Mark Lanier and Cliff Atkinson

Life is never-ending discovery. Even at the age of 74. It happened to me yesterday. Just as it does nearly every day that I put out my “bucket.”

Soon after Cliff Atkinson’s book, Beyond Bullet Points: Using Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® 2007 to Create Presentations That Inform, Motivate, and Inspire came out, I’ve known about his star case study, attorney Mark Lanier and his 253 million dollar wrongful death settlement with Merck.

You see, this case study fits into my visual aid research pattern. To look at Lanier’s PowerPoint opening statement (well over 200 slides and two and one half hours long) is an investigation into excellence and several note worthy lessons.

And, I only study the very best.

This guy just won 253 million from one of the largest pharmaceutical firms in the world, that had just spent a billion dollars on lawyers and expert witnesses in it’s defense.

Lanier (and his consultant, Cliff Atkinson) must have done something right.

And what ever that was, all we like PowerPoint users should take note and learn. (The heck with what the crazy dude in the cubical next to you says about using PowerPoint.) Lanier’s stuff works!

We should (study and) follow suit!

Back to my discovery! It was a series of 9 videos on YouTube.com. These videos were of Lanier speaking (I think, to group of Harvard law students) about that blockbuster trial, , , the one where his client won a settlement of 253 million dollars.

In it he shows some of the slides he used in his opening statement. Fellow PPT user, , , here is real value! His opening arguments were a two and one half hour speech, , , supported by well over 200 PowerPoint slides.

My observation is that such a presentation is a tasty recipe for a nap.

Not so here! Observers at this trail said that the jury of 12 were on the edge of their seats for the entire time. (Which is cool, in and of it self.)

But the results they delivered, , , 253 million bucks, , , is what really counts.

I have drawn several conclusions after watching all nine videos through twice. And I’ll discuss them with you in part two of this article.

For now, if you are a serious presenter in any field, I highly recommend that you watch this series through, at least twice. Here in this post is Part One of the series.  Then you can watch the rest of them one by one.

After you have watched this string of videos, then I’ll get back to you and we can see what we have learned.

Enjoy!

Wayne

COMING SOON: How to Draw Your Message, Wayne Kronz

Don’t Miss This Seminar!

If we had an accurate picture of the findings of clinical psychologists and cognitive learning specialist, we would all put much more effort into the visual aids we use in our presentations.

Albert Mehrabian showed us that 93% of all communication is nonverbal. His research is well documented, but seldom attended to.

The 3M Corporation insists that we process visuals 60,000 times faster than text.

This information is huge. Yet we continue to put 50-slide PowerPoint shows together (that are essentially text) every day.

If you’ve been following this blog at all, you know that I use PowerPoint all of the time. I use it for quotation slideshows, entertainment slideshows and as a model building tool. For these tasks, it can’t be beat! I love it!

(And there are other things that PPT does well.)

But don’t expect people to learn much from your fifty-slide dream-makers.

This is why I spend lots of time building process models and method maps. Or, as I prefer to call them, Theme Models.

In a few weeks I am going to make available to you the complete home study course, How to Draw Your Message for Fun and Huge Profit.

It is based on the actual visual aids used by the very best speakers and presenters in the world. (Up front experts like Chris Anderson, Jim Collins, Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, Robert Kiyosaki and Patricia Seybold, to name only a few.)

Plus, the latest research on the design and use of visual aids in public speaking, like the two references listed above. (And there is a lot more convincing research packages out there beyond the two listed here.)

Keep an eye on this blog and begin to tell everyone you know who speaks in public about this upcoming, career-changing, course, How to Draw Your Message for Fun and Huge Profit.

Thank You!

Wayne

Where Did Wayne Go?

Thank you for baring with me. I've got a big PowerPoint job. This broker wants 200 PPT slideshows as quickly as I can crank them out. So, , , I thought "this will cost you a peice of the action."

And lo, he took me up on my deal.

By now I have 10 of them finished.

I'll try two break in, at least once a week and give you some fat content.

