Category: Lessons

Fourth of July: A Celebration of Small Business Independence

Business Lessons

fourth of july

Small Business

Small Business Independence

Jul 05, 2017

Americans sure love independence. The biggest event in the country happens every fourth of July as a celebration of its emancipation from foreign governments. During that day, pompous fireworks displays fill the atmosphere and flag-laden parades grace the streets. If Americans can go to great lengths to commemorate their history and government, they can surely do the same to honor not only their personal freedom but also the independence attained by their small businesses.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are currently 28 million small businesses in the country, and they are all responsible for 66 percent of the new jobs created since the 1970s. This only proves how resilient small businesses are. Indeed, they are the underrated cornerstones of the U.S. economy.

Celebrating Small Business Independence This Fourth of July

Seeking Small Business Independence

More and more Americans set to establish their own businesses every year. While it’s true that owning a business has its own complications, a survey by Endurance International Group found that almost 70 percent of entrepreneurs believe that going solo is the best career decision they’ve ever made. A similar study by Yodle Small Business Sentiment came to the same conclusion. They found that nine out of ten respondents are happy with their present stations as small entrepreneurs.
Indeed, the present landscape for small businesses is at its all-time high. To quote Hari Ravichandran, the CEO and founder of Endurance, “Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and it’s encouraging to see that so many small business owners are pursuing their passion in a way that provides them the most independence.”            
Celebrating Small Business Independence This Fourth of July | The Rewards to Reap

The Rewards to Reap

The number of people who are enticed to be more independent career-wise is growing. People are setting out to be solo entrepreneurs, and for a good reason. There are many perks you can get by being your own boss and setting your own business. Here are some of them:

Freedom to manage your business processes.

What’s great about running your own business is that you get to have full control of your time. You can choose when to start or end your day, and depending on your business model, you can even choose where to work. You have full freedom and flexibility to do as you please, as long as you take into consideration the best interests of your business.

Balance between work and personal lives.

When you are your own boss, you have the power to work in your own terms. It’s easier to strike a balance between your work and personal lives because you can decide where the horizon ends. The aforementioned Yodle study revealed that 50 percent of small business owners enjoy a decent work-life balance, 52 percent work a maximum of 40 hours a week, and almost 72 percent take at least two weeks of vacation each year. Not a bad deal, right?

More time to pursue your other passions.

If your business doesn’t bind you to a certain timeframe, you’ll have more time to realize your other dreams. This is why most small business owners join the game in the first place—they want to be independent so that they can have more time to do the things they actually love.

Opportunity to challenge the status quo.

By venturing into small business independence, you can expand your network and meet other forward-thinking entrepreneurs. As such, you’ll have more people with you to challenge the status quo and ultimately change the small business atmosphere for the better.

Full control of your business growth.

When you go solo, you’ll have no one to rely on for advancing your interests, so it’s up to you to map your own path. The future of your business is in your hands—your own strategies will determine how long you’ll stay in the game.
Celebrating Small Business Independence This Fourth of July | The Prices to Pay

The Prices to Pay

Small business independence may be good in its own right, but it’s still far from perfect. To become an effective small business owner, you have to live and embody your business every day. Sometimes, you need to make sacrifices to stay in the game. Below are some of the downsides of running your own business:

Absolute financial commitment.

Sometimes, when you’re still starting out, you won’t have enough investors to back you up, so you have no choice but shell out some of your own personal money. Also, when times are tough and the economy is at a low point, you’ll have no one to rely on for financial support, so be ready to break the bank a few times. But don’t worry—it’s all part of the deal. When you do things right, everything will fall into place and all of this will be nothing but the phase you have to go through before attaining growth and expansion. 

Missing the fine line between work and life.

The thing about attaining small business independence is that you can’t always predict how things will turn out. Yes, you can have full control over most of your business processes, but it’s also precisely for that reason that you can’t tell whether work-life balance is something that you can have easily or have to fight hard for.

More saturated business landscape.

It’s hard to break through in the small business scene when you have a lot of competitors in the field. Couple this with financial insecurity and work-life imbalance, and you’ll have in your hands more challenges in the future. This is why building a business is not for the weak-willed.
Remember that this fourth of July, you have more than one type of independence to celebrate. If there’s a good time to acknowledge the importance of small business independence, it is on the same day that the country celebrates its political freedom. Make sure to pay tribute to small businesses worldwide because they are the true unsung heroes of the American economy.
 

