How to Give a Pretty Good Presentation: A Speaking Survival Guide for the Rest of Us

Introduction: How to Give a Pretty Good Publication

Shortly after my book TJ Walker's Secret to Foolproof Presentations went to number one on the USA Today bestseller list, I received a call from an editor. "Hey TJ, congrats on the book; but what about all the people who don't want to give a "Foolproof Presentation?"

What on earth did that mean? I responded, "What?"

She responded, "Well, your book talks about how to give a foolproof presentation; and it seems like all the books on speaking want to show readers how to get a standing ovation, give an exceptional presentation, or an insanely great presentation. What about the 99 percent of the world who don't want to be the next Tony Robbins? What about the people who either don't like giving presentations or fear public speaking and just want to get through the darn thing? What about all the people who just want to give a pretty good presentation, but not one that will set the world on fire? Don't they have a right to get what they want?"

And that's how this book was born.

If you want to become the next Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, or Winston Churchill, then this book is not for you (because there are already a gazillion books written for you). If there is nothing you would rather do than deliver a PowerPoint to 1,000 people, give a toast to a wedding party of 500, or do a live interview on CNN, then this book is not for you (although I understand where you're coming from, because you're just like me). This book is written ...