How to Start a Business Presentation

I used to love watching Sesame Street as a kid. It was an American TV show with Muppet style puppets. Every episode had some major learning point for us kids but we loved the programme for its colour, fun and songs.

One of my favourite songs was the ABC song which ended. "Now I know my ABC, next time will you sing with me"

Now this song always reminds me of the ABCD of presentations. A really clever neumonic to help you with the first few minutes of any presentation to get it off to the right start and give you lots of confidence to continue.

• A - Attention






• B - Benefits






• C - Credibility






• D - Direction

Attention





"Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking...."

"Hello, my name is Paul Archer..."

"Uhm, OK, let's get started then shall we?"

What do these three have in common? Yes of course they are bland, listless and terribly unexciting presentation starters.

Your first priority is to get the attention of your audience especially if you are selling and presenting at the same time. We don't have the luxury of time, so we need to grab their attention in the first few moments.

Now it helps if you've done your circulating with the audience beforehand and have done some homework on the people sitting in front of you. This gives you some pointers as to the type of attention getter to use.

I'm not saying you should tell a joke. Perhaps you could but make sure it's a self effacing joke to show your humility and not embarrass anyone sitting down.

• Share a quotation. You can get thousands of these from the Internet and one might fit the bill.






• Tell a story or metaphor which will link into the main points.






• Ask a searching question.






• A call to action






• This day in history. Log onto the History Channel's website and sign up for the email a day service. It's great and everyday gives you something that happened this day in history. You might be able to link this in.

Benefits





Once you have their attention, tease them with some of the main benefits or the major one benefit they will get from listening and maybe staking action.

It might be obvious to you, but we have to think of our audience. WIIFM. What's in it for me? Think in their shoes and share some benefits.

"What I'd like to do is to give you some bang up to date pointers which will help you decide your direction over the next year. These could give you a competitive advantage."

Enough to intrigue, excite and make people want to listen more.

Credibility





Important to get this part done, if the audience have never met you before. Sometimes, in more formal settings, the Master of Ceremonies will introduce you and help to build your credibility.

However in most business presentations, particularly sales pitches or "beauty parades" you really do have to cement your credibility. Don't overdo this bit. Don't fall into the trap of telling them all about you, your history, your qualifications.

That's zzzzz time.





Instead use a reassurance statement. This statement should include your name and your experience both in the customer's industry or sector and your experience in dealing with similar problems to your customer.

"My name is Paul Archer, I've been working with salespeople across the globe for almost 20 years helping them to earn their bonuses. For the last two years I've been helping businesses like yours get better closing ratios from their Key Accounts."

Direction





I love taking my three children on car journeys. My wife and I have a bet as to when the first one will ask "are we there yet Dad?" Normally my wife wins. So I reply "Not yet Euan, we've just passed Winchester and we'll probably be at Nanas in half an hour."

And they're happy for the next few miles.

Now someone gave me a brilliant tip the other week to help in this arduous purpose. Keep telling them where you are and how long to go.

"Hey guys, we've just passed Stonehenge. Can you see it on your right? And we'll be at Nanas in 20 minutes, in time for an ice cream"

Since that piece of advice we've never looked back and you can use the same idea in your presentations.

Tell your audience where you're going to take them. Give them clear direction. Not an agenda. These are for books. Presentations need signposts which tell you where you're going. At each junction the audience needs reminding where they've come from and then where they're going to go next.

The best analogy is one of these property purchase programmes on the TV. My favourite is Phil and Kirsty doing "Location, Location, Location". Just as they're coming up to a commercial break, Kirsty will quickly recap the main points covered so far and one or two tempters of what you'll see after the break. This not only gives you clear direction, but tempts you to come back after the break.

And when you return from the break, Phil takes over and reminds you what they did before the break and then tempts you further with the major benefits of the next 15 minutes.

Brilliant stuff and certainly worth repeating in your presentations.

So give direction and then constantly signpost your way to the end. And as you approach the end signal that the end is in sight, summarise each of your key points, remember the power of three - three major points maximum. Invite questions; never ever finish on a Q&A because if there are no questions, you'll go out like a damp squid.

Invite questions, deal with these and then restate your aim and purpose and end with a call to action.

With the end in sight:

1. Signal that the end is in sight






2. Summarise each of your key points






3. Invite questions: don't end on Q&A






4. Restate aim and overall purpose






5. Definite finishes - call to action

And now you know your ABC...and D. Next time will you sing with me...

Security and Privacy of Google Play Apps by Google

Most of the android apps focus on security and privacy to make sure everyone has a helpful experience in discovering and installing apps and games they love the most. With this piece of write up, you will get information about the latest changes which Android developers are facing, as well as explaining the motive for each change, and how these securities facilitate Android devices to become more protected and secure for the elongated term.

