Ethos3 was delighted to be featured in Garr Reynold's Presentation Zen book. Our presentation for Guy Kawasaki's Truemors is showcased.
"Meet Henry" is highlighted as a case study in Chapter 8. Go check it out.
Be a REBEL
A "presentation" REBEL is defined as someone who:
Revolts against the ordinary and fights for change. A rebel engages with the people and world around them through tireless contribution. He or she bestows their knowledge and shares their gifts with others, which in turn equips their listeners with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to help them grow and become extraordinary. And most importantly, a rebel lives life to the fullest. In the words of a wise man, they understand that life is not a “got to” moment, but a “get to” moment.”
t's that time of year - Spring Cleaning. Ethos3 is excited to announce the following items:
1) For starters, we have a new look. If you haven't seen it, go check it out.
2) We are streamlining our blogs. For awhile we have had two blogs: Presentation Revolution (Ethos3's blog) and StoryBored (Scott Schwertly's blog) - both which are Typepad accounts. Moving forward we will have only one blog which will be part of Ethos3.com. We thought it is better to have one stellar blog rather than two mediocre blogs. All future writing will only be authored by Scott and you can find it here. We are essentially combining the two blogs into one: StoryBored: Revolutionizing Presentations through Storytelling. Hence, all the content from both blogs have been merged together.
3) We launched a new micro-site. It's called The Presentation Critic and it is part of Ethos3.com. It's the lighter side of Ethos3. On that note, you can expect Presentation Critic reviews every Friday afternoon on our new blog moving forward. Watch out Roger Ebert!
Don't worry. We are leaving this content live in case you need to check back for anything in the future. Starting now... you can find all of our latest posts and musings at our new blog.
ere is a fun video for this Friday afternoon. Don't ever forget the power of laughter. You can never go wrong with making your audience have a good time.
have long believed that there is an emotional language of design. It's not all about the visualness of things. It's also about speaking something to the heart, to the soul, to the cause of a person. Whether we consciously realize it or not, design speaks to us everyday and rings an emotional "tone" in us. For example, some people like to use fine china to eat on because it makes them feel dignified, classy, and of good taste. Others like to use plastic ware because it makes them feel carefree (especially with kids around) and like they haven't spent their life savings on something to eat off of. In my own world, I tend to prefer things or furnishings with "warm" colors (red, orange, brown, some greens, etc.) because it gives me the sense of feeling comfortable, energized, and engaged with my surroundings. I tend to stay away from certain blues, other greens, and "cool" tones because they literally make me feel cold, anxious, and in a linear mindset (no creativity).
How something is designed dictates how we feel for a brief moment of time.
Vice-versa, I also think it can be argued that how we feel can dictate how something is designed.
As such, I believe that your atmosphere can emphasize or decimate the creativity that's inside of you. Chances are, a stellar, knock-out presentation is going to more likely have originated from a mind that is surrounded by a creative environment/people that have made the creator feel innovative and energized. Boring, lifeless presentations are more likely going to come from a boring, lifeless atmosphere that makes the creator feel boring and, of course, lifeless. Pretty simple (and possibly profound) now that it's been put into words, isn't it?
What are you doing to guard your creative atmosphere?
Take time this week to really focus on where you are doing the majority of your creative efforts for your presentation. If you create from a cube (cubical), try going somewhere that has some inspiration for change, like a local art center or creative venue, a coffee shop, or a historical monument or setting - they all have great art, colors, or architecture to get you in the mood. Or if you have an office that will allow you to create your own atmosphere, try a new paint color on your walls, bring in some new lighting (non-fluorescent!) that illuminates, or try some furniture that encourages you to relax and think outside of the box a little. These changes really sound simple, but their efforts produce 180 results!
It may take a while to get used to, especially if you tend to be "all business, all the time." But you will soon find that your creative atmosphere is a welcome retreat to your mind, and your emotions. And you'll be surprised at the creativity that can come out of YOU.
As I close, since we are on the topic of creativity and design, check out this video on graphic design. I love this video because 1) it defines the importance of graphic design, and 2) the visuals are fantastic. However, the voiceover is terrible. Enjoy!
his is worth blogging about twice. It is also on StoryBored. Today is the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. Four decades later and his legacy continues to only grow in strength. Enjoy this video - probably the best speech/presentation of all time...
f you haven't heard about SlideRocket, go check it out. It is a new online presentation software program that looks more robust than PowerPoint and Keynote. Based on first impressions, we are looking forward to its release. It should empower all of us to be better presenters.
arning! This post has nothing do with presentations or public speaking. We just hope it provides you with a nice laugh.
