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How Microsoft accidentally screwed up PowerPoint…

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Contrary to what Microsoft haters and Apple lovers may think, Microsoft didn’t deliberately screw up PowerPoint. It gradually happened by accident.

It all started a few decades ago when slide presentations meant shooting 35mm Kodachrome or Ektachrome slides. You needed a slide projector, usually made by Kodak, to display your slides. Vacation slide shows were popular and extremely boring. People would explain each slide. Relatives and friends had to live through the ordeal. Regular people showed slides…with no captions. Some “pros” were able to use slide copying devices that were able to add captions.

To make things more interesting, creative folks started to use two slide projectors simultaneously. This quickly become a “professional” way of showing slides. Devices were invented that controlled the slide projectors and created more interesting presentations. Music was even added.

And then there were computers. Now, pictures could be put on the screen or through the LCD projector. PowerPoint was born to make the slide presentation process easier. There’s no question that PowerPoint made things easier. The problem was that all the bad qualities of old-fashioned slide shows were also magnified. The number of special effects multiplied. The number of ways to add text multiplied. The boredom multiplied.

The original idea of showing pictures still works best. The fewer effects and the less text the better. It’s up to the presenter to tell the story and use the PowerPoint slides to illustrate the key points. The less noticeable the PowerPoint, the better the presentation.

Microsoft had good intentions. PowerPoint was never the problem. The speakers who use it created the problems.

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Anticipate the 8 worst public speaking problems…way before you speak!

Monday, February 22, 2010

While scrolling through Twitter, I came across a comment that actually surprised me. A speaker was getting ready to do his presentation and posted this message, “1st problem wrong connector for my MacBook, could be a show stopper!!!” Since I use a Mac myself, I knew exactly what the problem was. Macs  use connecting cables that arent’t the same as hose that work with PCs. You need a special cable. To make things even worse, there seem to be at least three different cables depending on your Mac and projector. I’m sure that the speaker was able to borrow the correct cable…since it was a conference with mainly geeks attending and presenting. The problem, however, is one that every speaker must be ready for. Here are the top 8 problems that can come up when you are going to be speaking to a group with ways to avoid them.

1. Who are you going to speak to? It’s important to know your audience. For example, if you’re a geek, don’t assume they are. Ask about the people who will be listening to you. If possible, actually speak to some of them in advance.

2. What will the room look like? I was once the emcee at a large gathering (more than a thousand people) and didn’t realize that once I started to speak the lights were going to go off with spotlights on me. I could hardly see anything in front of me. It’s also important to know where the screen will be.

3. What kind of equipment will they be using? As I said before, since I use a Mac I’m particularly careful about equipment. Try not to rely upon the “technicians” who might be assigned to help you. They are usually great as long as you don’t present a problem they haven’t encountered yet. If you are going to use a computer and projector make sure you know how to use them. Computers and projectors vary slightly. Each setup is different. Get to the room early and practice. Try to use your own electronic changer so you know how to use it, too. You don’t want to make a presentation where you hit the wrong button and start going backwards thinking that you’re going forward! Incidentally, you should always assume that the technology won’t work at all! It happens. Don’t apologize or make excuses, just move on with what you prepared as an alternative.

4. Where’s the presentation? Always have at least three copies of your presentation with you. I email one copy to myself in case I have to download it. Another copy is on a CD. The third copy is on a thumb drive. Incidentally, if you use a Mac with Keynote, make sure you have copies of it converted to PowerPoint because if you have to use a PC Keynote won’t work.

5. How much time do I have? If you are given 45 minutes, don’t speak until the last second. No one will mind if you speak for less time. Everyone will mind if you speak for more time, especially the NEXT speaker. Cutting into someone else’s time is definitely not good. Practice and time your speech. Ask a friend to sit in the front row to warn you about getting to the end of your time. Toastmasters use color-coded cards to warn speakers how much time they have left. It might be a good idea to use them when you speak elsewhere as well.

6. How do I remember what to say? If you practice, the chances are you will remember what is important. The audience doesn’t know if you forget something. Don’t read your slides! Summarize them. Use props to help you remember what to say next.

7. Should I use handouts? I always use handouts. I don’t necessarily use paper handouts. Putting handouts online is a good way to provide handouts for those who are actually interested and save on paper and printing. If essential, try to give out handouts at the end of your presentation or at least in the middle because people may tend to look at the handout instead of listen to you.

