Let us start this short and seasonal post with a factoid I heard on a radio show a few years ago:
Charles Dickens invented 959 named characters before deciding on the name of "Tiny Tim" in his most famous book, A Christmas Carol
As interesting as that fact might be, some of you might be struggling to see the connection with better presentation skills. Yet there is a link, and I think an important one. Let me explain...
To expend so much effort and time on such a relatively minor character as Bob Cratchit's son might, at first, seem rather eccentric. Yet in reality Dickens was employing every ounce of his genius to ensure that each word of his "ghostly little book" would make the maximum impression on the reader.
And it worked.
The first edition of A Christmas Carol sold out in just a matter of days, seasonal donations to charity soared, and Dickens is still cited as "The man who invented Christmas" (or at least the modern version of the festival) by most historians.
You may by now understand the connection. Choosing the right word or words can make such a difference to not only your delivery, but also (and more importantly) to your audience. As Dickens clearly demonstrated, such a commitment to perfection does demand an equal commitment of time and effort, yet the return on your investment is greater engagement from a larger selection of your chosen audience.
So, if a genuine genius such as Charles Dickens could spend so long perfecting such a small, apparently incidental, detail of 'A Christmas Carol', then it surely cannot be too much to ask paid-for business professionals to deliver a similar level of care in their own presentation prep?
And there endeth the carol.
Have a great Christmas all.
Best regards,
Steve