How It All Starts Have you ever paid more than you expected because the price quoted didn’t include VAT? I get infuriated when I decide to pay for something only to discover that the company actually wants a little bit more of my money. They didn’t tell me the correct price because, well, it’s just not what […]
Show Me Some Respect Read More »
“How can I improve my Powerpoint?” “How can I make my boring subject interesting?” “How do I engage the audience?” These are the sort of questions I get asked a lot. The answer to all of them is simple, really: deliver it to someone who’s outside your industry – I’m ideal for this, by the way* – and ask
Powerpoint Doesn’t Kill Presentations – People Do Read More »
Which is most important? That what you’re saying matters. That what you’re saying matters to you. Talking about something important doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to have the audience’s attention, even if they ought to be interested. Talking about something with absolute passion guarantees the audience’s attention for at least the first few minutes. Booooring! I often get
Antagonist My favourite movies always have a good villain. It’s well known that Hollywood loves an English actor for this role, whether it’s Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘Star Trek: Into Darkness’, Donald Pleasance as Blofeld, Peter Cushing in ‘Star Wars’, Alan Rrrickman in ‘Die Hard’, or Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. They provide a sinister, intellectual character.
License to Kill (When Speaking) Read More »
The Theory Entertainment forms such as video games and movies benefit from having a good story. They should always have one anyway, though. Obviously. Information forms, however – such as lectures, pitches and presentations – benefit even more from having a good story, because they’re not expected to have one. The Practical I saw several academics speak at an event
