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...
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St. Louis (KSDK) - It could be a wedding toast or a class assignment in high school or college. Most of us get anxious when we’re asked to talk to an audience.

It’s the number one phobia, called glossophobia. When it comes to talking the talk, many people would rather get a root canal or an IRS audit than make a speech.

Click the video player above to watch the report.

Fred Miller’s book is No Sweat Public Speaking!, and among his tips: people remember the first and last thing you tell them, so Have a strong opening and a strong close to your speech, have confident body language, remember that the audience is on your side and they want you to succeed.

KSDK

Transcript of Interview

Kay Quinn: …or it could be a wedding toast, or a class assignment in high school or college.  Most of us get anxious when we’re asked to talk to an audience, and Art Holliday here has a story about the fear of speaking in public.  75 percent of us are afraid to talk in public.  You and I aren’t — aren’t among those people.

Art Holliday:  The number two phobia is fear of death; but the number one phobia is fear of speaking in public, okay.

Kay Quinn:  Wow.  Can you imagine?

Art Holliday:  It’s called glossophobia. And when it comes to talking the talk, many people would rather get a root canal or an IRS audit than make a speech.

It’s time to talk about talking.

Fred Miller:  Yikes.  Me, speak in front of a group?  Oh, my gosh.

Art Holliday:  Welcome to Cave Springs Toastmasters where an author and a teenage film maker face their fear.

Male1: Very afraid.  I have a big fear in public speaking.

Female1:  You know, I did have a little bit of a fear in public speaking.  But, like, Fred said today, practice, practice, practice.

Art Holliday:  Fred Miller is an author who coaches people how to speak in public.

Fred Miller:  If your reaction to a speaking opportunity is more Yikes than Yes, you’re not alone.  Lots of people have a fear of public speaking.

Art Holliday:  Miller says he is used to calming nervous narrators.

Fred Miller:  I’ve coached lawyers, and doctors, and CEOs; coached a bride — father of the bride to be.  I think he started having panic attacks the day his daughter got engaged, thinking about giving that toast to the bride.

Art Holliday:  Even presidential candidates can experience tongue turmoil.

Governor Perry:  I would do away with the education, the commerce, and let’s see.  I can’t.  The third one, I can’t.  I’m sorry.  Oops.

Art Holliday:  Fred Miller’s goal is oops for your confidence when you work the crowd.

Fred Miller:  Kind of feel like your naked all alone, vulnerable?  That’s just it.  You’ve got to get used to it.

Female2:  The first speech, oh my gosh, my legs were shaking; and now I ‘m on speech seven and-

Male4:  I’m not very good at public speaking and, plus, I’m very shy.  I just realized well, this is the best opportunity to come here and learn.

Male5:  Thank you Mayor, and fellow Reglinians.

Art Holliday:  Fred Miller says you can go from knee-knocking nervousness to a knock-your-socks-off presentation.  All you have to do is–

Fred Miller:  Speak, speak, speak.  If you want to be a swimmer, swim.  If you want to be a baker, bake.  The learning is in the doing.   So, if you want to be a speaker, just get up and speak.

Art Holliday:  Just make sure you hold onto your script.

Now, Fred Miller’s book is “No Sweat Public Speaking!”

Among his tips:

• People remember the first and last thing you tell them, so have a strong opening and a strong close to your speech.
• Have confident body language.  Remember that the audience is on your side and they want you to succeed.
• And Miller is a big fan of Toastmasters International, which helps improve public speaking and leadership skills.  There are 77 Toastmaster organizations in Missouri and Illinois within 25 miles of downtown St. Louis.  So, a lot of people are aware of their fears and they’re trying to do something about it.

Kay Quinn:  Yeah, you’ve go to remember we’re all just human, right.  So, you’re going to make mistakes from time to time, or slip up, and I love the Don Knotts’ thing.  Oh, that is so funny.  That’s classic.  It’s priceless.  Thank you so much, Art.

Art Holliday:  Thank you.

[00:03:20]

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. Fox News interviews Speaker/Author, Fred E. Miller Audio John Pertzborn, co-anchor of Fox News AM Show in...
2. Speakers: Brand Yourself with – “No Sweat!” I've worked very hard on my "No Sweat!" Brand: ”No...
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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!

Related posts:

1. Speakers: Brand Yourself with – “No Sweat!” I've worked very hard on my "No Sweat!" Brand: ”No...
2. Fox News interviews Speaker/Author, Fred E. Miller Audio John Pertzborn, co-anchor of Fox News AM Show in...
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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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Opportunity is waiting!

On the other side of that door is Lots of it!
How do we unlock and open it?

Speak!

Public Speaking/Presenting
is the Key to opening the
Doors of Opportunity!

