PRESENTATION ZEN

Introduction [1] Presenting in Todays World Preparation [2] Creativity, Limitations, and Constraints [3] Planning Analog [4] Crafting the Story Design [5] Simplicity: Why It Matters [6] Presentation Design: Principles and Techniques [7] Sample Slides Delivery [8] The Art of Being Completely Present [9] Connecting With an Audience The Next Step... [10] The Journey Begins

Delivery

We are offended when we try to have a conversation or a meeting w/someone who seems preoccupied, who isnt fully there Yet we have become quite accustomed to enduring speakers & presenters who arent fully engaged w/the audience & w/the topic One of the most important things to remember when delivering a presentation is to be fully present at that moment in time

A good presenter is fully committed to the moment, committed to being there w/the audience at that particular place & time It is impossible to have a truly successful presentation when you are somewhere else

Steve Jobs & the Art of the Swordsman Slides were always simple, stunning, & highly visual – Used smoothly & seamlessly – Advanced all slides & effects by himself w/o ever drawing attention to the fact – Style is conversational – Visuals in perfect sync w/words – Presentations built on a solid structure – gives them an easy feeling of flow as if he were taking you on a small journey – Friendly, comfortable, & confident (which makes others feel relaxed) – Exuded a level of passion & enthusiasm that was engaging w/o going over the top

The reason his presentations always went so well is that he (& his team) prepared & practiced to make sure it looks easy! When on the stage you are an artist – Like any artist, through practice & experience, he perfected his technique & form – While performing the art, though, there is no thought of technique or from, or failure or success while performing

Once we think of failure or success we are like the swordsman whose mind stops, ever so briefly, to ponder his technique or the outcome of the fight – The moment he does – he has lost Apple Special Events

The Mind That Is No Mind – When a swordsman is in the moment & his mind is empty, there are no emotions stemming from fear – there are no thoughts of winning or losing or even of using the sword – Beyond mastering technique, the secret to swordsmanship resets in obtaining a proper mental state of no mind where the mind is abandoned & yet not abandoned When you perform in a state of no mind, you are free from the burdens of inhibitions & doubt & can contribute fully & fluidly in the moment

Steve Jobs presentations were highly anticipated which came w/a lot of pressure to get it right – A lot was riding on each presentation both inside & outside of Apple – What made Steve so effective was his ability to seemingly forget the seriousness of the situation & just perform In this way, he was like the artful swordsman who through his immovable mind has no thought of life or death

Technical training is important, but it is something acquired & will always have the feel of artificiality unless one has the proper state of mind – You need technique & proper form, & you need to know the rules – You must practice & then practice some more!

When you put in the hard work in the preparation phase & internalize the material, you can perform your art – the art of presentation – in a way that is more natural by obtaining the proper state of mind – That is, no mind

Lost in the Moment Have you ever been lost in the moment while presenting or performing? – Being so in the moment – w/o worry of past or future – that you are as demonstrably interested in your topic as your audience has become – This is a true connection