To make the apps more helpful and protected android developers will have to work on new requirements if they want their apps to be accessible on Google Play in the future. These include supporting a latest Android version and adding support for 64-bit native code in the apps in the future. Moreover, Google will start including some safety metadata to perk up APK validation verification.

How to secure your apps?

There are several reasons for requiring an app to support the latest API version is benefiting the app with security and privacy that Google has been incrementally adding together to the Android platform. This does not signify that Android should stop supporting older Android versions, which is still encouraged. Google also illustrated that fresh apps published on Google Play from August 2018 need to have API level 26 (Android 8.0) at least in it using the target SDK Version manifest attribute.

The condition to hold 64-bit CPUs only have an effect on apps that compose native libraries in them. Google says that more than 40% of at present used Android devices have 64-bit support and that their performance is significantly enhanced by running 64-bit code. For this Google Play also supports 32-bit apps and devices, so 64-bit support is an addition to the 32-bit support using a single APK or numerous APKs. This is one of the plus points for the developers which they can use in the future.

In addition to above, developers have almost 2 years period to transition to 64-bit, since this condition will start in August 2019. For now, you can start adding a little amount of security metadata on the pinnacle of each APK to confirm that it was authoritatively distributed by Google Play. The metadata which developers will add to APKs is like a Google Play badge of authenticity for your Android application . Surely 2017 has been an incredible year for developers who have seen growth and accomplishment on Google Play.

Wrap up

With all these features and the upcoming latest updates, we look forward to seeing the Android and Play ecosystem continue to flourish in 2018 and ahead. In the end to conclude this section we can say that Google will start to automatically add certification to its apps in early 2018. This modification does not have any effect on apps' behavior, but will certainly be used in the future to allow new distribution opportunities with the endeavor to help users to keep their apps up to date.

Discovering How a Scorpio Woman Flirts

I have recently had quite a few men ask me how do scorpio women flirt? To answer that question we first need to answer how scorpio women act. Scorpio women tend to use more overt types of flirting because of their strong passion for love and their deep desire to connect with others.

Scorpio is about metamorphosis. Scorpios transform the painful poisons of possessive passion into a higher consciousness based on universal love.

Flirting is giving out signals that you may be interested in someone and has become a part of our daily lives. It is the most common way people indicate interest in one another. Some people are good flirts while others are not. Scorpio women tend to be great flirts. They give the people they are interested in little butterflies in their stomach which is as a result of the way they move their body and smile at you while checking you out.

The key indicators to look at to determine if you are being flirted with are eye contact, playing or towing with their hair, the way their body moves, touching, and the way they speak. They also tend to whisper to their friends. This is how a scorpio woman would flirt.

A scorpio women may also mirror your tone of speaking and your body posture, and she will laugh a lot (possibly at something neither of you would find funny any other time).

Especially watch their body posture; does she lean in to you when you are looking in her eyes? Does she cross her legs towards you? When she uncrosses her legs; does she point her body towards yours? You will be able to determine a lot by her body posture, and it is important that you reciprocate with your own ways of flirting.

The main thing to remember when flirting with a scorpio woman is to embrace their passion and have fun. The best flirtatious moments happen when you understand what's happening.

If you would like to uncover more about how scorpio women flirt as well as many other types of women and know the exact body posture, and eye contact to look for to know if she is flirting with you then visit my website for a free report on body language that has helped thousands of men attract and understand women.

Methane Markets Call For Clean Energy Projects

The public have been aware of the pressing problems of the global community relating to global warming. Car makers have been addressing this problem with the development of eco-friendly cars. Vehicles running on gasoline and diesel are pointed out as one of the major source of CO2 which is a greenhouse gas.

To reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released by automobiles into the atmosphere, car manufacturers have developed technology which cleans a vehicle's emission. Other car manufacturers focused on the production of hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are powered by gasoline engines and an electric motor. The electric motor serves as an aid to the engine, this way the engine consumes less fuel which translates to a reduced emission.

But carbon dioxide is not the only potent greenhouse gas in the world. Another more potent greenhouse gas which has addressed the attention of the global community is methane. In connection with this, the Methane to Markets Partnership, a group that promotes greenhouse gas reduction, recently called for projects centered on the reduction of greenhouse gases to be showcased at the first Beijing Partnership Expo to be held later this year from October until the 1st of November.

Studies shows that methane is twenty times harmful than carbon dioxide in its ability to trap heat in the atmosphere. While it is a very potent greenhouse gas, it is also considered as a valuable energy source.

Methane mainly comes from three major sources. These sources are livestock emissions, landfills, and oil and gas production. In livestock, enteric fermentation, a fermentation inside a digestive system of ruminant animals. Methane is produced inside the rumen, a special stomach found in cows, sheep, and water buffaloes. Later on, it is then belched by the animal into the atmosphere. On landfills, the decaying matter produces the methane released into the air, while chemical processes in the production of oil and gas leads to the release of methane into the atmosphere.

