I had a presentation today at one of the worlds largest entertainment companies. There were around 10 people in the room. I got to the site early and made sure there were no technical issues. The crowd came in and the words, the confidence, the passion just came flowing out like a well-played piano concerto. How did that happen?
Preparation.
While this presentation was different in many ways, the concepts were not new and they had been rehearsed many, many times... out loud... by myself...in other presentations.
Now, this presentation wasn't exactly the presentation I rehearsed. I reserve about 10%-30% of my discussion for improvisation based on the spirit of the room, content that the audience brings in, and cues that I pick up at a very intuitive level. All this was working today.
It's almost like that great golf shot that keeps you coming back. Preparation doesn't guarantee a successful outcome, but it does remove significant risks. Looking forward to the next opportunity.
