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The Journey Begins
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Many people look for the short road and the quick fix to achieve presentation
excellence. But it doesn’t exist—there are no panaceas or off-the-shelf fixes.
Learning to become an exceptional presenter in today’s world is a journey.
This journey offers many paths to presenting in a more enlightened way, a
way that is appropriate for the world in which we live. The first step down the
road to becoming a great presenter is simply seeing—really seeing—that what
passes for normal, ordinary, and good enough is off-kilter with how we learn,
understand, remember, and engage.
No matter what your starting point is today, you can become much better.
In fact, you can become extraordinary. I know this is true because I have seen
it many times before. I have worked with professionals—young and old—
who believed they were not particularly creative, charismatic, or dynamic.
And yet, with a little help, they were able to transform themselves into
extremely creative, highly articulate, engaging presenters once they realized
that a remarkable presenter was inside them already. Once they opened their
eyes and made the commitment to learn and leave the past behind, it was
just a matter of time before great progress was visible. Interestingly, as their
confidence grew and they became more effective presenters, their newly found
confidence and perspective had a remarkable impact on other aspects of their
personal and professional lives.
Chapter 11 The Journey Begins
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