We could write something magical to blend this video with something related to a presentation revolution, but we are sure you will see right through it. Enjoy!
I read something the other day that said an imposter could be described as "someone so caught up in trying to be who others think they should be that they forget who they really are".
It takes courage to be yourself...especially when the true you doesn't easily fit in with the "status quo" or what's termed as "normal". For some of us, it's been a long time since we were the real "us" around others. But it's so refreshing when you know someone is being truly authentic. They inspire you to be more of yourself too.
So be encouraged that the best you is the true you, the real you. And when it comes to your presentations, don't do what's expected or what confines you in a pre-determined template. Show a little of your true self when you present with a joke or a personal story; and in your slide design, don't be afraid to introduce yourself with a photo of when you had 80's hair.
Your audience will appreciate your transparency and be more open to your message...and be inspired to be real themselves.
cott Schwertly had the opportunity once again to sit down with another expert and Ethos3 client - this time to discuss their thoughts on entrepreneurship and business evangelism. Click here to read Scott's latest interview with Todd Albertson, author of The Gods of Business.
Wanna know how to put a little "spice" in your next presentation? Try a new font! Believe it or not, it's nothing fancy or overwhelming, and anybody can do it. Sure, you can use Arial or Times New Roman, but aren't both of these overused enough??
Just like each of the Spice Girls have their own unique "flavor" to fit with their individual personalities and style, why don't you try giving each of your presentations their own personality with a new font? And no, good fonts don't have to cost 20 bucks or more a pop. Here are some great free font resources to find one that fits your presentation.
This is a quick note to let you know that Presentation Revolution is now the official blog of Ethos3 Communications. Hence, you can expect posts in the days ahead and from here on out from the Ethos3 team rather than just me.
am inspired by the late Robert Palmer. Who? His famous song Simply Irresistible put him on the charts back in 1989.
Just like Palmer, we need to be prepared with our troupe of "musicians" to ready ourselves for Presentation 2.0. After all…
Presentation 2.0 is unavoidable
The trend is irreversible
A story is invincible
Simply irresistible
n John Hughes’ classic, The Breakfast Club, he highlights five high school students, all from different backgrounds, who come together only to discover they have a lot more in common than they imagined. The same holds true with storytelling. There are many styles, all with a lot in common. In fact, the great Hollywood screenwriter Robert McKee illustrates that there are 25 types of stories. Don’t get overwhelmed. I have narrowed it down to three to help you, the presenter. Below are my recommendations the next time you build a presentation introduction.
The Rockstar
Think about the classic hero story- a man or woman is given a challenge and then often turns away only to embrace it and save the world. That’s the Rockstar – the hero that everyone cheers for with tenacious excitement. You can probably think of a few of these Rockstars with little effort – Rocky Balboa, Louis Skolnick of Lambda Lambda Lambda, and Elle Woods. Here is an excerpt from a presentation introduction.
The Maverick
Mavericks are those stories of individuals who literally change the world. They are the dreamers who stand up against all odds to impact lives, to make a difference, to change the world. This list of individuals includes names like MLK, JFK, Mother Teresa, and Ghandi. They are the rulebreakers – the men and women who changed this planet.
The Sherlock
This is the classic problem/solution approach. Typically containing two characters, this approach is ideal for business presentations. Think Disney. Better yet, how about the Fighting Rancho Carne Toros and the East Compton Clovers from Bring It On. One team competed the right way – hard work and diligence. The other did it the wrong way – hiring a choreographer to learn “Spirit Fingers” and a secondhand routine to the once popular “Get Ready for This” by 2Unlimited. Interested in the Sherlock approach? Simply, showcase the right and wrong way to do something with a character.
Ethos3 Communications is an award-winning presentation design and training company located in Nashville, TN.
Raving Fans
"In 25 years of looking at stuff like this, I have never encountered something like this... You guys really know your stuff..."
Guy Kawasaki, Co-Founder
Truemors - San Francisco, CA
"Scott adapted a book I wrote into a presentation. He did a fantastic job! He took subject matter that some might call boring and made it fresh and exciting. He is an expert at visual storytelling and I recommend him highly."
Todd Albertson, Author and Entrepreneur
ToddAlbertson.com – Seattle, WA
"Working with Scott was a great experience. His creative thinking and customer service skills are unparalleled. He managed to understand the essence of what I was trying to communicate and provide an outstanding presentation in a very tight time schedule. I won't hesitate to work with him once again if the opportunity arises, and I obviously recommend Ethos3 for any presentation need."
Hernan Marina - Director of Innovation - Latin America Sales
Pepsico
