My son is wild about Teslas! He can't afford to buy one (yet), so he wastes no opportunity to tell me how great they are and how I NEED to get one (so he can drive it). To help me to arrive at the correct decision, he's accompanied me to an Auto Innovation show, the Tesla store, and an Electric … [Read more...] about Are you an Erudite, an Evangelist, or an Enthusiast?
Bring that DJ energy to your presentations!
Presenting to an unseen audience? Then learn to act like a radio personality! On the air "You're listening to Laura on the Roadhouse on the Big MoFo, WMFO, coming at you live and direct from Tufts University!" If you lived in the greater Medford/Somerville, MA, area in the late nineties, … [Read more...] about Bring that DJ energy to your presentations!
Tech check? Yes, please!
Many times, we're asked to present using someone else's platform. Maybe you're a Zoom expert who needs to use Microsoft Teams for the first time. Or maybe GoToWebinar's your jam, but your client uses BlueJeans. How do you get up to speed with a new platform before showtime? Tech checks, that's … [Read more...] about Tech check? Yes, please!
Do you use big words to sound smart? Knock it off!
Last week I was talking with a girl, maybe 12 years old, who dropped a big word during the conversation. It seemed like she might've been doing it to see if I knew what it meant. I'll give her a pass since she's young, but there's no excuse for a grown-up like you do do this when you're … [Read more...] about Do you use big words to sound smart? Knock it off!
Cheat Death by PowerPoint with a free game
In Toastmasters, we have a thing called Table Topics. Speakers are given a topic and they have to come up with a brief speech about it on the spot. Always on the lookout to make online meetings more interesting, I wanted to find a PowerPoint game where I could click on a box to reveal the question. … [Read more...] about Cheat Death by PowerPoint with a free game
Dealing with the BIGGEST remote presenting problem
I was very excited to be chosen to speak at the annual Women Transforming Technology conference in Palo Alto! I love travel and was looking forward both to the presentation and to my hiking trips in the California hills. But like many conferences, this one became virtual by the end of March. "No … [Read more...] about Dealing with the BIGGEST remote presenting problem
A little audience research goes a long way
In 2016, Massachusetts citizens voted to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults aged 21 and older. But not everybody is welcoming the cannabis industry with open arms. Last night, a businessman who wants to open a retail shop and growing operation in my small Central Massachusetts town … [Read more...] about A little audience research goes a long way
Weird room setup kills Presenter View
During a presentation, the Presenter View can be a real help! You get to read your notes and see what slides are coming up next, while the audience sees only the slides. Usually, if you're presenting off a laptop or desktop computer, you can make the Presenter View visible on your screen while … [Read more...] about Weird room setup kills Presenter View