12 Public Speaking Lessons from "Comedian"
I just finished watching, for the second time, Comedian, a terrific documentary about the efforts of Jerry Seinfeld to get back into stand-up comedy after a decade of starring in one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, Seinfeld.The documentary follows Jerry over a period of several months as he works to develop material […]
A Day in the Internet
In the past, I have written articles stressing the importance of making data meaningful for our audiences. Drawing inspiration from such sources as Carl Sagan and the Long Island Initiative, I have tried to show examples of why it is important to put statistics into context. As Chip and Dan Heath emphasize in Made to […]
Podium vs. Lectern
The podium and the lectern. We hear these two terms all the time when it comes to public speaking. What is the difference between these two mainstays of public speaking? And when speakers refer to them, are they referring to them correctly? A podium (pl. podiums or podia) is the raised platform on which the speaker […]
Every Presentation Ever?
Here’s a clever video that rings true on many levels when it comes to boring presentations. And, as is so often the case with humour, there are lessons to be learned.
10 Ways Public Speakers Should Be Like Santa Claus
Anyone looking for public speaking training should start by taking a good look at Santa Claus. Here’s what Kris Kringle does that all speakers should do. 1. Prepare thoroughly Santa Claus spends most of the year getting ready for his one big night. When he takes off in his sleigh, there’s no turning back. […]
Slide Transitions: Everybody's Changing
I remember the first time I saw the features on PowerPoint that allowed you to animate text and slide transitions. I played around with it for awhile and soon had things zooming in and bouncing around and what not. My initial thought was, “This is neat.” After playing around a little more, I had another […]
Talk Radio on Public Speaking
Jack Vincent is an expert in sales. I had the chance to speak with Jack about public speaking and presentation skills on The Connectors, a weekly talk show on World Radio Switzerland (WRS). Featuring a teams of expats and Swiss, the show takes light-hearted look at life in Switzerland. We have discussed hundreds of topics […]
How Do Props Help a Presentation?
The word “prop” comes from the term “theatrical property”, which refers to objects used by actors in a play to add realism to the story and to help advance the narrative. Anything can be used as a prop: a chair, a walking cane, a book, a painting. The list goes on and on. Props can […]
Helvetica – The Name, the Font and the Movie
One of the most popular sans-serif fonts is Helvetica. It was developed in 1957 by Max Miedinger with Eduard Hoffmann at the Haas’sche Schriftgiesserei (type foundry) in Münchenstein, Switzerland. The name “Helvetica” comes from Helvetia, the Latin name for Switzerland. Because I live in Switzerland, I am very familiar with the term. Swiss coins are stamped with […]
Tagged FontsGary HustwitHelveticaMax Miedingerpresentationspublic speakingSwitzerlandTypeface