Thanks again.

Wayne

The Six-Slide PowerPoint Presentation, Wayne Kronz

PowerPoint supporters insist that “it’s only a piece of software, , , it’s the users who are coming up with all the Really Bad PowerPoint.”

I say differently. Right out of the box, implications are made, , , “anyone can do it.” Bluntly, I proclaim, “no software program can make you an instant public speaking success.”

I am 74 years old, , , and I’ve made thousands of up-front pitches. (I made my first one when I was 14.) And I have a dirty little secret I need to share with you, , , “It is not that easy!”

Everything I know about speaking, teaching and presenting, I’ve had to learn the hard way.

Over 200 books, well over 12,000 hours in front of critical audiences and a lifetime dedicated to the study of how visual aids work in public presentation.

And, I work my butt off in preparation and practice for every new presentation I make. I can honestly say that a great majority of my speeches have been well received.

Maybe, , , all except one! And WOW, did it bomb.

It wasn’t the quality of the material.

It wasn’t that I did a lousy job. I had presented all the stuff many times before with great success. I knew what I was doing.

It was because of my visual package, , , I used PowerPoint. My very first PowerPoint. So, I can easily say, “I’ve had my own bad PPT experience.”

As I have studied that presentation, I read far and wide. And I discovered that, like me, everyone was not pleased using PowerPoint.

Cliff Atkinson knows presentations like few in the world today. That’s why he wrote the book, Beyond Bullet Points.” Instinctively, he knew that the “out-of-the-box PPT” suggestions about using a lot of bullet points was a bad idea.

(One of his consulting clients’ presentations won a $253,000,000 settlement with a huge pharmaceutical company.)

Seth Godin is the best-selling business book author in the world today. (Number One!) And he’s a very prolific seminar leader and professional speaker.

And he wrote the book, Really Bad PowerPoint.

Tom Antion earns well over a million dollars a year as a professional public speaker. He has literally taught the public speaking industry how to sell their wares on the Internet.

And he maintains a website called, PowerPointStinks.com.

(Tom has a cute little alternative to using PPT. I’ll share it with you some day on this blog.)

Dan Roam is the hottest speaker in the world today on the topic of Presenting. His book, The Back of the Napkin, has opened the presentation world’s eyes to what works and what does not in the realm of using visual aids.

He made a comment in one of seminars that triggered my thinking for this article, , , “after five or six slides, no one pays any attention, , ,” speaking about large, multi-slide PPT slide shows.

The reason this comment rang a bell in my thinking is that for the last few years that’s been my exact observation. I’ve thought many times, “Five slides and they're loosing ’em.”

And if most audiences are “good” for five or six slides, why not build PPT presentations with only six slides. Result; I’ve developed the Six-Slide PowerPoint Presentation concept.

I am including two “six-slide” presentations for you on this blog. I hope you learn from them and can put the idea to work in your presenting.

Wayne

PowerPoint Connection, Wayne Kronz

Recently I wrote a post about three connections every presenter must make for public speaking success. Speaker to Audience, Message to Audience, and Known to Unknown.

Today, let's look further into the "connection concept." I am interested in this idea concerning the use of PowerPoint.

If you use PowerPoint a lot and you want to increase the impact of your presentations consider this. . .

Every chart you use.

Every quotation you site.

Every bullet point statement you make.

Every key word. Every image. Every question you ask.

Every single element of your presentation.

"Will this connect to my audience?" "Really?"

If it doesn't have a "magnetic force" about it, dis-card it. Your presentation simply does not need the "fluff."

It make no difference whether it's a word, sentence, chart, illustration or image.

Connection is everything. People will not go to sleep if they are connected. If they are not,
the heads will not.

So constantly be asking yourself the question--"Will this connect with my audience?”

Wayne

Perfect Business, Phil Town, Payback Time

I'm easily excited. To my knowledge, I'm the only person on Planet Earth who teaches how to use the whiteboard to "draw your message" using PowerPoint tools, and hosted by Slideboom.com.

