding error (my fault) in the tip, "Convert PowerPoint to video (SWF - Flash movie format)." Thanks to those of you who brought it to my attention. It's now been fixed and the entire tip is now visible!

Humor Power
Cartoon Caption Contest — Cell Phone

John Kinde

2 Jul 2009 | 9:39 am

Here is the July Cartoon Caption Contest. It features the art of professional cartoonist Dan Rosandich. New Cartoon Caption Contests are announced at the start of each month. New Joke Contests are announced mid-month. Trying something new this month, we will not provide sample captions. The cartoon features everyday objects and a common relationship. Let’s see where it takes you. Here is this month’s cartoon. Your challenge: Write captions for the cartoon. Initially go for quantity. Then edit, refine, and tighten the lines you’ve created. Next, select your best…
Cartoon Caption Contest Results

John Kinde

26 Jun 2009 | 8:55 pm

Our panel of ten judges (speakers and improv comedy players) have cast their ballots for the June Cartoon Caption Contest — Layoff Notice. Our contests feature the artwork of professional cartoonist Dan Rosandich. Our next Cartoon Caption Contest is announced July 1. New Joke Contests are announced mid-month. Here are this month’s top lines. ** FIRST PLACE ** I guess I’ll have to do all my web surfing at home now. Sandy Kampner, Evergreen Park, Illinois, USA ** SECOND PLACE ** After 20 years I finally got noticed. Tom Nee, Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA **…
Observational Humor — Case Study #37

John Kinde

21 Jun 2009 | 9:53 am

Here is a brief bit Observational Humor I used as an opening remark at the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Speakers Association. Patricia Fripp was the featured speaker presenting a full-day program. Her program included individual coaching of audience members presenting speech openings. I typically open my speeches with Observational Humor, so my “speech opening” was a short segment of humor. The Set Up (what happened and what was said before I delivered the observational remarks). 1. RJ DiDonato is our Chapter President Elect. 2. Fripp mentioned that she was 5′…
Joke Contest — Retirement Gifts

John Kinde

14 Jun 2009 | 8:22 pm

This month’s Joke Contest was suggested by Sol Morrison, Santa Barbara, California. The theme is Retirement Gifts. New Joke Contests are announced mid-month. And new Cartoon Caption Contests are announced on the first of the month. Your writing challenge is to come up with ideal retirement gifts for famous people. Here are some examples: Bernie Madoff: A cell phone…so he can make calls from his cell. Mary Kay: A pink walker. Bill Gates: An Apple computer. Exercise your creativity and let us know what the ideal retirement gift would be for celebrities, politicians,…
The Chemistry of Humor

John Kinde

9 Jun 2009 | 7:49 pm

What are the factors that make for good audience response when delivering humor? 1. A good joke. Obviously a good piece of humor with the right structure, setup and punchline is important…but not the only factor. In fact, good humor is often not the most important factor. And let’s add good delivery. Also important, but not the most important factor. 2. The customization of the material. When the humor is tailored for the group the laughs are likely to be big. This includes inside jokes. This includes observational humor. This includes involving the audience…

The PowerPoint® Blog
Anoto - A Pen For Presentations

Troy Chollar

1 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am

At last years PPTLive conference I spent some time talking with the Anoto people about their new product and how it could be used for presenters. Well the product has launched and I look forward to talking more with them about presentation solutions. Anoto makes an ink pen that captures the writing and wirelessly (bluetooth) can make it show up onscreen. For presentations, think of this as the 'ink' features on steriods. The idea is to print out your slides, then for each slide draw any notations on your printout and they show up onscreen - all without having to have a computer in front of…
Mountain Biking in a Live Fire Area

Troy Chollar

29 Jun 2009 | 4:00 am

Had a great ride the other day and I faithfully followed by Garmin Edge 305 GPS (allows you to download trail maps so you don't get completely lost) and about 8 miles into my ride I come across this sign: I think it means I was on a really really great trail! - Troy @ TLCOriginal post blogged on b2evolution.
Keyboard Shortcut to Clear WordArt Styles

Troy Chollar

27 Jun 2009 | 4:00 am

A faster way to accomplish the same thing shown in the previous post is to select text. Then CTRL + SPACE BAR. Wordart styles have all been reset! - Troy @ TLCOriginal post blogged on b2evolution.
Clear Text Styles

Troy Chollar

25 Jun 2009 | 12:56 am

So you are working in PPT 2007 and enjoying the great design tools like the ability to stylize any text (because all text is WordArt now). I start with this: Then we stylize it to look like this: But later we decide we want it back to standard text - like this: How do you do that.... Select the text >> go to the Draw-Format tab >> click the drop down to show the full menu of the preset styles >> at the very bottom is the 'clear wordart' option (remember, ALL text is now wordart) Done! -Troy @ TLCOriginal post blogged on b2evolution.
Lunch with Ric B.

Troy Chollar

23 Jun 2009 | 12:06 am

Last week between events I was able to stop by the Microsoft Mountain View campus for a few hours and have lunch with Ric Bretschneider. It was one of the first summer sunny days in the area and we enjoyed a great alfresco meal at Michael's on Shoreline. - Troy @ TLCOriginal post blogged on b2evolution.

Nick R Thomas - A Public Speaker's Blog
Banking on a successful speech!

Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking)

9 Jun 2009 | 1:26 pm

Lloyds TSB Retired Staff Association, AndoverI spoke about My Life as a Freelance Comedy writer for the Lloyds TSB Retired Staff Association at the Masonic Hall in Andover on 29 April. There were about 70 present and, despite a slightly dodgy microphone, the talk went very well.One of my other talks, the Power of Humour in Everyday Life, includes an anecdote about a certain experience with this particular bank so I included it in this presentation and it was appreciated by the audience - perfect tailoring.. Material can sometimes be switched between different talks if it's appropriate (there…
Audiences - a public speaker's great resource

Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking)

30 May 2009 | 8:29 am

Bournemouth 2 ProbusMaking yourself available to speak at short notice can sometimes make a quiet month for bookings at least a little busier. Last month it boosted my engagements by 50%! Just before the meeting began at Barton on Sea Probus, I got a call from a fellow speaker who had to cancel a booking the next day due to a family crisis. If I cover for another speaker, I always ask them to contact the organisation themselves to let them know that a replacement speaker will be coming along with a different topic. I knew this one would be a bit of a challenge; although Bournemouth 2 Probus…
It's not all in the details...

Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking)

29 May 2009 | 3:03 am

Detailed reports of presentationsA write-up about my last talk to Barton on Sea Probus appeared a couple of weeks later in the New Milton Advertiser/Lymington Times and reproduced part of its content in some detail. This has happened before on odd occasions with reports from other clubs. I'm sure some speakers might see a problem with this, perhaps thinking that giving away so much material will suppress the number of bookings. Why bother to hear this speaker when thousands of people have already seen a summary of their talk in the local paper?I disagree. I have never noticed any downturn in…
Commercial success

Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking)

25 May 2009 | 3:59 pm

Barton on Sea ProbusOn 22 April, I had my fourth booking for Barton on Sea Probus in Hampshire. The previous three were mixed events held at Shorefield but this was a men-only meeting at Hoburne Naish.My subject this time was The One, the Only...Groucho!, a talk I had not delivered for several months, and I had been itching to include a new reference.There is a commercial on television in the UK which few viewers can have missed seeing! It warns about identity theft and features a man trying on a jacket in an outfitter's. When he looks in the mirror, he sees not his own reflection but that of…
A speaker cannot live by content alone!

Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking)

24 May 2009 | 6:17 am

RIP Sir Clement Freud, laid-back speakerOver on my other blog, Freelance Comedy Writer, I have posted an entry about the recent death of the broadcaster and wit Sir Clement Freud, grandson of psychoanalyst, Sigmund. It includes an anecdote about his brilliant opening remarks during a challenging after dinner speech.In his autobiography Freud Ego, he recalled another difficult speaking engagement, this time during his (successful) campaign to become elected as a Liberal MP in 1973. He was addressing an audience of railway workers who were staunch Labour supporters but he still managed to…

Pivotal Public Speaking
Uns and Ahs

30 Jun 2009 | 3:07 pm

I have a friend who is a world class rifle shooter. He even represents the USA in international competition. I would trust him to shoot a quarter out of my hand at a hundred yards. If my life depended on a rifle shot I would want him to take that shot. That being said, he will occasionally miss. Not by much but his standards are very high; he aims for perfection. If you want to perfect your public speaking skills then you have to treat ums and ahs the same way that my friend treats his occasional miss. >>>
Presentation Mistakes: The View From the Audience

26 Jun 2009 | 4:41 pm

I routinely do presentations and thought many of the things I do and know about presenting to an audience were simply common sense. However, sitting in workshops over a three-day conference gave me the perspective of a participant. It appears that many of the common sense things that I do and know are not so common sense. How many ways can someone screw up a presentation? From the back row, let me count the ways!
How to Add Power or Humor with the Rule of Three

23 Jun 2009 | 4:33 pm
Lost in Translation - Tips For Ensuring Your Audience Understands Your Message

20 Jun 2009 | 11:49 pm

[ By Stephanie Leibowitz] When we travel to another country and do not know the local language or have only rudimentary foreign language skills, we expect that some of what we say may not be understood by the other party (the native speaker). We are prepared for potential misunderstandings and may even see these exchanges as a source of humorous anecdotes with which to amuse our friends, families, and colleagues upon our return to familiar ground (literally and figuratively). However, it’s no laughing matter if your prospects/clients, colleagues and employees, strategic partners, or…
How to beome a great speaker (with no stress)

16 Jun 2009 | 3:04 pm

We have all heard that famous statistic, the one that claims the number one fear people have is public speaking, number two is death. Seinfeld had a joke about this stat, he said apparently if people are at a funeral they would rather be in the coffin than be giving the eulogy. If that statistic is accepted as fact, Seinfeld’s joke, while ridiculous sounding, would be technically correct. What is wrong with this scenario? Would people really rather be dead than speak in public? Why? Well I am here to tell you that speaking in public is nothing to be afraid of; I do it all the time. Like…

DeFinis Communications
First Black Woman CEO: Ursula Burns

Angela DeFinis

1 Jul 2009 | 6:25 pm

Today, July 1st, is an auspicious day for corporate America. Assuming the role of CEO of Xerox Corporation, Ursula Burns will become the first African American woman to lead a major Fortune 500 company. She is also the first woman in modern history to take the reins from another female, departing CEO Ann Mulcahy. Last year, Burns ranked 10th on Fortune magazine’s top 50 Most Powerful Women in America. She’s the second-highest placed African-American woman behind only Oprah Winfrey, who was ranked number eight. Read more:…
Michael Jackson: The Consummate Performer

Angela DeFinis

27 Jun 2009 | 9:36 am

For the last twenty four hours, I have been, like most Americans, immersed in the story of Michael Jackson. It has been an emotional time for me and my family, filled with conversations that have sparked many memories of the career highs and lows of this petite giant of an entertainer. But for some of this time I have held onto my professional hat and have looked for the lessons that Michael Jackson has left for those of us who speak and perform in front of groups. These lessons are not hard to find, as there are certain immutable laws of public speaking and stage performance that overlap.
TALK FUNNY!

Angela DeFinis

23 Jun 2009 | 1:45 pm

Tips for using humor in your next presentation Effectively using humor to engage and entertain an audience is a valuable tool for presenters. Humor allows you to present ideas in a non-threatening manner. It also enables you to reinforce key ideas. Most of all it gives the audience a chance to relax and enjoy the moment and for you to connect with them. Humor helps you and your audience come alive! But as author E. B. White says, “Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies.” So, at the risk of overanalyzing what makes something funny, let’s…
Great Lessons from a Green Conference

Angela DeFinis

11 Jun 2009 | 8:42 am

One of my colleagues attended the Sustainable Brands 2009 conference last week in Monterey, California. He kept in touch with me during the week with periodic updates, text and tweets. For anyone interested in seeing numerous conference speakers focused on cutting edge green industry topics, this was the place to be. I hope you will enjoy his guest report on some of the conference activities and speakers. With over 75 different speakers ranging on topics from recycling to climate change to consumer consumption, the Sustainable Brands Conference of 2009, hosted by Sustainable Life Media, was…
Music, the Mind and Public Speaking

Angela DeFinis

9 Jun 2009 | 1:57 pm

Back in April, I came across the heartbreaking front page New York Times story of Newark, Ohio high school student Tiffany Clay. Tiffany is the recently graduated and highly gifted first violinist for the Newark High School Sinfonia. She worked hard in school, consistently received top grades and since the age of 16, after a falling out with her parents has also been supporting herself by working 35 hours a week as a roller skating Sonic Drive-In carhop. In the face of extreme hardship and troubled finances, Tiffany perseveres. She wants to study nursing, a field she says, that is more…

Business Presentations
To Touch Or Not To Touch

Business Presentations

30 Jun 2009 | 8:42 am

What do we communicate through touch? Haptics is the study of contact cues. How frequently we touch, the intensity of the touch, the type of touch and who we touch, sends a distinct message.With communication being 93% non-verbal, touching can speak volumes in the way we present ourselves.In business presentations, the first haptic message is the handshake. Is the handshake a tight grip or a weak contact? Do you shake quickly and withdraw, is it a full handshake, or do you hold on longer than you should? The first example communicates nervousness or resistance, the second example is…
To Win Business It Takes a Team

Business Presentations

23 Jun 2009 | 6:36 am

The World is changing at warp speed. According to Richard Saul Wurman of Information Anxiety, ‘”The information supply available to us doubles every five years.” What does that mean? It means the account executive can no longer act as a lone ranger.In order to sell, promote, or position your company, an idea, or product, it takes a team. The relationship manager can’t sell client investment strategies without the portfolio manager. The advertising account executive needs the media planner and the creative team. And when customers start asking questions about networks and routers, the…
The Persuasive Power of Words.

Business Presentations

16 Jun 2009 | 6:44 am

You may have heard the communication study that cites words as only 7% of the message.Well, that doesn't mean your words aren't powerful. A good speaker uses words to create pictures, evoke feelings, and persuade an audience.Think about it.You don't persuade your listeners by pantomiming a message unless you're playing charades. An audience is influenced by your words. In direct mail marketing there are certain words that will increase the response rate. Words such as free, gain, results, money, guarantee are well known "selling words."But now there is a single word that has been identified…
7.5 Million Americans Have Trouble Using Their Voices.

Business Presentations

8 Jun 2009 | 2:42 pm

Diane DiResta, a licensed Speech Pathologist and author of Knockout Presentations, spoke at The Voice Foundation, the 38th annual scientific symposium on the voice. The conference attracts International otolaryngologists, speech scientists, vocal coaches, and speech pathologists who want to learn about the physiology and care of the professional voice. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health, approximately 7.5 million Americans have trouble using their voices. Despite widespread voice problems, too little is known…
Want Funding? Practice Your Elevator Speech

Business Presentations

29 May 2009 | 5:40 pm

I've seen it time and time again. You're at a networking meeting. People introduce themselves. You turn to your partner and say, "I still don't understand what he does."If you can't describe what you do and the value you provide, you'll forfeit funding, business partners, and new clients.In a study by the University of Maryland's business school, they concluded that the business plan will not do much for attracting interest from venture capitalists. The reason is that they won't read all that documentation.One venture capitalist said he'd rather hear the evidence in PowerPoint slides or in…

Jef Menguin Workshops & Seminars
This is the start of the new beginning…

Jef Menguin

27 Jun 2009 | 1:27 am

You must have observed that I am no longer regularly writing since January 2009. It is because I have been busy collecting materials for the books which I intend to write, and write the draft of my speeches, conducting seminars, and writing articles for my new website – jefmenguin.com – which you can now visit because it is already content rich just like this blog. You may read articles arranged in various categories like leadership, management, personal development, comunication, etc. The resources category by itself is already filled with ebooks (very great ones from…
Palo Sebo of Success

Jef Menguin

10 Jun 2009 | 7:33 am

I am the greatest.” When Muhammad Ali was in his prime, he thought that he was the greatest. Until old age made him kissed the canvass. Many people associate greatness with success. The more successful the person seems to be, the greater he becomes. The world view a person to be great when he is able to acquire something which most people are just dreaming about. Thus, we declare somebody to be the greatest athlete of all time, the greatest opera singer, the greatest action star, the greatest writer, the greatest leader, etc. But time passes, and after a century, records will be broken,…
How To Find Local Public Speaking Training That Best Meets Your Desired Goals & Outcomes

Jef Menguin

17 Apr 2009 | 9:07 am

Finding local training is not usually a problem – but finding a training that will efficiently and cost-effectively meet your needs is a completely different matter. That’s why I’ve put together some tips for you to help streamline your search for a local public speaking training that will actually meet your needs. Tip #1: Before you even start your search for local public speaking training, are you 100% clear about what your most desired goals, outcomes and results are? Imagine that you’ve already taken the public speaking training – what can you do now that you couldn’t…
Speech Evaluations: Taking the Pain From the Process

Jef Menguin

13 Apr 2009 | 7:30 am

Dr Ralph Smedley, in his book “Personally Speaking”, reduced the complexities of speech evaluation to four simple questions: 1.Did the speaker have a purpose, and did the speaker make good on it? 2.What did I like best about the speech? 3.What definite thing should the speaker do to improve the speech? 4.Did the speaker “make a sale” to me? Although Toastmasters International has developed a great deal of materials to aid us in the art of ‘growth’ evaluations, nothing yet published captures the role of the Evaluator more clearly than those four questions. Let’s take a closer…

Breaking Murphy's Law
The Weekly Might Have Missed List (06/28/09)

Lee Potts

28 Jun 2009 | 8:01 pm

Theater Loop — ‘Mary Poppins’ breaks down in Chicago; Nanny stuck in no-fly zone A computer central to the new touring production of Disney’s “Mary Poppins” malfunctioned about 15 minutes into Saturday night’s Chicago performance at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, causing the entire show to be shut down and the frustrated audience sent home. [A couple of the article's comments seem to focus on the fact that there should have been a backup system in place. Brings to mind BML Principle #1: If you can’t do without it, make sure you won’t have to.] Speak…
The Weekly Might Have Missed List (06/21/09)

Lee Potts

21 Jun 2009 | 8:19 pm

FAILBlog: Theater Fail Theme Park Rangers: Celebrate a Dream Come True nearly washed away I have never seen a parade disintegrate before my eyes, but that’s what happened in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Thursday when I watched the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade nearly wash away. … The princess float got stuck halfway down Main Street. I don’t know if that was because the street was so flooded or just an unfortunate coincidence, but by the time I squished down there, it was stopped dejectedly, Goofy and Donald’s finale float trapped behind it — and…
Friday Freebie: “My bosses were frozen in shock”

Lee Potts

19 Jun 2009 | 8:41 pm

A recent comment on a Reddit posting: At my company, we had some guy from another come in to go over some things with the bosses and a few key people. After his presentation, they turned off the projector, and he whipped out a dry-erase marker and started writing notes on the white board for everyone while my bosses were frozen in shock. When one of them could finally speak again, he let the man know he was drawing on our rather expensive projection screen. The same thread also had a solution to the problem: You can erase “permanent” marker ink by first coloring over it with ink…
Rick Pillars: Crash Into Me

