Sometimes we all feel like a losers. Whether you are the new kid in school, the new girl on the job, the single person at the movie or single person at the wedding, we all feel out of place and overwhelmed from time to time.
In the classic film Karate Kid, Daniel moves to a new community in California that seems to be a world away from his rough-around-the-edges, East Coast childhood. No sooner does Daniel fall for the class babe than he is confronted by a group of teen thugs who specialize in bullying – Karate-style. Daniel realizes he’ll have to beat the bullies at their own game if he’s going to rescue his self-esteem – and get the girl!
When it comes to presentations, we are rarely faced with getting kicked in the face – thankfully – but it’s not uncommon to feel lost, clueless and threatened by everything we don’t know about presenting like a pro.
Everyone needs a Mr. Miyagi!
In the movie, Daniel befriends a gruff old guy who teaches him the finer points of fighting – and growing up – in profound and peculiar ways. What if you had a public-speaking sensei of your own? What kind of advice could Mr. Miyagi give you on your next presentation?
Wax On/Wax Off
In the movie, Mr. Miyagi assigns a Daniel a number of seemingly-meaningless tasks – washing his car, sanding his deck – in lieu of “teaching him karate.” When Daniel gets fed up and complains, he soon discovers that “painting the fence” has already conditioned his muscles and taught him two fundamental blocking movements. What are you already doing in your day-to-day life that you can bring to your presentation? Were you the Class Clown? Are you the Storyteller among your buddies? The talents you take for granted may be invaluable where your next pres’ is concerned!
Hearts and Minds
At one point – in the midst of Daniel’s horsing around, showing off his new skills – Miyagi has to set him straight. The teacher imparts to Daniel that Karate isn’t about his fists, it’s about his heart and his mind. When it comes to presentations, it’s easy to get caught up in all the bells and whistles on the technical side. Never forget that the best presenters are the ones who know their information and deliver their message with feeling and passion.
No Fear
Although Daniel’s adversaries live by a code of “No Mercy,” Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel a lesson that could be described as “No Fear.” Miyagi’s wisdom states that we will all get beat by our opponents from time to time, but we must never let our fear get the best of us before we try! Will your next presentation be a disaster? Maybe. Should you chicken out? Never!