Resources:

Beesley, Caron. “Why Owning a Small Business Is the Best Independence There Is.” Fundbox. July 1, 2015. fundbox.com/blog/why-owning-a-small-business-is-the-best-independence-there-is
Hoagland-Smith, Leanne. “Small Business Owners Drawn to Independence.” Chicago Tribune. July 4, 2016. www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-hoagland-smith-column-st-0706-20150704-story.html
Tarr, Simon. “Independents’ Day: A Time to Celebrate Local Businesses.” The Guardian. July 3, 2015. www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2015/jul/03/independents-day-celebrate-local-small-business
“Survey: Small Business Owners Thrive on Independence.” PR Newswire. June 30, 2016. www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survey-small-business-owners-thrive-on-independence-300292587.html
“Small Business Profile.” U.S. Small Business Administration. n.d. www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/United_States.pdf

Cultivating the Right Presentation Mindset

mindset

presentation tips

public speaking tips

Jun 12, 2017

Someone once said, “The human brain is a wonderful thing. It starts working the moment you are born, and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.” Indeed, public speaking is so emotionally taxing that many people make all kinds of excuses to dodge it. Some say they don’t have the expertise yet while others say they’re not emotionally ready. To many, these excuses are a sign of weakness and an inability to deliver.

However, most people don’t realize that this is a natural response. In fact, it is expected, and in some cases, desired and encouraged. The can’t-do attitude towards public speaking is not always negative. If any, it’s a good asset waiting to be unraveled. You can channel the energy you use to dwell into your hesitation and self-doubt into something more positive. You can turn your can’t-do mindset into a presentation asset.

Focus on yourself, not on others.

This doesn’t mean you have to disregard your audience’s needs and preferences. It only means you shouldn’t worry too much about what others think of you. It’s okay to fret a little if you’re new to public speaking, but you have to remember that you don’t need to perfect it the first time. No matter how well you prepare and deliver your speech, there will always be room for improvement.

Look past the temptation to look smart. Instead of worrying about things that are out of your control, why not focus on honing your skills? Be open for growth, and embrace any challenge that might come your way. A lot of things can go wrong in a presentation, and sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to stop them. However, your attitude towards the situation will determine how it affects you.

Doubt yourself, but only for a minute.

There are two types of mindsets: fixed and growth. A fixed mindset encompasses static givens such as character, intelligence, and creative ability. These aspects can’t be changed in any meaningful way. A person with a dominant fixed mindset typically strives for success and avoids failure. A person with a growth mindset, on the other hand, sees failure not as a drawback but as a springboard for improvement. Both types of mindsets can have a profound impact in your life.

For you to overcome stage fright, you need to let your growth mindset take over. Think of your speaking engagement as an opportunity to expand your knowledge and enhance your experience. 

Find a motivation, not a reason to quit.

What’s good about having a growth mindset is that you can cultivate a passion for learning instead of a hunger for approval. People with this kind of outlook view things from a different light. To a conventional person, for example, the words, “not yet,” ring with a negative connotation, like being stuck in a certain state. However, to a progressive mind, “not yet” suggests something to look forward to in the future.

If you think you’re not yet ready to give a talk, strive harder to become better at public speaking until you are fully prepared to take the stage. Looking at things in a better light will free you from presentation anxiety and make you more confident.

Don’t let a can’t-do mindset stop you from reaching your full potential. Develop a can-do attitude that will let you find and conquer greater possibilities.

Resources:

Britton, Kathryn. “I Can’t Do It Yet.” Positive Psychology. June 18, 2014. positivepsychologynews.com/news/kathryn-britton/2014061829119

North, Marjorie Lee. “10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills.” Harvard Extension. n.d. www.extension.harvard.edu/professional-development/blog/10-tips-improving-your-public-speaking-skills

Peck, Sarah. “Why a Growth Mindset is Essential for Learning.” One Month. May 12, 2015. learn.onemonth.com/why-a-growth-mindset-is-essential-for-learning
Popova, Maria. “Fixed vs. Growth: The Two Basic Mindsets that Shape Our Lives.” Brain Pickings. n.d. www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset

Roll, Oliver. “6 Steps to Overcoming Stage Fright and Giving a Presentation Everybody Listens to.” Entrepreneur. October 21, 2014. www.entrepreneur.com/article/238442

6 Things to Watch Out for During Presentation Q&As

Powerpoint

PowerPoint Design

presentation

Presentation Consultation

presentation q&a

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Jan 15, 2017

Handling a Q&A session after a presentation can be both rewarding and challenging. It’s your chance to engage directly with your audience, clarify points, and demonstrate your expertise. However, there are potential pitfalls that could disrupt your flow or cause confusion.

