Dave Paradi's PowerPoint Tip Newsletter - Issue #193, September 8, 2009
Published & Copyright by Dave Paradi of ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com.  Circulation over 8,100
In this issue
Latest Slide Makeover
What annoys you about bad PowerPoint presentations?
What's new this fall
Book Dave for a workshop
From the Blog
The Visual Slide Revolution book at www.VisualSlideRevolution.com
One of the Top 10 Business Books of 2008
Click on the cover to learn more
Book Dave to do a live program for your group:
1) Transforming Text Slides into Persuasive Visuals
2) Hands-on Creating Persuasive PowerPoint Visuals
3) Cutting Presentation Preparation Time by Using Content Templates and Creating a Slide Library
4) Creating and Delivering Effective Web Presentations
Click here to learn more and book Dave.
Dave's Travel Schedule
September 21 - Toronto, ON (Purchasing Managers)
September 23 - Toronto, ON (MBA Students)
October 13-14 - Atlanta, GA (PowerPoint Live conference)
October 15 - Norcross, GA (Business Development team of an Engineering Firm)
October 17 - Edmonton, AB (CAPS Chapter)
October/November - Orangeville, ON (Utility company trainers)
November 25 - Toronto, ON (CSAE National Convention workshop)
December 6-9 - Calgary, AB (CAPS Convention)
 Latest Slide Makeover Video
Instead of writing paragraphs to explain each role in a situation or organization, use the ideas in this makeover to create a visual that the audience can easily follow.  Click on the video below to play it in your browser via YouTube (or click here to watch it on my web site in QuickTime format at www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/podcasts).

Slide Makeover Video at www.YouTube.com/thinkoutsidetheslide
What annoys you about bad PowerPoint presentations?

We all see the annoying things presenters do when using PowerPoint. Now is your chance to let me know what the most annoying things are. Click here to participate in my bi-annual survey on what annoys audiences the most about bad PowerPoint presentations. Take two minutes to add your voice and look for the results in a newsletter in October.

PowerPoint Tip: What’s new this fall

Summer is over for those of us who have kids. Our kids started back to school today and I know many others started back in the last few weeks. As children all over the world start discovering new ideas and embark on new learning adventures this month, I wanted to let you know about what is new for you this fall.

First, I’ve launched a new version of the seven day e-course that all new subscribers to the newsletter receive. It has been totally rewritten and the focus is on helping your PowerPoint presentations be more effective. It includes the latest ideas I have been working on and has links to resources for more detailed information. If you’d like to check it out (and I suggest you do), you can access all the lessons at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/ecourse.

Next, it is time to do my survey on what annoys you about bad PowerPoint presentations. I’ve done this survey every two years since 2003 and it always forms the basis of much discussion and insight. The chief reason people participate in the survey is because they want to see the results so that they can make sure they aren’t annoying their audiences. It only takes two minutes to complete, so go to http://sn.im/pptsurvey2009 and do it now. I’ll have the results in a newsletter next month.

I’ll also present the results at PowerPoint Live during my keynote address on the last day of the conference. If you don’t know about this gathering and you are serious about improving your PowerPoint skills and knowledge, you need to mark off Oct 11-14 in Atlanta, GA. Some of the things you’ll learn this year: how Cliff Atkinson is changing the world one deck at a time, how you can share your slides with others via the web, incredible design ideas and makeover examples from Julie Terberg, ideas on ways to use PowerPoint that you’ve never thought of with Glen Millar, Echo Swinford’s ideas on graphs and her sneak peak at what’s coming in PowerPoint 2010 and so much more. Get all the details and sign up at www.PPtLive.com – I’ll see you there!

I had a great summer and made some time for relaxing and recharging. I hope you had an opportunity to do likewise. I am looking forward to ramping up again now that the kids are back in school and I look forward to sharing many more ideas with you on how you can improve the effectiveness of your PowerPoint presentations.
Book Dave for a workshop and your staff will have comments like these recent attendees

"I have now learned ways to keep information concise and use visual aids to keep the audience engaged which will help me in particular when presenting to the Executive Team."
"Great value for learning how to use visuals more effectively."
"The zoom-in technique is a great technique for my role.  I have learned a lot of new techniques that I look forward to using immediately."
"Very good ideas on how to present complex/abstract ideas/concepts using persuasive visuals."
Click here to learn about how I customize every workshop to deliver exactly what your group needs.

From the Blog at PPtIdeas.blogspot.com: You don’t need a full orchestra 

While on vacation recently we went to a musical called Anne & Gilbert in Summerside, PEI. We’ve been to musicals in Toronto and on Broadway in New York and this production was as enjoyable as any we have seen. If you know the Anne of Green Gables story and want to see a musical that takes the story on the next journey, go to www.AnneandGilbert.com to check it out.

Here’s why I mention the experience. In all the big musical stage productions they have a full orchestra. But in Anne and Gilbert, they only had three instruments accompanying the musical: a piano, violin and cello (no, there wasn’t a recorded soundtrack either). And it sounded just as good as the productions with all the instruments. It got me thinking about presentations. Do you really need all the fancy bells and whistles or will keeping it simple do just as well? I think keeping it simple and making sure you deliver your message is the way to go. Most of us don’t have the time or ability to do all the really fancy whiz-bang stuff in PowerPoint anyway.

The producers of this musical decided to keep the background music simple and let the actors tell the story through their words, actions and singing. In your next presentation, focus on telling your story through what you say and simple visuals. You don’t really need the full orchestra.

See all blog posts and add your comments at http://pptideas.blogspot.com
Contact Dave: Dave@ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com or call 905-510-4911
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