I’m going to use the “F” Word today.

I know I’ve already made some of you uncomfortable.

You don’t like that word directed at you.

If you direct it to others, it’s not well received.

The Truth: Failure Gets a Bad Rap!

We learn far more from our failures than things we do correctly the first time.  This certainly applies to Public Speaking and Presenting.

One of my mantras is:
“Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities.”
No one has everchallenged me on it.  Many agree they should take and make as many Speaking Opportunities as possible.  If they do, they will grow their businesses, advance their careers, and increase their leadership roles.

Speaking Opportunities are also Learning Opportunities.
Things we learn from public speaking are often not from
presentations going smoothly and without any flaws or snafus. Sometimes, it’s quite the opposite!

Many of the public speaking skills I have came about because I forgot, messed up, or didn’t even know about using them in presentations.

The Introduction

Examples:
I write my own Introduction.  It’s an integral part of the speech, and what every speaker should do.  Mine follows the guidelines of a good Introduction and does a nice job of setting me up as the next speaker.  There is some humor built into it and usually does a great job of connecting me to the audience before my Opening.

All morning I had been giving a number of small workshops at a manufacturing firm.  In the afternoon, the entire company gather together for the main meeting of the event.  I handed my Introduction to the VP of Sales who was to Introduce me.  He goes stage center, looks briefly at my Introduction, wads it up in his hands and says, “We all know Fred!  Come up and give us your presentation!”

Bummer!

I had to do some quick thinking and improvising because I never expected him not to read what I had given him!

That was a HUGE Lesson.  Ever since, I email the Introduction to the emcee in advance of the event, asking them to review it and contact me with any questions.  I explain that it is an important part of the presentation.  I make it a point to see them before the event and, again, ask if there are any questions.

I was delivering a presentation at a Chamber of Commerce Luncheon that consisted of thirty-six slides.  Everything was going smoothly until I pressed the button on my remote to advance the slide to number eight.  Suddenly, the screen went blank!

My computer was working fine, as was the projector.  Because this was a luncheon meeting with a tight schedule, I didn’t have time to reboot the equipment and see if that would fix the problem.

Keynote's Light Table View

Fortunately, as a backup, I always print my slides in Keynote’s Light Table View (for PowerPoint users, it’s called Slide Sorter View).   This option allows me to place up to forty-two slides on one sheet of paper.  Since I use mostly images, rather than bullet points and text, it was very easy to look at the image of the slide and know what to talk about.

I quickly found out that having a backup plan and using it is not as easy as I had hoped. (It was almost Big Sweat instead of No Sweat!) Luckily, I really know this material, and the presentation continued and was well received.

The lesson I learned was that having that “Plan B” was not enough.  I needed to practice with the Light Table View, also.

I’ve taken this concept a step further, and now have the Light Table View printout next to the computer when delivering presentations and find it gives me the “overview of where I am” better than looking just at the Presenter Display View on my mac.

Keynote's Presenter's Display View

Presenter Display View (Presenter Tools in PowerPoint) is a tremendous tool for presenting that I also learned by “not knowing” how to get the “screens arranged” correctly.

I was presenting in “mirror” mode, where the image on the screen is the image projected. This is nice, because the presenter can face the audience and not turn their back to see what the audience is seeing.  Better than this is the Presenter Display View which lets me see:
• What the audience sees.
• The next slide.
• Notes.
• The time or a timer.

You can see the advantage this view offers.  However, it took trial and error and research for me to figure out how to get the screens, mine and the one the audience sees, arranged correctly.  I’m not a techie and the learning was frustrating.  But the reward of having it work correctly – tremendous!  I’m able to deliver a far better presentation using this tool.

Failing to make this work initially, forced me out of my confort zone to learn something new – Good!

I read a quote once that rings true: “Learning begins at the edge of our comfort zone.”  It’s also a fact that when we get out of our comfort zone, it becomes larger!

Perhaps it is the word “Failure” that must be addressed.  It has a negative connotation.  If we substitute the word, “Experiment,” the “Failure” doesn’t seem like such a big deal.  We don’t expect “experiments” to always have positive outcomes.  A “failed experiment” takes us closer to the results we are seeking because it let’s us eliminate one process, idea or technique.  This is a good thing - correct?

Until we say, “Our experiment was successful because it brought us closer to a solution,” let’s

Embrace Failure!

For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you a FREE Gift.
Go to: http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/freegift to receive it!

About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and author of the book,
“No Sweat Public Speaking!”
Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality and we rather deal with Experts.

