Welcome to PresentYourStory.com

For a few years now, I have been writing a subscription-only newsletter on better presentation techniques called “Present Your Story.“

If you’re not a subscriber and are wondering what I’m talking about, then you’re probably getting this email because we’re friends or we’ve talked presentation in the past and I think you might like the newsletter. (In any case, sign up here!)

I never wanted it to be, nor has it been, simply a newsletter on PowerPoint or creating better slides. “Presentation” casts a much wider net these days in the worlds of business, government, education and media to name just a few arenas. Today, we communicate through visuals more and more, and “presentation” has simply become the method by which many of us do our most important communicating:

It was a presentation by Colin Powell at the UN that convinced many to support the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Al Gore’s presentation on global warming brought attention to the issue like little before had. Today’s most influential consumer electronic and computer equipment is introduced in much anticipated presentations by Apple CEO, Steve Jobs. And the TED Conference has succeeded famously in creating forums that bring to the public’s attention through presentation the world’s greatest thought leaders and influencers. (I even had the pleasure of designing a Ted Talk last year.)

It’s Personal

At it’s heart, “Presentation” has always been for me about simply telling stories, something I’ve been doing since I was a kid.

I was actually a professional magician, juggler and circus performer throughout my teens, even performing with the Moscow Circus in the former Soviet Union when I was 14. I got a degree in dramatic writing and theatre, and then spent the next decade writing and directing stories on stages in New York and across the country. And then I found myself creating high-end business presentations for media companies, major television networks, leading foundations and Fortune 500 CEOs.

Today I make my living helping people tell their stories better visually and through presentation. As Director of Presentation for the Public Relations firm, Edelman in New York City, I’m proud to work for one of the most successful and recognized communicators in the business world. 

PresentYourStory.com

Present Your Story no longer lives only in your email inbox. Welcome to PresentYourStory.com, a place for strategies, tips and advice on presenting information on screen. Every newsletter has been archived to the website which is searchable. If you’ve enjoyed the newsletters, you’ll enjoy the site which will have a lot more original content, resources and links about the world of presentation and information design and visual communications.

“So, if there’s a website, should I still subscribe to the newsletter?”

Yes!

I will continue to send out the newsletter with what I consider the most useful information and tips. All newsletter content will also be posted to the site, but as a subscriber, you’ll get it first and delivered right to your inbox. Additionally, I hope to be able to make some special offers and invites available only to subscribers. I know it’s hard to regularly check in with a website, so I encourage you to stay subscribed and, as always, to tell you friends. 

Also, you can visit me on Facebook and on Twitter. I’ll be posting some slightly different and more frequent content here. (Of course, there’s also an RSS feed.)

Any Questions?

If you’ve got any questions about anything, including topics you’d like me write about (“What is this thing called ‘Prezi’ I keep hearing about?”), general frustrations (“How do I convince my client to use fewer words…?”) or technical questions (“How do I animate this in PowerPoint…?”), please email me at nolan@presentyourstory.com. I’ll be more than happy to help in any way I can.

Here’s to better presentation!