Episode 064 -- Talking Points and Don't care

2-Minute Tip: Prepare Talking Points

 

It's one thing to plan your presentation when you are leading the discussion. It's another when you're not. During informal presentations like interviews and panel discussions you may not be driving the whole discussion. That's why you need to prepare talking points ahead of time and review them before the talk.

 

Pick 2-3 key points you want to make during your limited time. What do you want the audience to know? What do you want them to do? How can you make sure your appearance at this event has value for both you and your audience?

 

Just as important as crafting them is reviewing them before the event. You want them top of mind so when the discussion comes around to you, you are prepared to address these key points without forgetting them.

 

 

Post Tip Discussion: What Happens When You Don't Care?

 

We don't always have the luxury of speaking about things we are passionate about. Sometime, a customer, boss, or colleague may ask us to speak about a topic where we just don't care. How do you get past that? Here are 8 tips for delivering content you don't care about.

 

1. Remember why you are there.
2. Know the specific topic better than your audience does.
3. Don't fake it.
4. Find something in there you can connect with.
5. Know your audience.
6. Know why your audience should care.
7. Adjust your metrics for success.
8. Remember: It's not about you.

 

Call To Action:

 

• How do you present material you have no interest in? Let us know in the comments here.
• Subscribe to 2-Minute Talk Tips in your favorite podcast app.
• Share this episode with a friend or colleague.
• Prepare your talking points.
• Don't get best...get better.

Check out this episode!

Episode 015 -- Recovery and FISH!

Oily fish may not sound appetizing, but research on the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids from seafood reaffirms the health value of eating fish – particularly the oily kind – a couple times a week, according to a new advisory from the American Heart Association.
-- American Heart Association News

This article that came out on May 17, 2018, is good news because I really like sushi. I grew up hating it, but gradually came around.

You can read the whole article here.

You can read the paper the article was based on here.

When I "graduated" from Rehab Without Walls to outpatient therapy, my PT aide and I went to lunch at Yo! Zushi in Seattle. This was a therapy goal because it meant walking more than a mile round trip. This was the longest walk I'd taken since my stroke.

The thing about recovery is that it's made up of lots of small milestones like this. Or like walking to Starbucks. Or carrying something. Or simply getting gin and out of your own wheel chair. Or putting on your socks. These things all get us closer to returning to the life we had.

This week, I also talked about the best sushi I ever had. Here are some pictures of that meal, and they don't do it justice. You can read more about that adventure on my old blog.

Hack of the Week

Decorate your cane with stickers! If you have one of those inexpensive metal canes that seem to be standard hospital issue, go ahead and personalize it with fun stickers. It can be a fun way to brighten your day and prevent someone else from taking your cane by mistake.

If you have kids in your household you could even let them do the decoration so they have a way to participate in your recovery.

Where do we go from here?

• What small steps have been meaningful in your recovery? Are you adding more fish to your diet? Let us know in the comments below.
• Share this post with other stroke survivors, caregivers, industry professionals, and sushi fans.
• If you have an Amazon Echo, give the Strokecast Skill a try. Simply say, "Alexa, enable Strokecast."
• Don't get best…get better.

Here is the latest episode of The Strokecast

Episode 063 -- PowerPoint Online Photos and 6 Observations

2-Minute Tip: Use PowerPoint Online Photos

 

PowerPoint has some great tools for sourcing images online. In the version for Windows that comes as part of Office 365 (and possibly other versions), PowerPoint content layout frames include an option to insert online images. If you are working without layouts, you can reach this same function through the Insert menu.

 

 

Once you choose that option, you will get a search box that includes categories of photos, drawings, and graphics, along with the search option.  Type your search term and PowerPoint will use either Bing Image search or OneDrive search functions to find the pictures you need. It searches for images that folks are generally allowed to use under a Creative Commons license. Simply click the image you want, and it drops right onto your slide.

 

Now there is no excuse not to use graphics in your slides.

 

Post Tip Discussion: 6 Observations From a Talk

 

I spoke to a stroke support group recently. I had several weeks to prepare so my discussion went through a variety of iterations. Through that process I made 6 observations.

1. PowerPoint has good templates if you search.
2. Iterating during the outline phase is important.
3. Listing/Sourcing images before building slides helps.
4. Watch out for dark graphics.
5. Filter words vary by context.
6. You don't know what you have until the audience hears it.

Call To Action

 

• Share your observations on these observations in the comments below.
• Are there topics you would like to hear more about? Email Bill@2minutetalktips.com
• Have you check out the Alexa skill? Go up to your (or someone else's (I'm not picky)) Echo device and say, "Alexa, enable 2-Minute Talk Tips."
• Don't get best...get better.

Check out this episode!