They also know:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities.
He shows them how to
Develop, Practice, and Deliver ‘Knock Your Socks Off Presentations!’ with -
No Sweat!

Fred E. Miller
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
nosweatpublicspeaking.com
Connect/Follow me:
FaceBook
LinkedIn
Twitter
314-517-8772

Related posts:

1. Have a ‘Plan B’ Because When the Screen Goes. . . There are several lessons here: Murphy’s Law rules! It’s not...
2. Speakers, There’s NO App for That! Because of the Fear of Public Speaking, many in leadership...
3. Fox News interviews Speaker/Author, Fred E. Miller Audio John Pertzborn, co-anchor of Fox News AM Show in...

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always seems to be lurking around the corner, waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting victim.  That casualty could be you!

Always be prepared for anything and everything you can control.

If the computer crashes, projector dies, or sound system goes silent, you must still present your material!  There are people in the audience who came to learn something.  It’s your presentation and your responsibility they don’t leave disappointed.

Be sure your “trunk” is well equipped for all contingencies.
If I’m using slides, I backup my presentation on a USB flash drive.  Because I use a mac, my slideshows are made with iWork Keynote software.  I export copies to PowerPoint and convert, also, to PDFs.  The PDF conversion is done because they work when versions of PowerPoint and Keynote are not the versions on a backup computer.

I also print a copy of my slideshow in Light Table view, which allows me to see a large number of my slides on one piece of paper.  More about this in a moment!

If you use slides, I recommend you do the same.  If those slides contain bullet points with text, print out a copy with the text large enough you’ll be able to read it.  In stressful moments, that text can get very fuzzy!

Having a spare tire is not enough!  You must know if the tire is inflated, have a working car jack, and a lug wrench.  Even if you have “all that in your trunk” it doesn’t mean you know how to use it and change a tire.

Here’s my real life example:
I was presenting to a local Chamber at their monthly luncheon meeting and was on slide number eight of a thirty-six slide presentation.  Suddenly the screen went BLANK!  My computer was working fine, as, it seemed, was the projector.  Because the schedule was tight, there was no time to reboot and see if that would fix the problem.

As a “Plan B” I always print out my slides in Light Table View.  This allows me to place thirty-plus, very small images of my slides, on one sheet of paper.  Thankfully, I use mostly images in slides rather than text.  (This is something you’ll definitely want to investigate in my book and website!)  I’m able to look at the image, and know my material well enough, that I can continue the presentation.

However, having the “Spare Tire” and needing to switch to it instantly is not always easy.  Luckily, I was able to grab my paper, present the remainder of my presentation, and finish to a thankful round of applause.  (It was almost Big Sweat instead of No Sweat!)

My Lesson Learned is obvious.  Before going into the desert, practice, just in case of a blowout, changing that tire!

I now practice, not only my presentation, but the “Backup Plan.”  Knowing what can happen, and confident I can handle things if Murphy pounces, is a great stress reliever.  Follow my lead, and Practice “Plan B,” also!

For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you a FREE Gift.
Go to: http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/freegift to receive it!

About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and author of the book,
“No Sweat Public Speaking!”
Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality and we rather deal with Experts.

They also know:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities.
He shows them how to
Develop, Practice, and Deliver ‘Knock Your Socks Off Presentations!’ with -
No Sweat!

Fred E. Miller
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
nosweatpublicspeaking.com
Connect/Follow me:
FaceBook
LinkedIn
Twitter
314-517-8772

Related posts:

1. Have a ‘Plan B’ Because When the Screen Goes. . . There are several lessons here: Murphy’s Law rules! It’s not...
2. Fox News interviews Speaker/Author, Fred E. Miller Audio John Pertzborn, co-anchor of Fox News AM Show in...
3. The Magic Pill that Makes You a Great Presenter! There's no easy way to get rid of the Fear...

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2012It’s That Time of the Year!
Here are My 2012 Resolutions.
What are Yours?

#1.  Prepare and Practice for each Presentation
even if I’ve given it 100+ times.

• It might be the umpteenth time I’ve delivered it, but it’s the first time most of the audience have heard it.
• The size of the audience doesn’t matter.  I should always give my best.
• “Practice makes perfect.”  No!
• “Perfect Practice makes Perfect.” – No such thing!
• The one I subscribe to is: “The road to perfection never ends!”

#2.  Regularly Refresh and Update my Content and Delivery.

• The only constant is Change.  I’ll continue to practice Kaizen, the Japanese word that means continuous improvement.

#3.  Get Out of my Comfort Zone with Content and Delivery.

