WHAT AS MUCH AS HOW IT IS SAID

"There is no greater mistake than the hasty conclusion that opinions are worthless because they are badly argued."

Thomas H. Huxley (1825-1895) English biologist

Not clear? Maybe this will help.

The opinion of a man pointing a gun at you, stuttering "Haaaaaaaannnnndsss  Upppp!", should be every bit as important to you as the same scenario minus the stutter.

Well presented ideas deserve to be thoughtfully considered, but don't be too quick to dismiss those that are not.

WHEN MAKING BUISNESS PRESENTATIONS IT IS BEST TO GET TO THE POINT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO AS TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCE OF LOSING YOUR AUDIENCE, THE RESULT OF HAVING SAID TOO MUCH WHEN MUCH LESS WOULD HAVE SUFFICED

"Less is more."

From an 1855 poem "The Faultless Painter" by Robert Browning

In addition to being poetic it neatly summarizes what could be the best business advice ever.

I SHOULD HAVE SAID . . .

"There are always three speeches for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave."

Dale Carnegie

20th century American writer

As anyone who speaks in public knows . . . so true!

What As Much As How

"Erudition can produce foliage without bearing fruit."

Georg C. Lichtenberg

18th century German  scientist

Presentation is important but it is little or nothing without substance.

That Should Be Obvious

"To spell out the obvious is often to call it into question."

Eric Hoffer

20th century American philosopher/author

Some do this out of a sense of insecurity, not certain they've been understood.

Others do because they know what they've said is not obvious.

And a few simply change their mind in the brief moments between having and expressing a thought.

Understanding how often each of these applies to you is the hard part.

Business Clichés: Half Full, Half Empty?

"Banality is a symptom of non-communication. Men hide behind their clichés."

Eugene Ionesco
20th century Romanian born French playwright

I realize how you might feel clichés add color to your presentation.

But it's not a case of damned if you don't and damned if you do; there are other ways to say the same thing.

Be original!

If you have something worth saying, spit it out, run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes it!

If you don't, people may just see you as another empty suit.