Here are six things to watch out for during presentation Q&As:

1. Unclear Questions

Sometimes, audience members may ask questions that are vague or poorly worded, making it difficult to provide a direct answer.

What to Watch Out For:

  • Misinterpretation: If the question is unclear, you may end up answering something the audience member didn’t intend to ask.

How to Handle It:

  • Politely ask for clarification: “Could you please rephrase your question?” or “Can you clarify what you mean by [specific word or topic]?”

2. Off-Topic Questions

Occasionally, audience members may ask questions that are unrelated to your presentation, leading the discussion away from your main message.

What to Watch Out For:

  • Losing Focus: Answering off-topic questions can waste time and distract the audience from the key points you want to emphasize.

How to Handle It:

  • Acknowledge the question but steer the conversation back: “That’s a great question, but it’s a bit outside today’s topic. I’d be happy to discuss that afterward.”

3. Aggressive or Hostile Questions

Every now and then, someone in the audience may challenge your content or present their question in an antagonistic manner.

What to Watch Out For:

  • Escalating Tension: If not handled carefully, hostile questions can escalate and create tension in the room.

How to Handle It:

  • Stay calm and composed: “I understand your concern. Here’s how we approached that issue…” Redirect the conversation back to your presentation’s core message.

4. Questions You Don’t Know the Answer To

No matter how well-prepared you are, it’s possible that you’ll be asked a question that you don’t have the answer to.

What to Watch Out For:

  • Appearing Unprepared: Not knowing the answer to a question can make you feel caught off guard.

How to Handle It:

  • Be honest and offer to follow up: “I don’t have that information right now, but I can look into it and get back to you.”

5. Long-Winded Questions

Some audience members may use the Q&A session as an opportunity to share their thoughts at length, turning a question into a monologue.

What to Watch Out For:

  • Losing Engagement: Long-winded questions can take up valuable time and lead to a loss of engagement from the rest of the audience.

How to Handle It:

  • Politely interject: “That’s an interesting perspective. To clarify, is your question about [summarize their point]?”

6. Running Out of Time

Q&A sessions can easily run over time if not managed properly, which can frustrate both you and your audience.

What to Watch Out For:

  • Overrunning Your Allotted Time: Allowing the session to go over time can disrupt the schedule, especially in formal or time-constrained settings.

How to Handle It:

  • Keep an eye on the clock and manage time accordingly. You can say, “We have time for one more question,” and offer to continue the conversation afterward.

Final Thoughts

Navigating a Q&A session can be tricky, but with the right strategies in place, you can handle unexpected challenges and maintain control of the conversation. Stay calm, engage with your audience thoughtfully, and always steer the discussion back to your key message when necessary.

You’re Doing It Wrong: PowerPoint Rules You Should Be Following

Guy Kawasaki

Nancy Duarte

powerpoint rules

Seth Godin

Jun 08, 2015

For years now, people have been relying on PowerPoint to communicate ideas, sell products, facilitate meetings, and conferences. Many presenters, however, still fall short and end up with lousy, poorly designed slides that do nothing but torture their audience. Thankfully, there are experts in the field who have set the rules or standards for others to follow.

[sg-blog-modules module=three]

After a quick search, we found two sets of the most popular PowerPoint rules that many people subscribe to. Both may not be all-encompassing but they are excellent guidelines, nonetheless.

Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint

Guy Kawasaki is a venture capitalist, among other things. If we’re going to talk about quality and importance of simplicity in presentation design, he’s the go-to, well, Guy. He practically listens to hundreds of pitches all the time, making him knowledgeable of what works and doesn’t. For him, a PowerPoint presentation should:

  • Feature 10 slides or less
  • Last no more than 20 minutes
  • Contain font not smaller than 30pt

This rule is applicable to pitches and office meetings. And because most people cannot absorb more than 10 concepts in a single meeting, it is best that you limit your presentation to 10 slides. The 20-minute duration should give you enough time to host a Q and A discussion afterwards. A 30-point typeface will make information on a slide large enough to be readable without making it look too crowded.

