As I was struggling to get my reluctant Bassett Hound to walk the last few blocks toward home, I realized something.  If I take her off of the leash, she will willingly follow me home with her tail wagging and a feeling of empowerment.  If I keep her attached to the leash, I can drag her home reluctantly with frequent stops and possibly interuptions from worried neighbors inquiring as to the reason for dragging this poor animal by the throat.  That's when it hit me.  Presentations are exactly the same way.

Stay with me on this one.  You can spell out every aspect of your message via detailed text and words and drag your audience to the point.  Or you can empower your audience by providing images, stories and other insights that help the audience draw their own conclusions and find their own way. Either way, they will end up at the right destination. 

I can promise you that choosing the leash-free option is more fun for both parties.  Just ask Abby, my Bassett Hound.  And there might even be a reward waiting once you arrive at your destination. 

Today is the official end of tax season.  Unless you filed an extension, in which case you have until October to get all of those papers in order.

Last week I had the good fortune to take a visiting relative on a tour of some of my favorite Napa Wineries.  We started off at Domain Carneros for some sparkling wine and a gorgeous view from a sunny porch, stopped at Taylor’s Refresher (drive in) for the obligatory amazing hamburger, headed to the Silverado Trail for a wine tasting and gourmet food pairing at Robert Sinskey’s winery, and then ended our trip with a one and a half hour castle tour and tasting at Castello di Amorosa.

Of course the wine was amazing and the food incredible and the castle was fascinating as it incorporated all of the best features of castles from around the world.

But here's what excites you when you are a nerd constantly in search of a good presentation angle.  I loved the idea of using this  picture as an introduction to a tax planning seminar.  I had to stop immediately and capture this photo during our castle tour.  

In the castle courtyard, they had recreated castle doors which were bricked in as a way to reduce medieval taxes based on the number of doors per castle. 

What a great lead in for a presentation on tax planning!   Show this picture and then say "At least you don't have to go to these kinds of extremes to reduce YOUR taxes. "

Maybe I'll find out how much it would cost to hold a tax planning seminar in the castle courtyard facing one of those doors.