Lee Potts

19 Jun 2009 | 5:35 am

Veteran AV pro Rick Pillars, (It’s a Rap Productions) sent in a great story: ©iStockphoto.com/DivaNir4a Once upon a time I supplied audio visual labor to clients both locally and from all over the nation. We had some interesting times. This one time we were setting up a pretty large show. The union labor that was supposed to set up the set never showed. So, I was asked to get some labor quickly. I did the best I could and we were successful. What makes this story take a twist though is what happened during the set-up. During the actual production, the CEO of the company was going to…
The Weekly Might Have Missed List (06/14/09)

Lee Potts

14 Jun 2009 | 5:30 pm

Strelitzia — Wardrobe Malfunction ©iStockphoto.com/sampsyseeds In back? There were buttons in the back? I craned my neck to see and then turned to look back into the hall mirror. Oh my. Apparently there were buttons in the back, from the waist to the hem. The dry cleaner had unbuttoned every single one of them to facilitate ironing. And failed to button them back. Fortify Your Oasis — Presenting: they shouldn’t notice your technology On the other hand, Mr Obama’s detractors have a point – not because he relies heavily on the Prompter, but because he doesn’t…

TEDTalks (video)
TEDTalks : Daniel Libeskind's 17 words of architectural inspiration - Daniel Libeskind (2009)

Daniel Libeskind

30 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pm

Daniel Libeskind builds on very big ideas. Here, he shares 17 words that underlie his vision for architecture -- raw, risky, emotional, radical -- and that offer inspiration for any bold creative pursuit.
TEDTalks : Gever Tulley teaches life lessons through tinkering - Gever Tulley (2009)

Gever Tulley

29 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pm

Gever Tulley uses engaging photos and footage to demonstrate the valuable lessons kids learn at his Tinkering School. When given tools, materials and guidance, these young imaginations run wild and creative problem-solving takes over to build unique boats, bridges and even a rollercoaster!
TEDTalks : Arthur Benjamin's formula for changing math education - Arthur Benjamin (2009)

Arthur Benjamin

29 Jun 2009 | 6:50 am

Someone always asks the math teacher, "Am I going to use calculus in real life?" And for most of us, says Arthur Benjamin, the answer is no. He offers a bold proposal on how to make math education relevant in the digital age.
TEDTalks : Ray Zahab treks to the South Pole - Ray Zahab (2009)

Ray Zahab

25 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pm

Extreme runner Ray Zahab shares an enthusiastic account of his record-breaking trek on foot to the South Pole -- a 33-day sprint through the snow.
TEDTalks : Katherine Fulton: You are the future of philanthropy - Katherine Fulton (2007)

Katherine Fulton

24 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pm

In this uplifting talk, Katherine Fulton sketches the new future of philanthropy -- one where collaboration and innovation allow regular people to do big things, even when money is scarce. Giving five practical examples of crowd-driven philanthropy, she calls for a new generation of citizen leaders.

speakfearlessly.net
Speaking to be Understood is a Muscle Motor Act: It Takes Lots of Practice AND Feedback

Nicole

30 Jun 2009 | 10:11 pm

Editor's Note: This is a guest post by Phyllis E. Thesier of The Articulate Advantage Focused individuals and groups like the Beatles, Tiger Woods and Tony Robbins have made the efforts to make the correct muscle movements to become very good at using their fingers to play an instrument or playing a sport and even speaking effectively. Yet, some folks do the same thing repeatedly without changing. What is the difference? Having someone scoring you via a scorecard or placement in sports; having an audience that gives feedback or an audio-recording that indicates when unwanted…
L.A. Presentation Conference Puts the Audience in Charge

terrygault

14 Jun 2009 | 11:57 pm

Unfortunately I won't be able to attend the PresentationCampLA, but heard about it from Lisa Braithwaite and wanted to alert our readers to this opportunity. Check it out! Looking to keep your skills sharp for job hunting or career advancement? PresentationCampLA is a grassroots, do-it-yourself event that aims to help individuals better present themselves and their ideas. On Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., participants will gather at BlankSpaces in Los Angeles for a unique collaborative experience: creating a public speaking conference from scratch. The group will decide…
Art of Presentation, June 25 - 26, 2009 in San Francisco

Nicole

10 Jun 2009 | 4:05 pm

Once a quarter The Henderson Group holds a "By Invitation Only" Art of Presentation workshop in San Francisco, led by our VP of Services, Terry Gault. Our work has to be experienced to truly understand its value. We use these workshops as a way to introduce our work experientially to new prospective clients. About the workshop: Building rapport with an audience and moving them to action requires the ability to confidently present information that convinces and engages even the most skeptical customer. This intensive work educates and motivates participants to deliver high-impact…
The Creation Myth

terrygault

9 Jun 2009 | 4:14 pm

There is a special kind of story that organizations need to be able to tell. In a way, it is the collective “Who We Are” story meaning that it spells out Who We Are and What We Stand For as an organization. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines 'myth' in this way: A usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon. They list “parable” as a synonym. So, a Creation Myth is also usually a teaching story that explains a practice or belief system. It…
Google Wave is coming…

Nicole

30 May 2009 | 12:26 pm

Google Wave is a real-time communication platform. It combines aspects of email, instant messaging, wikis, web chat, social networking, and project management to build one elegant, in-browser communication client. You can bring a group of friends or business partners together to discuss how your day has been or share files. Google Wave: A Complete Guide Google Wave has a lot of innovative features, but here are just a few: - Real-time: In most instances, you can see what someone else is typing, character-by-character. - Embeddability: Waves can be embedded on any blog or website. -…

YourNextSpeaker's Authenticity Rules
Advice From my Network

2 Jul 2009 | 9:10 am

What are the two most important qualities of speakers?This is the question I posed via Twitter and Facebook to my network. Here are the responses:1. Being authentic once the speaker gets off the stage. A major client told me recently she is very careful with some speakers once they are off the stage around her students. Not inappropriate touching stuff - just that they are jerks to kids following their speeches Another client asked me recently "will you eat lunch with the students after the assembly". I said "love to" and he hired me on the spot. Said last years speaker said " I talk to kids,…
Where Do I Put Your Information?

17 Jun 2009 | 7:37 am

Your audience walks into the room with a load of information in their brains. Memories in the form of pictures, smells, words, people, data, facts, feelings, places and emotions. As you plan your next presentation, consider where you want them to put your information and how easy/difficult you make it for them to know:1. What category does your content fits into? Is this entertainment, education, personal use, school use, professional use, etc?2. Is it pre-packaged elegantly enough for me to know where the chunks of information begin and end? How well organized do you have your presentation…
Using Stories You Aren't In...

1 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am

Be authentic as a speaker does not mean you always have to tell stories from your life or from the lives of people you know. You can branch out and use stories outside of your inner sphere to support your points. A few reasons why:1. Unless you are a narcotics cop in Detroit, a professional hitch hiker or Roger Rabbit, your life probably isn't full of the most interesting stories out there. Of course, most of the interestingness of a story is in the telling, not in the tale itself, but the lion's share of the stories out there at your disposal don't reside in your particular life line.2. A…
Desktop Background Set - Image 03

28 May 2009 | 3:41 am

Image 03 LinkPlease visit www.YourNextSpeaker.com to learn more about our leadership keynotes and workshops and our Presentation Coaching services.
Desktop Background Set - Image 02

25 May 2009 | 10:00 am

Image 02 LinkPlease visit www.YourNextSpeaker.com to learn more about our leadership keynotes and workshops and our Presentation Coaching services.

Public Speaking Library
The danger zone

About Tim Wilson

2 Jul 2009 | 2:22 pm

Fellow speakers,There is always the danger that your speech may not go well. Some common reasons for this are:Poorly designed presentationThe presenter becomes bored with their own speechLosing energy after the half-way point in the speechNervousnessDangerously,Tim
Break it down

About Tim Wilson

1 Jul 2009 | 7:08 pm

Fellow speakers,In order to help you get your speeches as focused and targeted as possible, try this. Talk about a specific, important business topic for exactly 3 minutes. Then speak about the same topic, including all the relevant information, only talk for 2 minutes. Then for 1 minute. Then 30 seconds. 20 seconds. 10 seconds. 8 seconds. Each time you give the speech make sure only the most important information is included so your speech is very focused on its point.Focusing,Tim
The wall

About Tim Wilson

30 Jun 2009 | 1:53 pm

Fellow speakers,People can focus very intently for up to 18 minutes...and then they hit "the wall" and they lose their focus. So when you give your presentation, make sure to have some ways to "break up" the information so people get some "relief" time after which they can come back and refocus. Here are some ways to "break things up":Give the basics in about 15 minutes and then have a Questions and Answers session to cover the detailsSpeak for 18 minutes and then use another speaker and alternate between speakersSpeak for 18 minutes and then show a video clip that relates to your topicTell a…
Just the facts

About Tim Wilson

29 Jun 2009 | 11:39 am

Fellow speakers,Putting in "the facts" into your speech helps make your speech point more convincing. But be careful that you do not "overfact" your audience. When quoting facts: Pick the most important factsRound figures to the nearest number - for example, instead of saying, "Production was up 6.395% this year" say, "Production was up a little over 6%"Make the facts interesting - for example, instead of saying, "We are second of the top four firms" say "We are the "Avis" in our business...since we are number two we try harder."Factually,Tim
Deflate what you say

About Tim Wilson

28 Jun 2009 | 7:47 am

Fellow speakers,It is common today to speak with over-inflated phrases and words such as "the greatest", "time will never come again,", "our time has come at last," etc., but these words over-promise and undersay. Instead, speak in a way which accurately identifies the situation. For example, "This is a great time because the present economic difficulties force us to focus on what we truly value in our life."Deflated,Tim

Overnight Sensation - Public Speaking, Communication and Personal Development
Lessons from Michael Jackson

James

1 Jul 2009 | 8:04 pm

The King of Pop. Pedophile. Talented. Wacko Jacko. Everyone has an opinion of Michael Jackson – some loved him, some hated him. Although I wasn’t a fan of his music and found some of the things he did a bit odd and creepy, I certainly can appreciate his talent as a performer and admire the way he touched his fans. I remember when he went to court in 1993, people who he had never personally met waited outside willing to stick by him regardless of the outcome. Whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit that it’s pretty impressive how his fans truly loved him. My first…
Why John and Kate Split

James

23 Jun 2009 | 8:49 pm

I remember John and Kate Gosselin from their first documentary on the Discovery Channel. This was before they agreed to be the focus of a reality show – a decision that resulted in the recent unfortunate news that’s dominating the entertainment headlines. They seemed like a nice couple doing an amazing job despite a challenging lifestyle. Before “John & Kate Plus Eight” Kate worked a couple shifts a week as nurse. John, in my opinion, did a great job handling the kids on his own given that he also held down a full time job. They were crammed in a small house, their financial…
Quick Tip: How to Stop Mumbling

James

22 Jun 2009 | 3:27 am

You have a lot to say and are enthusiastic about what you have to say, yet you’re lacking one key ingredient – no one can understand you because you mumble. You may mumble and not even be aware of it – although a good indicator is when people are always asking you to repeat yourself because they didn’t hear or understand what you said. Mumbling is caused by a number of things such as trying to talk too fast, not opening your mouth all the way when you speaking, blocking your mouth, not speaking loud enough, or having a dry or sore mouth. Unless there is something physically wrong with…
Acting and Public Speaking

James

21 Jun 2009 | 7:27 pm

In 2002, I took an acting class. I had always wanted to be on TV or in a movie and I figured that this would be a good place to start. What I didn’t realize at the time is how acting and public speaking can work together – the skills that you learn in one can help you in the other. To be a good actor, you need to memorize your lines and make the audience believe that you are the person you’re pretending to be. To be a good speaker, you need to speak clearly and effectively to get your point across. Can you see how one can help with the other? Keep in mind, though, that public speaking…
Job Interview Success: Job Interview Tips Roundup

James

18 Jun 2009 | 9:11 pm

I’ve recently attended a few events where I’ve met a number of folks who are “in transition”. Several of them have been looking for work for while and some of them have recently begun their search. It’s a tough market out there so in order to be successful, you need every tool and every advantage you can get. I’ve posted a number of tips on these topics but I felt this would be a good time to organize them in a way to help job seekers through out the process. Make sure your experience and qualifications are strong: Again, you want to be as strong a…

Compassionate Project Management
Car Show - June 28, 2009

Wayne Botha

28 Jun 2009 | 12:46 pm

We visited a car show in East Windsor today. This is an annual charity event. I am standing next to a Graham. I think this is the first time I have seen a Graham in real-life, and it has a striking profile and distinctive design. The yellow hot rod started life as a Ford Anglia. The new engine and other improvements makes it a completely different vehicle to the one that left Henry's factory. One of the enormous benefits of summer time in Connecticut is the car shows. There is a car show almost every weekend within driving distance, much to my delight.
Unseen benefactors

Wayne Botha

28 Jun 2009 | 5:00 am

If you had been with me on this past Friday in the late afternoon, you would have been overcome with extreme gratitude. I was meeting with two other project managers to find a resolution to a problem on an enterprise-wide project for a multi-national corporation.Here is the short version of the story. A defect was found in the final round of testing an enhancement for the enterprise-wide application. The business partner is willing to accept the workaround and live with the inefficient work-around until the defect can be fixed in the next version of the application, scheduled for release in…
Winning

Wayne Botha

24 Jun 2009 | 12:54 pm

Last Saturday, I crewed the good ship Asterix, out of Noank. We took part in the West Cove Yacht Club Annual Regatta. As you can see from the smile on our faces, and the beaming captain with the first prize trophy, we won in our class. Yahooo!!
You know that your project is in trouble when ....

Wayne Botha

16 Jun 2009 | 10:25 am

1. Your status spreadsheet is so complex that it is stretched across two wide screen monitors, and you still cannot see all the status columns.2. Your project manager tells you that there is no time for planning.3. You say that there is no time for planning. (You should wash your mouth out if you ever say this).4. Your project manager thinks that sending cryptic directives to each team member through instant messaging is a substitute for a communication plan.5. You are asked to fill out a status spreadsheet, and you first have to study the instructions before you can determine how to fill out…
Prop me up

Wayne Botha

14 Jun 2009 | 5:08 am

Have you noticed how speakers in a Toastmasters club use props? How often do you see Toastmasters win contests when they use props?Over the past five years, after critiqueing many speeches, I have observed that props distract from speeches.Most winning speeches exclude the use of props. In contrast, I have predict that if a prop is included in a Toastmaster speech, then the speaker will lose the speaking contest.This is because props limit our imagination. As speakers, we have the opportunity to conjure up images in the minds of our audience. We can describe a fire truck, and a cat up a tree…

Pro Humorist
Bombproofing a Funny Work Presentation

Jason Peck

1 Jul 2009 | 2:32 pm

If you have to give a funny work presentation one of the areas that people often wonder about is “is it possible to be bombproof?” To clarify, you bomb when a punchline you expect to gain a laugh actually fails. Material that is bombproof would resistant to such laughter failure. So is it possible? Yes… and no. Here’s what I mean you will have punchlines that don’t work. That’s just one of the inevitable facts of life. The more you perform humour, the more you will build up a reserve of funny material that works. Your odds on success will increase. However, there are fail-safes…
Finding Your Funny Workshop

Jason Peck

29 Jun 2009 | 9:11 am

I’ve been asked to be a guest speaker at the workshop “Express Yourself - Shamelessly! (Finding Your Funny)”, by fellow Toastmaster Ola Aralepo. It’s part of the “meetup” website that’s all about getting people together that share a common interest. In this case how to make funny presentations. From the workshop’s page: “The talk is aimed at those who routinely give speeches, either professionally or personally- as well as those with a burning desire to do so but lack the confidence to take the plunge. In a mutually respectful,…
How to Make Research Presentation Interesting or Funny

Jason Peck

25 Jun 2009 | 1:14 pm

Some people ask; “How do you make a research Presentation interesting or funny?” Inevitably you will, at some point, want to give a funny work presentation or maybe you have to give a funny medical presentation, or what have you. If I was in your shoes, I wouldn’t start off with Powerpoint or Impress. I would start off with a pen and paper. Remember those? You need to establish exactly what your message is. What do you hope to convey to your audience and when I say that remember it’s not just about what you think’s best. You have to establish what’s in it for them. What…
Speaker Wanted: £2 Million Pension

Jason Peck

22 Jun 2009 | 3:20 am

So for those of you not aware, or based outside of the U.K. MPs are voting for a new Speaker of the British House of Commons today. The previous Speaker, Michael Martin, resigned from the post and stepped down on June 21st 2009. He stepped down owing to the MPs expences scandal that has plagued U.K. politics this year. He is the first speaker to be forced out of the post since Sir John Trevor in 1695. The role essentially presides over the House of Commons and the debates that take place. The Speaker is also responsible for maintaining order during any debate and may punish members who…
My Newsletter and a Small Apology

Jason Peck

22 Jun 2009 | 12:51 am

I recently installed a plugin which allows you to login to my blog so that you can read some of my posts and become a subscriber to my newsletter. But for some reason this has worked for some of you, but not for others. If you have received a welcome email from me there’s nothing more that you need to do. If you haven’t, and you would like to subscribe to my newsletter I have now gone the more “old fashioned”d route and provide you with the ability to sign up, in the place where you used to just login. As a result I have stripped out the other method so that you…

Speak to Lead
Create a Marketing Habit in 21 Days: A Guide for Professionals

Lou Hampton

16 Jun 2009 | 11:39 am

This is for those of you who lead small or solo practitioner professional services firms, and suffer the frustration of not having time to market when you're busy.The solution lies in Paula Black's new book, The Little Black Book -...
Media training/Reputation Protection: Reporter's Words You Don't Want to Read

Lou Hampton

8 Jun 2009 | 11:24 am

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference 2009 (WWDC 2009) opened today in San Francisco. It's described by Apple as "the premier technical event for developers and IT professionals innovating with Apple platforms." One thousand Apple engineers; 5,000 developers. A new iPhone expected...
Media Messages: Sound Bites Gone Wild - Over 30 Sound Bites in 1 Statement

Lou Hampton

25 May 2009 | 9:15 pm

One form of sound bite is the use of vivid words - words that evoke the five senses and emotions or are different (often made up). This is one of the most frequently used sound bite forms and generally involves...
Persuasive Sound Bites: Word Pictures that Change Behavior

Lou Hampton

22 May 2009 | 9:27 pm

Steve Farnsworth (twitter user TheRealPRMan) has written a super blog entry titled Let's Shoot the CEO: Is Pay for Placement PR a Brilliant Idea or Acutely Ignorant. Steve makes a powerful case against pay for placement. But that's not the...
Leadership Under Fire: Answering Tough Personal Questions Positively

Lou Hampton

20 May 2009 | 5:11 am

Unprepared interviewees. They seem to be ubiquitous in the news these days. Every election, at almost any level of politics, seems to have at least one candidate who stumbles when asked a question about embarrassing personal or professional conduct. And...

