The point
A presentation is a story with the lights on. Hook them in the first 20 seconds, say one message three ways, and end by telling people what to do. Everything after your first sentence is easier.
Glossary
Hook
An opening that grabs attention in the first 20 seconds: a question, a surprising number or a one-line story.
From the lesson
A story with the lights on
A presentation is a story with the lights on. Everything from the last three weeks applies at once, which is why it comes in Week 4. The structure: a hook in the first 20 seconds (a question, a number, a one-line story), one message said three ways, and a close that tells people what to do. “What is / what could be” is the shape; the rule of three is the discipline.
Cheat sheet · Hook in 20 seconds
A question, a number, a one-line story.
Take it into your day
Say your hook to someone today and ask what they’d expect the talk to be about.
Where it is taught
- Day 24 · Presenting to a Room: How to give a presentation: hook, one message, three supports, call to action
In practice
Examples from the course that use it.
The pitch
Hook: “Last Tuesday one of your competitors closed its books for the quarter in three days.” Message: you can too. Three supports. Call: “Give us one team for one quarter.” The buyer’s first question is about the team.
The toast
Hook: “A year ago this team was four people and a whiteboard.” Message: look at it now. Three things it did. Call: “Raise a glass to year two.” Forty people raise a glass. It took ninety seconds.
The bad news
Hook: “The launch is moving.” Message: here is why, and it is the right decision. Three reasons. Call: “Here’s what each team does this week.” Nobody leaves the room guessing.
Related terms
- Physiological sighTwo breaths in through the nose (one big, one short top-up), then one long, slow breath out through the mouth. It can help you settle.
- Two sighsTwo physiological sighs: a big breath in through the nose, a short top-up sniff, then a long, slow breath out through the mouth. Do it twice. It can help you settle.
- Call to actionThe one thing you want people to do after your talk, said clearly at the end.
- Rule of threePeople remember three things far more easily than seven. Group your points, reasons or examples in threes.
- The boxThe space between your waist and shoulders, within the width of your body. Gestures there look natural and in control.