Perfect Business, Phil Town, Payback Time

View more presentations or Upload your own.

Well I've out done myself, this time. I started with one of my favorite speakers, Phil Town, and his new book, Payback Time: Making Big Money Is the Best Revenge!. I went through his book yesterday with the thought being to build a Quotation Slideshow.

But everything went a different direction. Instead, three different theme models popped of the pages, , , one of which I have for you in this post.

Then, as I was finishing up the PowerPoint show and adding the music (which is my final step before uploading it to Slideboom), I stumbled upon a fun little piece of music. It sets the show perfectly. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Wayne

P.S. Note the review phase I have added with the circles and underlining.

The Symbols Game, Wayne Kronz

The definition of the term symbol, suggests it’s a word, phrase or image, or the like, , , having a complex associated meaning and perceived value. (Dictionary.com)

The Symbols Game, Wayne Kronz

View more presentations or Upload your own.

For the purpose of our study of visual aids used in public speaking, we will focus in the term “image” and “meaning.”

I have studied the idea of images adults use and the meanings they attach to them for many years. My conclusion is that most adults have at least 1000 or more symbolic definitions pre-programmed in their minds.

As a presenter, it is your job to harness these pre-programmed meanings in our speeches and presentations.

By simply suggesting an image (say a light bulb), you automatically suggest a (already learned) lesson to the minds of your audiences. It’s already there!

So, to help you understand this reality a little better, I have invented a little game. Let’s call it The Symbol Game.

PowerPoint and Slideboom.com will help us.

First, get a pencil and a blank piece of paper. And a place to write while you watch.

Second, get ready to write fast. This is a drill, , , of sorts. But it is fun!

Third, there 30 images are that will be displayed to you. (Do not write down the name of the object.)

Fourth, quickly write down the first thought that comes to your mind when the item is flashed on the screen.

Fifth, go through the exercise at least three or four times.

You will notice several principles of using symbols in your speaking.

1. The big one is that background, religion, education, where you grew up, even your gender and nationality dramatically effect how you interpret the objects.

2. Another biggy is your age, both youth and agedness.

3. Many objects (or symbols) have more than two or three meanings. For instance, a light bulb may stand for “light,” “a new idea,” or “creativity.”

4. There are no losers—only people who do not participate.

I guarantee you, you’ll learn things about how people (and you) use symbols in your thinking you never dreamed. And how you can better use them in your speaking experience.

Wayne

For All Who Write, John Maxwell

For All Who Write, John Maxwell

View more presentations or Upload your own.

This musical graphic is strickly expermential. It starts with one of John Maxwells quotations from his latest book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently.

It then plays in PowerPoint in an interesting way. Let me know what you think.

Wayne

The Gratitude Loop, Wayne Kronz

Of all of the visual aids I've ever created, this is my favorite.

The Gratitude Loop, Wayne Kronz

View more presentations or Upload your own.

Why?

First, the content. This is high-value material for everyday living! And, for us all!

Second, the animation technique. I was able to use the tools in PowerPoint to simulate exactly what I would be drawing on a whiteboard if I were presenting it live to you.

Third, the music. I think it complements the message.

Lastly, it's simple and easy to understand. When it comes to the end, and The 12 Lifestyle Benefits of Gratitude are all listed on a still screen, read them over three or four times. Let them sink in.

Wayne

How Wayne Prepares to Speak

By now you have seen my Boot Model and The Path of Life Model. These two graphics represent a technique I call the "Simulator." In these unique PowerPoint presentations I simulate the process of "hand-drawing."

How Wayne Prepares to Speak

View more presentations or Upload your own.

Today I have another "simulator" visual aid, , , How Wayne Prepares to Speak.

I hope you enjoy this little technique, , , as to how PowerPoint can be used in an interesting and a typical way, , , not baring a slide a minute of bullet-pointed material.

If you have any comments, leave a post. Thank You!

