Columbus Day PowerPoint

Did Columbus discover the Americas? Sure. He just wasn't the first.

It's kind of like how I discovered chocolate when I was around three years old. Surely, I was not the first to discover chocolate, but I thought my discovery was amazing, nonetheless.

So perhaps Columbus Day is a good day to reflect on our personal and professional discoveries. Like chocolate. Or an amazing new bit of business information.

My father is a Brother Knight with the Knights of Columbus, a past Navigator of the Fourth Degree. Dad is 86, and I know he will be celebrating new discoveries next week, as well.

After all, you are never too old for new discoveries.

So if you are giving a presentation next week, you might want to wish your audience a Happy Columbus Day. Encourage them to take a voyage of discovery with you in your presentation.

After all, Columbus was a master presenter. But it wasn't always that way....

In 1484, his "Enterprise of the Indies" presentation flopped when he gave it to King John of Portugal. But Columbus learned from his mistakes. A few years later, he gave his presentation to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. They gave him the funding he needed to finance his voyage to the new world.

No PowerPoint required!

Columbus learned successful presentation techniques. And he was willing to learn and truly go fearlessly forward...in more ways than one.

How can you channel the positive spirit of Christopher Columbus in your public speaking engagements next week?

(This year, the US observes Columbus Day on a Monday - October 10. But traditionalists like me will celebrate on its original day -- October 12.) ¶ 10/07/2005 05:26:00 PM