Seth Godin’s Five Rules for Creating Amazing Presentations

Seth Godin is a man of many interests and as a public speaker, he’s no stranger to PowerPoint presentations. He even wrote an e-book about it.

If you want to create an amazing presentation, here are the points we have taken from the book:

  1. Use no more than six words on every slide (If you include too much text, the audience will simply read the slides ahead of you).
  2. Do not use cheesy images and look for professional stock photos instead.
  3. Avoid fancy transitions such as dissolves, spins, etc, as these can be distracting, making you seem less professional.
  4. Use sound effects, but not the built-in types. You may want to rip from CDs or use the “Proust effect.”
  5. Do not provide print collateral at the start of the meeting. You want your audience to focus on the presentation, not read ahead of you.

Great presentations can trigger the right emotions, inspire change, and move people. These two sets of rules can raise the level of your next presentation from boring to life-changing. You don’t need to choose between the two, though. Applying both of them is sure to produce excellent results. But whatever you do, here’s another rule for you to remember. This one’s from presentation expert Nancy Duarte:

Never deliver a presentation you would not want to sit through.

Now, if there’s One PowerPoint Rule to rule them all, that would be it.

[sg-blog-modules module=two]

PowerPoint Storyboard: A Powerful Way to Share Your Ideas

Microsoft Visual Studio

powerpoint storyboard

storyboard

storyboarding

May 25, 2015

 
Producing a corporate video – be it for sales, training, or any other business purposes – involves careful planning. To plan out your video effectively, one of the first things you need to do is to create a storyboard.

What’s a storyboard?

A storyboard is a shot-by-shot representation of how a video will unfold. It is typically composed of a series of frames with illustrations or images that represent each shot. Each frame also comes with short notes to explain what’s happening in the scene as well as script details (such as dialogues and directions).
[sg-blog-modules module=two]

Advantages of creating a storyboard

Sharing your vision for your video is much easier using a storyboard. There are times when, no matter brilliant our idea is and how hard we try to explain it, people just couldn’t understand it.  With a storyboard, you can show your team how the video is going to unravel.  It will also make it easier for everyone to get behind your idea.

Storyboarding can also make production is relatively hassle-free. As you create a video storyboard, what you’re basically doing is setting up a production plan. You are laying out the shots needed as well as their sequence. And since you already have a guide, it also makes editing easier. In other words, the entire creation process can go smoothly.

Using PowerPoint to create your storyboard

PowerPoint has many features that can bring an ordinary storyboard to life. You can turn any idea into something graphic using shapes, text, animation, and all the other tools that PowerPoint provides.

You can use the Storyboard template in PowerPoint after installing Microsoft Visual Studio 2011. With Visual Studio, making storyboards is as easy as creating and working on new slides. To create a PowerPoint Storyboard, the first things that you should is write down everything that you want to show for every frame. You can use the program’s tools to illustrate your descriptions. Once you are done with a basic storyboard, you may want to add sound and transition effects to make it more interesting.

You can also use storyboards not just in creating videos but also in preparing presentation slides.

Storyboarding your presentation

To create a storyboard for your presentation, determine first the number of slides you will need. This would be dictated by the length of your entire presentation. Ideally, though, don’t use over five or six slides every 10 minutes. After that, simply follow the outline of your presentation script. Think about how to fit it into the sequential frames. Moreover, make sure that the slides show the key ideas clearly and logically.

By storyboarding your presentation, you will be able to express your ideas beyond the usual bullet points. Instead, the series of frames will help you translate information into something visual.
 
 

Sound Slides: A PowerPoint Tutorial on Music and Sound Effects

PowerPoint Design

Powerpoint tips

powerpoint tutorial

Mar 05, 2015

Adding background music or sound effects to your PowerPoint presentation can enhance the mood, create emphasis, and keep your audience engaged. PowerPoint allows you to add various audio files to your slides, which can be played automatically, on a loop, or triggered by a click.

Here’s how to add music or sound effects to your PowerPoint slides:

Step 1: Prepare Your Audio File

Before adding music or sound effects, ensure that your audio file is ready. PowerPoint supports audio formats such as MP3, WAV, and WMA.

How to Do It:

  • Save the audio file to a location you can easily access from PowerPoint.