Wayne Kronz

10 Ways The Presenters Brain Uses a Theme Model, Part Two

Earlier I posted an article entitled, 10 Ways The Presenters Brain Uses a Theme Model. Actually, it was a list of “the first five” ways a theme model benefits a presenter that are seldom gained by using a typical PowerPoint presentation.

Today we’ll look at “the second five.”

Remember “the first five,” organize, clarify, evaluate, prioritize and patterns. There are similarities in this list, but each minute element is a function every speaker should consider in detail, regarding his topic.

(Remember the initials, OCEPP. They’ll help you remember these elements.)

6. Relationship. In your mind, , , as you begin to speak and present your topic, one thing is vitally important; it’s how one part, principle and/or element relates to the other factors within your presentation.

And as the late great founder of the National Speakers Association (NSA), Cavett Robert used to say, “if it’s cloudy in the pulpit, it’s gonna be blamed foggy in the pew.”

You must have a clear understanding of how everything in your presentation relates to everything else. And the simpler you arrange its elements together the better you’ll do.

Back to Cavett Robert. He taught a principle he called, “the divinity of simplicity.” "Simple, simply makes everything simpler." (Wayne said that :>)

7. Process. Graphically, it’s known as Process Modeling. Or, as I call it in this blog, Method Mapping.

It makes little difference what you call it, , , but that you can draw it, , , how your message works in real life.

Being able to turn to your whiteboard or flipchart, , , or draw it on the side of a box or the back of a napkin, you maximize your ability to communicate your topic is a meaningful sort of way.

8. Reject. You will tend to use most of your research material. But there will be things that will not fit, , , regardless of how much you wish they would.

Reducing everything to it’s simplest form helps you to see these items that “just don't fit.” At the end of the day, you will probably just reject this information as simply not valid.

9. Practice. Sooner of later, you’ll need to tie your whole presentation all together (in your mind, that is, , , and a simple piece of paper works best.)

Here’s a public speaking tip (a huge one) I have never heard anyone give. It’s “how to practice your speech.”

You’ve all heard about practicing in front of a mirror, recording your talk, video taping it, or actually giving in front of friends or family. They are all good methods but not the best.

The best way is a two-step approach. Step one: Summarize your whole presentation into a good Theme Model. Step two, , , draw that little visual aid on everything between where you are right now and when you actually give your presentation.

A napkin, a box, the back of an envelope, , , and the list goes on. As you draw, do your mind-talk covering every point and detail of your speech. My friend, this is a vastly superior all other methods of practicing your material.

10. Implementing. If you are going to teach something, , , anything? You must know your method works.

To know it will, you must test it. And test it you must using the same tool you are offering someone else; your Theme Model. (Clue; RPRPI)

Wayne

P.S. Look for the coming article, "OCEPP and RPRPI."

10 Ways The Presenters Brain Uses a Theme Model

To so many presenters in the world today, the term "visual aid" means PowerPoint. The minute they are told that they will making a particular presentation, they run to their computer and open up PPT and then one of its templates, and they start "filling in the blanks."

A few days later and they wind up with what I call "a slide a minute" slideshow with an average of 5.6 bullet-point elements on each slide.

What a pity!

According to the world's best mind (that's my opinion), , , in the presentation industry, Dan Roam, author of the best-selling book, The Back of the Napkin (Expanded Edition): Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures, "people only pay attention to the first five or six slides."

And I believe that. I've watched it happen many times.

I'm going to say this, , , and I'll probably say it again, , , "Using a many-slide, bullet-point riddles slideshow is a third rate teaching method." All the hard work of putting such a program together is simply "lots of time wasted."

Today we are going to look at this whole ordeal, strictly from the presenters point of view. The title of this article says 10 Ways The Presenters Brain Uses a Theme Model. I'm going to break this writing into two sections (Part One and Part Two).

When you go the PowerPoint direction, you pass up on several benefits you gain as a speaker. Some of them are,

1. Organize. When you follow someone else's template, you seldom crystallize your your presentation like you do if you were fine-tuning it to three, five or even seven key principles.