Here’s why:
We perceive really good speakers as Experts!

Perception is reality, and we like to work with Experts.

The Research Shows:
   •  Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities!
   •  Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities!
   •  Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities!

The people who take and make Speaking Opportunities grow the perception they are Experts. They grow their businesses, careers, and leadership possibilities.

Think of great business and political leaders.  Many attained their positions because of their great skills as a speaker.  Presidents Obama, Clinton and Reagan rose to the highest position in our country partially because of those communication skills.  Sarah Palin, considered a rock star on the podium, ran for vice president.  Apple’s Steve Jobs was the consummate presenter and salesman as was Chrysler’s Lee Iacocca.

A speaker wants to connect to the members of the audience.  The message of a person, skilled in presentation skills, speaks to the audience, and makes the connection.  That connection can lead to direct and indirect opportunities.

Being a good presenter is an important skill needed for many occupations.  Some present well – others don’t.  All things being equal, the ones who communicate well are the leaders in their profession.

Equally important is the fact that even if a person seldom makes a presentation, having the skill will help in other significant ways.
   •  It will improve their one-on-one communication, something everyone does.
   •  Since it takes most out of their comfort zone, it widens that comfort zone and
improves self-esteem, a worthy goal!

Please Note: A Speaking Opportunity is also an opportunity to:
   •  Give others a Negative Impression of  You. 
   •  Embarrass Yourself.
   •  Set a Career Back!

Knowing this, it’s important to be aware that a Speaking Opportunity, whether you sought it out, or it found you, is Important!  Don’t take it lightly.  The spotlight will be on You.

You want to delver a great presentation.  If assigned this task, you want those counting on you to be proud of your performance.  You want to be satisfied with your own work.

Study, Learn and Use The Laws of Presentation.
   •  Know Your Stuff.
•  Really know the subject you’ll be speaking about.
•  Be up-to-date on the latest information.
   •  Know How to Present.
•  Be proficient with all the Components, Parts, and Elements of a presentation.
•  Study presentation skills.
•  Join Toastmasters.
•  Get a Coach!
   •  Be Audience Centered.
•  It’s all about the Audience.It’s not about you!
•  Understand – Believe – Practice this law!
   •  Practice – Practice – Practice!
•  This is not a suggestion!
•  A good rule of thumb is:
•  For every minute of presentation – practice one hour.
•  (The above is not a misprint!)

Those with a Fear of Public Speaking, or those who speak, but don’t have good presentation skills, lose out.  They lose out because they either don’t take speaking opportunities, or, take them and perform poorly.

Presentation Skills, like all skills, can be learned!  No one was born knowing how to ride a bike, drive a car, or use a computer.  No one was born a Public Speaker!

There is a Simple, Proven Formula for learning these skills.
1. Study.
2. Practice – Practice – Practice.
3. Deliver Presentation.
Repeat the above activities!

Follow the suggestions in this Post for Opening the Door to Opportunities and make your next presentation – 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
314-517-8772

Related posts:

1. Fox News interviews Speaker/Author, Fred E. Miller Audio John Pertzborn, co-anchor of Fox News AM Show in...
2. Attention, Audience! Be SPEAKER CENTERED – Please! In most cases, the audience came to learn something, not...
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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

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Professional PowerPoint and Keynote Slide Presentations.

Because many people are Visual Learners, Professional Slide Presentations can dramatically add to the goal of your audience GETTING IT!

Unfortunately, the majority of slide shows are designed with lots of text, bullet points and the occasional piece of cheap clip art.

Because your presentation is important – talk to me!

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I started Blogging almost two years ago. Here is what weekly Posting has brought Me.
It might do the same for You!Audio

Increased Knowledge.
I learn something every time I write a Post.  Each time I pick a subject, I research it and always find information I didn’t know.  My expertise on Public Speaking and Presentation Skills continues to grow.

Increased Visibility, Credibility and Brand Awareness.
As I write about the Components, Parts and Elements of a Presentation, all that text is out in the blogosphere for anyone searching those topics to find. Google sees it and my ranking in searches has increased exponentially.  The more good Content I place in Posts, the more my readers learn and their perception of me as an EXPERT grows.  (We like to work with EXPERTS, don’t we!)

Branding is important and large companies spend a lot of time and money to make sure people know them.  “No Sweat!” is in the title of my book and the closing of each Post.  It’s become my brand and is getting more recognition all the time!

Increased Self-Confidence.
As my knowledge base increases, so does my self-confidence.  Continued learning increases my “confidence in my competence.”  I’m at peace with the idea that I will never know everything about this subject, and that’s OK!  I know what I don’t know and get smarter each day.