• When we Get Out of our Comfort Zone – our Comfort Zone becomes Larger!

#4.  Study, Study, and Study more about my subject of Expertise,
the Art & Science of Public Speaking/Presenting.

• I always learn new things from the blogs, articles, books and videos I seek out on public speaking/presentations.

#5.  Continue to regularly Write a New Post with great Content
and to place the Audio in each Post.

• The combination of Written Post + Audio Post has made me a better writer and a better speaker.

#6.  Take just about every opportunity I can to Speak.  Paid and Fee Waived.

• Walk my talk, “Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
• It’s the only real way to better my craft because, “The Learning is in the Doing!”

#7.  Always remember to be Audience Centered.

• It’s ALL about the Audience and not about me!
• Focusing on the Audience raises the level of my presentations and lowers my anxiety.

#8.  Always write my own Introduction.

• Let the emcee know it’s my job to write it and their job to present it as if they wrote it.  My writing it is to make their job easier.
• Inform them the Introduction is an integral part of the speech, and review it with them.
• Just to be safe, always bring an extra copy to the event!

#9.  When teaching and coaching others in the Art and Science of
Public Speaking/Presenting, respect the investment they are
making in time and money.

• Do my best to help them accomplish what they want.
• Realize that some are really out of their comfort zone, and the call to me was not without a great deal of thought and trepidation.

#10.  Continually go Back to the Basics.
This is an important concept for accomplishing much in life.

Sometimes I, and others, stray from the Basics – and our presentations suffer.
The Components, Parts, and Elements of a Presentation have stood
the test of time.
They don’t change!

• Two Components to a Presentation: Content and Delivery
• The Parts of  Content include:
• Introduction
• Always write my own, and have it answer three questions:
• Why this Subject?
• Why this Speaker?
• Why Now?
• Opening
• Have a Strong Opening that grabs the audience’s attention.
• Tell them what I’m going to tell them.
• Body
• Make a Point – Tell a Personal Story that reinforces the point.
• Do this three to five times.
• Conclusion
• Tell them what I told them.
• Have a Strong Closing, a “Call to Action!”
• The Parts of Delivery include  Verbal and NonVerbal Elements:
• Verbal Elements include:
• Pronunciation and Enunciation
• Speak clearly and distinctly.
• Sometimes I don’t do this.  Being aware is the first step.
• Projection
• Talk to the person in the back of the room.
• Don’t yell!
• Inflection
• The correct inflection can change the entire meaning of a sentence.
• Work on this and I’ll better my presenting!
• Cadence
• Not too quickly, which I sometimes do.
• Varying the pace helps keep the audience engaged.
• Pause
• Tough, but I believe, the most powerful element of Verbal Communication.
• NonVebal Elements include:
• Eye Contact
• First thing, find a friendly face and make eye contact.
• Next, find another friendly face!
• Facial Expressions
• Smile!  Remember, it’s universal. Give one, and I usually get one right back!
• Gestures
• Make them in sync with my message.
• Make them larger for larger audiences and for emphasis.
• Posture
• Stand tall and straight.  No slouching!
• Body Movement
• Make them deliberate and return to several “anchor points.”
• I need to work on this.  My nervous energy needs to be harnessed!

Those are My 2012 Resolutions.

What are Yours?

For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you a FREE Gift.
Go to: http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/freegift to receive it!

About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and author of the book,
“No Sweat Public Speaking!”
Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality and we rather deal with Experts.

They also know:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities.
He shows them how to
Develop, Practice, and Deliver ‘Knock Your Socks Off Presentations!’ with -
No Sweat!

Fred E. Miller
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
nosweatpublicspeaking.com
Connect/Follow me:
FaceBook
LinkedIn
Twitter
314-517-8772

Photo Credit: Billy Alexander

Related posts:

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2. Speakers, There’s NO App for That! Because of the Fear of Public Speaking, many in leadership...
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AP You Gotta Do It Yourself!. . .and 

There’s NO App to download that will make you a Great Speaker and lessen the Fear of Public Speaking.

Because of the Fear of Public Speaking, many in leadership positions pass on taking and making Speaking Opportunities and delegate the task to others.  That’s Nuts!

You should not hand a Speaking Opportunity off to someone else. Steve Jobs never did, and it’s one of the reasons Apple grew to be one of the most successful and innovative companies ever.

What would you think of a President, Prime Minister, or any leader of a country handing
off their annual “State of the Union Address’ to others?  It would not be seen as a positive move, would it?

Leadership is executed through superb communications!