You simply keep generalizing, , , and never focus on what is critically important to your audiences.

And you wind up reading the slides to your learners. Bad!

You'll never get really organized for a presentations until you can put your whole pitch into a handful of principles that can be illustrated in a simple and understandable graphic. It's the preferred method of teaching of world-class presenters like Jim Collins, Stephen Covey, Robert Kiyosaki, Micheal Porter, and Peter Senge.

2. Clarify. One of the biggest flaws in a typical business presentation is clarity. Everything is "up for grabs." Audiences don't know what's important and what is not.

It's only when your whole topic is reduced to it's simplest form, does the reality of ease of understanding come into play.

3. Evaluate. When I just mentioned "clarity" I was speaking of the clarity of the message to the presenter. As a clear understanding of what you are going to be teaching strikes you, fuzzy and confusing points may come to your mind.

At this point you may want to re-think parts of your message. And seeing it in a simple hand-drawn theme model will certainly bring this point home to you.

4. Prioritize. One thing that I teach is the concept of hierarchical thinking. People must know what is vital and what is not so important. And a whole bunch of slides will not underline what is key and what is not important at all.

And, again, having your whole message condensed into a quick and easy diagram will help you pass it on to your audience in the most usable fashion.

5. Patterns. One thing that will work as your partner while you are teaching is when your audiences begin to see patterns in the elements of your message. And nothing can illustrate that like a strong, well designed theme model.

The problem, in almost all of the above cases is that PowerPoint just doesn't really prepare you to teach these many details and inner workings of a typical business or behavior presentation.

Look for Part Two of this presentation, , , or the "second five" ways the presenters brain uses a theme model.

Wayne.

Presenters; Come Join the iSpring/SlideBoom Boom

Every since 1997 when I first met PowerPoint, and began discovering its pros and cons I’ve heard people ask, “What’s wrong with PowerPoint? ? ? After all, it’s only a tool, , , if there is a bad presentation, then there must be a lousy user somewhere.”

And this is partially true.

But, , , every time I hear the “What’s wrong with PPT, , ,” question my figure shoots up into the air. I’m not thinking about the user. It’s “PowerPoint right out of the box” that concerns me.

“What is it Wayne?” you’re asking.

“It’s the file!” I scream. And that is a result of the disks that come right out of the box from Microsoft. It’s their programming.

For starters, a PowerPoint file is much to large (compared to a Flash file). And Flash is the basis of online video. Plus, these files are very messy to work with when it comes to posting them online and in emails.

Of course, I’m a techno-zero, but that’s my perspective.

I do love the PowerPoint tool package, but in my opinion it is not arranged right. And most of its’ bullet point infested templates and wizards are third rate, at best.*

Many of these tools are very nice, , , if, and only if they are used correctly.

My personal problem is that I’m not a PPT basher. I use it virtually every day. It would be difficult for me to do without. So, now is the time for me to put this whole discussion into full prospective.

In recent weeks I have become a huge fan of a Web 2.0 PowerPoint to Flash converter called iSpring. I use the free version appropriately called, iSpring Free (found at http://www.ispringfree.com/ ). It’s amazing.

I’d like to commend its creators!

First, they have the Flash conversion process down pat, , , it works like a charm. Second, they nail it when it comes to “user friendliness.” Even this old-timer can get the job done quite nicely. And third, little or nothing that is generated in PowerPoint is lost in the process.

Kudos to the iSpring team!

Last but not least, is their free hosting service, SlideBoom.com. You have to check it out.

They have over 4,000 contributing artist, many of which have well over 200 presentations posted. So it’s a hefty little beast.

Again, I’m a simple guy. I do not understand the first thing about programming or software design. All I know is when I see something (like iSpring) that really works.

It seems to me that a big outfit like Microsoft could have done everything that the iSpring gang has done, including the free hosting website, a decade ago.

Instead they have simply let its users suffer through all the speed-bumps associated with posting slideshows or videos online.

