The good news is that the PDF is free. You can view it in the embedded Scribd player above or you can download it here. Inside you will find articles by such writers as:

• Guy Kawasaki
• Tim O’Reilly
• Seth Godin
• Dave Ramsey
• Tim Sanders
• Gary Vaynerchuk
• Martha Beck

…and many more. The overall objective of the ebook is to demonstrate that big thoughts and small actions really make a difference.

Question: What do you think will be important next year?

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In his new book, Carmine Gallo reveals to us Steve Job’s presentation secrets. Here is a basic summary of some of the points mentioned in the book.

1. A headline. Steve Jobs positions every product with a headline that fits well within a 140-character Twitter post. For example, Jobs described the MacBook Air as “the world’s thinnest notebook.” That phrase that he coined appeared on his presentation slides, the Apple Web site, and Apple’s press releases at the same time. What is that one thing you want people to know about your product or service? This headline must be consistent in all of your marketing and presentation material.

2. A villain. In every classic story, the hero fights the villain.  There’s nothing to rally the troops like a common enemy. In 1984 Apple’s enemy was IBM. More recently it’s been Microsoft. Even in the light-hearted “I’m a Mac” commercials, you clearly know who the good guy is. This idea of conquering a shared enemy is a powerful motivator and turns customers into evangelists.

3. Simplify your slides. Very rarely does Steve Jobs resort to bullet points. His slides tend to be simple yet powerful. They are dominated with striking photography and not with text. Often times, more is less.

4. A demo. Neuroscientists have discovered that the brain gets bored easily (I know mine does!). In other words, no matter how engaging the speaker, audiences will tend to tune out after approximately 10 minutes. A Steve Jobs presentation lasts about 1.5 hours but every 10 to 15 minutes, he breaks up the content with video, demonstrations or guest speakers. He doesn’t give his audience time to get bored.

5. Focus on benefits. Your listeners are asking themselves one question: why should I care? Steve Jobs sells the benefit behind every new product or feature—and he’s very clear about it. Why buy an iPhone 3G? Because “it’s twice as fast at half the price.” The Apple Web site also keeps the focus on the benefit, with features like “10 Reasons Why You’ll Love a Mac.” Nobody cares about your product or service. They only care about how your product or service will improve their lives.

6. Sell dreams, not products. Steve Jobs doesn’t sell computers. He sells the promise of a better world. True evangelists are driven by a messianic zeal to create new experiences. When Jobs introduced the iPod in 2001, he said, “In our own small way, we’re going to make the world a better place.” Where most people see the iPod as a music player, Jobs presents it as tool to enrich people’s lives. Of course, it’s important to have great products. But passion, enthusiasm, and a sense of purpose beyond the actual product will set you and your company apart.

7. Create visual slides. Apple products are easy to use because they eliminate clutter. It’s a design philosophy that applies to every Steve Jobs presentation. There are no bullet points in his presentations. Instead Jobs relies on photographs and images. Where the average PowerPoint slide has 40 words, it’s difficult to find seven words on 10 of Jobs’ slides. The technique is based on the idea that information is more effectively recalled when text and images are combined. For example, when Steve Jobs unveiled the Macbook Air, Apple’s ultra-thin notebook computer, he showed a slide of the computer fitting inside a manila envelope. That image was worth a thousand words. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” Jobs once said. Be sophisticated. Keep it simple.

8. Use cool, catchy words. Steve Jobs described the speed of the new iPhone 3G as “amazingly zippy.” Where most business presenters use words that are too technical, vague, or confusing, Jobs’ language is remarkably simple. He rarely, if ever, will use jargon that cloud most presentations like “best of breed” or “synergy.” His language is simple, clear, and direct. Legendary GE CEO Jack Welch once said, “insecure managers create complexity.” Exude confidence: speak simply.

9. Use props and stuff. In addition to stunning visual backdrops (his slides), Steve Jobs brings props for show and tell. After introducing new products or features, Jobs will often sit down at a computer or pick up an iPhone and demonstrate how it works. These demos are simple, but often very dramatic. When Jobs introduced Macintosh in 1984, he walked to the center of a darkened stage and slowly pulled the computer from inside a black bag. He pulled a floppy disk out of his pocket, slowly inserted it into the computer, and walked away as the computer came to life.

