What could be worse than losing your entire audience? Imagine
no one showing up for your presentation. I experienced the one and almost the
other.
While promoting my first book, Secrets of Power Marketing, I arranged short presentations along
with a book signing at book stores. They were never a good place in which to
present because they were not set up for presentations. Usually the audiences
numbered between six and 10.
On one memorable book store visit there was only one person
waiting for my presentation. That was ego deflating. I checked the signs and my
calendar. We both had the date and time correct so at the scheduled time I
started my 20 minute presentation. I was hoping that more spectators would
arrive or that my standing and speaking might attract some curious book
browsers. Five minutes into the presentation the woman’s cell phone rang. She
dug it out and asked me to hold. Naturally I stopped speaking because my entire
audience stopped listening.
After a short call she put the phone away, looked at me and
announced, “That was my son. I need to pick him up. Bye.”
My entire audience walked out on me. Ha! I can laugh now but
I didn’t at the time.
I forced another smile, bade goodbye, packed up my things, signed the books from the shelf, then left.
Since then I don’t mind if people leave part way through my
presentation – as long as some remain.
When you present there are few things you can control and
some things you can influence. And there is everything else that is beyond your
power. Focus on what you can do and accept the randomness of reality.
Learn how to deal with 17 other presentation disasters and come out looking like a hero. Download the free eBook here - Turn Presentation Disasters into Presentation Success.
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