Presentation skills ~ tellingpeople
Bad starts

simon

19 Jun 2009 | 1:17 pm

Sometimes you can recover from a bad start to your presentation. Sometimes you can’t…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGZyG0Jchjo&feature=related
That’s virgin’ on being bad practice…..

simon

17 Jun 2009 | 5:23 am

Virgin trains, in the UK, are having a big marketing kick on the TV at the moment. One of their adverts shows an apparently inept presenter writing his slides on the train and - at the same time - getting more and more ‘hyped’ so that by the time he arrives, he’s confident and ready to go. Reasonable advert, I suppose…. …. but shockingly bad tactics as a presenter! I’ve said it before and I’ll no doubt say it again - you need to rehearse your stuff out loud. There’s no way to know what’s going to work if you just ’say’ it in…
Keep your head down.

simon

14 Jun 2009 | 10:05 am

Normally, I’d say that keeping your head down isn’t a good idea as a presenter and public speaker - too much hiding your light under a bushel doesn’t get you very far sometimes… There is just one time though - and it’s pretty literal - when you should keep our head down though. We all have a tendency to raise our heads when we’re anxious/nervous (and when we’re working in stepped auditoria) - we tip them backwards, raising our eyes. My hunch is that it’s something to do with wanting to see danger coming from as far away as possible but I…
More 7% ranting

simon

9 Jun 2009 | 1:04 am

For many years I’ve been fighting the good fight about the myth that only 7% of the meaning of communication is in the words themselves; I ranted about it years ago, for example. Just recently however, Olivia Mitchell waded in with a superb piece of writing. I commend it to you. It’s here. In fact I pretty much commend the whole of her blog, for that matter!
A masterclass…

simon

4 Jun 2009 | 6:38 am

Setting aside for the moment what he says (as, if you can!), it’s worth some time to look at Presedent Obama’s recent speech - if for nothing else as a masterclass of how to be relaxed and natural… It’s currently available via the Whitehouse channel on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/whitehouse

Public Speaking Advice and Commentary
20 body language myths debunked

Nick Morgan

2 Jul 2009 | 2:52 pm

Thanks to Suzanne Smith, who sent a very interesting list of 20 “defensive” and “positive and powerful” body language tips. I can’t resist commenting on them, because they are such an admixture of good and bad advice. The original posting is here: http://tinyurl.com/nb4osk. I’ll list each “tip” and then comment after in boldface. "Defensive Body Language Tips"1. Invade someone’s personal space. This is a sign of dominance. • Potentially dangerous advice. Never invade unless you’re willing to…
Who's the most powerful person in the room?

Nick Morgan

30 Jun 2009 | 9:45 am

Sociologists Stanford Gregory and Stephen Webster of Kent State University conducted some fascinating research into the question of leadership at a very simple level. They studied interviews on the Larry King Live show and tapes of British politicians and former U.S. presidents. Why this particular grouping of people? Because the issue of power and deference is bound to come up when high-status individuals are involved.What they studied were the low-frequency sounds (below 500 hertz) that we all utter as we speak. The existence of the sounds themselves was well known to researchers but…
Announcing the winners of the 'Worst Conference' contest

Nick Morgan

29 Jun 2009 | 4:09 am

Thanks to all who participated in the “Worst Conference Experience Ever” contest. We have a winner – a standout – and that could only be the entry from Mike, regarding the speaker who read from the tax code for “several hours with minimal commentary.” I’m sure everyone will join in and offer their sympathy to the poor CFO who attended that presentation. Mike, you win an hour’s free (telephone) coaching for help in preparing any speech or presentation you have coming up. Let me know via nick@publicwords.com how you’d like to schedule. Second…
What is the most important rule for success in public speaking?

Nick Morgan

25 Jun 2009 | 2:05 am

I'm often asked what is the single most essential thing to remember in order to give a good speech. My first instinct is to respond, "it's a complex process, an art form, and it involves lots of moving parts. So there's no one single thing." But if I'm pressed for one rule only, it would be this: have fun. That's right -- have fun. Could it possibly be that simple? Audiences have provisionally given up their authority and bestowed it on the speaker. They want the speaker to succeed. Otherwise,…
What can you get an audience to do?

Nick Morgan

24 Jun 2009 | 1:22 am

A speaker asks a lot of an audience. Understanding, enthusiasm, support -- and inactivity. Audiences are expected to be passive by most speakers most of the time. That's after all what speakers are paid for -- to inform and entertain the audience. Not the other way around. And the higher the price, the more entertaining the speaker better be. But that means that most speakers figure that they should be doing the majority of the work. That's unfortunate, because if a speaker does a good job, pouring out lots of energy into an…

PPT - Powerful Presentation Techniques
Quotes worth sharing

the Web Chef

1 Jul 2009 | 7:00 am

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."Bill Cosby
Lower Cost, Lower Feature PPT Competitor Launched

the Web Chef

29 Jun 2009 | 7:46 am

PCWorld announced the launch of Ashampoo Presentations a lower cost, lower feature competitor to PowerPoint. As a marketer I'm not sold on the company name, but it could be that the product itself will give MS PowerPoint a run for the money for those seeking presentation development ease at a lower cost. According to the review the software allows you to save presentations in a PowerPoint compatible format. Among the features not available in the $20 software package are SmartArt and the ability to record audio content according to the PCWorld article. You can find out more about the…
New IB Madison Voices Blog Posting - Trends in Internet Use

the Web Chef

24 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

Interested in finding out more about trends on the Internet? Check out my new blog posting "It's the norm, not just for porn" at IBMadison.com. The posting tracks some of the latest research results on trends and directions in the use of the Internet. Included are reports showing that 48% of Americans use the Internet at least one hour a day, 82% increase in Social Networking utilizing and 339% increase in video utilization since 2002.
AMA New Commercial (a spoof), plus YouTube enhancement

the Web Chef

22 Jun 2009 | 10:59 am

Interesting to see how on YouTube you can now choose the size of embedded video plus select one of several border color options as I've done with this embedded video spoofing the American Medical Associaton.
New Online PowerPoint Competitor? Adobe Presentations

the Web Chef

22 Jun 2009 | 7:00 am

Adobe has released an online competitor to PowerPoint called Adobe Presentations according to ZDNet and many other online sources. The web-based tool jumps ahead (by release date at least) of Microsoft's plans for web-based tools in their Office 2010 release according to the blog posting. The web-based tools could provide advantages for those with multiple devices in terms of version control. The tool also allows for shared authoring of a given presentation. ZDNet blogger, Zack Whittaker, talked to Acrobat staff who told him "Presentations is only at 40% whereas PowerPoint would stand…

Relational Presentation Blog - Flexible PowerPoint
How a Relational Powerpoint Presentation Saved my Bacon

Robert

18 Jun 2009 | 4:09 pm

By Susan Guggenheim When I bought Bob Lane’s book Relational Presentation in early April, I knew two things about PowerPoint—I didn’t like using it for presentations and everyone expects you to have a PowerPoint. Every meeting, demo, and training I have attended in the last 10 years featured content delivered via PowerPoint—all linear shows with bulleted slides. When the lights went down, so did our eyelids. I started reading Bob’s book, tried out the exercises, and decided to build a relational presentation from scratch. In my small business, www.susanguggenheim-is.com, I train…
Layouts for Visually Interactive Presentation

Robert

24 May 2009 | 7:26 pm

By Robert Lane www.aspirecommunications.com How Should I Lay Out Content on Slides? What are some effective ways of arranging content on slides to promote simple, visual, interactive expression? Here are six suggestions we recommend, available free by download here. This short PDF is an excerpt from the new Selling Visually with PowerPoint book by Robert Lane and Andre Vlcek. ShareThis
What Size Pictures Should I Use?

Robert

24 Mar 2009 | 10:45 am

Those of us who include a lot of pictures in slide shows (hopefully everyone in the near future) need to think about the resolution of those pictures. Resolution, in a digital image context, is basically synonymous with quality. The higher your picture’s resolution, the higher its quality—in other words, the better it will look when printed or displayed. A high-resolution picture looks crisp and clear. A very low-resolution picture might look fuzzy or blurred. Resolution is measured by the number of dots that can be counted within one linear inch across a photo’s surface, a term known…
The New Picture Roles Guide Is Now Available

Robert

7 Mar 2009 | 7:03 pm

By Robert Lane www.aspirecommunications.com To be an effective visually interactive presenter, it’s important to be …well … as visual as possible with messages. In other words, get rid of the bullet points and replace them with forms of rich visual expression. “Yeah, but, I’m not a graphic artist,” you say. “I’m not a professional photographer, ether, and I don’t even know much about colors or design. How does someone like me develop visual communication skills?”One of the easiest and best ways to dramatically increase the visual impact of messages is to…
Modularity

Robert

13 Feb 2009 | 10:42 am

By Robert Lane www.aspirecommunications.com Modularity is a fancy term that basically means breaking big things down into smaller pieces, like disassembling a car into its individual parts. Modular thinking is incredibly important to Relational Presentation techniques. To be a good interactive speaker and designer, you must master the process of breaking your messages (and presentations) down into their component parts—their core ideas—and then eventually reassemble those parts according to relationships. Most people really struggle in this area, surprisingly so. Breaking a…

CK Online - Communicate to Connect !
Strategic Persuasion workshop at IIM Bangalore

CK

28 Jun 2009 | 9:46 am

I am a Program Director along with Prof Suresh Bhagavuthula of NSRCEL for an open workshop at IIM Bangalore on July 17 and 18 titled " Strategic Persuasion and Negotiation Skills". On day one, we talk about the Pillars of Persuasion (personal, social and structural),Making a winning pitch andHow to influence without authorityImportance of social networks On day two, we discuss The sources of power in negotiationNegotiating with aggressive negotiatorsSeven elements of negotiationImportance of BATNAWhen not to negotiateThis will be a learn by doing workshop with emphasis on case studies and…
ARABIC PRAYER

CK

4 Jun 2009 | 8:43 am

When you give me strength Take not away my sagacity When you give me glory Take not away my humility When you give me humility Take not away my dignity And take not away my grace When you give me authority
Think it over !

CK

1 Jun 2009 | 7:04 pm

Image via Wikipedia"The truth isn't the truth until people believe you, and they can't believe you if they don't know what you're saying, and they can't know what you're saying if they don't listen to you, and they won't listen to you if you're not interesting, and you won't be interesting unless you say things imaginatively, originally, freshly." - Bill Bernbach
24 Apr 2009 | 7:55 am

CK

24 Apr 2009 | 7:55 am

Satyam Toastmasters meeting was a hyper success with 100 participants ! TM movement is gaining rapid strides in Chennai
Twitter - a tool for ego trippers ??

CK

23 Apr 2009 | 9:34 pm

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeAlthough I'd signed up for Twitter months ago, I've started tweeting only for the past two days ! Felt kind of funny to let people know what I've been upto but realised you don't have to always update your laundry list on twitter ! You can include info about events you plan to attend, request for ideas for your next speech/article, give instant feedback and share quips and quotes ! The best part is brevity - just 140 characters !Most important, when I found estimable names like Dilip Abayasekara (http://twitter.com/Liononstage) and Balaji Pasumarthy…

Craig Strachan - Keep Talking!
Toastmasters District Message

Craig Strachan

25 Jun 2009 | 7:18 am

In this message, presented to District at Toastmasters Club Officer Training, held on 20 June, 2009 I discuss how the young average in Africa (19), and the troubling economic times provide a huge opportunity for Toastmasters in Africa, and in particular in Southern Africa. It is a message of growth for our organisation. Excuse the background – the training was in a ballet hall! I guess I have spoken in strange venues. Anyway, the main thing is to listen to the message, and not to watch the background.
Do you leave memorable messages – Darren LaCroix on originality

Craig Strachan

25 Jun 2009 | 6:29 am

Do you give your own memorable messages, or do you sound just like everybody else? Here is an interesting lesson from Darren LaCroix, the 2001 world champ of speaking. He tells an interesting story: Never use someone else’s story. This is a small industry… it won’t take long for the ‘owner’ to find out. After doing my “Ouch!” speech at NSA a few years ago, it was copied by somebody overseas just a couple of months later. One of my mentors happened to be in the audience, and called the speaker on it. At first, he denied it. But later, he admitted it. As speakers, we can be…
Leave them wanting more…

Craig Strachan

16 Jun 2009 | 8:35 am

Whammey Bar Gig Before I started getting stage time giving presentations, I spent many years on the stage as a musician. In fact, you will still see me occasionally playing a few tunes in a restaurant or pub. One of the things that I learnt from playing and from listening to live music is to leave them wanting more. I have heard great bands that just don’t know when to stop planning, or that insists of playing every song they know. What happens? Everybody gets board, and leaves before the band has finished. So when they do finish, they end to a lukewarm applause from the few people…
What image are you projecting? 10 tips to selling yourself

Craig Strachan

16 Jun 2009 | 5:39 am

Be on time for meetings. If you are late, you show a lack of respect and self-organisation. Respond to messages. Even if it is just a one line to say that you received the message, let the sender know that you are onto it. Dress for the occasion. You don’t have to wear a suit and tie, but dress appropriately for the occasion. Whether you like it or not, first impressions count a lot, so make a good one. Only make commitments that you can stick to. If you cannot stick to a commitment, don’t make it. Have you ever been promised that a job will be completed by a particular date, and…
Blog platform updated

Craig Strachan

13 Jun 2009 | 7:17 am

Hi all I have just upgraded this site to the latest version of wordpress – version 2.8. Everything appears to be fine, please let me know if you find any funnies. thanks Craig

The Eloquent Woman: A blog on women and public speaking
Ruth Ginsberg on speaking up in meetings

Denise Graveline

1 Jul 2009 | 11:08 am

Ever wonder whether more famous women manage to avoid the pitfalls women face when they speak up in meetings? The short answer: They don't. In this USA Today interview, Ruth Bader Ginsburg gives a rare insight into the inner workings of the Supreme Court, focusing on whether women are heard in meetings. She:recalled that as a young, female lawyer her voice often was ignored by male peers. "I don't know how many meetings I attended in the '60s and the '70s, where I would say something, and I thought it was a pretty good idea. … Then somebody else would say exactly what I said. Then people…
Jump into June's top tips

Denise Graveline

30 Jun 2009 | 6:27 am

Summer got off to a great start with these, our top 10 tips on the Eloquent Woman blog for June. Readers jumped into posts about speaking as a tour guide, research for blushing speakers, great storytelling, and our new contest. Check out this winning team of tips from June:You love a contest: Hands down, the new Eloquent Woman contest, 15 Weeks to Step Up Your Speaking, topped our most popular posts this month. You have till July 31 to enter yourself (or a colleague) to win free speaker coaching and a great Flip camera!The tour guide as speaker intrigued dozens of readers this month, with a…
help teenage girls with an eloquent video

Denise Graveline

29 Jun 2009 | 5:59 pm

UPDATE: Submit your videos to Nina Simon at nina[at]museumtwo[dot]com. I know I've already asked you to make a short video of yourself to enter the Eloquent Woman's contest to win 15 weeks of free coaching to step up your public speaking. But while you're at it, make another video -- this one to help a camp for young girls interested in technology. I'll let Nina Simon, who created Museum 2.0, tell you more about what she's looking for in these videos: I'm developing a camp for teenage girls (rising 9th graders) with the Girls Math and Science Partnership about expressing yourself through…
many interviews at one blow

Denise Graveline

29 Jun 2009 | 5:20 pm

Editor's note: Seven at One Blow is an old Brothers Grimm fairy tale about a tailor who killed seven flies in a single strike...and went on to be king. Nowadays, in order to rule her own publicity, an eloquent woman might well find herself doing something like a lot of live radio interviews in a morning or over a week...a true test of her speaking skills. I asked Sarah Milstein, reader of this blog and co-author of a popular new book about Twitter, to share tips from her recent "radio tour" of interviews with you. Keep in mind that on radio, you'll need to describe what might otherwise be…
Improve speaking skills with improv

Denise Graveline

29 Jun 2009 | 4:51 pm

Editor's note: I'm delighted to repost with permission this guest post from the excellent blog of speaker coach Angela DeFinis, who works in California's Silicon Valley and Bay Area. When I read this post, I thought, "That's just exactly what I wanted to say about improv skills!" (I've added links and some boldfacing to emphasize a few points.) So here it is. You can find out more about Angela here--please do check out her blog, full of great ideas and inspiration:You show up to your speaking engagement only to realize that your PowerPoint presentation isn’t opening, the A/V system is down,…

Executive Speech Coach - Business Presentations
Power Presentations Tip 22: What do you stand for?

George Torok

22 Jun 2009 | 2:18 pm

Power Presentations Tip 22:What do you stand for?Maybe nothing - especially if you don't stand tall and strong during your presentation.Some presenters have protested, "I don't want to stand during my presentation. It makes me feel uncomfortable."You might feel more comfortable sitting while you speak but your presentation will be much less effective.Not only should you stand when you speak - you should stand as tall and strong as you can.Why?When you stand more listeners can see you clearly. If they can see you they will be more inclined to listen. If you are capturing two of their senses…
No time left for you to speak

George Torok

19 Jun 2009 | 5:34 am

How to handle NO time left to speakby Rita RisserI was scheduled to speak last on a main stage panel where we were each supposed to talk for 10 minutes and then take Q&A for 30 minutes. The first two speakers spoke 10 minutes. The third speaker took 50 minutes, despite the fact that the meeting planner came in and told her to wrap it up. The meeting planner left and the speaker finally wrapped up at noon. She turned it over to me, telling me to go ahead and speak, going over lunch. I smiled, said I knew better than to compete with lunch and that I would be available to anyone who wanted…
Video: What makes a superior presenter?

