Check out the latest video blog with tips and takeaways from my experience with Gary.

It’s Wednesday. What can you do before the end of the week to engage with others? Do a video conference instead of a call (iChat or Skype will do it)? Send a 2 minute video instead of a memo?

In true Decker form, we videotaped the entire Decker Made To Stick Messaging debut program so we could (what else?) give ourselves feedback!  Several participants gave us feedback, too, so we can continuously improve and evolve.  With all this video lying around, @MeredithGood put together a short testimonial (for kicks!) to give you a sense of what Decker Made To Stick Messaging is all about.

What are you waiting for? Get in on the action and register for December 2nd! Hope to see you soon.

Nancy Duarte at Apple Store

So the Flip Video came out – and it works great for a very small (iPod size) video camera of adequate quality that you can immediately edit and put up on YouTube. Here's an example – my first shot.

And Nancy was great – overcoming a lot of background noise and distractions at a busy downtown Apple Store. Here is Nancy with her first key point, on the importance of Telling Great Stories.

She had terrific slides of course, but even moreso was her great content (Dru took some notes as I was busy with Flip Video):

1. Tell Great Stories – she illustrated with visuals that ALSO told the great stories by themselves.
2. Reach Beyond Projection – a presentation can be slides – projected, but she told also of the many other varieties, from decks (the written) to on the web, to PDA plus devices – where you can interact, collaborate, and view. In other words, the world of presentation is a new world.
3. Show Don't Tell – and here she gave a great example of a Garr Reynolds' presentation on SlideShare.
4. Create a Profound Experience – unusual was a chart of visual storytelling that looked for the conflict and resolution. Nancy said to identify those points in a preso where you want people to be conflicted, for conflict generates emotion generates action.

Dru Scott also bought a few more copies of Slide:ology. That deserved an iPhone picture.

The Flip Video was OK, but the quality isn't great when you have poor sound and a screen as background. For a longer and higher quality view of Nancy, you might try this interview.

Other tidbits:

• Nancy said to use high quality images – they evoke credibility, and Duarte Design spends over $150,000 a year on images!
• Nancy Duarte and Garr Reynolds have changed the process of creating and presenting in less than a year with their influence, blogs, and particularly their wonderful and complimentary books Slide:ology and Presentation Zen. Both books are in the top 100 at Amazon already. Amazing.
• Twitter, Tribes (also in the top 100 at Amazon) and Technology are changing the face of communicating. (At least task and relationship communicating – nothing will ever replace 'face to face'…)
• The video revolution continues. Flip Video costs $179 and enables anyone to immediately shoot and edit and be able to use videos in their PowerPoints, blog posts, YouTube or devices. And video is the BEST way to capture emotion to influence to action in a very short time.

His great post on Barack Obama's advanced use of alliteration, list of three, and other oratorical devices is not to be missed. Atkinson is a master at coaching and analyzing the written speech. As he mentioned in his email to me, Obama "included 27 three-
part lists at a rate of about one every 30 seconds!"

And keep in mind that the "list of three" is not just a device of rhetoric. As a proven principle in physics, it is also used in communicating for

1. organizing ideas on the spot
2. creating presentations, and
3. putting together agendas of any kind

(and a lot of other uses beyond those three.)

It is one of the organizing principles for The Decker Grid, which we use in every program we teach and train. So if you use the Rule Of Three you will be

1. More prepared,
2. More persuasive, and
3. More powerful!

I repeat what I said in the forward to her book, "It’s more than slides and design – it’s about communications and inspiration. And this book will help anyone – beginner or top professional – to get to the top of their game."

Read these good reviews – I couldn’t detail it as well – and then click on Amazon and get the book:

• Presentation Zen - (This is a great review!) "should come bundled with every copy of PowerPoint"
• The Extreme Presentation - "nine neat insights from among several in the book"
• Squared Peg.com – "jam packed with information"
• Presentations Roundtable – "you need this book"
• Six Minutes -  (Also a great review)  "a classic reference text for presentation skills"
• VizThink – "We were so excited about the book, we had to do a podcast"

If you scan all these reviews, and don’t get the book, you’re not on the right blog!

And Nancy has a great new blog too.
    

A few weeks ago we had Michael Phelps in the Olympics winning race after race, and of course the encores for Barack Obama have launched his campaign for the Presidency, and now the phenomenon of Sarah Palin building one communication experience on another. TV and the internet is filled with remarkable performances. And now we can learn some of the principles to create our own encores.

The author of this great book is my friend and colleague, Mark Sanborn. I’ve known Mark for over 20 years, and this is his best – and he is a very successful thinker, speaker and expert who knows what he is writing (and speaking) about in leadership and performance.

One of a few key elements and a recurring theme:

Passion is the fuel for remarkable performance!

Simple enough, but how do you sustain and repeat that passion?!? Learn it here – it is quick, easy, and will convince you that everyone can achieve an
ENCORE performance in their personal and professional lives.

It’s just out – and you can get it at Amazon or visit Mark’s website. Special bonus Mark is offering – if you submit your receipt to encore@marksanborn.com you will receive a coupon worth $9.97 for your choice of any of the valuable e-books in Mark’s online store. You’ll also get full Access to The Encore Effect Assessment  (a $29.97 value) that will be available through the book’s support site at www.theencoreeffect.com.

• It’s excellent, and will inspire you in several ways.
• It has true stories of important principles and communicating successes.
• It’s a quick read.

It’s part of the Ken Blanchard "One Minute" series, so you know it will be worthwhile. Even more so, Ken gives us four of the key principles right away in a unique promotion for the book (you might even be able to still get it for free here):