Internet Marketing and Public Speaking: The Murder Board Practice – Internet-Marketing
Internet Marketing and Public Speaking: The Murder Board Practice
I recently posted an article titled "Internet Marketing and Public Speaking: Ten Tips for When the Twain Shall Meet." One of the tips concerned a means to practice your sales presentation with a "Murder Board." I received several emails requesting a fuller explanation of this practice method.I decided to write two explanatory articles, so vital is this method to improve one's public speaking, specifically in preparing a presentation aimed at selling off-line your on-line product. In this article, I'll provide an in-depth explanation of this practice method; in the second, I'll cover the seven steps need for a successful Murder Board.Simply stated, the Murder Board is a realistic simulation of the actual presentation to be made. Colleagues role-play the audience, asking the type of questions they believe this specific group is likely to ask. It is intended to be more difficult than the actual presentation.If you want to become an effective and persuasive presenter to boost your on-line marketing, this realistic practice session is the most effective shortcut to speaking excellence. It allows you to make your mistakes when they don't count, increasing the odds that you will shine when the actual presentation is made.The Origin of the Murder BoardThe term Murder Board has its origins within the U.S. military, specifically within the extensive training system of the U.S. Army. When a person has been selected to be an instructor at an Army school, he or she must go through a demanding instructor training program.Graduation and designation as an instructor is dependent not on a written test, but successful delivery of a 50 minute class from the curriculum of the school.The audience for this crucible can be instructors who have gone through their own Murder Board, and are determined that this would-be instructor will experience the same frustration and humiliation they did. They ask tough, realistic, questions, the type of questions their students are asking.At the end of the 50 minute class, the aspiring instructor gets a a thumbs up-meaning he or she can now join this band of brothers and sisters as an instructor, or a thumbs-down, meaning another "opportunity" to go through a Murder Board.Lessons from the PentagonThis realistic simulation has permeated the military culture. As an example, when I ran the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) briefing team, we had three Murder Boards before the daily briefing to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.The first one was at 5:30 AM, the second at 6:30 AM, the third in front of two General officers and all the analysists, one hour later. By the time my briefer or I was standing in front of the Chairman, those intense sessions had provided the right answers to virtually any conceivable question the Chairman was likely to ask.Why have a Murder Board?This painstaking practice session has two overriding objectives:1. Hone delivery skills2. Anticipate probable questions and objections so succinct, accurate answers can be developed.Many presenters, while accepting the need to sharpen delivery skills, reject the idea of a Murder Board, confident they can anticipate the difficult questions likely to be asked, and need not practice in front of others, especially their peers. These people may actually be displaying a false bravado to mask their discomfort at speaking in front of a group, perhaps exposing their lack of skill in the presentation art, and/or their apprehension at giving a less than sterling performance in front of their colleaqgues.They are also very mistaken. I have given more than 3000 presentations, and always find it beneficial to conduct a Murder Board before an important talk. No matter how hard we try to think of tough questions that may be asked, a little censor in our mind generally provides only questions to which we already have answers. In my executive training workshops, I always emphasize the importance of a Murder Board, and the practice presentations made by my clients are set up as Murder Boards to get them accustomed to this simulation.I am in good company in believing that we need other minds to assist us in preparing for a sales or other presentation.. The man who possessed perhaps the greatest mind of the 20th Century, Albert Einstein, realized that even he needed help. He once said:"What a person does on his own, without being
stimulated by the thoughts and experiences of
others, is even in the best cases rather paltry and
monotonous."The Murder Board is the presenter's version of the actor's dress rehearsal, what lawyers do in preparing a witness to face cross-examination in a trial, what the flight simulator is to the pilot.Just as with the actor, the witness, and the pilot, this simulation permits the presenter to learn from his/her mistakes, so that the actual presentation is (1) more responsive to the informational needs of the audience, (2) answers are developed for likely questions to be asked, and (3) overall speaking confidence and competence enhanced.The Murder Board enables you to visualize the presentation in advance. Not only is proficiency in speaking increased by such a meticulous practice, so too is self-confidence. Public speaking ranks high in the pantheon of phobias because, in large measure, of the apprehension that one is going to be embarrassed by not being able to answer questions from the audience.If you have been able to anticipate questions, then you can develop answers ahead of time. Think back to when you were in college or graduate school. Your GPA would probably have been higher if you could have seen the questions before the final exams. The Murder Board permits the presenter a look at the audience's probable "exam questions."The only obstacle to developing a question-anticipating simulated presentation is your imagination and willingness to take hard hits in practice so you can be more effective in the actual presentation.Copyright 2005 Larry TracyThis article is excerpted from Larry Tracy's book, The Shortcut to Persuasive Presentations. Larry, a retired Army colonel, has been cited in numerous publications as one of the top presentation skills trainers in the US. His website is at top of Google for "persuasive presentations. Visit it for FREE tips and additional articles:
http://www.tracy-presentation.com
Choosing The Right Mat Board Colour For Your Art Work-Hobbies
Choosing The Right Mat Board Colour For Your Art Work
