Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press Austin, TX www.greenleafbookgroup.com Copyright ©2009 by T. J. Walker All rights reserved under all copyright conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Greenleaf Book Group LLC at PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709, (512) 891-6100. Design and composition by Greenleaf Book Group LLC Cover design by Greenleaf Book Group LLC Cover photo by David Beyda, David Beyda Studio, NYC, www.davidbeyda.com Publisher’s Cataloging-In-Publication Data (Prepared by The Donohue Group, Inc.) Walker, T. J. (Timothy John), 1962– TJ Walker’s secret to foolproof presentations : your questions answered by a renowned speaking expert! / TJ Walker with Jess Todtfeld. -- 1st ed. p. : ill. ; cm. ISBN-13: 978-1-929774-88-3 ISBN-10: 1-929774-88-5 1. Business presentations. 2. Public speaking. 3. Interpersonal communication. I. Todtfeld, Jess. II. Title. III. Title: Secret to foolproof presentations HF5718.22 W25 2009 658. 4/52 2008941990 Part of the Tree Neutral™ program that offsets the number of trees consumed in printing this book by taking proactive steps such as planting trees in direct proportion to the number of trees used. www.treeneutral.com Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 09 10 11 12 13 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition Contents Introduction   vii Preparing for Your Presentation How can I get over stage fright or nervousness?    1 How can I avoid making a bad impression?    5 Should I rehearse, and for how long?   9 How can I find out whether my presentation is effective?   17 What are the realistic big picture goals I should shoot for in every presentation?   25 Creating your presentation What is the best way for me to start my present