Has anyone ever told you that you should set
SMART goals? SMART Goals are - Specific,
Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic and
Time-bounded.
When you set a goal for yourself, such as "Write
my first book in 2008", most people will tell
you that this is not a SMART goal. You will hear
"It takes 18 months to publish a book", and "New
authors struggle to sell their first book".
Experienced authors may even tell you horror
stories such as "My first book was the worst two
years of my life".
Do not listen to such nonsense. In April 1994, I
knew that I wanted to live my life in the USA.
This was not a SMART goal for many reasons,
including these reasons. I did not have the
money for an airplane ticket to the USA. I had
no work visa to find work in the USA. I did not
have any sought-after skill that would attract
employers to me in the USA. And everyone around
me took it upon themselves to point this out to
me.
But on January 20, 2001, I landed at JFK Airport
with my family and we are now living our dream
life in the USA. You can achieve seemingly
impossible goals. I do it regularly and share
the secrets with my students.
Ignore the naysayers in your life and write your
book. The world needs to read it. Don't listen
to people who say that it is not an achievable
goal. Rather listen to people who have gone
before you and published a book.
Many people want to write a book. I wrote "Dodging
the Bullet Points" in 2007. Since then, many
people have come up to me and said "Wow!. I
would also like to write a book - how do I get
started?"
To answer all questions, and jump start authors
on their first book, I have teamed up with Liz
Trendowski and we are holding a
Feet to the Fire Bootcamp specifically for
Authors on 5/24/2008 in Hartford. Come and join
us to write and publish your first book in 2008.
And don't worry - you will reach this goal with
our help - even if people around you say it it
not a "SMART" goal. At the SMART training
institute, we specialize in reaching goals that
conventional wisdom label as not "SMART".
 Pow'Rful
Presentations Newsletter |
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Pow'Rful Presentations is a relatively monthly investigation
of ideas, strategies and techniques to assist PowerPoint® Presenters
communicate clearly with audiences.
In my effort to please the widest range of readers and
knowing that adult learners acquire new skills in different
ways, you may find typographical or grammatical errors in
this newsletter. No need to point these out to me. These
errors are purposely selected to serve diverse audiences,
and prove that I practice what I preach in communicating my
message through all available channels.
Also, depending on your background, and my South African
origin, you may find some of my spelling and grammar to be,
well let us just say "imaginative".
© Wayne Botha 2008
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| Using Props in your Presentation. |
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What is the best use of props in your presentation? |
 "What
is that?" your audience wonders as you hold up a few pebbles
during your presentation. Your audience cannot see what you are
holding up at this distance. You can pass the pebbles around the
room, but with 200 people, it will take forever for the back row
to see what you are talking about.
What to do? How can you share the illustrate the intricacies
of Gazillaionite Beach Pebbles with your audience, while you
discuss the geologic importance of your specimens?
This situation is the perfect opportunity to use a striking,
giant-sized photograph on your slide, while also holding up
your pebbles. Using props in conjunction with photographs
gives you audience the best of both worlds. You audience can
see you holding up the original article, while also clearly
seeing the details of your beach pebbles on the slideshow.
When you use props in your presentation, combine photos with
the real specimen for maximum effect.
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