Make Marketing Suck Less

One Simple Question that Raises the Bar On Your Next Presentation

Speakers worry about the darndest things:

• What should I do with my hands when my co-presenter is speaking?
• I say “so” too much. How do I fix it?
• Is this the right PowerPoint template for me?
• How many slides should I have?
• Do I wear the navy blue pant suit or the black pant suit?

Although these queries may be relevant, the question that raises the bar on your presentation and creates an epic experience for your audience is:

Is my presentation remarkable?

Sally Hogshead says “You’re either creating value or taking up space.”

Let’s face it, the vast majority of presentations are taking up space.

They include stories that have been told a thousand times before, studies and statistics that have been cited a million times, and case studies on Apple or Google that everyone talks about.

Creating a remarkable presentation should be the bar. But what does a remarkable presentation look like? I’m so glad you asked:

Only YOU could give the presentation

If anyone could stand up, grab your PowerPoint slides, (or God forbid your note-cards…seriously, stop it with the note-cards, people) and give your presentation, then your presentation is not remarkable.

If you've heard another speaker use an example and draw the same conclusion, then it’s not remarkable. You’re actually interchangeable, replaceable, and easily forgotten.

You’re a commodity. (Ouch. Harsh, I know, but true).

Creating a presentation that only you could give is about your ideas.

[Tweet “You’re either creating value or taking up space. @HowToFascinate http://www.drmichellemazur.com/2015/01/one-simple-question.html”]

Creativity makes your speech unique

Here’s the thing – I’m not against you talking about Apple as a case study, telling a story that other people have used before, or citing a study that other speakers talk about.

It’s the interpretation and the spin you put on those elements that makes the difference.

Creativity is all about taking two unrelated ideas, mashing them together, and creating something new.

The iPhone was a ridiculously simple idea. All Steve Jobs did was look at the phone in his pocket and then at his iPod and think “What if we combined these two things?”

Bam! The iPhone was born. What can be the iPhone of your presentation? What audacious ideas do you have in your presentation that can be combined to come up with something that only YOU could create?

(See what I did there – I took an old example and put my interpretation on it – neat, eh?)

Remarkable challenges the status quo and even challenges your audience

I saw this quote on Facebook and loved it (if you know who it’s attributed to, please tell me).

“You will never influence the world by trying to be like it.”

Hot damn! You’re job as a speaker is to create change and get your audience to take action.

To do that you must be bold, be brave, and be audacious. You've got to be a risk taker.

This means challenging conventional thought. Making the audience uncomfortable with your ideas and showing them a new way.

As you create your presentation keep asking yourself:

Is this remarkable?

As you choose your stories, develop your content, and create new ideas – always be asking yourself “Does this make my presentation remarkable?”

When you are  memorable and your presentation is remarkable, you've positioned yourself as the only results-oriented expert who can deliver what you deliver.

If you’re looking for more ways to be remarkable, join me for the Positioning Power Webinar: How to Book More Speaking Gigs & Put Yourself in a Category of One on Thursday, February, 5th. (Yes, there’s a recording. No, I it won’t be a pitch fest a la that tired old webinar formula).