Prepare to present

- So you've been asked to give a presentation, great. … And you've nailed the basics, … you outlined your talk, … scripted it, edited your work, … built great slides, and have begun to practice. … However, to be really prepared, there's more homework to do. … You want to be in control, … not only of your material, … but the environment where you'll be speaking. … So let's think about a few things you can do … to ensure things go smoothly. … First, never assume that the audio-visual setup … at the venue will work properly. … If you're using slides, … make sure you have a backup in the cloud … you can get to quickly. … But what if the internet isn't accessible? … You need another copy on your laptop or a memory stick. … Or maybe their projector isn't working. … In that case, the old-school answer is to bring handouts … to make sure you give the audience what they need. … Next, research the audience an the event. … Specifically, you want to know … the main issues they currently face, … a project of note, …