I heard this my whole life, and I drive my kids crazy with the same question. Always have a plan. Listen, I love Sundays, like anyone else, but I also run my own business. This means always balancing work and family, even on the weekends. So, when I’m not engaging with clients, I spend my Sunday mornings planning and ask myself: “What do I want to accomplish this week?” Here’s what I do in an hour: 1.     LINKEDIN (30 min) Comment on other people’s posts to increase engagement and reach Read the articles I’ve saved during the week about presentation design for tips Craft the week’s posts, I post 2x a week on the same days and times Identify people I want to reach out to and follow up with on Monday 2.     DEVELOP SKILLS (30 min) Practice new designs Play with a new portfolio idea Try out the videos I saved on Instagram about presentation design 3.     CALENDAR (15 min) Work calendar What needs to be done before a project deadline What prep do I need to do before a meeting Who do I need to follow up with Personal calendar: block the time needed between meetings 4.     CLIENTS/PROJECTS (15 min) Review my list of recent conversations with potential clients Identify who to follow up with to move to the next stage Schedule when I’ll follow up again, decide which ones may not materialize I review my weekly and monthly goals and consider which activities will help me reach them.  These activities help me approach the upcoming week with confidence and a clear plan for building the business. Although setting short- and long-term goals is essential, I find that focusing on weekly goals and creating a structured plan makes the tasks feel more manageable and achievable.

Unfortunately, we may have all felt this at one time or another.  Why didn’t anyone pay attention if it was such a great topic that they all need to know? This can happen for a few reasons: Unclear messaging  – your audience either can’t follow your storyline, they don’t understand what you’re trying to accomplish or what you want from them at the end of the presentation. Overly complex visuals  – more isn’t always more. We can all fall in this trap but keeping it simple can deliver more of a message than crowding the slide. Lack of audience engagement techniques  – no one wants to hear you talk for more than 10 minutes at a time. Group and individual activities will break up the time and make it more engaging for your audience so they can better absorb your messaging. Generally, your audience should be ‘doing something’ for 85% of the time, you should be talking for 15% of the time (and not all at once!).  If you're getting the feeling that no one paid attention to your last presentation, let’s talk.

Famous words spoken out loud by my grandmother at my 8th grade graduation in 1988, but they ring true for any speaker or presentation today. Long presentations can quickly turn from informative to downright tedious, leaving the audience's attention waning and eyes glazing over. So, how can we prevent this snooze fest from happening? A presentation should be like a good espresso – short, strong, and leaves you wanting more. Stick to the main points and trim the fat. Your audience's time is valuable, so don't waste it on unnecessary details or lengthy tangents. Here are some of the significant impacts of a long presentation on your audience: Engagement Levels: Initially, audiences may be attentive and engaged, however, as the presentation stretches on, attention spans can wane, leading to decreased engagement. Retention of Information: While shorter presentations tend to be more memorable, longer ones can overload the audience with information. Without  breaks or interactive elements, listeners can be overwhelmed and lose track of key points. Fatigue and Boredom: Sitting through a lengthy presentation can be mentally and physically exhausting (see grandma’s outburst). As boredom sets in, your audience may start fidgeting, checking their phones, or even nodding off, diminishing the impact of the message. Frustration and Impatience: If a presentation drags on without clear organization or a compelling narrative, audience members may feel frustrated or impatient. They may start to wonder when it will end or feel annoyed by the lack of concise communication.   Need help? Let’s talk before your next presentation.

Feeling lost during a presentation is like being stranded in a foreign land without a map. You sit there, trying to decipher the presenter's words, but it's like they're speaking a language you've never heard before. Your mind races, desperately trying to catch up, but the gap between what they're saying and what you understand only seems to widen. It's frustrating, isn't it? You want to engage, to absorb the information being shared, but something just isn't clicking. Whatever the reason, feeling lost during a presentation is a common experience. So, what exactly makes a presentation confusing? Lack of Structure: Presentations without a clear structure or flow can quickly become overwhelming. The audience struggles to follow the presenter's train of thought, leading to confusion and frustration. Complex Language and Jargon: Using overly technical language or industry-specific jargon without providing explanations can alienate audience members who are not familiar with the terminology. Clear communication is key to ensuring everyone can follow along. Information Overload: Trying to cram too much information into a single presentation can backfire. Instead of enriching the audience's understanding, it can lead to cognitive overload, making it difficult for them to retain key points. Lack of Visual Clarity: Visual aids should enhance understanding, not detract from it. Presenters who overload slides with text or cluttered graphics risk confusing their audience rather than clarifying their message.   If your audience is having a hard time understanding your presentations, let’s talk.