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know My Mantra:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities!
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities!
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities!

Those who present well are perceived as Experts. Perception is reality, and we like to work with Experts.  (Experts can command higher prices for their products and services, also.)

People who take and make Speaking Opportunities grow the perception they are Experts. They grow their Businesses, advance their Careers, and increase their Leadership Roles.

We expect leaders to be good presenters.  Some are; many are not. If the leader is not comfortable delivering presentations, make it a goal to learn how!

Public Speaking/Giving a Presentation is a skill that is learned.  Just as no one is born knowing how to ride a bike, work with a computer, or drive a car, no one is born a public speaker.

There are many things a person can do to learn these skills:

• Take Public Speaking Courses.
• Join Toastmasters
• Read blogs and books on Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
• Observe professional speakers.
• Listen to great speeches.
• Watch videos on Presentation Skills.
• Hire a personal coach.
• PRACTICE delivering presentations.
• SPEAK!

Two activities stand above the others:

• Practice! – Practice! – Practice!

• Would any serious athlete just “Show Up”
  for the big game, match or meet? – NO!
• Spring Training, Summer Camp, Winter Camp,
  Workout – Workout – Workout!
• Would any serious musician, singer or actress just “Show Up”
  for the big concert, show, or play? – NO!
• Rehearsal – Practice – Rehearsal!
• Why would someone think they can just “Show Up” for a presentation and “wing it?” – NO!
• Practice! – Practice! – Practice!
• Steve Jobs was the consumate presenter.
  If he had a 90 minute Keynote Presentation scheduled to introduce a new Apple product
  or service he would practice for weeks!
• That’s the amount of time someone who was the best-of the-best would spend on preparing for a speech. How much prep time should you and I spend developing and practicing a presentation?

• Do it!  Present!
• “The Learning is in the Doing!”
• You can do all the intellectualizing you want about being a Public Speaker, but the real Learning is in the Doing!
• There’s no other way!
  Jump into the deep end of the pool (get in front of an audience) and start swimming (presenting).
• What’s the worse that could happen?
• You bomb!
• BIG DEAL!  Who Cares?
• It’s a drop in the ocean of your life.  It’s nothing!
• You really have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
• Jump in and Do It!  
• I GUARANTEE:
  “The worst speech you’ll ever give -
  will be far better than the one you never give!”
• Let me know how it works out!

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2. Fox News interviews Speaker/Author, Fred E. Miller Audio John Pertzborn, co-anchor of Fox News AM Show in...
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Have you ever watched a Professional Mime? They speak no words, but communicate very well, don’t they!

If they were to use their voice, their NonVerbal Communication: eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and body movements, would outweigh their spoken words.

Our NonVerbal Communication carries more weight than the words we say and how we say them.

Example: The speaker on the podium says, “I’m very excited to be speaking to this group today.”  At the same time, he is yawning, not giving eye contact to anyone in the audience, and continually looking at his watch.  What’s the message he’s sending?

Everything in the Delivery of our presentation must be in sync, else the audience will believe what they “See.”

While we can consciously use our NonVerbal Communication Skills to emphasize parts of our presentation, it’s important to remember that we exhibit involuntary NonVerbal Communication, also.  (If you saw Simon Cowell’s eyebrows rise when Susan Boyle started singing her first song, “I Dreamed a Dream,” on Britain Has Talent, you know what I mean.  Here’s a Link.)

Facial expressions like: raised eyebrows, rolling eyes, smirks, yawns, snickers and other expressions are often exhibited before we are conscious of them happening.  Yet the audience sees them and immediately an impression is made.  If not in sync with the words they were hearing, and carries a different meaning, the audience will believe the involuntary NonVerbal Communication they see.

The same holds true of gestures and body language.  If we’re talking about something we are ‘passionate about’, but not ‘showing’ that emotion with gestures, posture and body language, the ‘disconnect’ tells our audience the ‘passion’ may not be as real as we’re telling them!

If using slides in a presentation, it is critical to either insert Blank Slides or use the “B” Blank Button at points in your presentation.  This will shift the audiences’ eyes to you, the presenter.  They will the see your important NonVerbal Communication.

