The letter below is from Aaron Gresham, Associate Creative Director of o2ideas, a large advertising & marketing firm with national and international clients. We did an In-house workshop, The ART of making powerful effective presentations, for this company on August 1, 2008.

Aaron’s letter describes a real world application of the skills we teach. Not only did our workshop give him the techniques and confidence to succeed in a very challenging situation, his ability to make presentations that work are now permanent!  We are proud to know he will be a confident and effective speaker and presenter for the rest of his life.

From: Aaron Gresham
To: Davis Executive Training
Date: August 12, 2008
Subject: Aaron Gresham’s Toys R Us Story

Hey Nancy and Moe,

The Monday after the Friday workshop we did with Davis Executive Training, I was informed that Mark Ervin (our creative director) was too sick to fly to Newark, NJ and give a presentation at Toys R Us Headquarters.

So at 10 am, I am booked on a flight to Newark-(5:00 PM flight-lands at 9:30 PM).

This is important for 2 reasons: one – I have never seen the presentation I am giving and two – I am giving that presentation the next morning at the clients once a year, national meeting. So I have a hard copy of the 40 page deck I will be presenting, and a stomach full of nerves with me on the plane. (Note: Moe had asked the group if we were nervous before we did presentations–I can say for the most part no — but in this case- a definite YES). By the time I landed and got into my hotel, it was around 11:30 PM. So I spent the night practicing the presentation in the mirror and I used the lamps and chairs in the room for eye control. I was remembering all the things we had practiced, and I even envisioned myself on the videotapes, and adjusted the way I was presenting. So the next morning we show up to Toys R Us and as I get there they tell me I will be presenting to an auditorium of over 150 people (not what I was expecting). They wired me for sound and I sat through the presenter before me, who was very good by the way. Then it was my turn. As I began, I started in my neutral position and chose to present from the floor instead of the stage. I talked loud, maintained a lot of energy, used eye control (people were nodding in agreement) and I began walking slowly to each side of the room picking different people as I moved. By the time I was done the people in the audience seemed energized. I concluded the presentation asked for questions and got nothing but softball pitches, then, resounding applause.

I must say the workshop we did with Davis Executive Training has already improved my presentation skills tenfold. It has given me the presence and confidence necessary to hold an audience.

I now look forward to presenting, because I have the tools necessary to do it well.

Aaron Gresham

Associate Creative Directoro2 ideas

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