Step 2: Insert the Audio File

Inserting audio into a PowerPoint slide is a simple process.

How to Do It:

  • Go to the slide where you want to add the audio.
  • Click on the Insert tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
  • Select Audio, then choose Audio on My PC from the dropdown menu.
  • Navigate to the location of your audio file, select it, and click Insert.

Step 3: Customize Audio Playback Settings

Once the audio is added, you can customize its playback options.

How to Do It:

  • Select the audio icon that appears on your slide.
  • In the Audio Tools tab, go to the Playback section and choose how you want the audio to play:
    • Start Automatically: The audio will play as soon as the slide is shown.
    • Start On Click: The audio will play when you click the icon.
    • Play Across Slides: The audio will continue to play even as you transition to different slides.
    • Loop Until Stopped: The audio will keep playing on repeat until you manually stop it.

Step 4: Hide the Audio Icon

If you don’t want the audio icon to appear during your presentation, you can hide it while still allowing the sound to play.

How to Do It:

  • Select the audio icon.
  • In the Playback tab, check the box next to Hide During Show.

Step 5: Preview the Audio

Before presenting, make sure the audio plays correctly by previewing the slide.

How to Do It:

  • In the Playback tab, click the Play button to test the audio.
  • If you’re playing music across multiple slides, test the transition to ensure it flows smoothly.

Final Thoughts

Adding music or sound effects to your PowerPoint slides can make your presentation more engaging and dynamic. Just make sure the audio enhances your message without overwhelming or distracting the audience. Test the sound quality and volume before your presentation to ensure it’s balanced with your spoken content.

Be a Presentation Virtuoso with Deliberate Practice

deliberate practice

presentation skills

presentation tips

Presentations

public speaking

Feb 27, 2015

Delivering an effective presentation requires skills that you need to work on and develop. While some might seem to have a natural knack for it, no one is immediately born a great presenter. Your colleague might be more inclined to it than yourself, but excellent presentation skills still come from constantly exerting effort to improve. Just like musicians playing in concert halls and orchestras, you can’t skip steps if you really want to improve presentation skills.

[sg-blog-modules module=three]

There are no shortcuts to becoming a better presenter, but there’s a way you can hone your skills and become an expert. Andrew Ng, a professor from Stanford University, wrote about this in LinkedIn Pulse. He borrowed a term called “deliberate practice,” from the field of music and sports, and elaborated how you can do the same to improve your presentation techniques.

What is deliberate practice? 

Have you seen a pianist or gymnast in practice to improve their skills? When preparing for a big rehearsal, a pianist would focus on perfecting challenging passages from his score. He will play these parts repeatedly until he can play the entire piece perfectly. A gymnast will practice her routine the same way. She will repeat specific parts of her routine until she can do the whole thing flawlessly. This is deliberate practice. You focus on the most difficult and challenging parts.

As Ng had put it in his brief article, “[deliberate practice is] hard work—you focus in every attempt, try to figure out what you’re doing wrong, and tweak your performance to make it better.”

For professionals looking to improve their public speaking, deliberate practice means setting aside time to rehearse presentations and focusing on areas that they need to improve. It could be your body language or your ability to project your voice and speak clearly. Whatever these pain points might be, you should spend at least 30 minutes in rehearsal to iron out the kinks. Do it even if you’re not preparing for a big presentation. After all, these skills play a vital role in the professional world. Whether you’re in sales, marketing, or looking for investors, improving your ability to communicate and share a message will help you go a long way. All you have to do is dedicate a few minutes of your day.

Improve your presentation skills with deliberate practice

Now that you’re familiar with deliberate practice, it’s time to put it into action. Take note of the following steps to make sure your next presentation comes out flawlessly. Repeat this process over a course of several days until you see results and are satisfied with your improvement.

Step One: Select a portion in a presentation you had difficulty with

Go over the presentation you just finished preparing or review an old you made recently. Select a short, 60-second portion that you’re having trouble with. It can be a part where you just can’t pronounce the words right, or hold yourself right on stage. It can also be a part where you’re having a hard time expounding some points eloquently.

Step Two: Record your practice

After you’ve decided, record yourself rehearsing the particular portion you chose. You can use the webcam on your laptop or the camera on your phone. Just make sure the set-up is arranged in a way that you can see and hear much of yourself in the recording.