George Torok

17 Jun 2009 | 8:19 am

What makes a superior presenter?Enjoy this video of George Torok, The speech coach for executives, discuss the key elements of becoming a superior presenter.Don't try to wing it. Don't hope on talent alone to get you through. Build your skills by working with a presentation skills coach.George TorokA Superior PresenterPresentation Skills CoachingExecutive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.Executive Speech Coach & Business Presentation Skills Expert George Torok www.SpeechCoachforExecutives.com
The Big Bad Word

George Torok

16 May 2009 | 6:33 am

Are You Guilty? The Unconscious Goof that Can Hurt Your Credibilityby Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAEFifteen times in a thirteen-minute period. That's how often Steve Forbes, President and CEO of Forbes Inc. and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine, did it during an otherwise brilliant presentation at the National Speakers Association convention in New York, August 2008.President Obama did it twice while he was on The Tonight Show talking to Jay Leno.My high-level corporate clients do it—including Presidents, Chief Financial Officers, and Sales Vice Presidents of America's greatest…
Power Presentation Tips 21

George Torok

7 May 2009 | 5:12 pm

Power Presentations Tips 21:Ask rhetorical questionsAsk rhetorical questions during your presentation to better engage your audience. This technique is simple yet powerful. It works well in two circumstances - when delivering detailed information and when you want to persuade your listeners.Rhetorical questions work on a few levels for you.1. Asking a question grabs the attention of your audience. We are programmed to respond to questions. Even if we don't answer out loud our brain starts working on the answer.2. Your listeners might already be thinking that question. If you ask and then…

Public Speaking Can Be Fun
Most Common Words In Public Speaking

Jacki Rose

1 Jul 2009 | 4:58 pm

These words are not even in the dictionary, but it’s the most common words used when people give presentations. They are: “ah” and “um” If you use these words, many negative things happen. 1 – It’s distracting to your audience, 2 – You appear less confident of your topic, 3 – Your audience cannot keep up with you because most likely you are not pausing and you are talking non-stop. The most common public speaking words -“ah” and “um” are used as filler words. Next time you feel and “ah” or “um” coming on, just say nothing and pauseFree PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS…
Your Audience Likes You More Than You Realize

Jacki Rose

29 Jun 2009 | 1:55 pm

Halle Barry was nominated for an Oscar and was at Oprah Winfrey’s house the night before the Oscar Awards took place. Oprah asked Halle the following question: “Did you write a speech?” Halle said “no”. Oprah replied: “write a speech” Halle responded: “No. I’m not going to win.” Well she did win and guess what she said after the fact “I wish I had written a speech because I ended up going on and on. I wish I could have been better and remembered to thank the people I really wanted to thank.” Once you’re on stage, you forget. Public Speaking can cause excitement and…
Feel Empowered When You Present

Jacki Rose

19 Jun 2009 | 2:29 pm

When Halley Barry was on the Oprah show talking about her experience in the movie Cat Woman she confessed it was during the time she was splitting up with her husband. She said the role fit exactly what she needed to do in her personal life. Thus she felt empowered and in control of her real life. When you act the way you want to be, you become that way. If you want to appear confident and dynamic when you give your next presentation, then act that way. It doesn’t matter if you feel it or not. No one has to know. The more youa ct it the more you feel it and the more you feel it the more you…
Presentation Skills with Punctuation

Jacki Rose

17 Jun 2009 | 5:31 am

Put a period after you sentence! Or an exclamation point, or a comma, or even quotes. I’m not talking about writing. I’m talking about speaking! Too many times I see people talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, without putting periods after their sentences. Which means they do not stop, pause, or take a breath. Let your audience know when you are done with a sentence by pausing for a moment. Give your audience a chance to absorb what you have said. Slow down, pause, and punctuate!Free PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS tips: www.publicspeakingskillscoach.com
Speak Through Your Fear

Jacki Rose

16 Jun 2009 | 6:30 am

When I entered the world of professional speaking I had no interest in speaking internationally. It sounded to complicated, too scary, and I just didn’t think it was for me. In fact, whenever I read my speaker’s magazine and listened to the audio CD of all the tools of growing your speaking business, I always skipped over the part about speaking Internationally. It did not apply to me. I was never going to be an International Speaker – never, ever. But, one day I received an email from a seminar company in Asia. They invited to conduct a training program in Singapore and Malaysia. I was…

Jane Atkinson, Speaker Launcher Blog, Speaker Coach, Presentation Skills, Speakers Bureaus
Fee integrity, what up with that?

jane

15 Jun 2009 | 12:32 pm

My client is a talented, hilarious speaker. She worked her butt off for years doing the crappy speaking gigs for $250 in bad venues. She paid her dues. Now she’s earning $2500 per engagement but her local bureau wants to list her at $4000. (Cause she’s good.) But here’s the rub, if a client called her directly she would not feel comfortable quoting $4K. She’s just not $4K confident yet. So what does she do? Easy peasy. She asks the bureau to list her at $2500 and if it means no bookings from them, then so be it. Many bureaus won’t work with a speaker at this fee…
Give a gig, get a gig

jane

26 May 2009 | 12:08 pm

Paying it forward is not a new concept. Remember Haley Joel Osment’s character (Trevor) from the movie ‘Pay it Forward’ several years ago? The 11-year old boy inspired thousands with his concept of helping 3 people. But we all need a reminder every now and again. Sam Silverstein gave us one during a recent edition of NSA’s Voices of Experience when he talked about a colleague of his dropping a gig in his lap. There was no arrangement between them, the friend just did him a “solid” by introducing him to a client, which turned into a booking. So…
What Can We Learn from Miley Cyrus?

jane

6 May 2009 | 7:11 am

Today is my 45th birthday. I figure 45 is about the half way mark. If all goes well, with modern technology, I may live until 90. Now for my clients who have survived cancer, climbing accidents and hippo attacks (yes, it’s true) I know that life is precious and that I can’t take anything for granted. And, as the eloquent line from 17-year old Miley Cyrus’s new song “The Climb” tells us, it’s not about reaching the top of the mountains, it’s about the climb. It’s about the journey of life. So being at the ½ way mark, I have to check in and…
Are You a “Just Do it” Speaker?

jane

23 Apr 2009 | 1:07 pm

Just Do it When it comes to running your speaking business, there are 3 types of speakers: 1. The Hopeful Speaker 2. The 2/3rds Speaker 3. The “Just Do It” speaker. The Hopeful Speaker is talented on the platform and has a desire to speak more, but does not know how the industry works or how to excel in it. They don’t know what they don’t know. The Hopeful Speaker may sit and hope that it will happen, or they try to hire people to make it happen for them. And hiring people to launch your business rarely works because you need to understand your own business…
Are Bureaus “Just Not That Into You”?

jane

7 Apr 2009 | 5:38 pm

He’s just not that into you. A phrase first made famous by Sex in the City, turned book, now very popular movie. The reason for its success? It allows you not to take it personally when someone rejects you. The same goes for speakers bureaus. You should not take it personally when they don’t book you or want your marketing materials. It may not be about you at all. Perhaps you have a topic that they don’t require, perhaps they have too many speakers already and can’t give you their attention. Here are just a few basics about working with bureaus: 1. A bureau will not…

Art of Speaking Science
Twitter Policy! I’ve been waiting for this.

lisa@lisabmarshall.com (lisa@lisabmarshall.com)

10 Jun 2009 | 5:09 pm

I’ve been waiting for someone to come out with something like this. An official “Twitter policy”. Well, it’s not exactly that, but it is a policy about disseminating information to “anonymous third parties”. I copied the policy below. I suspect others will be showing up very soon, if they haven’t already. Here it is. What do you [...]
Death by Meetings?

lisa@lisabmarshall.com (lisa@lisabmarshall.com)

25 Apr 2009 | 11:50 am

How to Run an Effective and Productive Meeting This week on the Public Speaker I talk about how to plan and deliver effective and productive business meetings. Here’s a quick summary, but you can listen to the episode here. (It’s less than 10 minutes.) Know and state the purpose of your meeting. Meetings are good for coming [...]
Help me achieve my dream!

lisa@lisabmarshall.com (lisa@lisabmarshall.com)

22 Apr 2009 | 11:35 am

I’m looking for creative, low-cost, or no-cost ideas to get more people listening to my show. If you’ve got a crazy idea or even just a regular idea submit it publicspeaker@quickanddirtytips.com with “crazy idea” in the subject. All ideas will be considered until May 15, 2009. I need your help ! As you may know I am the host [...]
What do the AMA and Oprah have in common?

lisa@lisabmarshall.com (lisa@lisabmarshall.com)

19 Apr 2009 | 1:38 pm

This month both the AMA and Oprah jumped onto the Twitter bandwagon. I’m not sure which is more surprising to me. If you still yet don’t know what Twitter is click this link to find out the basics of Twitter. In science, here are a few that are tweeting: Science Daily MedPage Today AMA ACC’s annual meeting AACR Science News Blog Wired Science Science [...]
I = f(K,P,T)

lisa@lisabmarshall.com (lisa@lisabmarshall.com)

19 Apr 2009 | 9:45 am

“Impact is a function of knowledge (K), practice (P), and talent (T) — in decreasing order of importance.” - MIT Computer Science Professor Patrick Henry Winston Every January, during MIT’s Independent Activities Period, Computer Science Professor Patrick Henry Winston a lecture titled: How to Speak. In 1997 Harvard made a recording of [...]

ManageSmarter.com - Presentations News
Failing at Face-Time?

25 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

Face-to-Face communication is fast becoming a lost art in the era of e-mail, text, and voice mail, says Stacey Hanke, founder of 1st Impressions Consulting Inc., and author of "Yes You Can! Everything You Need from A to Z To Influence Others To Take Action." This is unfortunate, Hanke adds, as when it comes to engaging an audience, making a compelling sales presentation—to one person or ten—business still is driven by personal communication.
Egencia Unveils Meetings & Incentives Division

17 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

Travel management company Egencia today announced the launch of a separate meetings and incentives division after rebranding Reward Worldwide, a meetings management company it acquired last year, as Egencia Meetings & Incentives.
Video Conferencing Etiquette Checklist

8 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

A drawback of video conferencing is, in exchange for the added efficiency of seeing those you're conferring with, you also have to mind your image. Thus, ooVoo, a provider of multi-point video chat, developed video conferencing etiquette tips in partnership with Beverly Hills Manners.
Video Conferencing Etiquette Checklist

8 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

A drawback of video conferencing is, in exchange for the added efficiency of seeing those you're conferring with, you also have to mind your image. Thus, ooVoo, a provider of multi-point video chat, developed video conferencing etiquette tips in partnership with Beverly Hills Manners.
Video Conferencing Etiquette Checklist

8 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

A drawback of video conferencing is, in exchange for the added efficiency of seeing those you're conferring with, you also have to mind your image. Thus, ooVoo, a provider of multi-point video chat, developed video conferencing etiquette tips in partnership with Beverly Hills Manners.

Excellence in Presentations
Kodachrome no more!

normwei

23 Jun 2009 | 7:16 am

Kodak has just announced that it will retire its Kodachrome color slide film after 74 years. It was done in by the digital media AND PowerPoint. We will miss those beautiful color slides of our family. But we will not miss those 14 bullet points jammed into one single Kodachrome slide. In the bad old days when we had to pay some company $3 or $4 for every single slide we need for our presentation, we naturally put as much information as possible on a single slide. It made economic sense then. But now – thanks to PowerPoint – we can have as many slides as we want and they are all…
Multiple speakers in a presentation

normwei

14 Jun 2009 | 10:42 am

Have you ever been to a conference where different speakers give presentations on a single theme? The presentations all relate to the same theme and yet they appear to be totally disjointed and unrelated. Each speaker gives his presentation as if he is the ONLY one talking about the theme at the conference. There is no connectivity at all among the various speakers even though they are supposed to be talking about the same general topic. When I started out in my environmental seminar business, I used to sign up as a guest speaker with a company that conducted 2-day seminars on…
The use of technical jargon and acronyms in presentations

normwei

26 May 2009 | 8:19 am

Many people use a lot of technical jargon and acronyms in their presentations because it gives them a sense of superiority over the common folks. This is particularly true with scientists and engineers. They like to speak “a language of their own”. That’s fine if everyone in the audience has the same training and understanding of the topic being presentation. But that is never the case. You should use acronyms sparingly and only if the terms they represent are going to appear throughout the entire presentation. But many presenters use acronyms only once in their…
They never learn, do they?

normwei

24 May 2009 | 12:41 pm

I was at an environmental conference in Phoenix that was hosted by the semiconductor manufacturing industries. Lots of talk about greenhouse gas and environmental sustainability. Many scientists and engineers gave talks and all of them were in PowerPoint format. with one exception, all of the PowerPoint presentations had too small fonts, too many bullet points and too many abbreviations. The attached slide on the right has 11 abbreviations (ASTM, ANSI, SEMI, S23, GRI, SDO and so on), 6 bullet points, 13 sub bullet points and 2 sub-sub bullet points. All cramped into one SINGLE slide! The…
How to make great PowerPoint presentations

normwei

11 May 2009 | 9:38 am

The basic rules: 1. Do not use bullet points 2. Use one point per slide with an appropriate image 3. Use as many slides as you have points 4. The first 5 slides are the most important ones. Click here for a brief slide show that demonstrates this concept.

Sandra Schrift - Executive Speech Coach
ON BEING A GREAT SPEAKER

Sandra Schrift

20 Jun 2009 | 1:11 pm

Did you know that great speakers are often nervous with butterflies in their stomach before giving a presentation? Here are a few tips from the pros: It is OK to be nervous - get your butterflies to fly in formation. Great presentations are well organized.- 3-4 points supported by your stories Technology is just a tool- do not be a master of ceremonies to your slides Your voice is the source of power- use tonal variation Use your eyes to make contact with the audience. Interact with your audience by role plays or pairing. The Coach asks . . do you know what you want your audience to do as a…
On Internet Presence

Sandra Schrift

8 Jun 2009 | 5:46 pm

Christoper Bilotta wrote an article for the WSJ in which he talks about creating a web presence from scratch. In today's environment, job seekers must expand the ways in which they search. The article mentions several key points for consideration. •Claim your name on social networking sites before someone else does. Also, purchase the domain for your name.•Practice prudence. Limit yourself to three social networking sites and definitely include LinkedIn as one of them.•Choose connections wisely. Your network should be about quality, not quantity.•Be consistent. Update your profile…
ON SIX WAYS TO CREATE RAVING FANS

Sandra Schrift

24 May 2009 | 11:13 pm

Dale Carnegie, in his book, “How to Win Friends & Influence People,reveals six traits kind people of the world share:Become interested in other people. In business, it's critical that we learn to see prospects as people rather than as sales. Smile. Have you noticed how positive and contagious a simple smile can be?Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language. If you are not a pro at remembering people's names, become one. Be a good listener and encourage people to talk about themselves. Most folks don't need much encouragement, but…
ON WINNING IN 2009

Sandra Schrift

19 May 2009 | 10:16 pm

Coach, Rich Gee, has a few tips for winning in a bad economy. .Contact both present and past clients. Listen to how they are and offer to help; don’t sell. .Ask for referrals. .Remember that 80% of your business comes from 20% of your best clients. .Focus on what you do best- what is and what is not contributing to your bottom line. .Create Strategic Alliances – share the marketing costs and bring new value to your clients. The Coach suggests . . . you “re-Vision” your business to use your money more effectively and create a new company vision.(C)2009 www.schrift.com
ON A GREAT SPEECH

Sandra Schrift

17 May 2009 | 8:42 pm

Here are a few points to keep in mind when you are delivering a speech , whether you are trying to inspire or persuade an audience to take some action.Always have someone introduce you - include your credentials, your experience in this area, why you were selected to speak vs. someone elseGrab the audience's attention with a strong opening- ask a question, make a startling statement, tell a storyProvide a concise statement of purpose of the speech Challenge your audience - tell them what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear.Present the solution- provide the plan to solve their…

Ah, Um, Er... A Toastmaster's Blog
What Do You Think?

Sara Marks, DTM

30 Jun 2009 | 5:03 am

TLI went very well again, especially my DCP presentation. I focused the message on building clubs that meet the members goals rather than on the points. Everyone who spoke to me seemed very happy and a number were thrilled that I didn't talk about the points at all. I am not sure how I feel about something that happened at a program after TLI. I am not sure what other districts do, but we have an end of the year event to honor the people who served in leadership roles the past year. I like to go to this event because it is a social event that tends to attracts the experienced leadership…
Don't Speak To Me In That Tone.

Sara Marks, DTM

26 Jun 2009 | 11:18 am

At a club meeting a few weeks ago, one of our advanced speakers gave the speech from one of the advanced manuals. In this speech he had to deal with various types of different types of people in his audience and keep us or get us back in line. Said member accomplished much of this with his tone of voice. He was calm, kept is voice soft and used a gentle tone. Another member gave him some feedback indicating she felt he should have used a stronger tone to keep everyone in line.A few weeks ago I posted an entry about a friend who is straddling the line between motivational and pushy. After…
If You Build It, Will They Come?

Sara Marks, DTM

17 Jun 2009 | 5:09 am

Last night's meeting brought up DCP related issues again. My club, with two weeks left of the year, has just gotten comfortable with the idea that we will not be distinguished again this year. We have the points, but we don't have the membership. Our membership numbers are in the same place they were last year: 17 members. We have a number of new member, but we have cultivated an environment where we focus on their goals. We feel it brings in the new members no matter what else we do. Two years ago at this time was a very different story. We celebrated our 15th anniversary mostly because we…
Asked Again!

Sara Marks, DTM

18 May 2009 | 9:53 am

My DCP presentation from January's make-up TLI (or was it February... or March) was such a success that I have been asked to do it again!For those who have forgotten, some members are concerned over the excessive focus on the Distinguished Club Plan (DCP) and those who cheat for success. I have been trying to communicate this problem to people in a variety of ways. One has been to present about the DCP in a way that discourages cheating: reminding people that it is nothing more than a tool.This time I am going to try an analogy. I am trying to think of a good one that is appropriate for an…
Spring Conference - Over and done with

Sara Marks, DTM

11 May 2009 | 3:13 pm

This weekend I attended my first conference in about a year and a half. There were some problems I had with district leadership that pushed me away from the district's activities. Our new leaders figured out the right things to say to bring me back into the fold and I followed like a donkey following a carrot on a stick. If felt nice to be part of things again. Five members from the club attended. I got my DTM medal (pictures soon!) and made people laugh. I felt liked and wanted... mostly because people are feeling comfortable speaking out about things they don't like. I think we feel more…

Speaking Life
Squid

PanzerGrenadier

7 Jun 2009 | 8:27 pm

Dear friendsThis blog has been relatively inactive due to the first year or so spending time with my beautiful baby daughter grow up. She's now all of 15 months old and is the light of my life.I'm getting back into toastmastering bit by bit and will try to rejoin my club again every 3rd Thursday of the month. Once I'm back into toastmastering, I'll spend more time updating this blog and to also create some interesting ventures arising from my passion and interest in public speaking.In the meantime, I've created my Squidoo Page related to impromptu speaking.Take care and remember that speaking…
Learning Never Stops

PanzerGrenadier

13 Nov 2008 | 10:15 pm

One of the things that I've learnt as a toastmaster is that learning never stops. Once we stop learning, our brain atrophies and old connections between our brain cells either stop working or become less active.Besides joining a toastmasters club and learning from your fellow members' life experiences, you can also enrol in education institutions for formal courses. You can find some of these on the internet (i.e. online learning) or you can also find some of these in the real physical brick and mortars world where you get to interact with physical facilities and faculty members in person or…
I share your fear: public speaking for the first time

PanzerGrenadier

9 Oct 2008 | 8:53 pm

Public speaking comes easy to some but not so for others.I realised that I had some ability in public speaking only after making mistakes such as having up to 40+ pause fillers in my speech and also forgetting bits of my speech even as it was being coughed out in front of a live audience. My ability came after doing 10+5+5 speeches along with at least 30-40 table-topics over an interrupted span of 5 years in toastmastering.Some evaluators have been gentle with me. Some have been harsh but fair, others have been harsh and unfair [but these were the minority].What I learnt from my…
Sabbatical from Public Speaking

PanzerGrenadier

8 Oct 2008 | 1:33 am

I continue to be on a sabbatical from toastmastering due to my daughter being born in March 2008. Her presence has enriched my life and made me realise that as much as I enjoy toastmastering, I need to take time off to see her grow up for the first few years before getting back onto the public speaking circuit again.Teaching her to speak well would be one of the critical lifeskills that I would want to impart to her.Here's why I have been away from toastmastering.
Communicate More Through Learning a New Language

PanzerGrenadier

8 Jul 2008 | 5:28 pm

Image via WikipediaAs part of my toastmasters experience, I realise the importance of learning and mastering languages. In Singapore, many of us here are conversant in at least two languages. The first is English which is the medium of instruction. The second is our mother-tongue. For Singaporean Chinese, it is mandarin (or putonghua or hua yu) while for Singaporean-Malays it is Malay language and for Singaporean-Indians it is Tamil (although my Indian friends tell me that India has many many languages e.g. Hindi and Tamil is the official language taught because many of the original migrants…

Great Speaking Coach
Props in Speeches Create Stickiness

Susan Trivers

30 Jun 2009 | 7:25 am

What prop--a tangible thing that you can hold up for your audience to see--can you use to create an indelible message in the minds of your audiences? Business speakers typically put a lot of time and effort into graphic images, bullet points and facts and figures. These feel real and serious to the speakers and their audiences. I agree that there are benefits to them. However, human beings are stimulated by creative and unexpected elements in a speech or presentation. This is where props help you and your audiences. Think of props as analogies or metaphors. Analogy is defined as similarity in…
3 Topics for Your Speech to Civic & Chamber Groups

Susan Trivers

26 Jun 2009 | 7:29 am

You know that speaking to civic, chamber and lead share groups will generate leads so you commit to be the speaker from time to time. Now the question to answer is "what do I speak about?" No matter what products or services you and your company offer, you do NOT speak directly about them. That's perceived as a sales pitch and will generate annoyance or even harsh rejection. Here are 3 topics that are "evergreen"--they are always of great interest to audiences. Customize the topics to your audience and customize the perspective from your particular company--but make…
Speak Like Steve Jobs? It's possible!

