My Favorite Presentation by Zig Ziglar on Creators.com

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My Favorite Presentation

On Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000, I had a lengthy radio interview with Jack McClendon from Carlsbad, Calif. Jack asked me a question that, interestingly enough, has never been asked of me before: "What is your favorite presentation?"

I pondered that for a few seconds and then said, "To be candid, Jack, for years I have said to my Born To Win audiences (which is our three-day seminar that is held in Dallas) that I felt the presentation I was about to make was my favorite one. Then I would say, 'I would tell you the same thing for the second one and the same thing for the third one.'" But I had never really thought about why that was true until Jack asked the question. Here's what I said in response to his question:

My next presentation is going to be my favorite one, and for the first time, I understand why I believe that is true. Before I make any presentation, I always spend between three and five hours preparing for that specific presentation, regardless of how long or short it is going to be. This is true even if I've made that presentation several hundred times. The reason I do this is first, it gives me time to rethink the presentation. In most cases, I rewrite a reasonably high percentage of my notes, and in this process, I frequently come up with a thought, procedure, idea or principle that has not occurred to me before. Invariably, this gets me excited about the new idea and the talk I am preparing to make.

In the process of thinking it through, I am also reminded of illustrations I have used at other times and other places under certain circumstances that would be a perfect fit in this city for this particular group or for this company and their diverse organization. In addition to that, since I am a prolific reader and save ideas, human interest stories, examples, principles, etc., like a pack rat, I will frequently draw on these materials and insert a human interest story, one-liner, joke or principle that seems to fit this particular occasion quite well.

Invariably, almost every time I do this, someone will come to the book signing tables, which I generally have after any presentation, and make the comment, "I've read all your books and listened to all your tapes, but today you were using some new material and I really liked it.

I'm glad you used some of the old examples, but it's exciting to know that you're always searching for and implementing new ideas and material." And frequently they will say, "You know, I believe you're more excited than I've ever seen you — and you've always been excited!"

I believe when people continue to do their best, regardless of their profession, their excitement about what they do and how they do it continues to grow. And I believe, because I have personally experienced it myself, that they are rewarded for their efforts!

When you put all of these factors together, it really boils down to the fact that I speak with a considerable amount of confidence because before I verbalize, write or record anything, I have validated it psychologically, theologically and physiologically. So, I speak with confidence — not because of what comes from me, but because of what comes through me.

It would be arrogance, however, if I thought I could just stand up and spit it out again. Generally speaking, that's when disaster strikes. Most people respect and enjoy a friendly confidence coming from the speaker or writer, but they resent arrogance, as if you've got all the answers and you are speaking or talking "down" to them.

Years ago I heard someone say, "You can tell the quality of a person's thinking not by what he says, but by the questions he asks." You were very helpful, Jack McClendon. Thank you for asking that question.

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.