Being a small business owner means that I’m always busy with something. Right now, we’re approaching the end of the fourth quarter of 2018 and my bookkeeping brain is examining my end-of-year bottom line, deciding on whether or not I should make some purchases now rather than waiting until the first quarter of 2019.
Fortunately, my public speaking brain is always updating my list of must-have items that will help make any speaker’s life run smoother. Below, you’ll find my top 10 items. This list doesn’t have a specific order. As you read, please remember that I am NOT a techie. These are simply “best practices” items that will make your life as a speaker easier. Less stress is always better!
- A great computer: Mac or PC.
- Programs that will allow you to write, edit, and share your presentation.
- Adapters that will allow you to connect your computer to different technologies.
- A document preparation program such as Canva or Microsoft Publisher, or another program you can use to create quality handouts, flyers, etc.
- A digital voice recorder so you can record and listen to yourself when you’re practicing your presentation, and when you’re delivering your presentation.
- Tripods: It’s best to have two tripods. A tall one you can attach a decent video camera (or cell phone) to so you can video yourself both practicing and live; and a short one that will fit on a table/desktop.
- Timer app: This one has to be the simplest to accomplish because you can find a free app in less than a minute! But just because it’s free, that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. Being able to deliver your presentation on time is the mark of a professional.
- Flash drive: Always have your presentation backed up on a flash drive for those JIC times when your computer isn’t cooperating, or when your presentation has decided to disappear and you’re having trouble accessing the copy you emailed to yourself and the event planner.
- Slide advancer: Whether you’re working from a slide show or a PowerPoint presentation, having a clicker provides you with the freedom to move about the stage and interact with your audience, andadvance your presentation at the same time.
- Personal tool kit: This is the container that will hold items such as: pens, pencils, copies of your written introduction, business cards, brochures, water, paper, energy drink, mints, extra batteries, extra phone charger, mouse/mouse pad, extension cord, duct tape, and/or whatever else will have you feeling calmer just knowing it’s there.
- Something to take pictures with: Cameras work, but these days cell phones take great pictures too. The point is to remember to have one or the other on hand so someone can take photos of you while you’re speaking. Then you’ll have photos you can use in future advertising.
Hey . . . that was actually eleven items instead of ten. That’s okay, you deserve a little something extra at this time of year.
‘Til we speak again,
~ Beth