Susan Trivers

23 Jun 2009 | 7:18 am

Steve Jobs has a well-earned reputation for being a dynamic, compelling and passionate public speaker. With all the expectations on his shoulders, he manages to break free from the boring CEO speech model; and he has relegated Power Point to its appropriate position as a visual aid. If Steve Jobs can do this with the whole world watching, so can you! Take these three moments from his 2008 keynote: 1) Create a theme in a few words. Deliver it with flair, creating a feeling of expectation. In 2008 Jobs opened his keynote with the phrase "there's something in the air." With that…
Public Speakers--Put the Audience First, Please

Susan Trivers

19 Jun 2009 | 7:09 am

Picture a hotel ballroom filled with 350 high-powered local business people. They've gathered for the annual Chairman's Luncheon of the largest Chamber of Commerce in the metro area. Awards are bestowed and the transition between Chamber Chairs takes place. And during the 1-1/2 hours of speeches and presentations not a single inspirational word is spoken to encourage this powerful audience to participate in the coming year. When you or your organization gathers this kind of audience, your first step in preparing the speeches must be to think about connecting to the audience.
Speaking Opportunities Are Priceless: Create Them for Yourself

Susan Trivers

15 Jun 2009 | 9:02 am

Business development--or to say it more clearly, more sales, more revenue, more customers--is on everyone's mind. And minimizing spending is also on everyone's mind. Is there one activity that will help your business grow and that doesn't cost you a lot of money to implement? Yes! That one activity is speaking to audiences of your prospects. Three questions are popping into your head right now. Here they are along with the answers: 1 - What do I talk about? Talk about a solution to a business problem or "pain" that the majority of your customers have. My CPA clients…

tjwalker.com
Art of the Acceptance Speech

TJ Walker

12 Jun 2009 | 3:05 pm
Photos of the World Record at FoxNews.com

TJ Walker

4 Jun 2009 | 8:17 am

2009-06-01 tj and jess - World Record Click the above image to view 46 photos of the event. You can see more photos taken by Ryan McCormick: 58 Photos
Congratulations to the team behind TJ Walker and Jess Todtfeld’s Guinness World Record !

TJ Walker

1 Jun 2009 | 4:23 pm
How does it feel to break a Guinness World Record?

TJ Walker

1 Jun 2009 | 4:14 pm
73 radio interviews, a new Guinness World Record for TJ Walker and Jess Todtfeld

TJ Walker

1 Jun 2009 | 4:13 pm

The Next Meeting
3 Steps To Transform Your Elevator Pitch and Win More Business

Storyboard Guru Speaks

30 Jun 2009 | 5:13 pm

You’ve got 15- 30 seconds in your elevator pitch to win attention from your target client. If you do it well, you can get a second meeting. If you do it poorly, you won’t get a second chance. To give a great elevator speech, be passionate and connect with your audience. Share Your Passion Share your story. Be [...]
When Did You Moondance The Last Time?

Storyboard Guru Speaks

26 Jun 2009 | 3:23 pm

A tribute to Michael Jackson - thanks for being a inspiration to keep moving. Get up and do it. Now. Come on I know you want to…. Ever since the late Michael Jackson popularized the moonwalk in 1983, the iconic dance move has entranced people around the world. Other post of interest for this topic.Confessions of A Road [...]
“I found out that if you are going to win games, you had better be ready to adapt.” – Scotty Bowman, Hockey Coach

Storyboard Guru Speaks

24 Jun 2009 | 11:20 am

Other post of interest for this topic.Web Conferences: The “Immediacy factor” as a management tool.As far as the modern world is concerned, web conferences have become a way of life.Online Conference.The Presentation Prescription: First, Do No Harm“Is A Strategic Storyboard Worth the Hassle?”"First do no harm" -- hey, isn't that part of the .Have You [...]
Are You Chasing Two Rabbits?

Storyboard Guru Speaks

22 Jun 2009 | 6:16 pm

Many leaders, business owners and entrepreneurs know that public speaking skills are critical for effective leadership. Even if your business title does not include CEO, CFO, or CIO, you are leading when you get up to speak in public. So, how can you be sure your message really works? You will save tons of money [...]
Grow Your Business With PowerPoint Presentation Training

Storyboard Guru Speaks

18 Jun 2009 | 10:45 am

Grow Your Business With PowerPoint Presentation Training Have you ever evaluated your skills in PowerPoint Presentation? If so, you probably recognize that training can provide significant help for improvement. This is true for any business professional, as PowerPoint presentation is a key skill for advancement in many careers. Whether you are in a profession that requires frequent [...]

My Toastmasters Blog
A Speaking Pet Peeve and How to Fix It: Many of You

chris

19 Jun 2009 | 9:16 am

Do you want to know a sure fire way to alienate large portions of your audience? “You all know the next speaker…” Can I let you in on a little secret? Not everyone knows the person that you are neglecting to introduce, so you always need to properly introduce someone. This common oversight only gets worse when the person comes up and gets right into the content without introducing themselves after a misguided introduction. When someone introduces a speaker as “a person that needs no introduction”, you will alienate everyone in the audience that doesn’t know the speaker from Adam.
10 Reasons No One Wants to Be an Officer in Your Club

chris

17 Jun 2009 | 9:16 am

It is June, so that means it is time to elect a new slate of officers for the next Toastmaster year. If your club is like many I have worked with, this is crunch time. You have a few officers that want to stay, a few new candidates, but there are some glaring gaps in your officer list. Maybe you don’t have someone that wants to step up and be President, take on the task of Vice President of Education, or show up and be Sergeant At Arms. Why are people not stepping up and taking a greater role in the leadership of the club? 1. You Haven’t Explained What is Required of Each Officer’s Role…
Why Don’t You Practice?

chris

10 Jun 2009 | 4:38 am

Why don’t you practice your speeches more? photo credit: S.Su I have observed hundreds of speakers in the past four years of my Toastmasters membership. It hasn’t mattered if those speakers are brand new or old-timers, you can always tell when they have not practiced. I see it in the reliance on their notes, the overuse of filler words, or the lack of structure in the presentation. If I can tell, your audience can tell, and you are going to lose them. So why aren’t you practicing? Do you feel that you do not have enough time? Do you not know what you really want to say? Did you sign up…
Evaluations – What Got You Here…

chris

27 May 2009 | 9:09 am

I am reading Marshall Goldsmith’s, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, and it has been enlightening. As a leader, it has given me perspective on the habits that hold leaders back and keep them from attaining their true potential. What struck me about the cases presented in the book was the use of 360 feedback forms with the persons that were being coached. As a Toastmaster this interested me, because we are always giving feedback to our members, but are we doing it correctly? It has been some time since I dug into the topic of evaluations on this blog, so I am glad that Goldsmith’s…
The BIG thing

GuestPost

16 May 2009 | 3:50 am

Note from Chris: Today’s guest post is from Stevie King. I am excited to have Stevie post, because he is one of only a handful of speakers left competing in the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking. So let us learn from Stevie about, “The BIG thing.” Project three in the basic manual of Toastmasters International is titled, “Get to the Point”. The project has the speaker work on identifying both a general and a specific point to their speech. Most of us don’t have a problem identifying the general purpose of our speeches. If you are a professor,…

Persuasions Blog
Jul 2, When You Submit to any information to Speechmastery.com

2 Jul 2009 | 5:09 am

One of the most unusual posts to my feed back submission boxes is this... Was your objective to get me to leave my information here? The answer is No. I do not sell, the information. I only use it to tell what visitors are interested in for creating new content and occasionally to answer personal questions. Sometimes those who submit information develop into professional relationships. Public Speakers in my experience tend to be very independent and private. I have noticed that many of my students who have gone on to better things are not of a nature to pay it forward. Likewise they do not…
Jun 28, How to Effectively Read Trade Journals and Papers in Less Time.

28 Jun 2009 | 5:09 am

Learn how to read trade journals in less time and stop saying I hate to read by following simple process.
Jun 27, Stress Reducers for Public Speakers: Food, Techniques, and Treatments.

27 Jun 2009 | 1:07 pm

Stress reducers, how food, techniques and treatments can bring stress reduction.
Jun 16, Learn Public Speaking Mastery of Persuasive and Motivational Speeches

15 Jun 2009 | 9:46 pm

Master the three pillars of great public speaking. Learn speaking skills, persuasive, motivational, PowerPoint techniques, even health and memory tips for the public speaker.
Jun 12, What is Communication? A comprehenisve look at verbal and nonverbal communicatio

11 Jun 2009 | 6:37 pm

What is communication? What are the various aspects? A comprehensive list.

Public Speakers Blog
The Professional Speaker Show

steve

1 Jul 2009 | 9:27 pm

Check out www.professionalspeakershow.com for some of the best video training on how to earn a substantial living as a professional speaker. Mike Stewart and I developed this video magazine to give speakers inside information on the art and business of professional speaking from a 7-figure per year perspective. As of July 2, 2009, we have over 70 hours of video training on the site, and we’re adding new video’s every month. We took several hours of backstage video last quarter that takes you behind the scenes of speaking to packed auditoriums with thousands of people in the…
The Bill Gove Advice that Catapulted my Speaking Career

steve

13 Jun 2009 | 12:34 pm

Bill Gove, the legendary father of professional speaking, gave me a piece of advice back in 1996 that changed my life as a professional speaker. These are the two things most speakers miss, which opens the door for new speakers to enter the business and pass them. It’s part ego, part laziness, and part not fully understanding the uniqueness of the keynote medium. 13 years later, this is the model I still follow to rank among the top 1% of professional speakers, and YOU can do it, too. Don’t buy into the ego driven philosophy that say’s speakers are modern day philosophers or…
Siebold Success Network Update: Speakers Audition Videos Due by June 5, 2009

steve

29 May 2009 | 2:31 pm

If you want to speak at the Siebold Success Network meeting in Atlanta, July 11-12 listen to this audio post and upload your 2 minute video as soon as possible. We have speakers, trainers, coaches and consultants flying in from all Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, England, France, Mexico, Canada and across the United States. Thousands of deals will be done and contracts signed during this 48 hour deal-fest. If you missed the conference call update earlier this week, this post is a 13 minute synopsis. If you haven’t registered yet, go to www.sieboldsuccessnetwork.com. We don’t…
Public Speakers promoting books on Television

steve

21 May 2009 | 8:04 am

One of the best ways to promote your book is by doing TV interviews. TV gives you and your book added credibility, while showcasing your ability to communicate effectively in different mediums. Once you obtain a digital copy of each interview, you can post them on your website for additional promotion. Last week I was a guest on a HOT new morning show with a large audience base of 4 million throughout South Florida, to talk about my new book, Die Fat or Get Tough: 101 Differences in Thinking between Fat People and Fit People. (www.diefatbook.com) As you can see, TV interviews move quickly, so…
Siebold Success Network: How it works and why it may be the biggest break of your speaking career

steve

5 May 2009 | 7:29 pm

Almost 800 speakers from 11 countries registered for the Siebold Success Network conference call last week. For those of you who couldn’t join us, I’ve recorded a 19 minute synopsis of the call on this post. Speakers from all over the world have already registered for the pre-launch event July 11-12, in Atlanta. As of May 5, 2009, we have 92 seats left. If you’re looking for a way to book more speaking dates than you can handle, listen to this recording and then go to http://www.sieboldsuccessnetwork.com to register. Half the seats were filled within an hour after the…

Visual, Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Body Language in the Press

24 Jun 2009 | 1:44 pm

Normally, when a ZMFer is quoted in the news, its published in the section reserved for "In the News". Today, we are breaking that rule for an article I was quoted in called "Body Language Decoded"- right on target for a blog about communication. Published on Forbes.com, the article does a great job of explaining how important nonverbal behaviors are in conveying your message to your audience. I love the specific examples and practical suggestions for improvement.
The Five “Es” of PowerPoint

23 Jun 2009 | 12:10 pm

For years now some people have been trying to tell other people how to use and how not to use PowerPoint (a particularly funny one, here). There are books, articles, videos, presentations, blogs and now there are even experts on Twitter (if your tweeting, follow me at @tzagnoli or our firm at @ZMF_LLC).What is it that prevents us from heeding the advice that has been heaped upon us for over a decade now? My hypothesis is that we are confused, lazy, stubborn and cannot give up on three erroneous beliefs that we hold as truths.1) “my content is different and it is impossible to make it…
Be Careful What You Hear

1 Jun 2009 | 1:17 pm

Another guest post from another talented ZMF colleague - enjoy! Talk soon, TZ Effective communication relies not only on good listening, pronunciation of words, and reading nonverbal signals; it also requires awareness of assumptions that exist among us. Factoring in subconscious stereotypes and effective communication can get a little tricky. What made me think of this was a recent encounter I had while walking my dog.So, I was walking my dog, and another guy was walking his, and as many city dwellers would not be surprised to learn, the two dogs sniffed each other and I engaged in small…
Nonverbal Intelligence

13 May 2009 | 12:39 pm

There is liking what you do and then there is having the nonverbal intelligence to show it.Michelle Obama's popularity is on the rise. How is that happening? One trait is her ability to demonstrate that she is enjoying the different life roles she has committed to. Her big smile, open posture, easy movement, eye contact, and touch all send messages to the world that say, I like being First Lady, being a mom is cool, life is good as Barack's wife. My guess is that she presets herself very much the same way as a lawyer, hostess and carpool organizer. To appear unburdened by life is an…
Have You Got a Case of the Blahs?

1 May 2009 | 9:42 am

Please don't blah blah blah. Instead, finish your sentence or thought. It will be more effective and I will personally appreciate it. Is there a grammatically correct way to use blah blah blah? On email or texting probably. When speaking, rarely. Nonetheless, using it as a crutch because of a lazy brain or small vocabulary makes a speaker sound flip and just plain boring. When is flip appropriate? And why strive for boring? By depending on the blah to fill in for real language, you weaken your point. If it is a verbal habit of yours, keep it in check. People will find you more interesting.

BetterPresenting
What we can learn from Michael Jackson

Rick Altman

29 Jun 2009 | 4:59 pm

The passing of legend Michael Jackson has been felt in every part of society's fabric, so it should come as no surprise that the community of presentation professionals can reflect on his life and take something from his experiences. As I separate the bizarre from the pathetic, I try to disregard the surgeries, skin-bleaching, bed-sharing, and bone-scavenging. Instead, I focus on the loneliness and extreme isolation which led to his confusing two important emotions -- a confusion that could befall anyone who performs in public. Michael Jackson confused attention with adoration and…
PowerPoint Live Design Contest Ending July 1

Rick Altman

16 Jun 2009 | 10:52 pm

Our annual user conference has a fun and storied tradition of essentially putting out for bid the designing of our conference slide template. We invite all comers to participate, with the creator of the chosen design being awarded with a free conference passport and round-trip airfare from a U.S. city. All of the details are at the conference website, and they are worth reading. This is not a typical design project or audition, in wlhich one of the goals is to create pizazz and be noticed. This template needs to serve as a soft and graceful backdrop, in front of which our team of experts…
7,000 miles away...feels just like home

Rick Altman

10 Jun 2009 | 9:49 pm

I am enjoying my first-ever trip to Scandinavia, having been asked by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Norway to give a one-day workshop on presentation skills. It stays light until past 11p in Oslo this time of year -- which is just as well, seeing how it felt like I began the workshop at midnight, given the nine-hour time difference from California. It was comforting to have found common ground with my northern European counterparts. When I began my introduction -- remarking on how most people learn PowerPoint in about 30 minutes and then declare themselves proficient -- many heads…
Pretty Slides = Good Presentation...NOT.

