That's Bobposterous!

Attended an interesting workshop this week. I was a bit concerned when the speaker came dressed as Elvis. It was gimmicky to make a point about establishing corporate branding that is "sticky" meaning memorable. Once past the Elvis costume I was impressed with all he said. However, his PowerPoint slides lacked impact and were a challenge to read because of how he arranged text and graphics. It is so important that though you have something to say your visual and graphic presentation need to be consistent in quality. Either that or don't bother using it. I found myself not looking at the PowerPoint and simply listening. Though he spoke about consistency in a company's branding he failed to do so in his presentation. Bottom-line, your look, your message, and your presentation set your branding and communicate your purpose and vision.
Bob Ybarra

While at the Mission Viejo Mall today I came across my first Microsoft Store. As you can see in comparison to the Apple Store it is virtually empty. I could count the customers on one hand. Or were those employees? To be fair I must tell you that it is the same day that the iPhone 4s was released. However, I did see many people leaving with new iMacs in tow. Honestly in past visits to Apple stores in other locations on non-release days I have seen them just as active. So what makes Apple's stores as active as a beehive? Location? Both just doors away from one another. Decor? Both equally attractive. Product? Ahhh, now we are getting somewhere but still too general. Character of the product? Yes it's the character. Let me explain. To compare the product lines between both companies it would be like comparing apples and oranges (punn intended). Apple is both a hardware (iMAC, iPod, iPhone, iPad), software (OSX, iOS) as well as media outlet (music, movies, tv shows) that feed the hardware and software. One source for all this results in a more intuitive, all encompassing, and simply integrated relationship between hardware, software and media. Apple has always been this. Microsoft on the other hand is primarily a software company, has dabbled with hardware, and at best has bumbled with the media. The majority of hardware that runs Windows (their OS) is made by a plethora of manufacturers resulting in a wide variety of quality and features that are uncontrolled by Microsoft. So Microsoft is limited as a retailer of it's goods. The final differences between the two companies are 1) vision, the ability to see ahead and anticipate were usable technology can go; 2) presentation, sharing the vision; and 3) joy, Apple has given us products that entertain, promote creativity, and are pleasing to the eye. Sexy as a friend of mine describes them. Since 1986 I have experienced it all while also being productive in business to boot. Thanks Steve Jobs and all of you who have joined him since 1984 with the dawning of the MAC. Bob Ybarra

Share your thoughts.

1. What is the goal of presenting?  Is it to educate, inform, build credibility to build potential clients?
2. “The mind cannot absorb what the seat cannot bear.”   If your audience becomes uncomfortable you will lose them.
3. People remember the first thing they see and the last.  So bad Powerpoint, they remember.  Sitting for a long and uncomfortable presentation, the remember the how much their hurt.  If the slides are full of text they will remember how much hassle it was to read them.
4. People do not like to read.  Our minds can absorb speech faster than text.  Man is an oral communicator, speech came before writing.  Writing replaces the communicator when he is absent (i.e. letters).  They came to hear you speak, not read your writing.
5. Garr Reynolds shares that the mind cannot listen and read at the same time.  In fact you place a slide up with your notes on it and they will start reading (because it is there and it has gotten their attention before you did).  So you want your slides to make the point and you fill in all the information.  (Like jeopardy)
6. Be animated.  Movement and voice inflection goes a long way.  Don’t be chained to a podium.  To do this you will need a wireless mic.
7. Move through points quickly and use just enough illustrations to get your point across as people like stories. 
8. Humor goes a long way to keeping your audience engaged.  Slides can be used to express humor too.
9. I approach presentation this way:  I have only one opportunity to speak to these people and my presentation will determine whether I get to speak to them again.

Bad 

Good  

Hmmm, when was it?  Oh ya!  It was a few blogs back.  Go Here. I shared my thoughts back in November of 2010 regarding the probability of Apple using Integrated Chips in their iPads so it was not surptise that news of an integrated sim to be installed in the iPhone 5.  Rumor of course.  9To5 & SlashGear are a couple of the blogs passing on this latest buzz.  

What if you were to purchase one of these babies for full price, then just like the iPad's month-by-month contracts available with AT&T, you could use your phone month-by-month and have the ability when you go to Europe, for that much needed vaca. . .I mean business trip, you arrange a month with a carrier there and save you the grief of those not so likeable out of country plans. 

Then again maybe this could ignite a PRICE WAR among carriers. Think Differnt!