The framing industry has no books, no set theory, not hard and fast rules on how to pick colours. There are some personal opinions from various writers but that's all they are. However it is not as hard as you may think.The obvious starting point is to go for a colour that's in the picture, then vary the shades from darket to lighter to see which suits best.An Inner mat is the smaller window just surrounding your art work and it is usually used to sharpen the image. Darker inner mat will increase the contrast between the light and dark areas of the picture, making the image easier to see. Therefore, adding an inner mat is both decorative and functional.An outer mat is a bigger window closest to the glass, and sitting just on top of the inner mat. There is one or two rules I can give you for choosing the outer mat. Always make the outer mat border at least 2 1/2" (60mm). 2" mats do not work. The wider the mat the more you see the picture. The other rule relates to the surroundings. The colour of the outer mat you choose should have NOTHING to do with your taste or the colours in the room. If you do your job correctly you should see the picture, not what surrounds it. Many people make mistake by starting to use their personal taste or decorator themes in framing.You can practice choosing the right mat board colours using the Smart Framer program on our web site. Upload some of your own digital photos and frame them.With more than 30 years of experience in the business of picture framing, Gary Leete is the owner of Melbourne-based FrameCo Picture Framing Supplies, a company that specializes in DIY framing tools, start up kits and framing accessories. For further information on FrameCo products and services, feel free to email frame@frameco.com.au
Small Boats Should Have Certain Equipment On Board For Proper Safety Precautions-Sailing
Small Boats Should Have Certain Equipment On Board For Proper Safety Precautions
Relaxing in your canoe on a beautiful calm lake, fishing for the perfect fish is a very enjoyable and peaceful pastime that is enjoyed by many. Or maybe taking your kayak down a white water river braving class four rapids is more your style? Inflatable boats or Zodiacs are a lot of fun cruising in the ocean, slamming through the surf as well!No matter what your personal preference is, enjoying small boats on the water is a lot of fun and can be exciting and relaxing all in one trip, depending on what you prefer. But no matter what type of boating you enjoy, you should be aware of some fundamental boating safety rules before you head out.Pay Attention To The WeatherNo matter if you are going for a paddle along the shore line of a local lake or a wild cruise through the ocean surf you should pay close attention to the weather report of the area that you are going.Out on the water, the weather can change very quickly causing a whole host of problems to small boaters. It is very important to look at the short term weather report if you are going on a day trip to see if the weather forecast is calling for rain or any other major disturbances.Rain storms can be a lot worse on the water than they are on land. A small rain storm can quickly turn into a very frightening experience if you are in a small boat such as a canoe, kayak or rowboat. Very small boats do not have as much stability and can be capsized or flipped much easier than larger boats. Also, there is nowhere to escape from the rain on a small water craft which means that you will become wet and cold much faster.It is also a good idea to look to the sky as well as the weather report. Of course it is important to look to the weather report for the official weather; however the weather can turn around very quickly around water so it is a good idea to look to the sky. If you see some black clouds forming quickly and filling the sky, you may want to avoid the water that day or keep a very close eye on the sky.Don't Forget?It is always a very good idea when you are a planning an excursion on the water to tell someone where you are going and when you plan on coming back. If you plan on going out onto the ocean you should file a float plan with the marina. This is extremely important incase a sudden ocean storm comes up and you find yourself in trouble in your small boat.Also, if you are going out on the ocean you should carry a VHF marine band radio with you. A VHF radio is the easiest and fastest way to make contact with someone who can help you if you find yourself in trouble.What Should You Have On Board?No matter what type of small boat you have, there are a few things that you should carry on board with you at all times:* Life Jacket or PFD
* Flashlight
* Oars
* Bucket
* First Aid Kit
* Rope
* Blanket
* Mirror or shiny object
* Garbage bags
* Life JacketThe reasons to have a life jacket or PFD (Personal Flotation Device) on board are fairly self explanatory; however, many people die from drowning every year because they were not wearing their life jacket. If you are in a small water craft such as a canoe or kayak you should be wearing your life jacket or PFD at all times. Due to the nature of these small boats, they can flip easily and suddenly creating an emergency situation quickly.There are few different types of PFDs that you can choose from depending on the situation that you have. The Type I PFD is also known as the offshore floatation device. A type I is useful if you are going into rougher waters where you may not be rescued very quickly. Type II PFDs are also known as a near shore buoyant vest, this type of PFD is more useful if you are in calmer water where rescue will be quicker. Type III PFDs are floatation aids that should only be used in very calm and protected water where you will be rescued quickly.WhistleYou should be sure that you have a whistle on board that will work when it gets wet, and one that is made of a color that you will be able to see in the dark. Whistles are very important no matter where you go boating, because a whistle call will attract help if you are stranded. However, a whistle is known as a distress signal so it should only be used in an emergency.FlashlightA waterproof flashlight is essential for your boats safety kit. If you get stranded on the water after dark, you can use the flashlight to signal for help using international SOS signals. You can also use the light to look for other boats or objects to avoid hitting them.OarsYou should always have oars on board even if you have a motor. If your motor breaks down, or you run out of gas you will have a way to paddle into shore. Be sure that your oars are secured to your boat so that you will not lose them in a storm.BucketA bucket or pail is very important to have on board in case you begin taking on some water, you can use the pail to bail yourself out. You can also use the bucket to tap out SOS signals.First Aid KitThis is an essential piece of equipment for small boats. It is also important to know how to use the first aid kit as well.BlanketIn case you get wet or your clothes become soaked a blanket will help you prevent hypothermia.RopesRopes are very useful for a variety of reasons and should be kept on every boat. They can be used to tie the boat to shore, to another boat for towing or even to rescue someone from the water. It is also important to know some useful knots.Mirror Or Shiny ObjectThis can be used to attract attention during the day time by reflecting the sun. If you are stranded on the water, you will need to attract help and a flashlight will not be very useful during the day light hours.Plastic bagsBags are useful to create make shift rain ponchos during bad weather, also you can keep equipment dry and secure. If you have to, you can use orange garbage bags to attract attention as well.The Last WordThese are just a few accessories that you should keep on board of your small boat in case of an emergency. It is also a very good idea to take a course about small boat safety and know the laws in your area before setting out onto the water.