8. How do I avoid being afraid? Notice that I put this one last. The reason is that most folks are afraid because of the previous seven reasons. If you are ready for them, your fear will be minimized.

Finally, the previous eight problems won’t necessarily make your presentation a good one. That’s a whole different story. I’ll get to that in a future article. In the meantime, remember the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared!

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When you speak every word counts…

Sunday, February 21, 2010

In order to maximize your success in business, you should improve your public speaking skills. Joining Toastmasters is a great way to overcome the fear of speaking. They will also teach you the basics of public speaking.

When you’re speaking every word counts. Here’s an example.

I am writing a book.

That appears to be a simple sentence. What does it really mean? Say the sentence out loud. Each time you say it, stress the word that is in red. These five simple words create five different meanings.

I am writing a book.

I am writing a book.

I am writing a book.

I am writing a book.

I am writing a book.

Let’s look at it more closely.

I am writing a book. [I'm doing it, not you.]

I am writing a book. [No kidding, I'm really writing it.]

I am writing a book. [I'm not talking about it, I'm not thinking about it, I'm actually doing it.]

I am writing a book. [I'm writing just one book.]

I am writing a book. [I'm writing a book, not a short story or a poem.]

Every word counts for speaker!

[Incidentally, the idea for this comes from Zig Ziglar. He uses a similar example in one of his books. Unfortunately, I don't remember which one.]

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Stories still work…

Saturday, February 20, 2010

During the late 1960s, when I was a student at Hunter College, one of my political science professors lectured from his notes. Not the best way to get your message across. However, he also deviated on occasion and it was like magic. Why? As a former member of the New York State Legislature, he had plenty of stories to tell about his real-time experience in politics. I probably learned more about politics from those stories than all the lectures and textbooks combined.

Telling stories to illustrate your point still works. And…it doesn’t even require a laptop or PowerPoint. Whether you are a writer or speaker, stories should be an essential part of your arsenal.

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Dumb is good…or how I got started as a writer.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Contrary to what they teach you in school, dumb can be very good for you. My writing career started because I was extremely dumb. If I were smart, I would have never done any writing. It all started when I applied for a job that I was not qualified for at all.

At the time, I was a teacher who was also working part-time as a wedding photographer. My wife noticed an ad in The New York Times seeking an editor for a newsletter about Nikon cameras. Since I was a photographer, owned Nikon cameras, and was looking for ways to make extra money, it seemed ideal. Never did I think that one should have any writing or editing experience before applying for such a job. The ad was somewhat unusual. Instead of asking for a resume, it asked three technical questions about photography. I answered them all and sent off my answers. This was back before email or even faxes.

About six weeks later, I got a call asking me to come in for an interview. The interview was with the editor-in-chief of Amphoto, the largest photography publisher (at that time) in the world. Of course, he asked if I had writing samples. I didn’t. After chatting for a while, I mentioned that I was a wedding photographer. He said that he wanted a sample of my writing on wedding photography. At the time, Amphoto and Kodak were releasing an encyclopedia of photography, one issue at a time. The issue that would include wedding photography was not completed. I wrote the sample and they used part of it in the encyclopedia, and gave me credit as one of the editors.

Another interview was scheduled with the editor. I thought that we were going to discuss the job that I had originally applied for. Instead, he told me that they were in the process of releasing a series of books. He asked if I could write the book on wedding photography. I instantly said, “No problem.” He said fine and would send me a contract. When I got home, my wife asked me if I could really do it. My answer to her was a little different. I said, “I have no idea!” My Amphoto Guide to Wedding Photography came out a couple years later.

It doesn’t end there. The editor suggested that I write an article for a newspaper – The New York Times. I laughed. He wasn’t kidding. He told me who edited the then weekly Camera Column that appeared in The Sunday New York Times. I sent in the article and was shocked a couple of weeks later when I saw it in The Times.

If I knew that you had to be qualified to apply for a job, I wouldn’t have ever written anything that was published. Dumb was very good.

Incidentally, I didn’t get the job. They said I was over qualified for it!

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I Hate You…a story for adults that’s about 3rd graders…

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Setting
An elementary school playground during lunch. It’s the first day of the new school year.

Characters
Three 3rd graders who just finished lunch and went outside to play.

[Their eyes locked. The hatred swelled as they approached each other like gunfighters in the old west.]