In order to combat the increasing amount of methane release into the air, the Methane for Market Partnership urges the different sectors of the global community to undertake developmental studies aimed at the reduction of methane emissions and the use of the said gas as a clean source of energy.

Bill Wehrum, the EPA's acting assistant administrator for Air and Radiation and Chairman of the Methane for Markets Steering Committee, has this to say about their effort in the reduction of methane emission and their educational campaign at the Beijing Expo: "This expo is a perfect example of how public-private partnerships can advance environmental goals such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and delivering clean energy to markets around the world. . "

The said expo will be focusing on potential projects in four sectors. These are agriculture, coal mining, landfills, and oil and gas systems. The organizers of the show will allow attendees of the event to showcase project opportunities for potential investors.

Since the event will be attended by interested people who can fund clean energy projects, the event will be a good place for those who need financial backings on their project which is concerned about methane. Attendees of the event will also have the chance to learn about the latest technology developed and the latest technology being explored. The expo will also be a good place to acquire technical, policy, and financial knowledge.

With more and more projects like this, the global community will be on its way to significantly reducing the greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. While the negative effect of methane on the atmosphere is reduced, there is also a chance that methane will be developed as an efficient substitute to petroleum fuel. If this happens, the world can stop its dependency on fossil fuel as effective as an EBC Greenstuff brake pad can stop a vehicle.

The Art of Personal Financial Planning

The fact is that when it comes to finances, I have nothing to hide. My lack of financial knowledge had really hit me for the first time a few years ago, shortly after the birth of my daughter. I realized I was responsible for another life. It was not like I was not given good role models - my parents have done well! I felt I was doing ok. It was only until I was reading a business publication when I stumbled across "Self-Analysis Financial Planning Test."
No sweat I thought. Confidently, I picked up my pencil and set about responding to questions such as:

o Have you selected the proper amortization period for your mortgage?

o Is you will up-to-date?

o Could your dependents live comfortably in the event of your death?

o If you plan to retire early, have you set up a suitable savings program?

o How do you plan to pay for your children's education?

o Fifty percent of Canadians retire in financial hardship. What are you doing to guarantee you will not be one of them?

o Are you debts structured properly?

Not only could I not give a satisfactory answer to many of the questions, but also I did not even understand some of them. I caught an ominous glimpse of my husband and daughter living on the streets.

I dropped my pencil, an unnerved woman. It's not that I want to be a multimillionaire, though like everyone else, I do. I'll set for comfortable - very comfortable. I enjoy living in a nice home, following a yacht (our floating cottage), driving nice vehicles and contributing annually to an RESP and RRSP for my daughter and myself, respectively. However also recognized that I would probably be one of the millions of people who would be forced to work into their 70's. I wanted the ability to have all of those luxuries, but not compromise my thoughts of an early retirement. I think these are goals that are shared by most North Americans. Are they realistic? Can they be realized on an average salary? If so, how?

Within an hour of reading that article, I was committed to learning the basics of financial planning. I had no desire to learn the intricacies of the stock market, nor was it my goal to be able to recite the mortgage tables from memory.

All I wanted to know was how best to get where I want to be from where I am now. I figured my parents were no financial genius', but they must have learned a few things in their 64 years and they have retired quite wealthy. It seemed a good place to start.

I can not believe that my parents and I never "really" talked about money before. The only thing I was told was "cash was king" and to never borrow money. My parents were very frugal with their money, and I was always told to work for things and save, save, save. My mother had taken responsibility for educating herself financially because she was never taught about investing or financial planning by my grandparents. But here I was 35 and felt like I was uneducated and blamed the education system in part for my ignorance. How could I know calculus and not know how to do my own taxes.

It is inconceivable that our government has not altered the school curriculum to include a basic family finance course. All high school graduates should know how to fill out an income tax form properly. They should know how to select their mortgage, how to finance their child's education, and how to save and plan for retirement. We now live in a society that demands instant gratification, which is part of the problem.

I am not sure that politicians understand the tremendous benefits the economy would enjoy if the average family knew how to handle their money properly. Most North Americans are financially illiterate. There is no excuse for our possessing the little financial knowledge we do. When a university educated person like me is embarrassed by an elementary financial test, something is wrong.

So I embarked on a journey of discovery. Most financial books concentrate on investment alternatives, not on mundane topics such as saving, buying a house, and insurance - the common person's concerns. They all showed you what to do with money once you had it, but they did not tell you how to accumulate it. I was assured that a 7 year university career and full time permanent job with benefits was the way to go and to save a percentage of my earnings for RRSP's. But ....