Rick Altman

28 May 2009 | 8:40 am

Forgive the radio silence over the past four weeks; I have been busier than ever before. I was involved extensively with a defense contractor that I an not allowed to identify, a pharmaceutical company that I am (Bristol-Myers Squibb), a foreign country that I cannot name, and an upcoming trip to one that I can (Norway). In all cases, I note two phenomena that have a potentially profound impact on how our professional community moves forward: 1) Few of my clients understand what the word "design" means. 2) Most of them equate the set of slides that they create with their…
Mobile Networking and Golf

Rick Altman

12 Apr 2009 | 5:23 pm

As i was watching the Masters today, one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world, I was struck by how many players made the same mistake. On the 15th green, a severely sloped and long traverse, just about every player who was putting uphill (and all pros know it's better to putt uphill than downhill) came up short. I watched in amazement as over a dozen players made the same mistake, reading the green as faster than it actually was.The object of my surprise is not that these players misjudged the green. Golf is so hard, and courses set up for the pros are unimaginably difficult,…

Persuasive Communication and Life Skills
How To Get Agreement From Someone Saying No

drkblog@gmail.com (Dr. Rick Kirschner)

1 Jul 2009 | 1:10 am

Riddle me this. What pattern works as well with a negative person at work as it does with a two year old at home? The Polarity Response pattern! [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Difficult Behavior – What To Do With Negative People

drkblog@gmail.com (Dr. Rick Kirschner)

29 Jun 2009 | 1:02 am

So what to do about negative energy, particularly when it’s directed at you? Well, I agree with those who say that if you find your energy is drained around certain people, it makes no sense to be... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Difficult Behavior – Negative or Realistic?

drkblog@gmail.com (Dr. Rick Kirschner)

26 Jun 2009 | 1:12 am

We’re talking about what to do with negative people. I’m saying maybe it’s not them that’s draining you, maybe it’s you draining you by trying so hard to be upbeat when they’re around. All that... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Difficult Behavior – Negative People Better Than Positive?

drkblog@gmail.com (Dr. Rick Kirschner)

24 Jun 2009 | 1:01 am

We’re talking about negative people and what to do about them. Should you shun them, the way a Klingon warrior shuns a Klingon who has been disgraced? Or avoid them? Or try to talk them into being... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Difficult Behavior – Should You Avoid Negative People?

drkblog@gmail.com (Dr. Rick Kirschner)

22 Jun 2009 | 1:01 am

I have a number of friends and acquaintances who refer to negative people in some very negative ways. I’ve heard them called Energy Vampires that suck the life out of your marrow. I’ve heard them... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Digital Roam
Launch! on the back of a napkin

dr@digitalroam.com

7 Jun 2009 | 10:33 pm

A few weeks ago, Guy Kawasaki asked if I'd like to deliver the keynote at the SVASE (Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs) Launch 2009 event. There are a couple important things to know about Guy. One is that he gets to go on all the coolest blogging trips. (Check out his recent photos from onboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz.) Two is that he knows everybody. Three is that when he asks you to do anything, the answer is "YES!" -- especially if it's as such a great event as Launch!The whole idea of Launch! is that a whole bunch of brilliant start-ups that need…
Speaking of moving abroad: The Back of the Napkin takes Asia!

dr@digitalroam.com

1 Jun 2009 | 4:53 pm

Over the past few weeks, I've received three of the first non-US editions of THE BACK OF THE NAPKIN in the mail. The first to arrive was the Taiwan edition, published by Yuan-Lion, Taipei. I understand that within weeks it had become a bestseller in Taiwan. Next arrived the South Korean edition, published by Book 21, Seoul. And yesterday I received the Japanese edition, published by Kodansha, Tokyo. I want to thank all the editors, writers, and designers for such spectacular work! It is difficult to describe the pleasure of seeing my words in a language I can't read -- while my…
Want be more creative? Move abroad.

dr@digitalroam.com

1 Jun 2009 | 4:19 pm

Frommer's travel site today quotes a study in the May edition of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association, indicating that people who have lived outside their native country may develop more creative minds. The full study is here. I can't speak for anyone else, but I know that in my own life the times I lived outside the USA forced me to become a more creative thinker. At age seventeen I moved from Montana to Thailand for a year. That was an extreme shock, but after the initial cultural drowning period I loved every minute…
Unfolding the Napkin: book two is a wrap

dr@digitalroam.com

28 May 2009 | 11:57 pm

Last week I completed the manuscript for my next book. It is a great feeling to have it done.Unfolding the Napkin: The Complete Workbook for Solving Complex Problems with Simple Pictures will be available in January, 2010. Like The Back of the Napkin, it will be published by Adrian Zackheim at Penguin Portfolio. Courtney Young is editing.The Workbook covers the visual thinking concepts, tools, and rules I introduced in The Back of the Napkin, but this time I present everything through guided do-it-yourself exercises. I structured the book as a complete four-day visual-thinking seminar, taking…
The Force was with us

dr@digitalroam.com

13 May 2009 | 10:41 pm

Without a doubt, the best part of getting your business book done is getting asked by companies you admire to come give a talk. All the effort is instantly worth it the moment the company you always dreamed of working for calls up and wonders, "Would you be willing to share your ideas with our people?"The answer is YES. Especially if the company calling is Lucasfilm. I wanted to work for Lucas every single day since I first saw Star Wars thirty years ago. I don't think I've ever recovered from receiving a copy of Joe Johnston's "Star Wars Sketchbook" for…

The Accidental Communicator
Bragging Is What Presenters Need To Be Able To Do Well

Dr. Jim Anderson

30 Jun 2009 | 3:59 am

Presenters Need To Learn How To Use Bragging To Establish Their Creditability Just in case you’ve forgotten it, the #1 question on the minds of any audience that is seated and waiting for you to begin talking to them is “Why should I even bother listening to you?“. This means that in order for you to have any hope of making an impact on this audience, you’re going to have to answer this question right off the bat. But how? The Art Of The Brag I’m afraid that we’re going to have to talk about the “C” word – “credibility“. As a…
Dennis Quaid Gives A Keynote Speech – Real Life Speeches

Dr. Jim Anderson

23 Jun 2009 | 4:59 am

Dennis Quaid Gave A Keynote Speech That Missed The Mark I just got back from spending the better part of a week up in Chicago at a big health care conference (HIMSS09). This was an amazing opportunity for me to sit back and watch somewhere in the neighborhood of about 100 different presenters get up and do their very best job at communicating. One of these presenters was Dennis Quaid – the actor. What was Dennis Quaid doing at a fairly boring health care IT conference you ask? Well it turns out that he has a heck of a story to tell about how his newborn children were given the wrong…
Business Stories: Out Of Place Or On Target?

Dr. Jim Anderson

16 Jun 2009 | 4:59 am

Stories Can Be A Powerful Part Of Any Business Presentation One question that I keep getting asked over and over by speakers that I am working with is if storytelling is such a powerful communication tool, then why isn’t it used more in business settings? It’s a good question, but the answer is a little bit complicated. Where Did All The Stories Go? I can’t tell you how many business presentations I’ve sat though that at the end I couldn’t have told you what was talked about if my life depended on it. It’s not that the speaker was necessarily bad,…
Real Life Speeches: Alan Greenspan Gives A Keynote

Dr. Jim Anderson

9 Jun 2009 | 4:59 am

Alan Greenspan Gave A Keynote Speech At The HIMSS Conference Even if you don’t work in the world of high-finance, you surely know who Alan Greenspan is. He was the chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve from 1987 to 2006. There’s no question that this guy is smart, but can he deliver a good keynote speech? Where It Happened While attending the recent HIMSS health care show up in Chicago, I had an opportunity to watch Greenspan in action as he gave a keynote speech. Now you have to understand that he was speaking on the third day of a 3-day conference and generally the crowds would…
Real Life Speeches: George Halvorson, CEO Of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.

Dr. Jim Anderson

2 Jun 2009 | 4:59 am

George Halvorson Gave A Keynote Speech That Can Teach Us All A Lot We can talk about how to be a better communicator all we want, but in the end it comes down to learning – and we all do this in different ways. One great way to discover what a speaker should (or should not) do is to watch ‘em in action. This time around we’re going to take a look at how a powerful CEO, George Halvorson, did during a recent keynote speech. Halvorson is the Chairman and CEO of the Kaiser Permanente health system. There’s no question that he knows his stuff, the challenge will be to…

The Campaign Spot
President Obama May Be Getting One Right . . . for...

jiminturkey@gmail.com

2 Jul 2009 | 2:52 pm

Closing Velocity finds a bit of reason for good cheer this Fourth of July:amp;nbsp;Michael McFaul, special assistant to the president and senior White... . . .
It Takes More Than Throwing Tea Into Boston Harbor

jiminturkey@gmail.com

2 Jul 2009 | 2:25 pm

This Fourth of July, a lot of grassroots activists will be holding their second round of tea parties -- 612 at last count. If you attend one this week... . . .
Wow, the Market's Bad, and Hey, New Michael Jack...

jiminturkey@gmail.com

2 Jul 2009 | 2:06 pm

Hmmm. The New York Stock Exchange extends trading an extraamp;nbsp;15amp;nbsp;minutes in order to "execute customer orders impacted by system irregula... . . .
Obama: Stop Blaming Me for the Economy, I Just Got...

jiminturkey@gmail.com

2 Jul 2009 | 12:41 pm

Obama, moments ago, responding to unemployment hitting the highest it's been in 26 years: "It took us years to get into this mess, and it will take mo... . . .
Sanford Watch: State Law Enforcement Reports . . ....

jiminturkey@gmail.com

2 Jul 2009 | 11:33 am

I have yet to hear from anyone in South Carolina circles who strongly believes that Gov. Mark Sanford should not resign. With his latest round of comm... . . .

Liberal Fascism
Lebensunwertes Leben

30 Jun 2009 | 9:02 am

From the LA Times: Reporting from Washington -- President Obama suggested at a town hall event Wednesday night that one way to shave medical costs is to stop expensive and ultimately futile procedures performed on people who are about to die and don't stand to gain from the extra care. In a nationally televised event at the White House, Obama said families need better information so they don't unthinkingly approve "additional tests or additional drugs that the evidence shows is not necessarily going to improve care." He added: "Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking the…
LF & Godwin's Law

29 Jun 2009 | 2:17 pm

The editorial blog of the Baltimore Sun is accusing me of violating Godwin's law, and some of the commenters are rushing to my defense.
Isn't That Special

29 Jun 2009 | 8:35 am

From an AP story on the kerfuffle over Neo-Nazis signing up for the adopt-a-highway program: Representatives of the National Socialist movement in Missouri did not immediately return calls seeking comment about the legislation Sunday. But a statement on the movement's Web site calls the renaming "a lame attempt to insult National Socialist pro-environment/green policies."
Misconstruing Mussolini

29 Jun 2009 | 6:55 am

Over at the Armed & Dangerous Blog.
The LF Voxiversity Exams Continue

27 Jun 2009 | 4:15 pm

The Chapter Two Quiz is now up.

washingtonpost.com - George F. Will Archive
On Race, the Slog Goes On

George F. Will

29 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

Although New Haven's firefighters deservedly won in the Supreme Court, it is deeply depressing that they won narrowly -- 5 to 4. The egregious behavior by that city's government, in a context of racial rabble-rousing, did not seem legally suspect to even one of the court's four liberals, whose harmony seemed to reflect result-oriented rather than law-driven reasoning.
A Regrettable 'Fix' on Health Care

George F. Will

27 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

"In the beginning," says a character in a Peter De Vries novel, "the earth was without form and void. Why didn't they leave well enough alone?" When Washington is finished improving health care, Americans may be asking the same thing. Certainly the debate will compel them to think more clearly about this subject.
A Quixotic Pursuit: Green Energy Jobs

George F. Will

24 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

The Spanish professor is puzzled. Why, Gabriel Calzada wonders, is the U.S. president recommending that America emulate the Spanish model for creating "green jobs" in "alternative energy" even though Spain's unemployment rate is 18.1 percent -- more than double the European Union average -- partly because of spending on such jobs?
Health Care's Stalking-Horse: The 'Public Option'

George F. Will

20 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

To dissect today's health-care debate, the crux of which concerns a "public option," use the mind's equivalent of a surgeon's scalpel, Occam's razor, a principle of intellectual parsimony: In solving a puzzle, start with the simplest explanatory theory.
New Bill, More of the Same: Protecting Big Tobacco

George F. Will

17 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

Politicians have extraordinary shoulder joints that enable them to pat themselves on the back, and last week the president, a master of that calisthenic, performed it in the Rose Garden. His subject -- aside from himself, as usual -- was the bill by which Congress authorized the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco. The president called this "a bill that truly defines change in Washington" and "changes the way Washington works and who Washington works for."

TSG Speakers Bureau Blog
New Inspiration for Business Leaders from Blanchard Authors

TSGspeakers

15 Jun 2009 | 9:40 am

Ken Blanchard and company have been inspiring business leaders for 30 years. This month they have three new must-read books on organizational change, partnering for performance, and how to run effective meetings (and each is supported with keynote and workshop presentations for your events): Who Killed Change? Solving the Mystery of Leading People Through Change Every day, [...]
10 New Speakers to Generate Excitement and Results at Your Next Event

TSGspeakers

11 Jun 2009 | 1:06 pm

In our ongoing effort to help meeting planners and business leaders create the most exciting, results-oriented meeting agendas, we’re excited to introduce the 10 newest additions to our roster of speakers (in alphabetical order): Stew Friedman – Stew is the Director of the Wharton Work/Life Integration Project and author of the 2008 national bestseller, Total Leadership: Be [...]
Ben Stein Defends Business Meetings

TSGspeakers

10 Jun 2009 | 3:32 pm

Our thanks to Ben Stein for speaking out about the importance of the meetings industry on CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5075350n%3fsource=search_video Way to go, Ben!
MPI One+ Article Addresses Managing Speaker Costs

TSGspeakers

9 Jun 2009 | 4:00 pm

The online edition of MPI’s June 2009 One+ magazine includes an article about how meeting and event professionals can manage speaker costs in the current economic climate: “Talk Ain’t Cheap: How to secure a speaker for your event with as little fiscal pain as possible.” Robert Farmer, author of the article, writes: For planners, the art [...]
Bullet-Proof Your Job – A Special Message from Drs. Kevin and Jackie Freiberg

TSGspeakers

5 Jun 2009 | 10:12 am

Dr. Kevin Freiberg and Dr. Jackie Freiberg are two of our favorite speakers – because (1) they’re good, cool people, and (2) they are great assets to individuals and organizations who want to go “BOOM!” and break the mold of business-as-usual. We’re happy to share this special message from them for everyone who wants to [...]

Speakersite.com: Artie Isaac
FEATURED ON SPEAKERSITE: Jeff Knott

Artie Isaac

SpeakerSite welcomes all members — especially Jeff Knott from Apollo Beach, Florida — a featured member on SpeakerSite! Want to know more about Jeff? Here you go... Eight Quick Questions With Jeff Knott You can read all about Jeff on his SpeakerSite profile. Also, I asked Jeff eight more questions. Here are his answers: 1. Why did you join SpeakerSite? I believe I was among the first 800 members. I was attracted to the professionalism and experience of the members. Plus, Artie, I saw that you were from Columbus and my whole family are Buckeyes — what more do I need to say! 2. What hopes…
Chris Brogan on "Tuning Up Your Personal Message"

Artie Isaac

He's at it again. Making sense. Click here.
How a Cab Driver Taught Me About Public Speaking

Artie Isaac

"Do you know baseball?" These were the first words spoken to us in conversation upon arriving in New York. This was a trip, just for fun, for Alisa and me about 15 years ago. The flight attendant had said, "Bye bye." The taxi dispatcher had asked, "Where to?" But this was the taxi driver offering the first New York conversation. He was a middle aged white guy in an old baseball cap. "Do you know baseball?" Perhaps we had just passed Shea or Yankee Stadium. Or maybe there was a sports report on WINS 1010 radio. ("News, traffic and weather on the 10s. Give us 10 minutes and we'll give you the…
Have your post featured on the home page of SpeakerSite

Artie Isaac

Why do some posts get featured? I'm sitting here at the magic button ("feature this post") and I'm looking for posts that: 1. help speakers and event planners 2. are not mercenary and self-promotional 3. either interest or tickle me. Tickle me?
FEATURED ON SPEAKERSITE: Michael Soon Lee, CSP

Artie Isaac

SpeakerSite welcomes all new members — especially Michael Soon Lee, CSP from Dublin, California -- a featured member on SpeakerSite! Want to know more about Michael? Here you go... Nine Quick Questions With Michael Soon Lee You can read all about Michael on his SpeakerSite profile. Also, I asked Michael nine more questions. Here are his answers: 1. Why did you join SpeakerSite? To connect with old friends and make new ones. Speaking can be a very lonely profession — traveling alone, staying in hotels alone, and speaking alone. Few truly understand what we do and some of our challenges…

The Public Speaker's Quick and Dirty Tips for Improving Your Communication Skills
049 TPS Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

QuickAndDirtyTips.com

25 Jun 2009 | 4:05 pm

Questions go to publicspeaker@quickanddirtytips.com or 206-350-7970. Like what you hear? Help us out by writing a review at iTunes!
048 TPS Primum Non Nocere (Above All, Do No Harm!)

QuickAndDirtyTips.com

18 Jun 2009 | 4:05 pm

Questions go to publicspeaker@quickanddirtytips.com or 206-350-7970. Like what you hear? Help us out by writing a review at iTunes!
047 TPS What You Don't "No" Can't Hurt You

QuickAndDirtyTips.com

11 Jun 2009 | 4:05 pm

Questions go to publicspeaker@quickanddirtytips.com or 206-350-7970. Like what you hear? Help us out by writing a review at iTunes!
046 TPS In Search of Timing

QuickAndDirtyTips.com

4 Jun 2009 | 4:05 pm

Questions go to publicspeaker@quickanddirtytips.com or 206-350-7970. Like what you hear? Help us out by writing a review at iTunes!
045 TPS Jumble Madness

QuickAndDirtyTips.com

28 May 2009 | 4:05 pm

Questions go to publicspeaker@quickanddirtytips.com or 206-350-7970. Like what you hear? Help us out by writing a review at iTunes!

Power Presentations
Presentation Graphics: A Special Series II

In April 2009 we launched a two-week series on presentation graphics. In response to our readers, we are going to run a second series of blogs dedicated to presentation graphics. Graphics can be either your best friend or worst enemy during your presentation. Beginning Monday, July 20th, Jerry and the Power Presentations team will offer you ...
Is the Honeymoon Over?

From his stunning upset victory in the Iowa Caucuses at the start of the presidential primaries, throughout the election campaign, and in the first hundred days of his term in office, the media treated Barack Obama like a rock star and handled him with kid gloves. He acknowledged as much ...
“When did you stop beating your wife?”

Sooner or later every human being on the face of this planet is confronted with tough questions. One of the toughest and most common is the infamous loaded question, "When did you stop beating your wife?" which implies that you have indeed been beating your wife. How do you answer ...
Presentation Advice from Soprano Kiri Te Kanawa

In 1982, soprano Kiri Te Kanawa was awarded the title Dame Commander of the British Empire for her lifetime achievements as one of the leading operatic singers in the world. These days Dame Kiri spends most of her time in a backstage role with her own foundation dedicated to helping ...
Glossophobia

In an earlier blog, you read about mistakes during a presentation. The blog was focused more on falters in demonstrations than on traditional speaking events, but the least common denominator in both events is fear. This fear of public speaking is referred to as glossophobia, a word that comes from ...

