PowerPoint – A Visual Storytelling tool
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1987 – Do you remember anything great about this year? You may or may not! To me, this was the year which changed the way people made presentations! Till then, creating a presentation was a combination of art and science (it is still the same, but the users have forgotten it). Mary Eleanor Spear, author of Practical Charting Techniques (1969) shares with us how presentations were created. You had three major players – the Communicator (the one who will deliver the presentation), the Graphic Analyst (who decided on the type of visual to use – charts, photos, layout etc) and the Draftsman (who focused on the materials, content, format etc). So a final presentation was a product, put together by these expert individuals and their teams.
But in 1987, all this changed – one bit at a time! Robert Gaskins launched the product called PowerPoint and Apple helped by venturing capital to this unique product. So Apple Mac got the first PowerPoint application. Now the big boss was watching and very soon, Microsoft acquired the product and Robert Gaskins began to spearhead the growth of PowerPoint in Microsoft.
I know it is all pretty exciting to hear that one can create presentations so easily! You had the layout, the visual designs, the chart types, the clipart, and of yeah, the never ending bullet points – yes, Microsoft created templates for its revolutionary product but the result was disaster to the audience!
Suddenly, people found that their boss can create presentations on his own (or with his secretary’s help); they had the same tool used by even the top communicators; they were now at par in putting together presentations – isn’t that good? Yes and No. For suddenly the whole corporate world and every institution that embraced technology (read ‘windows’) began to output a phenomenon called ‘death-by-PowerPoint’. The no-option available audiences sat through, or died through dull, boring, read-aloud, bullet-after-bullet, non-impacting-clipart pasted stuff that filled a big white screen – sometimes to the extent that lights were switched off, so the audience can see this sleep-inducing stuff titled “Presentation’. The only good thing was audiences could catch some shut-eye! But even that was not to be, as questions were asked at the end and the sleepy nod, was most-often, mistaken for understanding. So much for PowerPoint, that some people began to call this evil!
The fact is PowerPoint failed to address a simple truth – that it is a supporting tool which is meant to show slides which connect, impact and tell a story. That is exactly what Presentations were! A visual storytelling experience which connected with the audience and led them by visual imagery and imagination to understand the message of the presenter (Spelled ‘Communicator’)
I am not here to blame anybody, because even today, PowerPoint calls its projected slides as a slide-show. And that is exactly what it is – a slide show; (Remember the 35mm slide projector which presented movies) one that tells a story; one that connects you to the story through meaningful visuals; one that takes you one slide at a time on a journey of understanding the message of the presenter.
Thankfully through the work of some design people, we have found the freedom from this wrong usage of PowerPoint. Credits must be given to all those who understood that PowerPoint is a visual storytelling tool.
What about you?
Are you still sitting through the ‘death-by-PowerPoint’ in your meetings or trainings?
Are you still using PowerPoint to make dull, bulleted stuff that hinders understanding?
Then, welcome to the art of Visual Storytelling. The real reason why PowerPoint was created!
If you want to learn how to tell a Visual Story which impacts meetings, sales, trainings, keynotes, launches, tech-stuff or just want to know more, do get in touch with us: ashley@storypreso.com
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I recollect this morning, as I woke up, and finished my prayers – so many thoughts came in, thoughts that led me on a journey far, far away. Thoughts that caused me to question, caused me to ponder, caused me to wonder and even as I went through this period of mind-shake, not once, no not once, did I even remember the God who is in total control. Did I forget him? Portrayal tells me say a No! But the conscience pricks and the answer clicks – I was too busy for him.
It is in this moment of acceptance, that this verse shown more the brighter. Turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Three verses, one sentence. Three stories, one message. Christ Jesus.
“Jesus was not a theologian; He was God who told stories.” - Madeleine L’Engle
Thomas was an ordinary man – simple, cheerful with always a humorous note in his voice. He considered each day a gift and he chose to tell everyone about it. His contagious joy, his unstoppable laughter, filled the heart of even the saddest with gladness. But behind his back, as he passed by, the very ones, who had laughed with him, would look and look, until he was out of earshot and then they would sigh. It was not a sigh of boredom, no definitely not a sigh of relief, but a sigh of sadness. For Thomas was a cancer patient, daily enduring endless chemo and painful therapies. With days numbered and the end somewhere in the pages of the calendar, people really wondered, where he got the strength to be joyful. Soon the fears and predictions merged at the point. Thomas was rushed into the ICU and his last mumbled words to the audience of doctors, nurses, caregivers, patients, and passer-bys were these, “Smile, God is holding my hand”
Be Joyful always.