Step Three: Take down notes

After you finish rehearsing the 60-second portion, watch your recording and take note of the parts you’d like to change. List down comments about how you would want to change how you say certain words or move in a certain way. If you think you look awkward in the recording, try to figure out why that’s so and think of ways you can improve.

Step Four: Adjust your performance

Review the notes you made and adjust your performance accordingly. Repeat your performance with the feedback you gave yourself and record the whole thing again.

Step Five: Repeat steps until you see results

Keep rehearsing the 60-second portion of your presentation until you’ve improved on all the points you took note of. Once you’re satisfied with the results, move on to a different 60-second portion that you think also needs work. Stick to this routine until you’ve covered the entire length of your presentation. If it’s possible, you can enlist the help of a friend or family member so you can receive feedback from them. This will make the whole process go a lot faster.

—

You can be a virtuoso in the field of presentations with some deliberate practice. Just set aside a few minutes in a day to fix the pain points you encounter when facing an audience. Follow this routine and see a marked improvement in your delivery and performance. All it takes is some hard work and determination.

[sg-blog-modules module=two]

Reference:

Ng, Andrew. “Learn to Speak or Teach Better in 30 Minutes.” LinkedIn Pulse. March 20, 2014.

 

Featured Image: picjumbo.com

Notes from TED: Presentation Tips from Memorable TED Talks

presentation analysis

presentation lessons

presentation tips

TED talks

Feb 17, 2015

We’re big fans of TED Talks around here. Aside from getting to hear “ideas worth sharing,” the best TED Talks can also act as a crash course on presentation. If you’re looking to improve your presentation skills, TED.com is just a click away. You’re sure to find valuable lessons you can learn from.

With that, we decided to take a closer look at some of the most popular TED Talks to date. We picked out three from the venerable list and broke down their benefits and methods for you. In this process, we hope to point out the different takeaways that could help improve the next presentation you deliver.

Take a closer look at some of the most memorable TED Talks for valuable presentation lessons:

Ken Robinson on how to engage an audience in ‘How schools kill creativity’

Ken Robinson’s critique on today’s educational system is the most popular TED Talk, having over 30 million views. It’s no surprise that it’s a great study on how presenters can engage with their audience. Watch his delivery closely and see how the following points contribute to audience engagement:

1.) While the premise is presented straight away, Robinson was able to underline its importance with two stories that show the amazing creativity of children. The second story was even about his own son, which allowed the audience to see a part of him that they could easily relate to. He continued to share stories between discussions of his main arguments, allowing the audience to understand them better.

2.) He also encouraged audience engagement by posing rhetorical questions throughout his speech. By pausing every now and then to ask a question, he challenged his audience to think about the assertions he was making. They might not have had the chance to share their thoughts, but they were still actively participating by forming their own opinions.

3.) He made it easy for the audience to follow his presentation. His takeaways were always highlighted by transition phrases that prompt the audience to sit up and listen. By using phrases like “I think you’d have to conclude”, he made it clear that he was about to say something important.

Al Gore is clear and consistent in ‘Averting the global warming crisis’

The best thing about Al Gore’s TED Talk is his no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point delivery. While he made sure to engage the audience with humor and anecdotes, what really stands out is his ability to talk about a complex and often controversial topic.

1.) Gore didn’t spend much time with preludes and introductions. After gaining the audience’s attention, he plunged straight into the  discussion. This is something that’s important for business presentations. While it’s important to keep people engaged, you also need to make sure that your goals and purpose are clear to everyone.

2.) The structure he followed makes this easy. He introduced one point, gave an explanation, and offered an example. Through it all, he offered call-to-action statements that gave the audience a specific idea on how to contribute to his cause.

3.) Most importantly, he made use of visuals to elevate his message. His slides contained plenty of data that were simplified into charts to help the audience digest all the new information.

Elizabeth Gilbert is a powerful storyteller in ‘Your elusive creative genius’ 

In her TED Talk, best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert goes into the intricacies of living a creative life. To teach artists and writers like her to overcome the anxiety and apprehension they feel about their work, she starts by sharing stories. Observe how she carefully integrates storytelling to a cohesive presentation:

1.) She raised the emotional stakes by starting with personal anecdotes. To give the audience a chance to connect with her message, she made use of examples from her personal experience. She shared her own anxieties and positioned herself as someone who is relatable and personable.