Or maybe, I’m just full of it.

Wayne

* And if Bill Gates and his gang want to know how to re-arrange PPT, I’d be glad to help out with my “one module” solution. For a fee of course.

Substance, Not Form!

Back in the day, when I worked in real estate development, I can't tell you how important an aerial map was to virtually every presentation.

The Confession of a Visual Aid Creator

PowerPoint, movies, projectors, write-on devises and mounted material are not even visual aids. They are media or medium. They are only the vehicle that brings a visual aid to us.

All to often, people who teach you how to use visual aids only discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these different media (or tools).

No time is spent telling you it's not the PowerPoint, but the content displayed. Not the movie but the message it protrays. They don't tell you it's what's projected on the screen, not the hardware that's used to get it there.

That's what this blog is about, , , substance over form. Not what it's displayed with but actually what is displayed.

MethodMap.blogspot.com is about substance.

Well thought substance, shared with interested and involved people, drawn on the back of a napkin will out perform a multimedia extravaganza shown to thousands of people any day.

Wayne

Entertainment Equal Impact (Part 1)

PowerPoint? The Whiteboard? A Flipchart? Even a high-dollar multimedia-media extravaganza? How effective are these commonly used medium? Really?

(I have my ideas.) Used correctly, in the right framework and any of these can boost your audiences understanding of your message many fold.

Are there better visual media than the ones listed above?

Yep! The Entertainment Media!

I will list four of them for you today and as time goes by, I'll discuss them each individually!

1. Comedy! Ninety percent of all presenters can vastly improve their up front performance through a new and tactical use of added humor in their speech or presentation.

Volumes have been written on the subject of using humor in public speaking, but to little of it has been read and applied. In the future we'll dig more deeply into how to go about doing this.

2. Ventriloquism. The sky in the limit for any presenter, in this category, , , and you don't have to be a Terry Fator to do it.

But, , , this skill does take a lot of work for most people who attempt it. The most important elements are dedication and then lots and lots of practice.

It is difficult to measure the learning impact of a good ventriloquist aided presentation.

3. Magic. Of the four methods mentioned in this article, magic is probably the easiest one to learn and apply to your presentation. In a future post, I'll cover the simple "first steps" to mastering the use of magic in your speaking.

4. Music. Readers of MethodMap.blogspot.com already know that I am very high on the use of hand-drawn visual aids and storytelling as "the best visuals you will ever use."

But, in my heart, I readily concede that music is the ultimate visual aid, , , and in a few days I'll explain exactly why it is so.

David Pogue is the technology editor of The New York Times. He is also a prolific speaker on technology and how it interfaces with real life and work.

He plays the piano (average). Sings (below average). And, he writes his own material (better than average). Put it all together, and he gives a very entertaining and educational speech. You won't want to miss his stuff. I hope you enjoyed his video (above).

Wayne

What's a Theme Model, Anyway?

In high school and college work you have to write book reports, and term and theme papers, etc. Most instructors insist that a lead part on these writings include a "theme statement."

It's a two or three sentence statement of what the paper is all about.

A Theme Model is much the same thing, , , only the graphic version. In it every point of your presentation is reduced as far as possible, , , but every necessary element is contained in it.

It is a paradox, with which every speaker must deal while they're developing their content, , , and now it is putting it into a visual form. Edited but complete.

Abraham Maslow's pyramid model, known as The Hierarchy of Human Needs, is the most widely published theme model. It embodied all that Maslow taught.

Chris Andersen's, model, from his book by the same name, Long Tail, The, Revised and Updated Edition: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More is the same sort of visual aid.

I live and breathe graphic modeling. I've studied the visual aids used by world-class presenters every since I was a teen. And that's been a long, long time.

The design and use of theme models is the calling of my life. I create them. I use them. And I teach other people to do the same.

I use PowerPoint a lot.

But I am a firm believer that the best way to really learn theme model building is with a marker and a whiteboard.