Joyce was a little orphan, abandoned in the epidemics of Africa. Taken in by an orphanage, she began to copy some of the behaviors of the sisters of charity. One among them being – prayer! One September, as she was six years old, the sisters as was their custom, decided to ask the children what they wanted for Christmas. Each child expressed a simple wish which said, “What gift they wanted and why they wanted it” and then Joyce said that she wanted a Barbie doll, like the one she had when she had a home and parents! The sisters knew this was not possible, for that doll was a really costly one. Nevertheless the many requests were neatly printed on paper, along with a photo of the child and sent to the few donors. Time passed, Christmas came. Packets came from many a place but nothing came for Joyce. The sisters saddened, could keep on asking her, if she wanted anything else. The only answer Joyce, could give was this, “I have asked Jesus for this gift and He will give me and I am asking him everyday”. The sisters would then silently walk away, knowing how impossible this was. Christmas came, the day dawned. Everyone went to church and everyone got their new gifts, everyone except Joyce. As the day began to close and night settled in, the sisters had only tears for Joyce and yet they say her pray. It was about 7.30pm, right before dinner, that a knock reverberated the walls of the simple orphanage. Outside stood a man and his wife. They had come, come for the little girl who wanted the Barbie doll – but they had come to not only give her a Barbie doll but also a home, a home where she can once again have a father, a mother.
Pray continually. Another story, Same message – Christ.
Rahul began a regular day. His prayer for the day, was unique, “Lord, help me to give thanks to you”. As he walked out his home, a car splashed mud on his dress. With a curse and a grudge, he redressed and cautiously went to his work place. Going to grab his favorite mug of coffee, he learnt that the machine was not working. Angry and upset he hurried over his work. As he stepped out for lunch, his boss called him for a rapid-fire meeting. Having lost the lunch hour and grabbing a sandwich he grumbled on. Finally having created the needed document which would win him laurels, he pressed the print button – only to get a blue screen – his computer had crashed and so was his work. I stop, for I don’t want to record the feelings or words here…Another day you may say! Heads down, shoulders crunched, he shuffled back to his home. At the very junction where the muddy water was, he saw a man without legs, dragging himself joyfully through the muddy waters and on reaching the other side, take hold of the hand of a woman who seemed out of her senses. With real curiosity Rahul stopped and enquired of the legless man, who vocation was ‘doing road-shows’ on the streets to earn some money, so he can take care of his lovely, mentally-disoriented wife. With a smile, he mentioned he had collected Rs.30 (less than 1SGD$) today, enough to buy them both some good food. Finally with a smile the man moved on the sidewalk, holding his precious wife safely in his hands. Rahul remembered his morning prayer, “Lord, help me to give thanks to you today”
Give thanks in all circumstances
Three stories, One message. Jesus Christ.
I don’t know what all you do each day, but I am sure, you all brush your teeth, wash your face and comb your hair. Here’s my request to you, when you brush your teeth – remember to be joyful always, when you wash your face, remember to pray continually, and when you comb your hair, remember to give thanks in all circumstances.
Is it really possible, you may wonder? How can I accomplish not one, but three nearly impossible changes?
One man did. His name was Jesus. Many are following him; Young and old; Privileged and poor; Businessmen and Paupers; Healthy and sick – Will you follow this Jesus? This god who gave up everything for you?
Ruth & Tory
Today, I was sharing with my 3yr old son the story of ‘Ruth & Tory’. He seemed pretty excited about it. (Well that’s also because I narrated it in a pretty animated way!) So I thought let me share it with you too.
Here goes…
A long time ago, two sisters – Ruth and Tory came to stay near a village. They erected a small cottage and began to stay there. One fine day, they decided to have a competition between themselves. It was simple – ‘who did the villagers like the most’.
First, Ruth went to the village, dressed in her simple clothes. She really was very pretty! But the old man who saw her, decided to walk away; the little children playing and fighting ran away; the women gossiping while working fled back to their homes. Ruth was really disappointed and so she began to do what she was very good at. She began to sing and dance. It was such a beautiful song-dance. (You should have been there) But to her shock, everyone began to close their windows and doors. Finally with barely a soul outside, she walked back to her home, very disappointed and completely puzzled.
Next, it was Tory’s turn. She stepped out in all her splendor. Her gorgeous dress and tastefully done make-up heightened her beauty. She walked into the village with a song on her lips and a gaiety bounce. The old man smiled at her; the children all crowded around her; the women came rushing to her. Soon the whole village – right from the poorest to the rich headman were around her; listening and enjoying all she has to stay. Time passed by and finally by evening, Tory excused herself and returned home.
Back at her place, Tory shared the joy, while Ruth expressed her sadness. Then Tory suggested a method.
The next day, Ruth dressed in the clothes of Tory and accompanied by Tory walked into the village. The people initially hesitated, but soon began to crowd around. First Tory spoke, then Ruth and soon it became a daily habit for a few hours.
They say that village prospered the most in that period of time.
Of course, you must have guessed by now, that Tory is none other than STORY and Ruth is Truth. When Truth went around alone, people shied away and shut themselves up. When Story came, they gathered around to listen and see. Finally when Story and Truth came together, the people listened and gained wisdom and prospered.
So the next time, you want to tell that Truth, remember no-one likes the naked truth! Clothe it with Story and you will soon be a blessing to many people.
If you have a truth to share – What’s your story?