2.) To highlight her points, she shared stories from other cultures and fellow writers. This allowed her audience to envision real people behind the concepts being discussed. To tie her entire presentation together, she then returned to her own experience and shared how she finally overcame the problem she initially presented.

3.) Even when she told a wide array of stories, none of these digressed from the core message of her presentation. In fact, it helped her message resonate throughout the presentation because these stories were perfectly in line with her original premise.

TED Talks can teach you insights from a wide-array of topics that can help improve your own work or career. They can also provide you a handful of important presentation tips and lessons. Whether you’re preparing for a sales pitch or a big conference, take note of these TED Talk lessons to successfully get your message across.

 

References

“Hook, Line, and Sinker: What Makes a Great Presentation Story.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 11, 2014. Accessed February 16, 2015.
“The Art of Graphs and Charts.” SlideGenius, Inc. April 21, 2014. Accessed February 17, 2015.
The most popular talks of all time. TED. Accessed February 17, 2015.
“Presentation Tips: 5 Quick Steps to Audience Engagement.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 16, 2014. Accessed February 17, 2015.

 

Featured Image: Stefan Schäfer, Lich via Wikimedia Commons

How to Prepare a Flipbook: The Presentation’s Fine Print

flipbook

PowerPoint Design

presentation tips

printed presentation

reading deck

Feb 06, 2015

A flipbook is a visually engaging way to present information, combining the interactive nature of a digital document with the ease of flipping through physical pages. Here’s how you can prepare a flipbook for a presentation:

1. Design Your Pages in PowerPoint or a Similar Tool

  • Start with Slide Layouts: Design each page as if it were a slide in PowerPoint, Keynote, or another design tool. Keep your design clean, with minimal text and high-quality visuals.
  • Visual Storytelling: A flipbook should use visuals like images, infographics, and icons to convey key information. Ensure your layout is consistent and professional.
  • Typography and Colors: Use readable fonts and a cohesive color palette that aligns with your brand or presentation theme.

2. Convert the Slides to PDF

  • Once you’ve completed the design, export your presentation as a PDF file. Most flipbook creation tools accept PDFs as the input format.

3. Choose a Flipbook Creation Tool

  • Online Tools: There are several platforms that can convert your PDF into a digital flipbook with page-turning effects:
    • FlipHTML5: This platform allows you to upload a PDF and convert it into an interactive flipbook with animated page-turning effects.
    • FlippingBook: A paid tool that adds interactive features like videos, links, and animations to your PDF flipbook. It offers features like tracking reader engagement and embedding options.
    • Issuu: Another popular platform for creating digital flipbooks, Issuu allows you to publish your content online for easy sharing.

4. Add Interactive Elements

  • Multimedia: Some tools allow you to enhance your flipbook with videos, audio, or hyperlinks. Embedding media can make your flipbook more engaging and dynamic for presentations.
  • Navigation: Ensure that your flipbook has intuitive navigation controls, such as a clickable table of contents, thumbnails, or arrows for flipping through pages.

5. Embed or Share the Flipbook

  • After creating your flipbook, you can share it in several ways:
    • Embedded in a Website: Many tools provide an embed code to place your flipbook directly on your website or blog.
    • Link Sharing: Generate a shareable link that can be emailed or shared on social media. Some platforms also allow you to track reader engagement through analytics.
    • Downloadable File: Provide an option for viewers to download the flipbook in PDF form.

6. Test the Flipbook

  • Before presenting, test the flipbook on different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) to ensure it functions properly across platforms.

Fine-Tuning Your Flipbook:

  • Consistency: Maintain consistent branding throughout the flipbook, using similar fonts, colors, and design elements.
  • Interactive Features: Use interactive elements sparingly and strategically to enhance, not overwhelm, the user experience.

With these steps, you can create an interactive, visually appealing flipbook that makes your presentation more engaging.

Tutorial: How to Use PowerPoint as a Photo Editor

photo editing

photo editor

Powerpoint

PowerPoint Design

Powerpoint tips

powerpoint tutorial

Feb 03, 2015

PowerPoint is more than just a presentation tool—it also offers basic photo editing features that allow you to enhance, crop, and customize images directly on your slides. Whether you want to adjust an image’s brightness, apply artistic effects, or remove the background, PowerPoint’s photo editing tools can help you create more visually appealing presentations without the need for external software.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use PowerPoint as a photo editor:

1. Insert Your Image

Before you can start editing, you’ll need to insert the image you want to work with.