The best advice that I ever received was "if you want to learn to do something right, watch someone who does it successfully. economic difficulties are many facing. Those who educate themselves are the ones who will retire sooner than later and will have achieved their financial goals.

Broadening Business Horizons

Journey from offices to home pc

With e-commerce on the rise, forthcoming e-business trends are changing each day. New heights are achieved day by day. From bringing people from different locales closer, shortening the horizon into the palm of your hand, to doing each transaction online, E-frontier is making every business virtual multinational. Companies are restructuring themselves, implementing strategies like ERP, emphasizing customer relationship management (CRM) to keep up with today's pace of technological advancement and competiting to get an edge over the other.

Unlimited access to varying societies is a major help that is being easily provided reliably and fast. Possible sufficient business presence in another jurisdiction is made available. IT professionals, designers, writers, owners of virtual companies work from home (telecommute) .online banking is providing a major break. Credit card users shop across the world in just a few minutes through online catalogs and the fast delivery adds more shine to it. . reservations is made online. E-mail and live chat has always been a hot favorite of younger generation. E-commerce virtual bonds ties with its customers wherever they are.

The number on computer users is increasing; still the attitude of people toward e-business is highly volatile. A certain group is going crazy over internet, other are related to even use it. It is best easier said than done to strap up the true potential of CRM strategies in a country like Pakistan. The vast mass of consumers are unable to read or write, have little or no computer knowledge and struggle daily to earn a living. Despite all the advances in communication and technology, society at large only experiences the benefits of these innovations in a trickle down effect once they have been widely adopted by those that recognize and make use of the potential of new technologies. As a result CRM is targeted towards the well off upper class customers .these represent only 15 percent approx of the population.

For CRM to prosper in Pakistan, companies need careful time, money and effort to train staff and promote a culture based on customer service excellence (CSE). answers they need, an effective and detailed FAQ's section is the answer. It will be fast and can also relieve front line staff from answering routine questions and concentrate on more strategic and productive issues. More user friendly menus and captions are also productive. Emphasis on privacy and data protection is necessary as cyber crime is the rise. And a feed back system from the customers to enhance the e-frontier in future is of high importance.

Designing an e-support system that conforms to the lifestyles and preferences of affluent customers is imperative. Properly managed, CRM strategies such as e-support will go a long way in allowing customers to optimize use of e-frontier. After all, catering to a customer's interests and sensibilities is a sure fire way to succeed in E-business.

Why Game Developers Are Switching Over To XNA Game Studio Express

Microsoft has given students and hobbyists and entry point into the world of game development with XNA Game Studio Express. This program, coupled with the language C #, has enabled such developers to create PC and Xbox games on the fly-- eliminating the need for large teams or extended development times.

Presently, there are around 10 million subscribers to Xbox Live. If a hobbyist or student does indeed gain access to these 10 million subscribers, it could be the big break that they are looking for to gain entry into the game development community. Game development companies are scouring the entries for possible employees-- not to mention that Microsoft has been approving some games for commercial sales.

Microsoft has allowed game developers to access Xbox Live Arcade as a medium for indirectly selling games. This allows Microsoft's gaming division to receive hundreds of new online games for Xbox users, and also allows game developers to get their name heard around the world. But Microsoft does not offer an easy means of selling homebrew games. Instead, developers must obtain approval through Microsoft so as to not violate the terms of use for XNA Game Studio Express.

For a select few, Microsoft has even given large cash prizes and bonuses out. In the "Dream Build Play" competition, five developers will win the prizes of a lifetime: internships and free money! Winners also received a year's worth of subscription to the Xbox Live service that enabled them to create games in the first place. The "Dream Build Play" competition was the kickoff to a large celebration by Xbox Live fans-- who can enjoy an onslaught of new games every day thanks to the decision by Microsoft.

But just as things could not get more exciting- Microsoft offers a democratic solution to weeding out the bad games from the good. This feature, aptly named "Peer Review," allows Xbox Live gamers to vote and flag games as they see fit. The best games will rise to the top of XNA stardom, while the rest will be left out in the dark abyss of games that could not make it. This allows for games to be judged based on their overall playability and user response - and not judged by an executive in a pristine suit.

There is a hugely positive response from both Xbox Live Arcade players and Xbox developers. As icing on the cake, the complete package of XNA Game Studio Express is completely free to developers: you can make the next killer game for absolutely no cost at all!

With every passing day, we can only imagine the number of innovative and creative games that will come out for Xbox Live users in the near future. Since the XNA Game Studio Express package has very few limits in terms of graphics, performance, and stability; there have already been commercial-quality games that have made their debut in the short time span this global reach was introduced.

If you've ever been interested in game design, it's time to strike while the iron is hot-- and get those games created while there is still a large uproar in the community for new releases.