Presentation Hack

Want a quick way to develop a presentation? Need a tool to be prepared if you're ever asked to speak on a topic of your expertise? Here's a great presentation hack to keep in your "back pocket" for any occasion. 

I call it the PREP formula for speaking. The P stands for POINT, the R stands for REASON, the E stands for EXAMPLE, and the final P stands for POINT. This formula can be used for a one-minute talk, a 90-minute keynote, or for an all day training.

You begin by stating the point you want to make to your audience or your listener(s). You then back that point up with one or more reasons as to WHY you're making that point. Your next step is to provide one or more examples to support each of your reasons. And your final close to your presentation is to restate the point you started out with, in a way that will motivate, inspire or entertain your audience.

So, the next time you're asked to give the toast at a wedding, provide a blessing for a meal, give a project update at work, or give your elevator speech at a networking group, you have a speaking hack that works every time. I even use it to build my training presentations for the work that I do.


Bill Corbett is the founder of the HARTFORD SPRINGFIELD SPEAKER'S NETWORK and an award winning professional speaker who has been speaking since 1995. He has been on stages across the U.S. for everything from brief lectures to keynote speeches to multi-day training events, and was the featured speaker at a conference in The Netherlands in the Fall of 2015. He is a regular contributor to network television affiliates and provides one-on-one speaker coaching for business professionals. Learn more about him and his top-selling Amazon books.

Day-to-Day or Strategic?

Day-To-Day or Strategic?

Key Strategies to Bridge the Gap

By Ann Meacham

You’ve heard the statement, “The same thinking that got us here will not get us to the next level.” To break out of the mentality that we (I) can accomplish whatever we want because we’re smart and hardworking you will need to begin thinking strategically and more long term.

As you take on strategy development for your organization, critical thinking and actions will create a path for achievement and success.

Ask these 5 Key Strategy Questions:

1. Who is critical to our organization’s success?  Customers/clients, employees, leaders, investors?

2. What are they looking for from us, the organization, each other . . . .today . . . . in the future?

3. What are our Drivers and Blockers? 

Drivers are our strength: mission, vision, resources, product or service, skills/talents. They help us break through barriers

Blockers: ineffective systems, poor performing teams, misaligned purpose and goals, etc.)

4. Where do we want to be in 3 – 5 years?

5. How will we get there?  What’s the plan?

CASE STUDY

Alfred* founded his firm 5 years earlier.  It grew steadily every year (even during the recession.)  He believed there were greater achievements, profits, and a reputation in their future and had many ideas floating in his head.  As an entrepreneur being smart, quick and hardworking had created a small multi-million dollar firm.

He could see that the way they had been operating would not sustain future growth.  Something had to change.  Should he restructure? Could his current leaders manage the change?  Did he need new leaders? Could the company continue to provide quality service to its current customers/clients and grow too?

At a 1 ½ day off-site with the senior leaders and department heads, we answered the 5 strategy questions, and finished with 5 distinct goal-oriented projects.  The teams that formed around the projects jumped into action.  The energy in the new forward movement could be felt and results from new efforts could be seen.

OUTCOME

At the end of the 1^st year they:

· Added 30 people.

· Restructured and/or consolidated some departments.

· Reassigned or replaced several leaders, reducing the number of leaders from 13 to 6.

· Revenues increased by 40%!

Where will your organization be in one, two or three years? Are you ready to close the gap?

Ann is president of Leadership Dynamics. Sign up for a Free Leadership Strategy Session or check out her Executive Coaching Program

No One Succeeds Alone

One of the perks of being a Business Advisor is I get to work with some smart people. Recently, a client and I were chatting about the elements of success. He said something that struck home – “There are no self-made individuals.” I’m sure many among us would scoff at that statement. “Hey Thom, I built my company from the ground up with my own blood, sweat, and tears.” And you very well may have; however, did you really do it alone?

Think about it. Did anyone ever ‘open a door’ for you? Of course they have. Absent these interactions, it can be a very slow (i.e. painful) trek toward growth. But sometimes you need a little bit more, and I have a couple of suggestions to help you jump-start your business in 2015.

Build Your Team

Every swashbuckling solopreneur needs guidance. Consider establishing an Advisory Board for your business.  Ask three or four professionals you admire if they would be willing to serve.  It doesn’t have to be anything fancy like getting everyone together for a surf-and-turf dinner every month.  You could simply connect with members when you need to bounce ideas around.  

