Goose: [goos] Maverick’s foil and loyal sidekick in the 1986 film Top Gun; more generally, an invaluable aid or assistant.
There are wingmen, and then there are Geese: not everyone on stage with you is a Goose. A presenter’s Goose is like MacGyver, using hotel paper pads, paper clips, a crystal tumbler, and a match to replace a burnt out projector bulb. If your throat constricts because of a rare jungle virus, Goose knows your lines—and CPR—by heart. Goose knows your spouse’s birthday, and sends a thoughtful gift when you forget. Goose knows how to translate analogies and metaphors across cultures and languages. Goose, to put it simply, is perfect: Maverick never spiked a volleyball without Goose to set him up.
Beware of Goose phonies: they may refill your water glass, but only after your throat is parched and the microphone has begun to pick up the unholy sounds of cottonmouth. They help when you’re down with the jungle virus, but mention the symptoms on stage. They remember your birthday, but forget your spouse’s. When you’re giving the big presentation, these are the oversights that can kill you.
A Goose is a noble and loyal assistant. Finding a Goose is hard, so Goose retention is important. Studies have shown that secret handshakes, jukebox duets, and money are all effective ways of keeping a Goose on board.
The Takeaway: The bigger the presentations, the more you need a Goose. Find a reliable, intuitive wingman that can do it all. A Goose can take loads of pressure off your shoulders, enabling you to focus on the most important thing of all: a killer presentation.
