Special Guest Post; Five public speaking tips for people who fear public speaking

   

The big presentation is just a few days away. You're expected to deliver big ideas and cover key points. The audience could be managers, co-workers, clients, or suppliers. Are you nervous? If you are, don't worry. Over 70% of adults fear public speaking. But there are some simple things you can do to relieve that anxiety and give a presentation that captures attention and influences ideas. Focus on concepts instead of content. No one wants to hear about budgets or statistics. These can be shared through a handout or by email. People want to hear ideas and stories that capture their attention and lead to a conclusion. Which for you is a good thing as it's easier to tell a story than to memorize data. When designing your presentation, continuously ask yourself "what's the point". Then create content that helps you get to it.   Have a conversation. Many speakers go into auto pilot, sounding like a pre-recorded message, never changing pace or acknowledging the audience. Instead, think of it as having a conversation with friends. If you say something funny and people laugh, stop talking and let them. If someone has a question, welcome it. You can then answer right away or let them know you'll come back to it shortly.   Be slow. When people are nervous, they tend to speak fast. Speaking too quickly makes the audience feel rushed. Try to talk slower than you would in a normal conversation. It might sound weird to you on stage, but to your audience you'll sound relaxed and confident. If you find yourself getting flustered or feeling overwhelmed, just pause and take a deep breath. They will not mind waiting.   Make PowerPoint your assistant, not your boss. It's not the number of slides you have that matter. It's what's on them. Avoid lots of text, and never ever read a slide to the audience. A simple picture that supports your point will be much more influential and visually interesting. Using photos instead of text will also give you the freedom to go off script or adlib without being out of sync with your slides.   Lower your standards (for yourself). Everyone in the audience knows it's not a Broadway show. They're not expecting to be entertained or for an award winning performance. In most cases they'll be happy if they're not bored to tears. So relax, have some fun, and know that everyone in the room wants you to succeed. Cheers, Marc Gordon marcgordon.ca

Special Video Post: My first Constant Contact speaker session (January 2012)

  January 26, 2015


  This is a very special video you are watching. Here is the back story on this video.

  A few  days into the year I had a meeting at a downtown hotel with Lisa Kember Regional Managerof  Constant Contact. She was started a new project in the Toronto area and was hiring speakers to represent Constant Contact throughout Ontario.

I had only one question for her. "Does it pay?"

Answer was "Yes!"

My response " I am in!"

Fast forward to January 25,2015 at around 7:00pmEST I was filling out the contract and getting all in order to join the Authorize Local Experts team.

 At around 9:00pm I ask myself a question " So where am I going to speak?"

As it turned out I was part of the Entrepreneur Speed Network in Newmarket,ONT. I emailed organizer Lawrence Beesly my idea to share strategies on email marketing  and he responded with a resounding  Yes!

I was excited then I go really nervous..

How am I going to pull this of? no time to practice? prepare?

Wait a minute!

I am an entrepreneur I can make this happen!

So I printed out the Powerpoint slides and read them for few hours got the powerpoint slides ready and went to sleep.

I woke up at 6:00am and I was super- excited to get to the meeting.

I practiced during breakfeast, on the car ride their, in the parking lot and even walking through the door!

Below is my first talk for Constant Contact

P.S.
As per Lisa Kember this was the fastest contract to speaking effort she had ever seen and do this day a record!



                                      

Journey to using Prezi

This is an interesting journey for the few years. I love using Powerpoint. You can asked any of my good friends, Cheryl Rankin, Aline Ayoub and Bonnie Chan. They would all agree in unison!


This all change when I went to go see Entrepreneur and Founder of Network to Grow Learn more  Bonnie Chan share a presentation at the Microsoft Store at Yorkdale (they have a small seminar room at the back) in December 2013.

My entire idea of using Powerpoint changed. She shared her presentation using Prezi. An amazing online system on creating presentation that you can add images,zoom in and out ( I found that exciting!) and much more...

 I went to website and logged in and played around for a half an hour and then left it and didn't think about it for awhile.

Fast forward to October 2013. Below is timeline of events
    
  Tuesday Oct 1st


 I was due to meet Vito Marchese Founder of The Networker.ca Learn more in the afternoon to       pick up an invoice payment when he makes the statement " I am learning Prezi, been on it for 8hrs!" I was impressed with his determination. Had share my interest in the software and continued on my day
           
   Friday Oct 5th

  I was due to speak at Centennial College on the Power of Blogging at 10:30am at the Progress Campus for Susan Kates Career Class. I had arrived early and Julia Stavo  at Centennial College was speaking befor me on the importance of having a great profile. She was sharing how she used Prezi on the first page of her website to share what she does. I busy making does and saying to myself "Briliant Idea"

  These to situation had peaked my interest, I was interested the only thing was there a little bit of learning curve to understand Prezi.  This is when I had a great idea. I am host and community manager at Camaraderie Coworking.  Learn more  I could approach  Lisa Ricciuti  www.thedeletist.com and offer barter for exchange in services. I could learn Prezi little faster!

  Monday Oct 7th


 I showed up for weekly Monday shift and started my afternoon of getting work done for the week. Few hours later Lisa Ricciuti shows up! I has was ready with my verbal proposal to her and to my surprise she agreed!

  At 2:00pm that afternoon we sat down as she walked me through some basic insights on Prezi. "It's like Powerpoint on steriods" I said to Lisa. She responds in laugh " Yeah you can put it that way"

   For the next 45 minutes she explained how the frames worked, how you can video, colours and much more.

   It has been a great journey learning how Prezi can be used in so many different ways and look forward to sharing the vision of 21 Connections very soon.           

 Can't wait to share my 21 Connections Prezi with my webmaster Justin McMakin, he is going think I am a genius!

  Moral of the story:  Got to the Microsoft and who know who may find your  Prezi in your life.

  

      Learn more about Prezi
       Click here