10. Practice makes perfect. Steve Jobs spends hours rehearsing every facet of his presentation. Every slide is written carefully, every presentation staged like a theatrical experience. Steve Jobs makes a presentation look effortless, but that polish comes after hours and hours of grueling practice. I don’t believe Steve Jobs is a natural presenter. If you watch video clips of his presentations going back 20 years, you will see that he improves significantly every decade. The Steve Jobs of 1984 had a lot of charisma but the Steve Jobs of 1997 was a far more polished speaker. The Steve Jobs who introduced the iPhone in 2007 was even better.

Related posts:

1. Got My Mac On With My iPhone 3Gs
2. Inspiring Change Through Presentations

My personal motto/tagline is: Speaking to others really matters. I believe that I can inspire and influence change by speaking to people about things that really matter. I also strongly believe that presentations, in essence, should help us to discuss and decide upon various issues that shape our individual lives and organizations.

When I prepare to give any presentation, I ask myself: “how can I give a good, memorable, amazing, and inspiring presentation?” With this in mind, I begin to develop it. Most of the time I try to use Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 rule when it comes to presentations: ten slides, presentation should be twenty minutes, and slides should contain no font smaller than thirty points. By using only ten slides you are forced to be to the point and include more pictures and illustrations to tell the story and make your point. This method also forces you as the presenter to really know your material instead of projecting it on a screen and reading it to your audience. At the end of the day, it just makes your presentation better and more memorable.

Question: What do you think about presentations? What elements do you include in yours which have a positive impact on the audience?

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Since the world went Barack Obama crazy, it was just a matter of time before someone would come up with the idea to analyse his speeches, thus allowing any orator to apply the “Obama touch”.

Communications consultant Jon Kraushar has done that in his blog on the Fox News website. His article, which I have watered down, says Obama’s inaugural address on the 20^th of January was marked by the magical powers of conviction, determination, faith and belief in rejuvenation. By breaking down Obama’s speech, you can borrow and apply his tricks the next time you give a speech, Kraushar says.

Every speech indeed tells a story and needs a title to show its principle point. Obama’s address focused on a new era of responsibility, accountability, and possibility. His speech was also distinguished by the emotion behind his words.

President Obama used many rhetorical devices to make his messages memorable. Three techniques stand out: contrast, repetition, and imagery. In a contrast about possibility, he said: “We have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.”

When speakers give speeches, audiences remember a few general ideas and themes, but mainly go on feelings: “I liked him”, “I agreed with her” (or didn’t). This tells us that to capture the hearts and minds of your audience, your words, face, eyes, body, voice, and attitude must fit together emotionally and connect with them.

If you want to borrow Obama’s techniques, start with words. Decide on a theme. Organise your thoughts into an outline or bullet points. Then write a few sound bites, using contrast, repetition, and word pictures. In short: show, tell, and sell.

A lot of the impact a speaker makes is based on what we read in his face, eyes, and body language. President Obama’s non-verbal signs telegraphed his seriousness, determination, and fundamental optimism. We saw this in his furrowed brow, his dignified demeanour and the way he emphasized his points with his hand gestures. It’s more interesting to watch and listen to a lively speaker whose gestures bring out stronger sounds out of them.

You can see the effect of body language by rehearsing in front of a mirror. Also have someone watch you rehearse to benefit from a second opinion.

The final impact derives from the voice: tone, pitch, volume, resonance, pauses and rate of speaking. Vocal techniques to evoke specific emotions include pauses for drama, emphasising certain words, a tone shift from sombre to optimistic, and a change in pace from slow and deliberate to slightly faster.

In order to be effective communicators, presidents need to convey the right combination of authority and warmth so people identify with them even while considering them to be on a higher plane. President Barack Obama isn’t a wizard; he’s a craftsman who works hard at being a good communicator. He applies the law of focus which says that whatever you focus on increases.

Go ahead and customize what you like from Obama’s techniques to fit your personality and style and you will perform “magic” when you speak in public.

Related posts:

1. 7 Inspirational Obama Quotes