******************************************************************* Dave Paradi's PowerPoint Tip     Issue #163 July 8, 2008 Published & Copyright by Dave Paradi of ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com Circulation over 8,400 ******************************************************************* Please forward this newsletter to executives and professionals who want to create PowerPoint presentations that sell their ideas, products or services more effectively.  If this newsletter has been sent to you by a friend, sign up to get your own copy at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/newsletter.htm . ******************************************************************* In this issue: Reminder: New Slide Makeover Video Podcast available Most popular $1.99 "How-To" Videos Will you join The Visual Slide Revolution? PowerPoint Tip - Summer Reading List for Presenters Best of the Blog - A day of top notch training for presenters Dave's Travel Schedule ******************************************************************* Reminder: New Slide Makeover Video Podcast available A new Slide Makeover Video Podcast based on the ideas in "The Visual Slide Revolution" is available for your viewing through the iTunes Store or online. This video podcast shows the transformation of a slide used to explain a policy. The "after" slides give context and make the policy real for the audience.  If you have already subscribed through iTunes or another podcatcher, the new podcast should be automatically downloaded when you next run the program. To subscribe via the iTunes Store or watch online, go to http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/podcasts/index.htm .  Forward the link to others who could benefit by seeing this slide makeover. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Most popular $1.99 "How-To" Videos Thought you'd like to know what others have been downloading from http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/ppthowtovideos.htm .  Here are the top five videos that have been downloaded: 1. Video on filling a shape or pie slice with a picture 2. Video on formatting handouts of slides from PowerPoint 3. Video on playing a Quicktime MOV movie file in PowerPoint 4. Video on how to e-mail/move a PowerPoint file that has a video file 5. Video on using the Break-down & Zoom-in technique Don't see the one you need? E-mail me and I'll see if it can be added.  More are added regularly, so check back every week. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Will you join The Visual Slide Revolution? Are you a presenter who wants to transform the overloaded text slides you are using into persuasive visuals?  Don't know how to start?  The solution you have been waiting for is here.  I've just released my latest book, The Visual Slide Revolution, and it explains my five-step KWICK method that I use to create persuasive presentations for my clients.  Read chapter 2 and order your copy at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/vsr.htm . ------------------------------------------------------------------- PowerPoint Tip: Summer Reading List for Presenters With the early July holiday over for those of us in the U.S. and Canada, it is the official start to summer.  Many of us will be taking some time off in the next two months and today I want to share with you my recommendations for a book to take with you to the lake, camp or wherever you might be spending a few days relaxing. I know that you want to take a fiction book with you to escape from the daily grind of work.  And you should take such a novel.  But if you also want to pack a business oriented book, I've got four that I suggest you consider. The first is a book I read a few years ago and is by the man who has done probably more research in the area of using multimedia to teach than anyone else.  The book is "Multimedia Learning" by Richard E. Mayer.  While this is an academic book and a little drier than you might like, it does contain valuable insights for those who teach. The ISBN is 9780521787491 and you can get it from Amazon with this link: http://snipurl.com/mmlearning The second is another book by an academic, Robert Cialdini, and is called "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion".This book is not a dry read because Cialdini has included many examples of the six principles that he shares.  Anyone who has to persuade others to adopt ideas needs to read this book.  The insights are profound and, as with the other books on this list, based on real science, not the "idea of the month".  The ISBN is 9780061241895 and you can order it through Amazon at: http://snipurl.com/influencebook The third book is "Made to Stick" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.  Chip is a professor at Stanford and Dan is a former Harvard researcher. They have put together a solid analysis of six qualities of an idea that make it stick in people's minds.  If you need you idea to have shelf life with key decision-makers, this is a must read.  It has changed the way I think and I see examples of their ideas in the way I communicate every day.  The ISBN is 9781400064281 and can be ordered at: http://snipurl.com/madetostick My final recommendation is the book I am reading right now.  It is called "Brain Rules" by John Medina.  It is actaully found in the science section of a book store but don't think that it will be boring.  Medina only accepts things when they have been proven multiple times in published journals, so his conclusions are backed up by rock solid research.  Garr Reynolds of presentationzen.com introduced me to the book and I am enjoying the great ideas mixed with Medinas wicked sense of humour.  I promise you will enjoy this book too.  The ISBN is 9780979777707 and the link to buy from Amazon is: http://snipurl.com/brainrules This list shows my obvious bias towards books written based on research, not based on thoughts that popped into someone's mind one day as they were walking the dog.  These books have influenced my work and I hope they will provide some good insight for you this summer as you take time to reset for the rest of the year. For those of you in the southern hemisphere who are now into your winter months, these books work just as well for curling up in front of a fire at night.  Enjoy them no matter where you are. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Best of the Blog - A day of top notch training for presenters The annual convention of the National Speakers Association (NSA) is being held August 2-5 in New York City. NSA is an association focused on the business of professional speaking, but if you present in any business setting, you will want to check out the lineup on Monday, August 4th. You can register for just that one day and have a choice of great educational sessions to attend. Here are some highlights for that day (the theme for the year and the convention is NSA Rocks, so the session titles reflect the theme). 1. The morning general session will feature Steve Forbes. Yes, that’s the former presidential candidate and publisher of Forbes magazine. He will be talking about the economy, the elections and what’s next. Take the opportunity to learn from his insights as well as observe his style and the way he crafts his presentation. Any time you get to observe a top speaker work, you can learn a lot if you keep tuned into how they present. Read the rest of the article at http://pptideas.blogspot.com Other recent blog posts at http://pptideas.blogspot.com : ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave's Travel Schedule I work with business presenters who want to transform their overloaded text slides into persuasive presentations that effectively sell ideas, products and services to decision-makers. My research based PowerPoint Presentation Effectiveness System helps my clients achieve greater productivity and deliver presentations that close more sales.  You can save money by booking me to speak to your organization or conference when I am close to your area for other clients.  Here's where I will be in the next few months: July 15 - Vaughan, ON & Toronto, ON July 16 - Windsor, ON July 18-20 - Chicago, IL July 23 - Toronto, ON July 24-25 - London, ON July 28 - August 5 - New York, NY (NSA Convention Aug 2-5) open to the public, register at http://www.mynsa.org/newyork August 12 - Toronto, ON August 22 - Toronto, ON September 5-6 - Kansas City, MO September 15-16 - Edmonton, AB (tentative) September 17-18 - Vancouver, BC (tentative) September 19 - San Diego, CA (tentative) September 21-24 - San Diego, CA for PowerPoint Live, register at http://www.powerpointlive.com September 26 - Cincinnati, OH E-mail me at Dave@ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com to discuss how my Think Outside The Slide(tm) sessions can help your organization be more productive and improve communication throughout the organization. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Privacy Policy: I will never sell or distribute your e-mail or information to anyone. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Need articles for your newsletter?  Check out my many articles at: http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the books, e-books and other learning tools at: http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/resources.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want to read back issues of this newsletter, click on the following link to go to the Archives: http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/archives.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------- Microsoft, PowerPoint, Windows and other terms are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.  Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation.  All books, products and seminars are independent publications and are not affiliated with, nor have they been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation.