72.

Create Your Very Own Dog and Pony Show

As you explore your niche, you'll want to create a presentation that explains your point of view—your very own dog and pony show. For me, it was—and is—that the way in which career training is delivered in higher education needs to be revolutionized. I am an evangelist for this, and I've traveled all over the country spreading the word. What issue have you found in your field that needs to be addressed, changed, or overhauled? What do you believe in so much that you are willing to talk to anyone who will listen?

As you know, we're a visually oriented society, so your dog and pony show will probably need to include some sort of PowerPoint presentation. I have a lot of experience with PowerPoint, so here's a bit of advice: Your presentation needs to be clean (not cluttered) with interesting visuals and a minimal amount of text that's large and easy to read. Begin with the story. What's your narrative? Consider your visual presentation as a series of headlines that complement what you're saying.

I've shown some version of my PowerPoint presentation probably 400 times to audiences ranging from a single student, client, or colleague to hundreds of people in an auditorium. I never get tired of it in part because I update it on a regular basis, but mainly because I truly believe that what I'm talking about has value to my viewers and listeners and that they need—and deserve—to hear it. The same goes for you. Your ideas will help you move your industry forward. They're also what will help you build a name for yourself and be perceived as an expert in your field.