Use NonVerbal Communication to reinforce the words you speak and enhance your Presentation:

• Make Eye Contact with individuals in the audience.
• It demonstrates honesty, self-confidence, and sincerity.
• Use Facial Expressions.
• Smile, when appropriate.
• A smile is universal.  I call it a non-physical hug because when you give one, you usually get one right back!
• Other Facial Expressions are also universal and ‘seen’ the same by people all over the globe.  They include expressions for:
• Fear, Anger, Surprise, Disgust, Happiness, and being Sad.
• Gesture to emphasize specific points of your presentation.
• Be certain they are in sync with your message.
• Make those gestures larger for larger audiences so all see them.
• Your Posture conveys self-confidence, honesty, and leadership.
• Don’t slouch, lean, or fidget when standing.
• Posture also applies when you are sitting, before and after you speak.
• Consider yourself always on stage.
• When you Move Your Body, walk deliberately.
• Pick several ‘anchor’ points to always return to.  (Kind of an X marks the spot!)
• One of those anchors can be ‘stage center,’ directly in front of the audience.
• If you’re using slides in your presentation, be sure you have BLANKED the screen with the ‘B’ Button on your computer or remote, or inserted a Blank Slide.  If you don’t do this, you are the screen!

In summary, if everything in a presentation is not in sync,
NonVerbal Communication Rules!

For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you a FREE Gift.
Go to: http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/freegift to receive it!

About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and author of the book,
“No Sweat Public Speaking!”
Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality and we rather deal with Experts.

They also know:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities.
He shows them how to
Develop, Practice, and Deliver ‘Knock Your Socks Off Presentations!’ with -
No Sweat!

Fred E. Miller
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
nosweatpublicspeaking.com
Connect/Follow me:
FaceBook
LinkedIn
Twitter
314-517-8772

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2. Speakers: Brand Yourself with – “No Sweat!” I've worked very hard on my "No Sweat!" Brand: ”No...
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“If it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Press.”

This is how David Gregory, the moderator of the the longest-running television series in American broadcasting, signs off each Sunday morning.

Tim Russert, the previous host, and all hosts before him, signed off with the same words.  It’s part of this weekly television news/interview program’s Branding.

Branding yourself and company in several ways, so others know who you are and what you do, should be part of your marketing strategy.  Using it in your Closing can be particularly effective.  This is because of the Law of Primacy and Recency which says, “The last thing the audience sees and hears will be the first thing they will remember.”

If you’re a fan of the great motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, you know his presentations always closed with his Branded Tag Line, “I will see You - At The Top!”

My good friend and internet marketing expert Russ Henneberry blogs on the site,
Tiny Business, Mighty Profits.  He closes and Brands his presentations with the statement, “Starting tomorrow, do the things we worked on today, and Your Tiny Business will have - Mighty  Profits!”

If you hear the phrase, “It just works!” you associate it with Steve Jobs.  Another of his favorites was, “And one more thing!”  Combine those statements with a black turtleneck sweater, blue jeans, and white sneakers and you have the Brand, Steve Jobs!
That Brand was, and will forever be, associated with the bigger Brand, Apple.

I’ve worked very hard on my “No Sweat!” Brand:

• ”No Sweat Public Speaking!” is my book.
• ”No Sweat Public Speaking!” is my website.
• Above my signature on correspondence and emails are the words,
  “Make your next presentation - “No Sweat!”
• When I encourage others with an upcoming presentation I tell them it will be -  “No Sweat!”
• I Close all my presentations with:
• “I’m going to close my talk with a Challenge – and a Prediction.
• Here’s my challenge, and it’s a challenge to each and every one of you.
• The next time you have a speaking opportunity - Grab It!
• Then prepare, practice and deliver that speech using all the components, parts and elements of  ”No Sweat Public Speaking!
• ”Do that, and my prediction is this:
• “Your speech will be: absolutely, positively, there’s no doubt in my mind; no ifs, ands or buts about it.  That speech will be (As I speak those words, I wipe my brow, look at the palm of my hand, then look up at the audience, smile broadly and say),  – “No Sweat!”
• I’ve even had people in the audience, who see this Closing Statement coming, mouth the words “No Sweat!” with me!
• That means they’re GETTING IT! with my Branding.
  How cool is that!

Now, My Challenge – and Prediction to you is this:
Develop a closing statement that brands you and your talks.

Do that, and my prediction is this: Your Brand will grow, and grow –
making you the ‘Go-To Person’ in your area of expertise!

Leave a Comment, please, and let us know how you Brand Yourself!

For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you a FREE Gift.
Go to: http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/freegift to receive it!

About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and author of the book,
“No Sweat Public Speaking!”
Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality and we rather deal with Experts.

They also know:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities.
He shows them how to
Develop, Practice, and Deliver ‘Knock Your Socks Off Presentations!’ with -
No Sweat!