Matt Eventoff
Say, Say, Say…

Matt Eventoff

1 Jul 2009 | 1:26 pm

It is better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and resolve all doubt. ~Abraham Lincoln The easiest way to save face is to keep the lower half shut. ~Author Unknown Say, Say, Say….nothing. Two hypothetical situations: Scenario #1 - You are a high profile elected official who has just been caught being unfaithful to his family, disappeared on Father’s Day weekend, become a front page story for 5 days, and rambled on endlessly at a press conference about all of it, with little structure and what seemed like very little preparation. It is safe…
What America Reads…

Matt Eventoff

26 Jun 2009 | 3:49 pm

I found this post from Brian Solis very interesting – a list of the top media outlets, by circulation, as well as the 25 most popular blogs in America, as compiled by BurrellesLuce. Marshall McLuhan is famous for stating “the medium is the message” and with the introduction of a newer medium (online, web) there is constant debate as to its effect on older mediums (print, broadcast). While there are constantly articles about the decline of traditional print media, there are still some publications that have tremendous reach and impact. Thanks to Brian for…
Blackberry Etiqutte, Pt II…

Matt Eventoff

24 Jun 2009 | 12:26 pm

The debate over “Blackberry etiquette” in meetings has gotten quite a bit of ink since last week’s post….There were a number of very interesting takes in the blogosphere, some of which I’m going to share this week. Some of my favorites: Your Mind on Media – there are some interesting takes here, not only on whether or not to “Blackberry” during a meeting, but also on some interesting programs companies like Intel are implementing to try and stem the tide of digital overload ValleyPR Blog – this is one of the most honest posts I’ve…
Your Blackberry Or Your Career?

Matt Eventoff

17 Jun 2009 | 6:56 am

The leadership chaos in New York, only rivaled this week by the leadership chaos in Iran, offers a valuable lesson in communications for everyone. As background, late last week there was a coup in the State Senate that has brought New York government to a grinding halt. All because of a Blackberry… Not just any Blackberry, but one owned and operated by Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith. Senator Smith had a meeting and paid attention to his Blackberry rather than the gentleman sitting in front of him. Bottom line — Senator Smith is no longer Senate Majority Leader…
Churchill, Lincoln, Kennedy…and Bloggers?

Matt Eventoff

11 Jun 2009 | 7:09 am

(This appeared earlier this week on the HubSpot marketing blog, a leader in all things new media) Winston Churchill. Abraham Lincoln. John F. Kennedy. What do all three great leaders have in common? All were exemplary public speakers, and not one of them blogged Ok, that’s really not fair as Al Gore had not yet even invented the internet while each was alive. Still, there are lessons that every blogger can learn from great public speakers of the past in order to capture, motivate and move an audience. Here are a few: 1. Simplicity - Two of my favorite quotes, both of which apply to…

Thoughts On Presenting And Design
Slide Make-over: EPA Greenversations

Mike

26 Jun 2009 | 6:51 pm

For my previous slide make-over, I gave a slide deck presented by the Coast Guard at a Web 2.0 workshop. This facelift targets a deck presented by the EPA at the same workshop. The issues were different this time and unfortunately, the “Greenversations At A Glance” slide deck was typical of what I see on a regular basis. Not only are the slides text-heavy, but they’re also very content-rich. Too rich, in my opinion. EPA Greenversations Slide Makeover (original) View more documents from Mike Pulsifer. As you can see, there’s a lot to read. The audience…
Sacred Cow #10: Web Site Addresses Are Helpful

Mike

18 Jun 2009 | 9:05 am

PowerPoint’s been around longer than the World Wide Web easily by a country mile. When use of the Web became popular, URLs started invading slide decks. Sometimes they were inserted so the audience could write them down later, or if the slides were abused as handouts, the thought was they could be copied into the browser. Some presenters used them to launch demos of Web sites. The problem with putting URLs in your slides is that though the intent may be noble, the end result is the opposite of what was intended. Take, for example, the slide deck I made over recently: US Coast…
When Murphy Pays A Visit

Mike

11 Jun 2009 | 7:29 pm

If you’re like me, you probably watched Apple’s WWDC Keynote when the video was posted. I had already followed the major announcements earlier in the day, so I took the opportunity to watch Phil Schiller’s much improved performance and marvel at the visuals on the screen. Watching this video, I also saw something I didn’t expect. Murphy got up on stage, not once, but twice during the iPhone 3.0 demos. He may have ruined the demos, but the presenters (and their assistants) saved their presentations. The first incident was during Pasco’s demo of their Spark…
Slide Make-Over: US Coast Guard

Mike

2 Jun 2009 | 7:31 pm

Last month, I attended the Government Web 2.0 Best Practices Workshop hosted by FEMA. As you would expect from events such as this, there were presentations given that included PowerPoint slides. Given my experience, the federal government is a fertile breeding ground for poorly designed and down-right ineffective slides. This event did not disapoint. As you would expect, using slides from where I work would not be a career-enhancing move. However, the event organizers’ decision to make the slide decks available to participants a couple weeks ago gave me just what I needed…
Displaying More Complex Data

Mike

26 May 2009 | 9:05 am

I’m going to take a brief break in the sacred cow series to address something that came up in my 9-to-5. It was one of those situations where it was clear there was a need for a better solution, but it wasn’t obvious exactly what that solution was. This did not involve presentation slides, but it is no less relevant to similar situations that happen to involve slides. I was asked to review a report on an evaluation of some solutions against a list of criteria. At the end was a chart much like this one to the right. (The data in this and all following examples are not the…

Can You Hear Me Up the Back?
Persuading an audience one-to-one

Ian

30 Jun 2009 | 5:47 pm

You can learn from really good talk radio hosts. We’re not talking about the nutbag ones who like to humiliate callers and want everyone locked up, but the ones who create a real intimacy with the listener. They good ones seem like they’re talking specifically to you. They never talk like they’re addressing a vast audience. It’s because no matter how large the audience, it’s usually just one voice talking to one listener in their room or car. Talk in the singular Part of the skill is using singular language: ‘you’, rather than ‘everyone here.’ It makes people feel more…
OK, You’re Good, But What’s In It For Them?

Ian

28 Jun 2009 | 6:53 pm

Well, hello! Have I mentioned how great I am at pretty much everything? Talented. Sophisticated. Charming. And devilishly good looking as well. I guess that gives you some idea of why I’m so popular and successful, so pay attention while I tell you a little more of myself. Now, if those were my first words to you at a party, how many microseconds would it be before you remembered an urgent appointment elsewhere? But lots of well-meaning presenters talk that way on behalf of their company. They stand up and launch right into a long list of company credentials – biggest this, best that,…
The Best Classic Hits and Memories

Ian

25 Jun 2009 | 9:23 pm

Pic Bryan Ledgard Thanks to an against-the-odds miracle of frequent flyer point redemption and client scheduling, I’m closing the laptop and off to wander around Europe for a month. There is much to be done over there - Blur in the park, cheering on Cadel, Belgian beer research. In the spirit of the TV networks, I’ll be running some Classic Posts From the Golden Years, from way back in early ‘08 when this blog existed in a readerless vacuum. There might be some travel commentary over on @ianwhitworth, but absolutely nothing on presentations. Back in early August, folks!
Monkey Disrupts Zambian Press Conference

Ian

25 Jun 2009 | 6:20 am

Only one blog digs deep enough to cover all the stories where presentations and monkeys meet. Press conferences can be unpredictable at any time, but generally the odds are against you being urinated on by a monkey in a tree above. Those long odds didn’t protect President Rupiah Banda of Zambia during an outdoor press conference to discuss the state of the economy. And being a press conference, there were cameras on hand to catch the monkey ’spend a penny’, to use the BBC’s charmingly quaint expression. View the footage here. Top 5 headlines in Lusaka media the next…
Scene Change: Very Good News

Ian

24 Jun 2009 | 4:15 pm

Scene Change Hobart, birthplace of the 2007 AV Revolucion, is thrilled to announce that we’ve been appointed in-house AV supplier to Tasmania’s premier conference venue, the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart. All of our Hobart guys have spent a lot of time working in the Grand Chancellor over the years, and are really excited about working with the hotel team. After all, quite a few Grand Chancellor people have been big fans of our corporate mascot Larry, and have signed posters of him on their desks. Grand Chancellor Hobart General Manager Ralph Freckelton said “The choice was…

Professionally Speaking
Presenting in a Crisis

Kathy Reiffenstein

24 Jun 2009 | 10:18 am

When most of us think about making a presentation, we don't typically think of having to do that in the aftermath of a tragic event. Yet that is the situation faced this week by Washington, DC and NTSB (National Traffic Safety Board) officials following Monday's subway train disaster in which 9 people were killed and many others injured. Mesmerized by the television coverage of the shocking accident, I couldn't help but observe (and be proud of) how skillfully these officials communicated to the public in this difficult situation. There was no PowerPoint. There was no time to rehearse. But…
The Don't Miss This List, Edition 4

Kathy Reiffenstein

17 Jun 2009 | 12:35 pm

I haven't published a "Don't Miss This" List for a while...can you tell I'm a little behind on reading my feeds? (maybe too much Twittering??) In catching up on some of my favorite blogs, I found several I wanted to share: A clever comparison from Janes-List shows us 5 ways public speaking is like dieting. Over at DeFinis Communications, Angela highlights eye contact as a key way to connect with your audience and gives us 5 great tips for talking with your eyes. Loraine Antrim at The CXO Mindset encourages us to recognize the strategic value of story telling in a presentation and outlines how…
THOUGHTS ON A CONFERENCE

Kathy Reiffenstein

11 Jun 2009 | 6:01 pm

I spent most of last week at the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) International Conference and Expo (8000+ attendees) here in Washington, DC at the very impressive Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The days were chocked full of interesting sessions, interesting people and interesting observations. The organizers did a great job. A month prior to the conference, they set up a LinkedIn group for conference speakers as a forum to ask questions and share ideas/best practices. I was asked to post a Presentation Tip of the Day 2-3 times a week. Having a specific place…
TWITTER IN PRESENTATIONS...LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT?

Kathy Reiffenstein

28 May 2009 | 7:35 am

With the explosion in popularity of microblogging tools like Twitter, presenters are now faced with the possibility, or even likelihood, that some members of their audience will be tweeting (posting on Twitter) during the presentation. Initially, that idea is off-putting to many presenters. They sputter, "But that means the audience won't be paying attention to me." Or "It will be distracting for me to see everybody typing on their iPhones." Or "What if they say something negative about me or my presentation?" Those concerns are all worth examining. Let's look at them one by one. THE…
PRESENTATION TIP: USE NOTES

Kathy Reiffenstein

20 May 2009 | 8:22 am

When I teach presentation skills classes, I frequently get asked the question, "Should I use notes in my presentation?" [Said in a tone of voice that assumes the correct answer is no]. For some misguided reason, people seem to think that if they are delivering a presentation or a speech, they need to be able to do it completely from memory, sans notes. They seem to think notes are cheating or make them look like they're unsure of their material. Well, my answer to the question, "Should I use notes?" is a resounding "Yes." Notes are useful on two levels: practical and perceptual.

Speak Without Interruption
You Don’t Love Me So Go Away

Minnette Coleman

2 Jul 2009 | 8:58 am

There is something to be said for forgiveness. Having been raised a Christian I realize its a chance to turn the other cheek and show that I am a good person. Its a chance to think what would Jesus do? Catholicism teaches us he died on the cross for our sins. But I wonder does that include the sin of cheating on one’s spouse or do those being cheated on have to be crucified in the court of public opinion in order to get into heaven? It is easy to say forgiveness, harder to practice it. It is even harder to live with infidelity when everyday your spouse reveals more morbid pieces of…
An Interview of Robert and Miranda Walker by Bill Lynch

SpeakWithout

2 Jul 2009 | 7:17 am

Below is an interview of Robert and Miranda Walker - by Bill Lynch of the Charleston Gazette - that we wanted to share with our viewers: Partners in crime novels: Couple both published authors By Bill Lynch Staff writer Chris Dorst Robert and Miranda Walker show off the covers of their two latest books — her first, his 44th. The couple will share space and sign copies together at area bookstores this summer. CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mystery writer Robert Walker has a selfish reason for wanting his wife, Miranda, to write books of her own. “It’s easier for another writer to…
Challenging Writing — Challenge Your Initial Assumptions, Then Write!

Robert Walker

2 Jul 2009 | 7:03 am

Challenging Writing — Challenge Your Initial Assumptions, Then Write! –by Robert W. Walker We hear all sorts of advice about a writer should do this and should do that with regard to point of view. Have you heard that you should keep to a point of view that is “close” to precisely who you are? That is the ultimate in saying “Write about what you know” since you know your point of view. It says if you are male, write from a male POV, if female then a female…
Notes on Spirit Rock: Visit to Monday evening Buddhism class with Jack Kornfield

Peter Menkin

2 Jul 2009 | 1:43 am

By Peter Menkin Spirit Rock is not a New Age Center, per se. Located in San Francisco’s Bay Area (Marin County’s Woodacre), Spirit Rock is home to Buddhists. They are not Zen Buddhists, as they emphasized. They are Theravada, as is one of their founding members, the teacher and popular writer Jack Kornfield. Many find Spirit Rock a refreshing and spiritual place to visit and take for a retreat. Marin County, and in specific Southern Marin, is not a place for Christian worship. Practicing and church attending Christians are few. So says an older study on religious practice in Marin.
Looking to Begin a Story? Use Images, Not Words

emilyhanlon

1 Jul 2009 | 6:51 pm

Looking to Begin a Story? Use Images, Not Words. A Writing Exercise by Emily Hanlon The problem that many writers have is the misconception that words drive writing, that in order to begin you have to have just the right first sentence or first paragraph. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, this kind of thinking will not get you very far with your writing. Why? Several reasons. First, words are the vehicles through which writers get their characters and stories down on the page. This is not to stay that we don’t like language or playing around with words, but…

The Presentation Advisors
Separating the PowerPoint from the Presentation

Jonathan Thomas

23 Jun 2009 | 8:21 pm

In the past few weeks I've been sitting in on a number of presentations. While we continue to try and improve the quality and effectiveness of presentations worldwide (go big or go home, right?), I still stand by the idea that 99% of presentations suck. Not so much the content, but the design and delivery. The slides were so bad that I found myself looking away from the slide, perhaps out the window, and listening intently to what they were talking about. I found it easier to focus on the content when I wasn't being startled by noisy slides like this one: (Seriously, can you tell me…
PowerPoint Design Methods

Jonathan Thomas

14 Jun 2009 | 4:37 pm

Many of you have probably heard of a variety of “methods” to creating a PowerPoint presentation. I’ve often been asked, “What’s the best method?” Along those same lines I also hear, “How many slides should I have? How much time should I spend on each slide? What size font is the best?” Those questions are impossible to answer. Not with absolute certainty at least. That’s because there is no “right” way to create a presentation. There are certainly some methods that are ineffective (in my opinion), but there are aspects of presentation design where there…
I Draw Like a 5th Grader, and That's Okay

Jonathan Thomas

8 Jun 2009 | 7:29 pm

I draw like a 5th grader. Honestly. Well, maybe 7th grader, but definitely not high school. My art skills as they pertain to the pencil, marker, brush, etc. have never been great, but that's okay. I am still able to design beautiful, effective presentations, and so can you. I hear it all the time. "I'm no good at creating presentations (visuals). I can't draw to save my life." I nearly jump out of my chair or through the phone as I respond, "That's OKAY!! You don't have to be an artist to create effective presentations. That's whats so great about designing…
Mehrabian's Rule and the Puzzle that is Presenting

Jonathan Thomas

4 Jun 2009 | 9:05 pm

Albert Mehrabian – You know him? If not, you can Google him, or Wikipedia (is that a verb?) him. He’s currently a professor of psychology at UCLA, and known best by his formula entitled the “7%-38%-55% Rule.” Simply put, his findings concluded that when we are communicating, 7% of our message is communicated verbally, 38% from vocal tone, and 55% from visual cues (body language).So that’s it from a high level. Of course, these findings can’t be taken literally. He’s not talking about all communication situations, and he’s talking more about communicating emotions…
3 Tips to Create the Perfect Presentation Atmosphere

Jonathan Thomas

28 May 2009 | 6:57 pm

Presentations happen in a multitude of different settings. You see them on stages, in conference rooms, in restaurants, and over web-conferencing platforms, just to name a few. Unfortunately, little attention is paid to the audience's experience. Where will you be standing? Can all your audience members see you? Can you see them? Can they see your slides (the screen)? Will you be mic'd? Wireless or behind a podium? Is the audience accessible to you before you present? Nothing is worse than spending weeks (or even months) to prepare…

Talking Points
Does Obama Give People the “Evil Eye”?

joey

1 Jul 2009 | 5:55 am

Your facial energy can have enormous impact, even at the highest levels. In fact, White House staffers allegedly are joking about President Barack Obama’s tendency to give people the “evil eye.” I’m not sure how much stock to put in this story because it was reported with no attribution on the conservative news/gossip blog “Drudge Report.” But we pass on the story simply to highlight the impact of facial expressions. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with giving someone the “evil eye”. But make sure that you know you’re doing it. A…
For a Great Presentation, Practice the 10/20/30 Rule

joey

30 Jun 2009 | 6:18 am

Guy Kawasaki is a technology guru and venture capitalist who listens to a lot of presentations from entrepreneurs seeking money for start-up ventures. The overwhelming majority of the presentations he hears are, as he says, “crap.” And so he requires that all presentations at his business Garage Technology Ventures follow what he calls the “10/20/30 rule”. It’s a rule that should be embraced by anyone that wants to connect with audiences. The rule states that all presentations should be limited to 10 slides, 20 minutes, and have no words on the slides smaller than 30-point…
Sales Presentation Lessons from Billy Mays

joey

29 Jun 2009 | 5:41 am

Anyone that wants to learn how to create and deliver sales presentations should take a little time to study Billy Mays, the famed television pitchman who died over the weekend. Of course, most people in business would never attempt to pitch with Mays’s revved up, over-the-top style. And I would never suggest such a thing. But there are a several of things we can learn from Billy Mays. First, energy sells. Mays is best known for his hyped up style of almost yelling into the camera as he sold everything from OxyClean, to Mighty Putty, to Flies Away. Of course, business people should not…
Whatever You Do, Do Not Present Like Michael Jackson

joey

26 Jun 2009 | 4:01 am

When I learned of Michael Jackson’s death yesterday, I recalled the time that I saw him here in Atlanta at the old Fulton County Stadium. He was at the height of his popularity before he became embroiled in a series of bizarre scandals. We sat in the upper deck of the arena and watched him on a giant screen above the stage. With binoculars, we could see Jackson moonwalking across the stage. The show was executed perfectly. The lights flashed. The dancers twirled. But we might just as well have been watching him on television at home. It was such a carefully choreographed show that I…
To Connect with Audiences, Follow the 10/20/30 Rule

joey

25 Jun 2009 | 7:17 am

Guy Kawasaki is a technology guru and venture capitalist who listens to a lot of presentations from entrepreneurs seeking money for start-up ventures. The overwhelming majority of the presentations he hears are, as he says, “crap.” And so he demands that all presentations at his business Garage Technology Ventures follow what he calls the “10/20/30 rule”. It’s a rule that should be embraced by anyone that wants to connect with audiences. The rule states that all presentations should be limited to 10 slides, 20 minutes, and have no words on the slides smaller than 30-point…

Dahle Communication
Is Good the Enemy of Great?

