Lesson 1: Keep it simple

Lately i had the chance to present some of my project ideas to the vp of strategy and business development dept. of a big telecommunications company.

I love these meetings. Feeling the information and experience floating around waiting to be sucked dry is so aawsumm (information fanboy here!)..

Having only technical backgrounds, I do not have much experience in presentations, nor do i have above-the-average communications skills.

But i have the general idea that presentations should be done using powerpoint, should provide a general information, some statistical information, some plots, nice colors and stuff.. those would do, right?.. Right?

Well, back in the 90ies those were used for the entertainment purposes for the managers from the jurassic ages. Shiny colors, letters dancing on the screen, objects blinking with happiness.. God how those old bags really loved them.

"Just cut the crap already and tell me what do you want" was what i got when i began throwing percentages and statistics around.

He instantly taught me a lesson there. I was there for a reason, and any reason can be briefed to few simple sentences. All i needed to do was just put all the bullcrap aside and tell them "what" i wanted. We all are busy people, and we all are in need of accomplishing something, so why so formal? Just get to damn point already.