Fred E. Miller
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
nosweatpublicspeaking.com
Connect/Follow me:
FaceBook
LinkedIn
Twitter
314-517-8772

Related posts:

1. Have a ‘Plan B’ Because When the Screen Goes. . . There are several lessons here: Murphy’s Law rules! It’s not...
2. Fox News interviews Speaker/Author, Fred E. Miller Audio John Pertzborn, co-anchor of Fox News AM Show in...
3. The Magic Pill that Makes You a Great Presenter! There's no easy way to get rid of the Fear...

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Speakers The First Thing the Audience
will Remember!

The Law of Primacy and Recency states:
The First and Last Things your audience hears
and sees, will probably be remembered more
than anything else in your presentation.

Of the two, the Closing will be better recalled.

Knowing that Law is important for several reasons.

• It’s why speakers should have a Strong Opening
  and a Strong Closing!
• The Opening should grab the attention of the audience and make them desire to hear more.
• Example:
• “Picture this!  Friday is our annual Open House and the president of the company wants each department to give a fifteen minute presentation.  I have you scheduled for 1:15 – right after lunch!”
• After your Opening grabs the attention of the audience, give them an agenda of how your presentation will proceed.  This is important because people like to know what and when things are going to happen.
• Example:
• “I’ll talk about the Fear of Public Speaking.
• Why we have it.
• Nuggets to lessen it.
• I’ll then take Questions.
• Finally, I’ll Close the Presentation.”
• The Closing should be something you want them to remember.  (Think of courtroom summations and closing statements by political candidates.)
• Examples
• A Call to Action.
• “Today, as soon as you get back to your office, start writing your Introduction!“
• A Challenge.
• “We’ll be meeting again one week from today.  I challenge each of you to have an Introduction that answers the three questions every Introduction should address
• Why this Subject?
• Why this Speaker?
• Why Now?
• A Motivational Quote.
• Remember as you leave the auditorium, ”The worst speech you’ll ever give, will be far better than the one you never give!”
• It’s an opportunity to Brand Yourself.
• Each episode of NBC’s Meet the Press, the longest-running television series in American broadcasting, ends with, “If it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Press!”
• My good friend and internet marketing guru, Russ Henneberry, Tiny Business, Mighty Profits, does this.  He ends each of his dynamic presentations with, “Go back to your offices and start using the marketing strategies we talked about today and Your Tiny Business will have – Mighty Profits!”
• If you’re going to have a Question and Answer Session, have it before the Closing.
• Taking questions at this time is important. Here’s why: As stated above, the last things the audience sees and hears will be the first things they’ll remember.
• Example:
• Suppose I have a killer Close.  It’s a “Call to Action” that has the audience rushing thru the doors to start on that goal immediately.
• But, as most speakers do, I take questions about my presentation after my Closing. Things are going along fine and I have time for one more question.  That person says, “Fred, that stuff you said about ‘practicing in your mind’s eye.  That’s garbage.  It never works.  In fact, you’re full of garbage! ”
• Now, the presentation is over.  The last thing people heard is the first thing they’ll remember:  ”Fred is full of garbage!”
• That is not the take-away I want them leaving the event with!

Follow this advice about the last thing you say and do, and my prediction is this:
Your next presentation will be; absolutely, positively – No Sweat!

For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you a FREE Gift.
Go to: http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/freegift to receive it!

About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and author of the book,
“No Sweat Public Speaking!”
Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality and we rather deal with Experts.

They also know:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities.
He shows them how to
Develop, Practice, and Deliver ‘Knock Your Socks Off Presentations!’ with -
No Sweat!

Fred E. Miller
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
nosweatpublicspeaking.com
Connect/Follow me:
FaceBook
LinkedIn
Twitter
314-517-8772

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Speak Business, Career, and
Leadership Opportunities!

One comment I regularly hear is:
“Fred, Your mantra, “Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities,” gets my attention.  You’ve convinced me!”

Here’s my challenge: “Where do I find those Speaking Opportunities?”

Great question!

Unless you have a topic and reputation that people must seek you out, it’s up to You
to find those valuable Speaking Opportunities.

For the most part, these will be unpaid.  Take my friend, Lois Creamer’s advice, and don’t say you’ll speak for Free.  Instead, say you will waive your usual fee for this particular group.  That’s OK when you’re starting out and/or if you want to increase your exposure and build your reputation as a Expert.  Remember: Really good speakers are perceived as Experts.  Perception is reality and people like to work with Experts.

Comment, please, which ones have worked for you!  Feel free to add some, also!
Here’s are some possibilities.

