In the new hit film, Angels and Demons, the Vatican, the CERN particle collider, a vial of anti-matter and the New York Times bestseller list all collide in a mysterious tangle of conspiracy, murder, secrets, lies and official corruption. Will the particle collider reveal “The God Particle”? Will the Vatican by overthrown from within by the all-powerful Illuminati? Will The Path of Illumination reveal a centuries-old secret or merely another dead end for fools who wander where angels fear to tread? If you are a Dan Brown fan, you know there is only one man who can answer all of these questions.
Robert Langdon first came to fame as the professor of religious symbols and icons who lead readers around the world through the controversial money-maker that was The Da Vinci Code. Now, The Da Vinci Code’s lesser-known prequel – Angels and Demons – has brought the good professor back into the spotlight, creating new controversies between readers, religious pundits and scientists, all claiming their own little piece of “truth” as presented by the good Doctor Langdon.
For us at SlideMagnet, these books and films are great fun, but the deep knowledge they hold isn’t revealed easily to the casual reader. In addition, most religious pundits and scientific spokespeople lack the broad understanding to grasp the subtlety of Langdon’s true mission.
You see, Langdon isn’t really talking about mystical riddles or uncovering the supernatural origins of scientific phenomenon. Two bestsellers and a couple of blockbuster films later and very few people understand the darker purpose of Langdon’s investigations.
Langdon is really interested in presentations.
Look the Part
Although there is not a whole lot of information about Mr. Langdon in Dan Brown’s books, when we take our lead from the good professor, we can do a little sleuthing of our own. One thing we know, Langdon is a sharp looker. He is described at one point as “Harrison Ford in Harris tweed,” and we know that he’s got a nice physique from his years as a diver and water polo player in school. When you do your presentations, people are going to judge you by how you look. Is your hair styled well? Are you fit and energetic? Are your clothes stylish, clean and neat? Do you look like Harrison Ford or more like a horse hit by a Ford?
Overcome Your Fears
For all of his expertise and stylish good looks, Robert Langdon is not without his faults. In fact, his claustrophobia is a downright liability given the tight spots he and his female companions find themselves in. What are your fears when it comes to presenting? Remember, you don’t have to be perfect. It’s OK to feel nervous and anxious about presenting, but follow Langdon’s example and follow-through despite your misgivings.
A Good Example
The character of Robert Langdon is named after John Langdon, a real-life professor of typography at Drexel University. The real Langdon is known for creating complex word puzzles and his expertise with codes finds its way into Brown’s character. When it comes to improving our presentations, one of the best things we can do is mirror the example of someone we look up to and respect. Do you have a PowerPoint presentation mentor you can actually work with and learn from? Don’t just admire your heroes from afar, make a connection and expand your horizons!
The next time you find yourself in the midst of a deep mystery regarding your presentation, take some tips from Robert Langdon and discover the answers that are hidden in plain sight!
