#62: Present like a Master!

A thousand songs in your pocket’

Which revolutionary product was launched twenty years ago with this memorable line?

Steve Jobs was a master at presenting Apple’s new products with a bang. He would take a complicated product and distil it down to a one-line zinger – it’s very essence. In this case... the iPod.

Steve once explained how toolmaking separates us from higher primates. A study had compared all the animals in the world to see which species was most efficient at moving 1km across the ground. Human beings were nothing special - somewhere in the middle of the pack and way behind the gliding condor. 

A researcher at 'Scientific American', then decided to compare a human on a bicycle against all the rest. This time the human was a clear winner. Steve linked this to the computer – in his view, the most remarkable tool we’ve ever built. Essentially,

“a bicycle for our minds.”

He took a computer - something we all use and take for granted and with story, metaphor and enthusiasm left us with a brilliant image. If you are presenting at your business, it can pay to learn from the best.

WISDOM 💎

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

Steve Jobs

Tip 1 - A SMART PLAY ✅

How to write killer presentations like Steve,

• Start the presentation, by identifying the customer’s problem and then build up to your one main idea that solves this problem – distil this idea down to its essence – a killer one-liner.

• Communicate with simple, clear language and with passion and enthusiasm about your product.

• Make things visual and exciting. Include a demo if possible – Steve made it a show, not another boring pitch.

• Use the rule of three to be memorable. Cut your speech into three main parts and tell the audience, as you transition between the stages.

• Repetition – repeat your core idea enough and your audience might repeat it for you.

Adapted from Carmine Gallo’s book – The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

Tip 2 - AVOID 🚩

Reading from your slides, as half the audience will check out. Instead, include minimal words on each slide, or even just a picture. Jobs would rehearse for hours. If you rehearse your presentation 10-15 times and know it inside-out, you can talk to your audience, not your slides.

‘People who know what they’re talking about don’t need PowerPoint’

Steve Jobs

Tip 3 - ACTION 💪

Have you got a presentation or pitch coming up? Try the following to prepare,

- On paper, list any points you want your audience to remember

- Whittle this list down to three, with one core idea expressed in a catchy one-liner.

- Under each point, include stories, metaphors, cool facts and social proof.