Speaking Opportunities can be found at:

• Rotary Clubs
• Lions Clubs
  
• Optimist Clubs
• Elks Clubs
• Scout Meetings – If your topic is a fit.
• Charitable Events – If your topic is a fit.
• Chambers of Commerce
• Toastmaster Clubs
• Meetups
• There are lots of these for many areas of interest.
• Consider starting one of your own!
• Networking Events
• Every city has a variety of these.
• Do a Google search for Networking Calendars in your area.
• Companies that offer Lunch and Learns
• Trade Associations
• Clubs specific to your area of expertise
• Do a Google search for that particular club in your area.
• Church groups
• There may be several: Men’s • Women’s • Youth
• Schools
• Public  •  Private  •  Trade
• Bookstores – If you’ve written a book.
• Public Libraries

How to get those opportunities:
Ask for them!   A phone call, if possible, is the best way to start.

If you know someone in the organization you are targeting, contact them for an introduction to the decision-maker.  Sometimes a membership directory is available and you can look for people you know. LinkedIn can be a good tool for finding connections to those decision-makers.

Here’s my script, and it could serve as a template for yours:
“Hello, I’m Fred Miller.  I’m a local speaker, coach, and the author of a book about Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.”

“Did I catch you at a bad time?”  (Always say this, because if you did, and continue to talk, your odds of getting a speaking opportunity dramatically lessen.  After confirming it is OK to talk, continue. . .)

“Does your Club (Group, Association, Company, etc.) ever have guest speakers?”
This is a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ question.  Wait for an answer.  If the reply is ‘Yes,’ ask what speakers and subjects have been presented in the past.  Perhaps your topic is not a fit, but knowing what subjects they have an interest in will give you intel to pass on to fellow speakers you network with.  If they do the same for you, everyone will obtain more speaking opportunities.

“Do people in your Club (Group, Association, Company, etc.) ever give presentations?  (You would ask a question similar to this based on your subject.)

If the answer is ‘Yes,’ I continue, “One of the talks I give is about the Fear of Public Speaking.  Why we have it, and Nuggets to Lessen it.”  Do you think your folks would have an interest?”

The next steps, if there is an interest, is to ask when the next date is available.  Often, this information is not readily available, so always have an email you can send that gives more information about you and your topic.  It’s best to have links in the email to your website and other ‘sources of credibility’ like: books, articles, testimonials, interviews and quotes by others that add to your expertise status.

If there is no interest, ask if it’s possible this could change and could you email them something.

Your database of prospects and clients is one of the most important things you own. Asking for permission, and receiving it, to email something about you and your topic, builds that database for future drip marketing campaigns.

Followup!
Sometimes the initial communication must be via email. Other times, an email, as suggested above, is sent so the decision maker(s) have something they can ‘check you out with’ and make a decision.

Make phone calls and email followups until you get a ‘Yea’ or ‘Nay.’  You are trying to make a ‘Sale’ here, and it’s usually a process, not an event.  Some groups try to schedule speakers a year in advance.

Let those you communicate know that should something happen at the last moment, and the scheduled speaker be unable to attend, you may be available!

My friend Gill Wagner suggests that when attending any event that has scheduled speakers, let the event/meeting planner know that you are a speaker and ready to step in if something happens and a speaker is unable to fulfill their engagement.

When you book those Speaking Opportunities be certain to publicize them.

• Put them on your Facebook Business Page.
• Place a mention on your LinkedIn Page with a Link to the event or host’s website.
• If you have an event calendar on your site, be certain to include it there with time, date and location.

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Laws To be successful in anything, there are Very Specific Laws that apply.  These are not suggestions!  The Public Speaking / Presentation World is no exception.

The following Five Laws of Presentation  are essential if a high quality presentation is the goal.

Read them – Study them – Apply them!