Joe: I hate you.
Mike: I hate you more.
Joe: I’ll always hate you.
Mike: I’ll hate you longer.
Joe: I’ve been waiting to see your ugly face all summer.
Mike: I’ve been dreaming about seeing you again.
Joe: Well, we’re here. Now what?
Mike: I don’t know…but we’re here.
Joe: What I don’t know is why you hate me.
Mike: I was thinking the same thing.
Joe: I’ve been thinking about it all summer.
Mike: Me too.
Joe: I could only come up with a few things.
Mike: Like what?
Joe: You hate me because I wear shirts with buttons and you wear T-shirts. You think I’m a computer geek.
Mike: No, that’s not it. I’m on my computer for hours a day and proud of it.
Joe: Oh…
Mike: I’ve been thinking that the reason you hate me is because I have a great golden retriever.
Joe: I have a golden retriever too from the best breeder in town…Mrs. Wilson.
Mike: My golden is from Mrs. Wilson too. I got him a year ago.
Joe: I got mine a year ago. My golden’s name is Vinny.
Mike: You have Vinny? I have Vince. They’re brothers!
Joe: Wow!
Mike: Then, the reason you must hate me is because I’m rich and live in a big house on Grove St. … it’s the house with the biggest swimming pool in the back.
Joe: My house has a big pool and I’m rich. That’s why I go to this fancy private school.
Mike: So why do we hate each other?
Joe: I don’t know.

[Just then, Billy the Bigmouth walked by and stopped to speak to Joe and Mike.]

Billy: Hi, jerks.
Joe: Why are we jerks?
Billy: That’s simple, jerks. I heard you talking about not knowing why you hate each other.
Mike: Why does that make us jerks?
Billy: You’re jerks because I told both of you that the other one hated you. Why? Because I wanted to have fun…and I
did…and I still am. [Billy walks away laughing.]
Joe: He’s the reason we hate each other?
Mike: I guess so.
Joe: I guess we really are jerks.
Mike: I’d rather think of it as we were jerks…now friends. OK?
Joe: Sure…maybe we can get Vinny and Vince together for a play date someday. I’m sure they’d like it.
Mike: I’m sure they would…and so would I.

The teachers called the students to come back into the school.

The End

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The Real Writing Process

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

The real writing process consists of at least 8 steps.

1. You get an idea.

2. You figure the idea isn’t good enough so you procrastinate.

3. You write what you think you should write about the idea, even though you doubt it’s worthy.

4. Self-doubt settles in and you put it aside.

5. You consider it again and do some editing.

6. More self-doubt comes over you.

7. You decide maybe it needs more editing.

8. Totally frustrated with yourself, you send out a query or the real thing for a publisher to read.

By now you’ve convinced yourself that it wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on so you say you don’t care what happens. Oops, another idea hits you and you start again.

Yes, that’s the real writing process.

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The best way to preserve your family…

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Family memories fade! Pictures help. Unfortunately, a picture alone will be useless in a few decades.

When you take a family photo it’s important to describe who’s who…in writing…preferably on the back of the photo.

My father came from Poland during the 1930s. Before he left Europe this family photo was taken. All except two of the people in the family were victims of Nazi execution. My father and his brother were the only ones to survive. Incidentally, my father is #9. The problem is that this is the only photo that survived. Unfortunately, the paper that described who was who has been lost…forever. Writing a caption is one of the best ways of preserving your family heritage.

Write captions…and save your family!

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I knew a linchpin…

Friday, January 29, 2010

Seth Godin’s new book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? was released this past week. As I read it I realized that I knew someone who was a perfect example of what Seth was talking about. This brief video describes the linchpin I knew.

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Covers and handshakes count…

Thursday, January 28, 2010

When I was a political science student at Hunter College (what seems like a million years ago) we read a book called City Politics. I don’t remember the author. I don’t remember anything that was in it. However, I do remember the cover. It showed a photograph of a handshake.

At the time, I didn’t understand what it really meant. Today, I do. Personal relationships count in government and everywhere else. The more people you know, the better your chances of success because others can  help you achieve your goals.

Keep up with old friends. Send a postcard. Make a phone call. I don’t mean to contact them to ask for something, just to keep up a friendship. You never know when you might really need them or when they might really need you. Handshakes are very valuable on a cover and in life.

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