Loud Thinking

Archive for April, 2014

Unity is coming together as one.

“Real education should educate us out of self into something far finer; into a selflessness which links us with all humanity.”

Nancy Astor (1879-1964);
First female Member of Parliament (MP) in the English House of Commons

“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.”

— Jim Rohn

“Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”

Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933);
author, educator, clergyman

What Went Wrong in Your Last Presentation?

Have you given a presentation recently? If so, try this exercise to strengthen your next one. Reflect back on your performance and assess your talking points. No matter how well you planned your presentation in advance, the actual delivery will often expose flaws, gaps, or other shortcomings (even for polished presenters). You may discover glitches, such as a missing step in a process you outlined. Make a list of these flaws as soon as possible, while your memory is fresh, and promptly incorporate the changes into your slides. Watching a video recording will also help you identify minor problems with delivery, like weak opening remarks or awkward attempts at humor. You may also see trouble spots regarding the audience’s reaction: Are people nodding, or nodding off? Taking notes, or engrossed in their phones? Note weak moments, and develop specific fixes to sharpen your skills.

Adapted by HBR from Presentations (20-Minute Manager Series).

“Your time is valuable. Make the most of it by streamlining your life to include only the people who really matter to you, and those who show you really matter to them.”

— Gabbie Chase

“The Children of Adam are limbs of each other, having been created of one essence.
When the calamity of time afflicts one limb, the other limbs cannot remain at rest.
If thou hast no sympathy for the troubles of others, thou art unworthy to be called by the name of a man”.

—Persian poet Saadi.

— There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and
after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second.

Character is one’s moral or ethical quality.

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”

Marcus Aurelius (121-180);
Roman emperor, Stoic philosopher