Phone a Friend

Another option is finding an Accountability Partner.  Hey, going it alone is rough (I know) but having someone keeping you focused on the Pot O’Gold at the end of the rainbow (and the 6,000,000 things you’ll need to do before you get to it) can make all the difference.  Ask another entrepreneur, or business professional, if they would be interested in meeting briefly (phone or Skype) on a weekly basis to help keep each other focused. 

Call in a Ringer

Sometimes you need something a little more intensive.  In these cases I’d recommend a coach or advisor.  I know, I’m an advisor but I’m not pitching you (really).  Even high-level CEO’s hire coaches. Why? For one simple reason – they get results.  That’s why you pay them. 

If you have a budget, and think it’s time for a professional to help you get your business humming, contact a few business coaches. Get to know them, and how they might grow your business. It’s all about personalities, so be sure you’re 100% comfortable before you choose who you're going to invest in.

Well, these are a few of my tips.  If you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comment section. Happy New Year!

Thom Fox is an Advisor helping businesses and entrepreneurs enhance profitability and increase revenue. To learn more about Thom, please visit thomfox.com.

How to Find Your Next Prospect in Linkedin Junk Email

I’ve heard some call it junk email; I don’t. What I’m referring to are the email messages we receive that inform us of when our contacts get a new job, celebrate a birthday, or have a work anniversary. The sender is listed as LINKEDIN UPDATES and these messages arrive in our inboxes (sometimes) daily. In the beginning and like many busy professionals, I use to quickly delete them first, just to be able to see the important messages in my box. But then I realized how valuable they were to finding my prospects; it was like finding diamonds in the rough.

Recently, I opened this update from Linkedin (LI) to see if there was someone celebrating something that I could say congrats for (Linkedin provides a little tab that you can click to send a quick congrats). One person listed in the JOB CHANGES section was promoted into a position that made them an ideal prospect for me. I clicked on her name to see her profile and then clicked on the RELATIONSHIP tab so I could see if I had filled in the HOW YOU MET section; sure enough I did!

We had met several years ago at an event and had exchanged business cards. At the time, she was in a position that would have made her somewhat of a peer to me, but we didn’t stay in touch. The difference in our companies and our geographical region didn’t really create much reason to collaborate or to stay connected about. I do remember her commenting or LIKEing my updates and posts on LI from time to time.

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Reading through her profile, I was able to confirm her promotion and read more about her new position. She was now the ideal professional who could potentially hire me for my services or purchase my products. I quickly clicked the SEND A MESSAGE button and drafted a message to her, congratulating her in her new position. I also reminded her of my services and asked her to keep me in mind for future opportunities. In less than 30 minutes, I received a reply back from her, thanking me for my congratulatory wishes.

Then, a few days later it happened. I received an LI message back from her, telling me that she had a need for someone with my skills for a gig in Boston. After a few back and forth messages, I sent her a contract for some work that I will be doing for her company in the near future. Making time to open the LI message and congratulating her put me on her radar. 

Who says you can’t get work from Linkedin? I can show you lots of ways of finding your next prospect there. Visit my site at http://The20Entrepreneur.com and contact me for more Web 2.0 marketing ideas for finding YOUR prospects online.

Isn't It About Time You Get More Out Of Your Business?

Hi.  Thom Fox here.  Blending science and experience, I work with businesses and entrepreneurs to strategize, connect with resources, and launch ideas.  With encouragement from community leaders and friends, I founded my independent consultancy focused on helping entrepreneurs gain control of their businesses.  As a coach, mentor, and consultant with two-decades experience in the fields of economic development and individual empowerment, I understand the necessity of driving results. Even when confronted with the most modest of circumstances, I’ve designed and implemented marketing and growth strategies generating tens of millions of dollars in revenue.

On a personal level, I believe it takes a community to build an economy.  I’m always happy to introduce good people to explore mutually beneficial opportunities, council young entrepreneurs, and give back to society.  Currently, I serve on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (Fmr. Chairman), Suit Up Springfield, and as a Facilitator and Mentor for Valley Venture Mentors.

I also Host The Engine: Entrepreneur Radio and The Engine: Sunday Edition airing on Clear Channel (WHYN-AM, WHYN-FM and WRNX-FM). Acknowledged as an expert resource, I’ve has been interviewed by Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Consumers Digest, The Huffington Post, Reuters, Fox Business, and SmartMoney.com.

On the Movers and Shakers blog I’ll be discussing some of the most common challenges businesses face when scaling their services.  In particular, I’ll focus on employee engagement, increasing revenue and profitability, and how to infuse innovation into your business. 

Learn more about me at ThomFox.com.