Linchpin, Seth Godin

Let's talk writing style. After all, this is a blog you are reading. And, let's not talk about my writing style (much). I am not a good writer and I know it. But I aspire to be. And I'll keep on working on it until I leave Ol' Mother Earth.

Linchpin, Seth Godin

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I like to read. That's how I've learned what little I know about the craft of writing. Back in "pre-www days," I used to keep from five to seven books checked out of the library at all times. Now days, behind my blogging time, I like to spend time at the local Barnes and Noble book store.

Of all of the thousands of authors I've read and scanned, there are three that stand out to me as a model for my writing style. They are, , ,

Max DePree, Rick Warren and Seth Godin.

I'll not list their books here, except for the one I'm featuring today. Seth Godins, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? It is the source for my latest quotation slideshow.

"These three? Why do they stand out to you, Wayne?"

Because they know how to deliver the most profound truths with the simplest words, , , they use words everyone uses every day. Little bitty words and great big, huge principles! I love 'em.

And so do most readers, , , for sure, blog readers.

(But, all to often, I screw up and get all wordy and many-syllablish. Forgive me!)

And so here is Seth's latest, , , Linchpin, , , it's profound. When you speak, there are always quotations from this meaty little book you can use.

Included is what I would call the "quote of the year." Every speaker, speaking on any subject, can use it in their very next presentation. It is pertaniant to us all.

"Yesterdays remarkable is today's really good and tomorrow's mediocre." p. 25

Enjoy!

Wayne

8 Viewpoints of the Visuals You Use, Wayne Kronz

Part of the my main seminar, How to Draw Your Message for Fun and Huge Profit, is a small section about the eight (8) mindsets you should have toward the visual aids you have created for your presentation.

8 Viewpoints of the Visuals You Use, Wayne Kronz

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1. First of it all, any visual aid that you create for any presentation should be considered a “model” of your message. By definition, a model is “a replica of the real thing” or “reality”.

2. Think further of your new born graphic as being the essence of what you are about to present. It’s English definition is the "basic element of anything," in concentrated form.

Such is your model to your message.

3. Your visual aid is your own private opportunity to “draw your message.” Or, to take it out of a spoken and written form and put it into a graphic form.

4. This is where you consciously think and say, “This is how it works.” It’s your actual delivery of your message to your audience.

5 and 6. For your visual message to have it’s best impact, it must, both represent the smallest detail and the big picture of what you have to say. And it is not always easy to do.

7. Think of your theme model as being your partner as your teaching tool.

8. And, last but not least, is what your visual aid is to your audience; a tool that will equip them to better and more quickly learn what you are teaching.

Bonus: It will further help them teach others what you have taught them.

So, as you create and use your visual aids in your presentation, always be aware of the powerful tool you have in your hand.

Wayne

Thank You Power, Deborah Norville

My favorite topics have to do with the design and use of visual aids in public speaking. But there is another subject that is dear to my heart; the constant practice Gratitude.

Thank You Power, Deborah Norville

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I am a great fan of the research of Michael E. McCullough and Robert A. Emmons, which Deborah Norville refers to through out her book, Thank You Power: Making the Science of Gratitude Work for You.

My favorite lesson to teach is entitled, The 12 Lifetine Benefits of Gratitude.

Deborah, a network anchor person, has taken to the topic of like a duck to water. And her book is remarkable, and must reading for any person who wants to make life meaningful.

Here is my Quotation Slideshow of this very fine publication.

Wayne

A Sense of Urgency, by John P. Kotter

A Sense of Urgency, John P. Kotter

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Harvard Business School professor, John P. Kotter is one of the world's leading authorities on leadership and change. His latest book, A Sense of Urgency, approaches his two signature topics in a new and more critical way.

He has concluded that there is a great fall off in urgency in business.

And that this lessened degree on urgency among leaders is making it more difficult to deal with the problems of doing business it the 2010's and beyond.

Kotter has identified a series of twelve (12) factors necessary for leadership to be able to begin new urgency and action it their organization.

Because twelve elements are too many for most adults to manage in their own thinking, I have developed a "color coded" process model (or Method Map) to help you and your audiences understand his principles.

Though presented in under a minute here, this content could easily be a one hour (or longer) lecture.

What I have done here is use the old "fish bone" approach in a more formal way to illustrate four "back bone" ideas, supported by two additional points each.

This is a technique I call a "Table of Contents" model. Such many-elemented, complex graphics can be created to support a over-all theme, book, seminar or conference, etc.

Let me know how this visual aid works in your own thinking and speaking.

Wayne

Everyone Communicates Few Connect

Everyone Communicates Few Connect, John C. Maxwell, Quotation Slideshow, Wayne Kronz

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John Maxwell has long been one of my favorite public speakers. His latest book Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently is jamb-packed with quotations every speaker or presenter can use any time.

So here's my latest Quotation Slideshow, featuring nuggets from that book.

Enjoy.

Wayne

Follow the Other Hand, Andy Cohen

During the month of March I featured a concept I called Using Entertainment Media as a means of making a visual impact during your presenting. Ventriloquism was the focus of most of these posts.

Today, let's talk about magic. And there is one superior place for us to start; with Andy Cohen. He is the premier teacher of speakers the craft of magic.

And his book, Follow the Other Hand: A Remarkable Fable That Will Energize Your Business, Profits, and Life is the most comprehensive place to start.

Watch his "French Drop" video several times and participate right along with him.

If you like his work, and you think you can do a lot of the same stuff, get his book.

Wayne

Goals and Actions

There is a strange dichotomy about Setting and Achieving Goals, , , in any area of your life. It seems that there must be an execution of a well defined Action Plan if greatness is ever achieved.

Goals and Action, Wayne Kronz

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Plus, to so many people, the real value of goal setting and action planning is not important. They just blow these critical ideas off as not part of their lives.

But, it all starts with one's placing of high value in these activities.

Here's a simulator model (a PPT mimic of a hand-drawn visual aid) you can use to teach all these seldom taught principles.

Wayne