Dahle Communication Group

29 Jun 2009 | 6:28 am

One of my silent partners and I were talking about this over the weekend. Should you ever let 'good' be enough? Are there times when you need to just get something finished, so you say "That's good enough." If you answered yes to either of those questions, you may want to re-evaluate what you want to accomplish. Doing something good is fine - but if you want to be great in any industry you must avoid being good. This is especially true when it comes to your presentations. Anyone can give a 'good' presentation. When giving a great presentation however, only…
Me, Myself and I

Dahle Communication Group

22 Jun 2009 | 5:44 am

The following post comes from my wife and business partner Megan Dahle. Megan is an extremely intelligent person who gets irritated when people screw things up constantly - as you will see with the following post. It is some great advice if you are going to give a presentation or speech, so pay attention, you might just learn something.Warning: I’m about to get on my high horse about grammar. I’m not claiming I use grammar perfectly whenever I speak or write, but thanks primarily to my mother and Mr. Beck (a great English teacher from Milbank - a little weird, but great), I get it…
Out of Town and Out of Contact

Dahle Communication Group

17 Jun 2009 | 5:28 am

I just wanted to put a quick post up today. I am at the National Debate Tournament in Birmingham, AL coaching students from Washington High School all week. Needless to say it's been a busy week and internet connections are a little sketchy at times in our hotel and the schools have cut off wireless at the schools where students are competing.Basically what I am saying is - sorry for not getting a post up and running this week - hope to be back at it early next week with some thoughts from this past week at the national tournament. There are a lot of great things that go on at the…
Give People a Reason to Listen

Dahle Communication Group

8 Jun 2009 | 7:18 am

This is a simple mantra for your speeches. Your presentation or speech, regardless of how big of an audience you are giving it to, should be important enough that people will want to be there and get something out of it. If people are sitting there asking themselves "Why am I here?" then you need to work on your speeches.The problem with a lot of speeches that I hear is that I am asking myself that question a lot of times. Many times the speaker is droning on about something that I don't need or they are reading their slides to you. They do this even after they have given you…
The Curse of Knowledge

Dahle Communication Group

2 Jun 2009 | 5:55 am

One of the downsides of being involved in the high school debate world since I was a freshman in high school is that I pretty much know everything about Policy Debate. The reason that it is a downside is that I tend to assume that the freshman students I am teaching will understand what I am talking about quickly.The problem is that a lot of times the students DON'T understand what I am saying. Luckily in my classrooms, the students are allowed to interrupt me and ask me questions to help clarify things. That way, if they don't know something they can ask questions right away. This…

Real. Smart. Now.
Stuff worth checking out

Andrew Lightheart

1 Jul 2009 | 4:41 am

My bookshelf is pretty stacked at the moment. Thought you might be interested in some recommendations. Facilitation The Secrets of Facilitation: The S.M.A.R.T. Guide to Getting Results With Groups by Michael Wilkinson Nice addition to the library – dealing with the nitty-gritty skills of interactionas a facilitator. Not the whole piece, but very useful. The Skilled Facilitator: A Comprehensive Resource for Consultants, Facilitators, Managers, Trainers, and Coaches by Roger Schwarz which goes with… The Skilled Facilitator Fieldbook: Tips, Tools, and Tested Methods for Consultants,…
Structure your presentation to answer their questions

Andrew Lightheart

21 Jun 2009 | 6:15 pm

Do you wonder how to structure your presentation? What sequence to use? If you’re dealing with contentious issues, you might find this useful…. Smart presentation choice three: Answer their (unspoken) questions about how your recommendations solve their urgent problems (This is part of a series of posts about how to develop presentation superpowers by making eight smart choices. This is choice number three.) There aren’t that many problems with presentation structure that this choice doesn’t answer. Done well, people won’t notice that this is the process…
Chrysalis or Scaffolding Party

Andrew Lightheart

7 Jun 2009 | 2:35 pm

Ok, so I poetically think I’m being like this: The business is changing: as well as presentation skills, we are expanding into professional meeting facilitation – a need that is luckily led both by the market and my fascination (and experience). So, over the next few weeks and months, you’ll see this blog expand to include thoughts about facilitation, teams and meetings as well as presentation skills. A butterfly waiting to hatch. Yeah. It’s probably going to be more like this: A messy, sticky gathering around an extension I’m building. If you click through to…
I’ve overfished my pond

Andrew Lightheart

15 May 2009 | 1:27 am

The observant amongst you will have noticed that I’ve gone a bit quiet. I’ve been focusing pretty much all day every day on redesigning my business to match the needs of the current climate. I just sat down to write the long-overdue article on step three of Developing Tech Presentation Superpowers. I wrote four sentences then… nothing. Nuh… thing. Having done quite a bit of reading and thinking about facilitation recently, I pulled out of the content (’I can’t write my blog post’) to the process (’I'm stuck’). It took three minutes for…
Three presentation skills bloggers you should follow

Andrew Lightheart

17 Apr 2009 | 4:58 am

I’ve been pleased to find that I’m not the only person worth reading in the presentation world. (I know, it’s a shock, right?) Here are three bloggers I’ve read who, if we weren’t separated at birth, we’re at least close cousins. So… in a kind of if-you-like-RealSmartNow-you’ll-love… kind of way, but in no particular order, let me introduce Olivia Mitchell, Chris de Witt, and Lisa B Marshall. Olivia from the Speaking about Presenting.com, is the presentation world’s voice of reason. She’s way smarter than me and I read almost…

Speaking Pro Central
20 body language myths debunked

2 Jul 2009 | 2:52 pm

Thanks to Suzanne Smith, who sent a very interesting list of 20 “defensive” and “positive and powerful” body language tips. I can’t resist commenting on them, because they are such an admixture of good and bad advice. The original posting is here: http://tinyurl.com/nb4osk . I’ll list each “tip” and then comment after in boldface. "Defensive Body Language Tips" 1. Invade someone’s personal space. This is a sign of dominance. • Potentially dangerous advice.
Cartoon Caption Contest — Cell Phone

2 Jul 2009 | 9:39 am

Here is the July Cartoon Caption Contest. It features the art of professional cartoonist Dan Rosandich. New Cartoon Caption Contests are announced at the start of each month. New Joke Contests are announced mid-month. Trying something new this month, we will not provide sample captions. The cartoon features everyday objects and a common relationship. Let’s see where it takes you. Here is this month’s cartoon. Your challenge: Write captions for the cartoon. Initially go for quantity. Then edit, refine, and tighten the lines you’ve created.
Build Instant Trust

2 Jul 2009 | 8:09 am

Build instant trust and ease with your personal and business relationships. The tips in this e-book will help prepare you for any challenging meeting, so you are calm and confident. You will learn to use difficult situations to your advantage. Plus as a bonus,, you will receive individual telephone coaching. These powerfully effective skills are not taught in business schools or college. For easier personal and business relationships, click here to have the downloadable PDF book instantly......... http://www.walkyourtalk.org/tips2.
Last chance to register for tonight's teleclass

2 Jul 2009 | 8:04 am

quot;Outsourcing: How to Get Rich Using Other People’s Labor and Ideas" This teleclass is guaranteed to make you more productive and save you thousands of dollars when hiring people to help you achieve your goals. Tonight, Thursday July 2nd 9:00 PM Eastern Time Can't make it? The first 200 to register get a complimentary CD of the call and I pay the shipping.
First Black Woman CEO: Ursula Burns

1 Jul 2009 | 6:25 pm

Today, July 1 st , is an auspicious day for corporate America. Assuming the role of CEO of Xerox Corporation , Ursula Burns will become the first African American woman to lead a major Fortune 500 company. She is also the first woman in modern history to take the reins from another female, departing CEO Ann Mulcahy . Last year, Burns ranked 10th on Fortune magazine ’s top 50 Most Powerful Women in America . She’s the second-highest placed African-American woman behind only Oprah Winfrey , who was ranked number eight.

The Strategic Communicator
Give ‘Em What They Want!: Getting Your Audience Interested in Your Presentation

admin

23 Jun 2009 | 7:54 am

As I’ve discussed in previous posts, it’s important in your presentation to have a balanced mix of what your audience wants to hear and what they need to hear. It is sometimes difficulat for presenters to distinguish the difference between the two – because it’s all interesting to us! So to help you find the “want to knows” here is a small (and growing) list of ideas. Please keep in mind, the “want to knows” are not necessarily the steps, processes, or action items. Instead, a “want to know” is the picture you paint of how their life…
Leadership Communications: Avoid Being a Bad Leader

admin

22 Jun 2009 | 7:34 am

Recently my article “Being a Bad Leader: 5 Ways to Improve Your Leadership Abilities Through Communication” was featured in Training Magazine Online. Click here to read the article!
We are Now Featured On Alltop!

admin

19 Jun 2009 | 7:50 am

The Strategic Communicator Blog is now featured on Alltop, a wonderful website that compiles top blogs by categories. Naturally, this blog is featured in the “Speaking” catagory. Thanks Alltop!
A Little Publicity…

admin

18 Jun 2009 | 12:06 pm

Thank you to Mary Cantando for featuring me in the Woman’s Advantage Business Calendar. It’s nice to be featured next to these wonderful women. Click here if you’d like to purchase a copy. Shari Alexander featured in Woman't Advantage Business Calendar
Getting Presentation Feedback from Your Audiences?… Don’t Trust the Usual Sources (Part Two)

admin

17 Jun 2009 | 6:39 am

In Part One of this series, I discussed how to gauge if your audience thought you did a good job when you spoke, or if they are simply being polite. Another source people use to determine if the audience enjoyed the speech or not is evaluation sheets (or as Alan Weiss calls them “smile sheets”). While I understand the urge for businesses to use a quantifiable measurement to judge the success or failure of a speech, the evaluation sheet process has become arbitrary. They ask the audience to rate the skills of the presenter on a scale of 1-5, one being the lowest and five being the…

John C. Maxwell
johncmaxwell: Bangkok: Went to dinner w host after I spoke on Wed. Finest Thai meal I've ever had. Worth extra laps in pool :-)

2 Jul 2009 | 6:39 am

johncmaxwell: Bangkok: Went to dinner w host after I spoke on Wed. Finest Thai meal I've ever had. Worth extra laps in pool :-)
johncmaxwell: New post at John Maxwell on Leadership. Why I do what I do: http://bit.ly/w8WQ7

30 Jun 2009 | 12:50 pm

johncmaxwell: New post at John Maxwell on Leadership. Why I do what I do: http://bit.ly/w8WQ7
johncmaxwell: @johnlambert believe both types will be there. Will speak on concepts both can apply

29 Jun 2009 | 9:46 am

johncmaxwell: @johnlambert believe both types will be there. Will speak on concepts both can apply
johncmaxwell: Shanghai: Had lunch w sharp businessman who's training leaders for Equip.His stories were very encouraging!

29 Jun 2009 | 9:39 am

johncmaxwell: Shanghai: Had lunch w sharp businessman who's training leaders for Equip.His stories were very encouraging!
johncmaxwell: Flying from Shanghai to Bangkok, Thailand. Speaking on 7/1 for ITD (http://is.gd/18Mp8) on leadership resilience.

29 Jun 2009 | 3:00 am

johncmaxwell: Flying from Shanghai to Bangkok, Thailand. Speaking on 7/1 for ITD (http://is.gd/18Mp8) on leadership resilience.

Machen MacDonald
MachenMacDonald: How does courageousness show up for you?

27 Jun 2009 | 11:15 am

MachenMacDonald: How does courageousness show up for you?
MachenMacDonald: @Vt_Intuitive Great suggestion. Thanks; appreciate the input.

27 Jun 2009 | 10:44 am

MachenMacDonald: @Vt_Intuitive Great suggestion. Thanks; appreciate the input.
MachenMacDonald: RT 1 of my favorites - Progress always involves risks. U can't steal 2nd base & keep your foot on 1st. ~F.B. Wilcox (via @successmastery)

27 Jun 2009 | 10:43 am

MachenMacDonald: RT 1 of my favorites - Progress always involves risks. U can't steal 2nd base & keep your foot on 1st. ~F.B. Wilcox (via @successmastery)
MachenMacDonald: @canopygallery How true is that? I'm reminded of the movie It's a Wonderful Life. We are all important in each others equations :-)

27 Jun 2009 | 10:22 am

MachenMacDonald: @canopygallery How true is that? I'm reminded of the movie It's a Wonderful Life. We are all important in each others equations :-)
MachenMacDonald: @blackhippychick Great idea. As well as the creative genius in all of us.

27 Jun 2009 | 10:20 am

MachenMacDonald: @blackhippychick Great idea. As well as the creative genius in all of us.

Andrew Windham
AndrewWindham: @wendyYbailey thats b/c i only have BIG FUN, little fun is just not enough, I believe in "Too much good stuff!" kinda like the am/pm advert

2 Jul 2009 | 1:22 pm

AndrewWindham: @wendyYbailey thats b/c i only have BIG FUN, little fun is just not enough, I believe in "Too much good stuff!" kinda like the am/pm advert
AndrewWindham: Just got off phone w/ @imaniceguy, great call and he's up to wonderful stuff, make sure you follow and keep up with all his happenings

2 Jul 2009 | 1:21 pm

AndrewWindham: Just got off phone w/ @imaniceguy, great call and he's up to wonderful stuff, make sure you follow and keep up with all his happenings
AndrewWindham: @wendyYbailey hey, if you see even one of those dwarfs, send em over, I need a few extra hands :o)

2 Jul 2009 | 12:39 pm

AndrewWindham: @wendyYbailey hey, if you see even one of those dwarfs, send em over, I need a few extra hands :o)
AndrewWindham: @wendyYbailey working working and whistling while i work ;oP

2 Jul 2009 | 11:23 am

AndrewWindham: @wendyYbailey working working and whistling while i work ;oP
AndrewWindham: @i140 im not your guy on that, no internet specialist here

2 Jul 2009 | 10:28 am

AndrewWindham: @i140 im not your guy on that, no internet specialist here

Tony Robbins
tonyrobbins: Watch,when Steve Jobs thought these were his last days...here 14 min of what he had to say about life 2 Stanford http://bit.ly/URT2x

2 Jul 2009 | 11:15 am

tonyrobbins: Watch,when Steve Jobs thought these were his last days...here 14 min of what he had to say about life 2 Stanford http://bit.ly/URT2x
tonyrobbins: Take 3 minutes & lwatch nickelback's "if today was your last day" http://bit.ly/54Ozt Grab this day & remember whats most important 2U

2 Jul 2009 | 9:55 am

tonyrobbins: Take 3 minutes & lwatch nickelback's "if today was your last day" http://bit.ly/54Ozt Grab this day & remember whats most important 2U
tonyrobbins: If Today were the last day of your life what would you be doing today? Who would you spend time with, what passion would U pursue?

2 Jul 2009 | 9:42 am

tonyrobbins: If Today were the last day of your life what would you be doing today? Who would you spend time with, what passion would U pursue?
tonyrobbins: @YavorIvanov If you are drinking lots of water and still dehydrated then you need to add a pinch of celtic sea salt to your water. best2U

2 Jul 2009 | 9:41 am

tonyrobbins: @YavorIvanov If you are drinking lots of water and still dehydrated then you need to add a pinch of celtic sea salt to your water. best2U
tonyrobbins: “He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything.” Proverb

1 Jul 2009 | 1:21 am

tonyrobbins: “He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything.” Proverb

Kevin Eikenberry
KevinEikenberry: RT @LeadToday: There is a person you know who right now desperately needs to know that someone cares about them. Tell them you care ME: Amen

2 Jul 2009 | 1:47 pm

KevinEikenberry: RT @LeadToday: There is a person you know who right now desperately needs to know that someone cares about them. Tell them you care ME: Amen
KevinEikenberry: leading into the unknown - a lesson from 72 years ago today . . . http://bit.ly/n2AsW

2 Jul 2009 | 1:26 pm

KevinEikenberry: leading into the unknown - a lesson from 72 years ago today . . . http://bit.ly/n2AsW
KevinEikenberry: @DrMollieMarti even if the tweets are FUN and profound? :)

2 Jul 2009 | 1:22 pm

KevinEikenberry: @DrMollieMarti even if the tweets are FUN and profound? :)
KevinEikenberry: @mrboilermaker MS Surface? what is it?

2 Jul 2009 | 1:20 pm

KevinEikenberry: @mrboilermaker MS Surface? what is it?
KevinEikenberry: if you don't follow @richelleshaw you should a smoking smart lady!

2 Jul 2009 | 1:04 pm

KevinEikenberry: if you don't follow @richelleshaw you should a smoking smart lady!

Les Posen's Presentation Magic
Presentation Magic’s visit and presentation to the Apple Keynote Team – Part 1

lesposen

4 Jun 2009 | 10:13 pm

Hi all, It’s not every day that one gets a chance to visit with the team responsible for the ongoing development of one’s favourite piece of software, to be asked to do a presentation using that software for open discussion between developer and end-user, and to have a slide praised and queried by the manager of the team that put together the effects one used (motion)! Well, that’s what happened to me Wednesday in Pittsburgh when I accepted an invitation from a senior member of the Keynote team to visit and present. I want to thank the team for their warm reception of my…
How about a Presentation Magic Workshop in New York or Los Angeles in early June, 2009?

lesposen

6 May 2009 | 6:35 am

Hi to all my North American readers, Just to let you know I’m making a quick trip to the US in June, and would love to catch up with readers, especially those of you who’d like a Presentation Magic workshop, seminar or training session. My visit to the US is very brief, and I’ll be combining it with a visit to a major presentation software developer where I’ll present my latest ideas, and then some personal time with friends for family celebrations. So, the dates I have available are: New York City, June 4 (Thursday), and Los Angeles, June 8, (Monday). Here’s a…
All day Presentation Magic workshop in Darwin October 1

lesposen

27 Apr 2009 | 9:10 pm

Just got word from the Australian Psychological Society that my submission to present an all-day workshop as part of its annual conference – this year held in Darwin in late September – has been accepted. It has been a long time coming, as I’ve been proposing it for the last three years and each time it was rejected. This year, I put in for three different workshops and a paper presentation, and was waiting for all four to be rejected! This is called “Learned Helplessness”. But the all-day Presentation Magic workshop has been accepted, and while it is aimed at…
Presentation Magic Workshop May 6, 2009

lesposen

15 Apr 2009 | 8:12 pm

Hi all, My next Workshop on Presentation Magic is a combined morning event, culminating in a lunch, and including vocal coach specialist, Dr. Louise Mahler. It will be held in Brighton, Victoria on May 6, 2009. You can see the flyer and all details below, but it should be an exciting and fast-paced dynamic morning’s work, and one where both of us expect you can immediately use what you’ve learnt. I’ll focus on presentations using slideware but won’t discuss the mechanics of the software itself except in passing. I WILL by necessity discuss the shortcomings of the…
Presentation Magic upcoming Workshop update

lesposen

18 Mar 2009 | 4:54 pm

Thanks to those who’ve contacted me about my upcoming workshop. It looks like it will now be post-Easter in April, and be a double bill with another presenter who specialises in vocal skills. You’ll be able to do one or both workshops. Keep watching this space, or subscribe via RSS to be kept updated with venues (likely to be in Elwood by the beach, below). The likely venue for the next Melbourne-based Presentation Magic

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