CHAPTER3The SevenDeadly Challenges

For we have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us …

—Joseph CampbellMythologist

In this chapter you will learn about seven presentation challenges that, if ignored, can run your presentation, and even your career, right into the ditch. Not knowing what these challenges are and how to handle them is like going into the jungle without a map, a compass, or a guide.

The situations we present here have brought even the best mid-level managers to their knees. Why? Because they weren’t prepared. For example, one of our clients went on a disastrous sales call with two unprepared colleagues:

We went to IBM with our senior executive and a technical guy. We were visiting the ...

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