In preparation for an upcoming event we were discussing the appropriate number of slides for a 35 minute time slot. I think it is really interesting that we have become so dependent on PowerPoint as a communication tool that we think in these terms. I know that I use the tool to help me organize my thoughts ( despite numerous training sessions to the contrary.) 

So what is the best way to create a presentation?

I have a number of favorite experts that I listen to on this topic.  The first is Joey Asher.  His book, called Even a Geek Can Speak is the best guide to building a great presentation.  

I also learned a ton from Seth Godin's e-book called Really Bad PowerPoint.

But here's what I think makes all the difference.  Talk to your audience. Find out what they really care about and speak to it.  Relate your stories to their world.  No matter what you talk about, it is the stories that you share that they will remember.  And when you are telling a story that is memorable, you will be your most natural, relaxed self.  That's what makes a presentation great, whether you have 4 slides or 400 (but please don't have 400 slides...) 

Many of us nerdy analytical types fail to produce things because we can't get them perfect enough.  That's why the first part of "analysis" is "anal".  We're just too picky about the info we create and we want some sort of validation before we can create anything.

That is why, as an accountant, I am much more comfortable producing a financial statement than a budget.  The financial statement provides it own system of checks and balances.  A budget is just a bunch of made up numbers.  How can I prove that they are the right ones? I am inclined to mess with a budget until it becomes so old that it is no longer useful as a forecasting tool.  

Artists, writers and others have the same need for perfection but just like them, we have to release our creation, perfect or not, and then learn to adjust as we gather new information.

Sorry about that "Zen" part in the headline, but I do live in California now.  That kind of stuff is expected out here along with eating vegetables (and they can't even be boiled with bacon!)

I just attended a wonderful class on storytelling at Speechworks in Atlanta.  If you are a nerd and you have something to say, the best way to get your point across is to tell a story.  The class really helped those of us in attendance refine our stories and relate them to our message.  To be effective, our stories need to be related with all of the pertinent details intact and in a sequential fashion over time.  That was a key piece of information for me.  In thinking about this, I really started to understand why I am drawn to certain speakers more than others. If you have ever heard Andy Griffith tell his famous football story, you know how powerful this approach can be.

One of the things I have also learned over the years is that a good story drawn from your own life can have  more impact than anything else you say.  The right story can give you credibility and help you relate to your audience at the same time.  Because I have held a million different jobs over the years, I have lots of stories about how not to do things.  I plan to draw from them freely going forward! 

What's your story?  Got a good one to share?