So, to teach other presenters how to do their own model drawing, I have developed a very unique seminar-workshop. It's simply called, How to Draw Your Message.

In this program everyone will have their own whiteboard and markers.

The boards will be arranged in a circle around the room.

I will draw something on my board. Each attendee will follow suit and draw the same thing I do. Every box, every circle, every line, every arrow, every stick man, and write every word I do.

You'll learn by doing!

It will be an unparalleled experience. And you'll have fun doing it.

When we are all done with the thirty categories we draw and discuss, you will know how to generate your own Theme Model. Guaranteed!

More about this career-changing program later.

Wayne

P.S. Keep your eyes pealed on this blog and pick up on part two of this article, , , it's called, Is One Visual All I Need? And tell others about it.

What's Coming Up

First, Janurary 14, I'm going into the hospital for some surgery. I hope it doesn't lay me up very long.

You know my posting pattern, , , a new one ever other day. I'll try to keep 'em coming but I might not be able to. So keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Thank You!

Second, I have already begun a series of posts, giving you a visual aid idea you can use in your very next presentation, speech or publication. The first concept was the use of Venn Circle Models.

And also, you have been introduced to my own exclusive PowerPoint technique I call the Simulator. In it, you can simulate your actual drawing process on a legal pad using the drawing and animation elements found in PowerPoint.

(My last post was a static slide, but I've hooked up many of these types of presentations using the animation features in PPT.)

They works well when you are simulating your "live drawing" via. a PowerPoint projected image. Simply click your way through each animation as you speak.

I have developed some hand-drawn elements as a sort of templete presentation, , , and I'm going to make them downloadable to you, one way or another.

Because PowerPoint files are a little bulky, I may have to link them to you one slide at a time.

What follows here is a bit of an experiment.

I'm going to try to make available to you the "legal pad background" I used in my last post.

(It's a mess doing these things when you only know three things about a computer, , , PPT, MS Publisher, and how to email. Oh yes, I'm learning Blogger.)

Be patient with me. I'll figure it out.

Wayne

Draw Your Message

I use PowerPoint a lot, but only when it serves my needs, and more specifically, my audiences needs.

But, I much prefer, as do my audiences, hand-drawn visual aids.

The basis of all visual-centered speaking is someone's ability to "draw your message." Most likely, You!

Let me assure you, you don't have to be an artist to become a powerful user of visual aids. All you need to start is ability to draw a collection of smiley faces, stick men and women and an array of lines, arrows, boxes and circles.

The Key Is Practice

I am generating a PDF download of all the above visual ingredients. When it is posted, download it, and start practicing and then become a professional doodler.

Persistence is the secret.

Every time you have a spare moment draw. Soon these little friends of yours will come to life as part of your topic. Here then is your jumping off point.

In the future in this blog you will further develop your ability to draw your message in a way that your audiences will appreciate.

Wayne

Exactly How You Should Use a Visual Aid

StomperNet has just added Melanie Benson Strick to their prestigious faculty. Her field of expertise is staff building.

She was just featured in a highly informative video that you won’t want to miss. See it at http://stompernetpresents.com/vtbs.htm (As long is it's still available online.) (OPS, it's only an audio track now. More of Melanie coming soon.)

Melanie is speaking about StomperNet’s latest project, the Virtual Team Building System.

In her introductory video, she features a little graphic she calls the On-time Results Model. It is as simple as a visual aid can be, yet it packs three profound principles anyone wishing to build there own productive team can put into immediate use.

She presents this incredible little model on a single 8½ by 11 piece of paper.

I’ve enhanced this visual aid with the help of PowerPoint (shown here). But, let me make this point very clear: I have not improved the actual content at all. Only it’s general appearance. In it's primitive form, it's still an incredible communication tool.

Also shown on today’s blog post is also another model she uses in this great video.

Regardless of what your topic is—you do not want to miss this video. You will see demonstrated, before your very eyes, exactly how you should use a visual aid in your presentations.

Wayne