For Better Presentations: Think in 3s, ‘Paint Pictures’, Wiggle Your Toes
Return to main page
“For Better Presentations: Think in 3s, ‘Paint Pictures’, Wiggle Your Toes”
Audiences ask three questions: status quo? challenge? solution?
You’re given 10 minutes to rouse the interest of a venture capitalist or sales prospect, so you talk extra fast to cover everything. Bad move.In your excitement, you may hop from point to point haphazardly. Enthusiasm can work against you if it causes you to babble.
To deliver a persuasive presentation, start with a clear roadmap of where you want to take your listeners. Identify key ideas you want to plant in your audience’s head before you say a word.
Prepare for a big speech by thinking in threes and organizing your subject matter into sections:
- The current situation: Introduce yourself, summarize why you’re speaking and describe your business. That way, you begin by bringing everyone up to date. Don’t repeat yourself or insert needless details. Stick with the main facts.
- Identify a challenge: Pose a riddle or present a vexing problem that your business is confronting. Example: "We want to overcome seasonal downturns in our industry by devising a product that satisfies a year-round need" or "Our challenge is to anticipate the next wave of personal electronics and make accessories for future users."
- Propose a solution: Conclude with a discovery or realization that addresses the challenge. Build suspense by prequalifying the solution: "It has to be cheap, durable and easy to mass produce."
Related Articles
Can Art.com Founder Really Have It All After the Sale?
Encouraging Employees to Innovate
Strength in Numbers
Stimulating Creativity
Franchising Your Business

Articles in our Entrepreneur’s Resource Center appeared in print and online newsletters published previously by the foundation. More than 1,000 articles can be found in the categories below, addressing timeless challenges faced by entrepreneurs of all types.