I love reading Seth Godin’s newsletter. You don’t know him? He’s an American best-selling author, entrepreneur, marketer and public speaker.

One thing we both hate—boring PowerPoint (or Keynote) presentations! (And I’ve had to sit through enough.)

Of course, PowerPoint is an amazing tool, but only if used correctly.

Why do we give presentations? As Seth says, we want to “make a point, to sell one or more ideas”. And to do so, we need to trigger emotional reactions.

Instead of filling the slides with bullet points, we should show photos that enhance what we are saying, putting what we want to say on cue cards instead of on the slides!  And then, we can hand out a written document (and not print-outs!) at the end of the presentation, with all the details.

Seth’s five rules to create amazing PowerPoint presentations:

1. Add no more than six words to a slide.
2. Don’t use cheesy images.
3. Avoid transitions.
4. Use only a few sounds effects, but never those that are built into the programme.
5. Don’t hand print-outs of your slides (see above!).

You need to present data the exciting way? Take a look at Hans Rosling here for the best stats you’ve ever seen!

Do your slides follow Seth’s five rules? 

 

German speakers often use the words ‘sprayer’ and ‘peeling’ incorrectly in English.

A ‘sprayer’ is a device used to spray liquid, for example on crops growing in the fields.

What you most probably means is a ‘graffiti artist’.

‘Peeling’ is what happens if we’ve been in the sun for too long and have forgotten to use sunscreen.

You probably mean ‘a facial or body scrub’.

Were these terms new to you?

I‘m enjoying time out in Hamburg with my son, daughter-in-law and one-year-old grandson, so I‘m taking a break from the newsletter this week.

I hope to be back in your inbox again next Monday.

“Small Talk – polite conversation about unimportant or uncontroversial matters. Big Talk – deep, meaningful conversation that helps you get to know other people better.”
David Gurteen

I personally don’t like the term “big talk” because to “talk big” means to boast or to brag about one’s abilities, successes, skills, achievements and so on.

That’s why I prefer to use the term “deep talk” for those deep, thought-provoking and more meaningful conversations we have when we want to get to know our conversation partners better.

If you like the idea of practising your English, you might like to come along to one of my Speed Friending events. I’d love to connect with you. 

 

2020 was a year of …

– change and transformation,
– surprises,
– loss, but so many wins,
– ups and downs,
– learning lots and lots of new things,
– discovering what I love doing most,
– finding out what I don’t like doing at all,
– appreciating those little things in life,
– connecting with more strangers than ever before,
– challenges, but also successes and achievements.

And what about you? What was 2020 for you?