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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]