Increased Self-Discipline.
For two years I have written a new post every week.  It’s not always easy, but there is a great sense of accomplishment with setting this goal and doing it regularly.  (If I could only be that consistent with my exercise program!)  Over that period of time I’ve built up quite a bit of material on Public Speaking and Presenting.  If I decide to write a sequel to my book, “No Sweat Public Speaking!” it will be relatively easy since I’ve done so much research and writing.

Better Reading Skills.
Since I do a great deal of research and always learn, I’ve become a better reader.   There are certain blogs I go to regularly because I learn from them and like the way they are written.  I’m also able to better spot poor writing, notice that I’ve done the same, and am more careful about my own blogging punctuation and sentence structure.
Better Reading = Better Writing = Better Speaking!

Better Writing Skills.
The more I write the better I write.  I’ve learned that less is more and that people want to GET IT! quickly.  This is the age of texting and tweets and more words don’t necessarily mean more information.  (This also applies to speaking.)  I start my Posts early in the week and Post them on Thursday.  This gives me plenty of time to make corrections and do revisions.  My first draft is never the last draft.  Rewriting is part of providing better content.

Better Speaking Skills.
A few months ago I started following my internet marketing mentor, Russ Henneberry’s lead, and started putting the audio of each post at the beginning of each written post.
At first this was a very humbling experience.  I discovered: grammatical errors, spelling errors, words that were repeated too often, statements that could be misinterpreted, paragraphs that were better either left out or re-written, and much more.

When I started recording the audio of a Post, I found room for improvement here, also!  Some words were mumbled and my voice would trail off in some cases.  However, if I hadn’t gone through the exercise of recording the Post, I might not have discovered these areas that needed correction in my delivery.

More Readers and Friends.
As people visit, share, tweet, post and opt into my email list, I’ve grown my tribe.  The web is amazing and I have people from 100 countries and territories visiting my site on a regular basis.

Opportunities to Guest Post.
I’ve connected with Bloggers in other countries, and exchanged guest posts with people as far away as India, New Zealand and the UK.  Cool!

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.
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...
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When was Your Presentation
last updated?You

If it’s been awhile - Keep reading!

Doing a Presentation Makeover
makes sense if:
The Information You Want to Convey is Important.
It should be Important!
     Important to the audience and
     Important to you!
If it’s not important, Why are you doing it?

“The presentation you and/or your team deliver:
directly reflects upon the presenters and those developing the presentation.”

You might need a
Presentation Makeover if you. . .

• Use cheap clipart.
• Use lots of fancy fonts.
• Put your brand on all the slides.
• Use lots of text in your slideshow.
• Use fonts that are less than 32 pt.
• Don’t customize your presentation.
• Don’t Practice – Practice – Practice.
• Think your Introduction is your Bio.
• “Wing it” at any of your presentations.
• Have many bullet points on your slides.
• Read those bullet points to the audience.
• Take questions after closing the presentation.
• Deliver your presentation from behind a lectern.
• Don’t research information about your audience.
• Give all the attendees handouts before presenting.
• Don’t have a Strong Opening and a Strong Closing.
• Aren’t continually updating your knowledge of your subject.
• Leave it up to the Master of Ceremonies to write your Introduction.
• Use low-rez images in your slides and enlarge them to fill the screen.
• Don’t use the “B” Button (Blank Screen) when delivering presentations.
• Are using someone’s stories in your presentation that are not your own.
• Don’t continually research information on the subject you’re presenting.
• Take questions throughout your presentation and always run out of time.
• Use lots of different slide transitions with an equal amount of build-ins
  and build-outs.
• Dress inappropriately or wear flashy jewelry and accessories when presenting.
• Are delivering Nonverbal Communication that is not in sync with your Verbal Communication.
• Keep a prop in view of the audience after using it and moving on to another part of your presentation.
• Don’t have a few questions in your hip pocket to “prime the pump” during the
  Q & A.
• Are not using personal stories to reinforce the points you’re making in the body of your speech.
• Don’t scope out the venue you’ll be speaking in several days before your presentation.
• Don’t have a “Master Slide Deck” you can easily pick and choose slides from for specific audiences and events.
• “Grab” images off internet sites rather than purchase or use ones with Creative Commons license.
• Are not using the Presentation Mode that PowerPoint and Keynote Offer.
• Are not using a remote control device that controls the slide, sound, has a “B” Button, has a laser pointer and is long range RF (radio frequency, not being directional.)

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.
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. Your Master Slide Deck: “Know when to
   Show Them and when to Fold Them! All presentations don't need PowerPoint or Keynote. However, there are...
3. Nonverbal Communication Trumps. . . Nonverbal Communication trumps Verbal Communication. Having your total presentation in...

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