Well, that is about it. Putting all I know into this book has been both rewarding and a bit disconcerting. That's because there are certain things, like technology, that change almost weekly while other things, like how we actually win over a room of people with sound communication skills and hustle, do not change at all. It is my hope that after reading this book, you are better equipped to understand the realities of nailing presentations and workshops and perhaps are in a better position to get up and do your job under fire. With this, the fourth edition of this book, it has now been a 25-year journey to keep you and it up-to-date.

The appeal of presenting and performing in front of audiences centers on the fact that few other careers offer as much excitement or allow for as much creativity. No two days are the same. Countless variables affect what goes on in the pit. As a professional presenter, you can die from the pressure or thrive under it. I have attempted to give you as many different forms of ammunition as possible.

Experiment! If one idea does not work, try another. To this day, I keep a pad of paper inside the lectern dedicated to nothing else but possible changes to the Presentation Skills programs I teach. As a result of changes in curriculum and delivery techniques, this course currently has seen a roughly 900 percent increase in participants from before I rewrote it. As they say, “If it ain't broke…fix it better!”

The possible frustration that often goes along with fixing it better is the reality that while you are trying to implement new ideas and processes, for some period of time, you probably will get worse. For example, take the UPPOPPR process. It is not easy to master immediately, yet anyone who watches it in action will swear by it. The real problem is not being convinced to use it but being convinced to stick with it through the conscious competent blues. The first time you attempt to use a number of the ideas I have laid out for you, you will probably be worse, not better.

Before you lose your temper and swear off the name of Rob Jolles, let me leave you with one last story that may help clear all this up. When I was about 13 years old, I was watching some new tennis prodigy named Jimmy Connors on television…Because I was left-handed, extremely competitive, and somewhat obnoxious, I decided that Jimmy Connors (who is also left-handed) was my new sports hero and was inspired to play the game myself. I went on a begging spree that ended with the purchase of a Wilson T-2000 just like my hero's. I would not say that many sports came naturally to me, but for some reason, tennis did. Without taking any lessons, I was immediately able to beat all of my friends who also got into tennis at about the same time. Later, when I went out for my high school tennis team, the coach asked me if I had ever taken any lessons. I proudly told him, “No.” He asked me to work with another teacher on my serve. What puzzled me was that my serve was fast and consistent. When I went to the other teacher, the first thing he did was twist the racquet in my hand to what amounted to a backhand grip. He went on to explain that although my serve was fast, it was too predictable. He wanted to teach me how to spin the ball and create what in tennis is known as a kick serve. It was extremely frustrating trying to hit the ball with one-tenth of the racquet, but I remember him patiently telling me not to worry where the ball was going, just to use the correct technique and the ball would eventually go right where I wanted it to go. Perhaps the toughest part of learning this serve was playing against my friends with it. I double-faulted constantly and lost to people I had never lost to in my life. I would constantly look down at my grip and dream about switching back. I could get the ball in that way, and it was fast. I also realized I could play tennis every day of my life and my serve would never improve. It took discipline, but I refused to change back to my old grip. Now serving is effortless. My serve is more accurate, better than it ever was in the past, and the more I practice, the better it gets.

What's the moral to that story? Using a number of the techniques that I have taught you will require you to leave your comfort zone, and most likely you will get a little worse before you get better. You will probably find yourself muttering under your breath reasons for going back to your old ways. I hope you don't change your grip back but instead pay the price for improvement.

Watch out for the unconscious incompetent spirits that prey on more tenured instructors. Keep pushing yourself to “fix it better,” and read those evaluations. Those are your customers speaking, and as with any other business, they ultimately will determine your success or failure.

There is no greater joy in writing than to hear from those who have read my words and listened to my stories. I would love to hear from you, so fill out the reply card or drop me an email at [email protected]. Good luck, and may these ideas as well as your energy and enthusiasm serve you when you go into the pit, and under fire!