Do you want your presentations to be more effective? Do you want your message to be heard and remembered by the audience? Do you want to achieve this by reading a fun book full of practical advice? If you do, then this summer read the Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo.
I loved this book. It is full of practical advice with many examples and provides websites to visit, including one that will rate the readability of your content. And the backdrop to all of this is the famous presentations of Steve Jobs that the author uses as examples to support his advice.
I had many memorable moments as I read the book. The ones I keep coming back to are:
- Keep asking yourself this key question as you develop the content: “Why should they care?”
- Open the presentation with a memorable headline.
- Communicate a passion that engages your audience.
- Keep it down to three key messages; the maximum people can retain.
- Create effective slides WITHOUT the bullets (and I love bullets; or thought I did)!
- Make sure you reach all three learner types; visual, audio and kinesthetic (touch & feel)
I return time and again to browse through the chapters to pick up more memorable moments to include in my presentations. How scary; now you expect my presentations to be on par with the masters!
The author has organized the book into three main sections:
Section 1 ‘ Create the Story. In this section he provides practical tools to craft an exciting story that will engage your audience.
Section 2 ‘ Deliver the Experience. You will learn how to turn your presentation into a visually appealing experience.
Section 3- Refine and Rehearse. I repeat: refine AND rehearse! And rehearse, and rehearse and rehearse…..This section includes topics such as body language, delivery and how not to dress like Steve Jobs.
If you don’t learn something useful from this book then you are already a master presenter or at least think you are a master presenter. Enjoy your summer and enjoy this entertaining read. And return with a new enthusiasm for communicating a message that people love, understand AND REMEMBER.