1. Know your “Stuff!”
1. Really know your material.
2. Continually study and keep abreast of the latest information.
1. Read books and blogs on the subject.
2. Set up google alerts for specifics that will help you stay up to date.
3. Strive to be the expert on the subject.
2. Know how to Present.
1. Be proficient with all the Components, Parts and Elements of a great presentation.
2. Have great content and use all the verbal and nonverbal communication skills available to deliver your presentation.
1. Remember: Delivery trumps Content – NonVerbal Communication trumps Verbal Communication and Everything must be in sync!
3. If you use slides, use high quality, universally understood images. Use very little text and make frequent use of the “B – Blank Screen” button.
3. Be Audience Centered.
1. It’s all about the Audience.  The presentation is not about the speaker!
1. If you take your focus off the audience and place it on you, things can go bad, really bad.
2. This is one of the Key Laws for presenters.  Doing it results in better presentations and lessens the Fear of Public Speaking.
4. Practice – Practice – Practice
1. Practice makes perfect – No!
2. Perfect practice makes perfect – No such thing!
3. “The Road to Perfection never ends!” – This should be your mantra!
1. A good rule of thumb for practicing is one hour for each minute of presentation.  That’s the minimum amount of time that should be invested!
2. Steve Jobs, who was the consummate presenter, would practice weeks on a 90 minute keynote presentation.
5. Speak! – Speak! – Speak!
1. The “Learning is in the Doing!”
1. Watching others, studying, meditating, listening and practicing are all good, but, the only way to really become a great speaker is to SPEAK!
2. Speak as often as you can and wherever you can.  Every presentation is an opportunity to learn something and improve.
2. Don’t wait for speaking opportunities to come to you; seek them out!

If your goal is to be a great presenter:
•  Follow these laws.
•  Don’t deviate from them.

Do that, and my prediction is this:
“Your next presentation will be absolutely, positively – No Sweat!”

For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you a FREE Gift.
Go to: http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/freegift to receive it!

About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and author of the book,
“No Sweat Public Speaking!”
Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality and we rather deal with Experts.
They also know:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities.
He shows them how to
Develop, Practice, and Deliver ‘Knock Your Socks Off Presentations!’ with -
No Sweat!

Fred E. Miller
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
nosweatpublicspeaking.com

Related posts:

1. Fox News interviews Speaker/Author, Fred E. Miller Audio John Pertzborn, co-anchor of Fox News AM Show in...
2. The Magic Pill that Makes You a Great Presenter! There's no easy way to get rid of the Fear...
3. Attention, Audience! Be SPEAKER CENTERED – Please! In most cases, the audience came to learn something, not...

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MDo you have a spare tire in your trunk?  If you do, and I hope so, do you know if it’s properly inflated?  Do you have a jack to lift the car so the tire can be changed?  How about a lug wrench to remove the bad wheel and install the good one?

Have you ever changed a tire? (I don’t mean calling the Auto Club and waiting for the service truck to arrive!)  I know many of you haven’t.  So if you had the misfortune of getting a flat in the middle of nowhere and had a properly inflated tire in your trunk, and all the tools to make that change, you might have to grab your manual and figure how to change that tire – correct?

Having a ‘Plan B’ doesn’t mean implementing it is going to be easy!

Murphy’s Law, if something can go wrong it will go wrong, applies to the world of Public Speaking and Presentations, also.

I always have a ‘Plan B’, and often a ‘Plan C’.  But, like having that spare tire, I never really expect to need it.

I often use Apple’s Keynote software to develop and present slides in my presentations.  My backup plans (spare tire and tools) include:

• Copying the presentation to the ‘Cloud’.
• Copying the presentation to a thumb drive.
• Converting the presentation to PowerPoint in case there is not another mac available should mine not work and copying that file to the ‘Cloud’ and a thumb drive.
• Checking that someone will have a PC or mac available as a backup should mine fail.
• Checking that they have either PowerPoint or Keynote on that backup computer.
• Hopefully, checking that my version of those programs will work on their version.
• As I write this, I probably should have the software program on a backup drive, also, and hope their operating system will be able to load and run my software version.
• Printed copies (yes, plural) of the Light Table View of the slideshow.
• Light Table View allows the printing of several sizes of thumbnails of all slides.  I’m able to place up to 35 slides on one piece of paper.  Because my slides are mostly images, with very little text, I can look at the slide and know what words I should be speaking.  If you use lots of text, and you should not, those thumbnails would have to be larger than ones with just images on them.
• Navigator View can also be printed.
• This shows the slides and any relevant notes.

Bottom Line:
Are you prepared for something that usually doesn’t, but could go wrong, in an instant? As I stated, I’ve always had that ‘spare tire’ but never expected to use it.

I’ve got a presentation this week and, if you’ll forgive me, I need to print out that ‘Plan B’ Light Table View and put it in my ‘trunk!’

For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you a FREE Gift.
Go to: http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/freegift to receive it!

About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and author of the book,
“No Sweat Public Speaking!”
Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality and we rather deal with Experts.
They also know:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities.
He shows them how to
Develop, Practice, and Deliver ‘Knock Your Socks Off Presentations!’ with -
No Sweat!

Fred E. Miller
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
nosweatpublicspeaking.com

Related posts:

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