Episode 014 -- Meet Anne Dailey

Produced in Washington, DC, A Teachable Moment focuses on four local survivors that represent the greater story of stroke in the United States. LAI Video also speaks with loved ones and medical experts to clearly describe the disease, its debilitating impact and the tangible steps anyone can take to reduce the risk of a stroke. The documentary uses contemporary animation to better illustrate the science behind stroke, available treatments and preventable risk factors.

I first heard about "A Teachable Moment" through an article on StrokeSmart.org.   This is a film about four DC-are stroke survivors and their experiences as the go through this life changing event.

The film premiered in Washington, DC, on May 17, and is available to groups interested in hosting a private screening.

Here is the trailer:

 

 

Anne Dailey is one of the survivors and she talks about her journey this week.

• Some key things really stood out for me:
• Getting help fast was critical to Anne's recovery.
• Anne had personal and specific goals that helped in her recovery.
• Her employer, Troutman Sanders, provided amazing support.
• Lawyers Have Heart sounds like a great organization.
• Anne's sense of humor probably helped her quite a bit.

Lawyers Have Heart is a 10K race, 5K run and fun walk that takes place on June 9, 2018, in Georgetown. The fundraiser is affiliated with the DC-area chapter of the American Heart Association.

Anne offered 3 critical pieces of advice as we wrapped up:

1. Lead a healthy lifestyle.
2. When stroke happens, get help quickly.
3. Surround yourself with great people.

Here are the various links we talked about:

Anne Dailey on Twitter	http://twitter.com/akmitc
A Teachable Moment	http://ateachablemoment.film
Lawyers Have Heart	http://lawyershaveheartdc.org/
Lawyers Have Heart Merch	https://represent.com/store/lhh10kb
American Heart Association DC	http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Affiliate/Arlington/Virginia/Home_UCM_MAA013_AffiliatePage.jsp
StrokeSmart A Teachable Moment article	http://www.strokesmart.org/stroke-documentary
A Teachable Moment Screening Request	https://www.ateachablemoment.film/host-a-screening/

Hack of the Week

If you have medical gear that you're supposed to clean with rubbing alcohol, get a spray bottle for it.

Pouring from the bottle is tough enough with two hands. With one, the spill risk goes up dramatically. A spray bottle (affiliate link) helps prevent unfortunate spills. Just make sure you label the bottle.

 

Where do we go from here?

• Check out the website for A Teachable Moment.
• What are your thoughts on Anne's story? Share them below.
• Have you tried the Strokecast Alexa skill? If you have an Echo device, go up to it and say, "Alexa, enable Strokecast."
• Don't get best...get better.

 

 

Here is the latest episode of The Strokecast

Episode 062 -- Tell A Story to Add Value and Meet Iszi Lawrence

 

2-Minute Tip: Tell a Story to Add Value

 

When presenting, we are often selling something. It may be a product, a service, or an idea. To be effective, though, don't just go through a barrage of features or details. It's the story that you can connect with your topic that gives it value. It's the story you tell that your audience will respond to and remember.

 

It's the story you tell that makes your subject rise above the fray.

 

 

Post Tip Discussion: Meet Iszi Lawrence

The human brain is designed to listen to voices and designed to understand stories.

-- Iszi Lawrence

 

Iszi Lawrence is a British comedian, podcaster, presenter, radio personality, and public speaking coach. She has more than a decade of experience talking in places from nightclubs to boardroom to the Oxford Union to the Tedx stage in Southhampton. You can learn more about Iszi by visiting Iszi.com.

 

 

I met Iszi through a Facebook discussion group. We had a wide ranging conversation about the comedy and speaking scenes in the UK, the value of human conversation, the differences in how aspiring male and female students tend to approach speaking, and the importance of acknowledging awkwardness.

 

Iszi answers the question few speakers ask: What do you do when Sir Ben Kingsley eats into your time?

 

We talked about a variety of websites and projects. You can find many of those links here:

 

Iszi Lawrence Home Page	https://iszi.com/
Iszi Lawrence Public Speaking Newsletter	https://iszi.com/newsletterpage
Iszi Lawrence on Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/iszi.lawrence
Iszi Lawrence on Twitter	https://twitter.com/iszi_lawrence
Iszi Lawrence on YouTube	https://www.youtube.com/user/iszitube/
Iszi Lawrence on Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/iszi_lawrence/
Setisoppo Podcast	http://www.setisoppo.com/
British Museum Membercast	https://blog.britishmuseum.org/category/podcasts/
The Z List Dead List	http://zlistdeadlist.libsyn.com/
British Science Festival	https://www.britishsciencefestival.org/
Ugly Animal Preservation Society	http://uglyanimalsoc.com/
Bright Club	http://brightclub.org/

 

Call To Action:

 

• Check out Iszi.com to learn more about Iszi and her projects.
• What are your thoughts about Iszi's comments and lessons? Share them in the comments below.
• If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, colleague, or stranger.
• Don't get best…get better

Check out this episode!