How to Do It:

  • Open PowerPoint and go to the slide where you want to place the image.
  • Click on the Insert tab in the ribbon.
  • Select Pictures, then choose either This Device or Online Pictures to find your image.

2. Adjust Image Brightness and Contrast

PowerPoint allows you to easily adjust the brightness and contrast of your images to make them stand out or blend in with your slide design.

Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Visibility: Adjusting brightness and contrast ensures that your images are clear and visible, even in different lighting conditions.
  • Enhances Visual Appeal: You can make images more vibrant or muted depending on the tone you want to convey.

How to Do It:

  • Select your image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click on Corrections and choose from the available brightness and contrast adjustments.
  • You can also manually adjust the brightness and contrast by selecting Picture Corrections Options and using the sliders.

3. Crop Your Image

Cropping helps remove unwanted parts of an image and allows you to focus on the most important elements.

Why It’s Important:

  • Simplifies the Image: Cropping unnecessary areas draws attention to the main subject of the image.
  • Optimizes Space: By cropping an image, you can fit it more neatly into your slide design.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image, then go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Crop, and drag the black crop handles to remove the portions of the image you don’t want.
  • Press Enter to apply the crop.

Example: If you have a wide image but only want to show a specific part of it, crop out the unnecessary background to focus on the subject.

4. Remove Image Backgrounds

PowerPoint has a built-in tool for removing the background from images, which can be useful for isolating subjects or creating transparent backgrounds.

Why It’s Important:

  • Creates Cleaner Visuals: Removing a distracting background can help focus attention on the main subject of your image.
  • Allows Layering: A transparent background makes it easier to layer the image over other design elements or images.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Remove Background. PowerPoint will automatically attempt to detect and remove the background.
  • Use the Mark Areas to Keep or Mark Areas to Remove tools to fine-tune the selection.
  • Once you’re satisfied, click Keep Changes to apply the background removal.

5. Apply Artistic Effects

You can use PowerPoint’s artistic effects to give your images a unique, stylized look. These effects can transform an image into a sketch, painting, or other creative form.

Why It’s Important:

  • Adds Creativity: Artistic effects can give your images a custom look that fits the theme of your presentation.
  • Enhances Design: Using effects can make your images stand out and contribute to a more visually interesting slide.

How to Do It:

  • Select your image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Artistic Effects and choose from a variety of effects such as Pencil Sketch, Blur, Glow, or Photocopy.
  • Hover over each effect to preview it, then click to apply the effect.

6. Adjust Image Color and Saturation

You can adjust the color tone and saturation of your images to match your slide’s color scheme or create a specific mood.

Why It’s Important:

  • Creates Consistency: Matching the colors of your images to your presentation’s theme creates a cohesive look.
  • Sets the Mood: Adjusting saturation or applying color filters can help evoke the desired emotional response.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image, go to the Picture Format tab, and click Color.
  • Choose from preset color options like Grayscale, Sepia, or Washout, or manually adjust the saturation and temperature using the More Variations option.

Example: Apply a sepia tone to create a vintage effect or use grayscale for a professional, clean look.

7. Add Picture Borders or Effects

PowerPoint allows you to add borders, shadows, and other visual effects to your images, helping them stand out on your slides.

Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Focus: Adding borders or shadows can help your image pop and grab the audience’s attention.
  • Adds Depth: Effects like reflection or glow add dimension to your images, making them more visually appealing.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Picture Border to add a colored border, or use the Picture Effects dropdown to apply shadow, reflection, or glow effects.

8. Compress Images to Reduce File Size

Large images can make your PowerPoint file difficult to share or slow to load. Compressing images reduces the file size without compromising too much on quality.

Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Performance: Compressing images helps keep your presentation file size manageable, making it easier to share and load.
  • Saves Storage: Reducing image file sizes is useful if you’re working with a lot of high-resolution images.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image, go to the Picture Format tab, and click Compress Pictures.
  • Choose your compression settings based on whether your presentation will be used for printing or sharing online.

Final Thoughts

PowerPoint’s photo editing tools allow you to quickly and easily enhance your images without needing specialized software. From adjusting brightness and color to removing backgrounds and applying artistic effects, these features can help you create more visually compelling presentations. Experiment with these tools to transform basic images into polished, professional visuals.