Thought Ignite - Thoughts-> Feelings-> Actions-> Results

I had been to the meeting of a very popular business community yesterday. A few CEOs presented their ideas on how to tackle the forthcoming and looming challenges of the industry.  Though the messages from each leader was so powerful and meaningful to the entire gathering, I was really taken aback on the presentation skills the majority of them lacked! The result being a cloudy disposition after the meeting, with no one knowing what next to do with the knowledge shared.

I just have to tell this to CEOs, business owners and senior managers: You have reached a point in life just because of certain decisions and actions you took in the past. Hardwork, perseverance and a belief in the positive definitely has been with you all along. But you will be surprised if I tell you that you have not yet exploited even a small percentage of what you could have acheived by now! The reason is just this: You might be having millions of ideas and views in your mind. If that is not capsulated and presented in your talk on stage and off stage and at all times of your business communication, your message will be mis intepreted, while you think that your message was clear to the listener. This is a skill and can be learnt if you know agree and know WHY you need this skill. You must begin to ponder and wonder where all in the past you could have done better if you had perfected this skill! Yes my friend: thinking is hard work!

A phrase by Michael Angelo presented by one of the speakers of the same meeting goes something like this: "The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we hit it." How true!

All these business leaders have to do is raise their sights a little above their own business, look farther and learn the art of presenting what they see to the new generation.  Now that will definitely create an awareness. An impression beyond expectation. After all what makes the world go around? It is hope! Hoping to live that lifestyle one day. Hoping that this would be better, hoping to become like that person one day etc etc.

1. Gather your knowledge on your subject before you present something.
2. Create your slides and then halve their numbers.
3. Select one message that you are going to build your topic on
4. Tell the audience / listener clearly what you are going to speak
5. Tell them the content of the topic
6. Tell them what you have just told them

Thats it! Your presentation is clear and crisp and moreover remembered by the audience. If possible add a couple of real life impressive stories to complement your presentation. And remember to close your presentation just before your time is over.

If you need more help on this subject there are a huge number of books on presentation. Just pick a couple of them and read through. Modify according to your requirements.

And then here you are: You will now be delivering your powerful messages in an equally powerful manner.

Communication. Our most important skill, we would ever require in this journey of life!

Sanjiv Padman

Often we dont understand the importance of something until we lose it.  Sometimes even after losing it we might not understand its importance!! Dont be fooled. This is a defence mechanism built in man to preserve him for ever.

Thinking is one such thing. It is an art. It is always with us. It is probably one of the most powerful tools that man has ever had access to. Yet we never seem to understand its importance and the critical role thinking plays in creating our life. 

The quality of a person's life is always directly proportional to his thinking pattern. People who have a drive to do something always think of their goal and their ultimate acheivement. On the other hand people who drift aimlessly in life seem to think of nothing else but what little they have in life and very often (more dangerous) criticize all that they have.

There are two types of creations in this world: Primary - those that are created by our Creator viz. the trees, the mountains, the streams, the living beings, their systems of propogation, the ocean, the world, the universe, you, I etc etc.  and the other is Secondary creations - these are those things created by man. If you dwell upon this subject it is easy to see that man can create! Well man has been creating, inventing, discovering etc etc from the fire to the wheel to the rocket.  Man has also been creating his own level of living.

Certain decisions taken in the past (might have been even small seemingly insignificant ones) have bought him to his present state of living. What do you think made him take those decisions. Naturally his pattern of thinking. One thing is sure here: If he continues to think and act the same way he has been doing all along, he is rest assured of getting what he has been getting all along!

You and I can change our style of living any time we want. It is simple. All we have to do is change the way we think throughout the day and very soon we will feel in a way akin to our thinking. This feeling will make us take an action that conforms to the same feeling. And that action will beget a result worthy it. Ultimately resulting in a life exactly equal to that action we have taken.  From here it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that our life today owes its existance to what we have been thinking all along in the past.

Is it time to change the thinking pattern? Well then just do this. For the next 10 days just follow and observe what you are thinking on a continual basis.  Are your thoughts of fear of the future, contemplation on what will happen next in life, doubts of results happening, fear of failing relationships etc etc. Just follow your thoughts and keenly observe it.  You will see a pattern developing.  Identifying that pattern is 70% of the battle won to live a beautiful, abundant and happy life.

Happy thinking!!!

Sanjiv