As 2026 approaches, I’m developing a 40-minute presentation usable with several audiences on the topic of taking action and not being a spectator. To prepare, I’ve developed and delivered several shorter components of the larger presentation.
Photo by Finding Dan | Dan Grinwis on Unsplash
Shorter, reusable components are valuable for several
reasons, including for simple practice. I want to be sure each component is
complete on its own.
Delivering shorter components helps to refine and
better understand my overall message, and to manage transitions in the material.
I’ve found this approach helpful in the past, and a
similar approach may be helpful to you.
Practice Assists Discovery
Although this shouldn’t be a surprise to me, I’ve
learned over the years that as a result of these iterations my core content can
serve several purposes and support several messages.
Sometimes I learn this after I speak with people who
were in the audience. The material I’m currently refining touches on risk,
ambition, courage, confidence, experimentation, team coherence and more.
Core Material
The core material I use in this presentation begins
with my experience as a one-time recreational skeleton racer. Skeleton racing in the Olympic sport where athletes
race head first down an icy track. It is
one of three sliding sports, along with bobsled and luge racing, in which
racers slide head first down the hill. More
information is available from the sport’s governing body The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton
Federation (https://www.ibsf.org/en/)
Personal Experience Drives Content
Often people will underestimate the lessons and
instructional value of their personal experiences. My odd little experience as a recreational
skeleton racer is ultimately about risk and unique experiences, but most
importantly about not needing to justify a choice or an action to others.
My Presentation - Section 1 – Set The Stage
To set the stage for my core message, I describe my
experience that day racing down the icy skeleton and bobsled track. Audiences
have found the material quite engaging as the activity involves some risk, and
it’s not a common pursuit for many people. However, I do recommend it.
I wrote about my experience at The Whistler Sliding
Center in British Columbia here https://substack.com/home/post/p-167638383
Section 2 – Describe Obvious Opportunities
Because the first organization that I will present
with is a Toastmasters audience, I spend about 10 minutes describing
developmental roles within Toastmasters. This is an obvious path those audience
members.
Section 3 – Discuss Stretch Opportunities
The final section encourages audience members to personally
note their stretch ambitions, whether inside their organization or outside
their organization. Sometimes I invite
attendees to share a stretch ambition, but I won’t put anyone on the spot and
potentially embarrass them.
Section 4 – The Power of Simply Starting
Once members have noted and acknowledged an
opportunity then I walk them through a process to begin and then generate
momentum that leads to achievement. This
may be a team ambition or an individual pursuit.
Conclusion
When developing material, it’s important to start.
Experiment. Deliver shorter versions. Deliver several versions. Discover the value and key messages
surrounding your core material.
Usually sharing your message to an audience of one, or
an audience of many, will help you refine and often discover additional purpose.
