Some are great, and have a powerful impact on their audiences.

有的很棒，也對他們的聽眾有很大的影響力

Others...well, let's just say their works are in progress.

而其他...讓我們就說他們正在進步中吧！

This is Powerful Presentations: Simply Stated.

這是一個強而有力的簡報：簡單地說。

Meet Jim, an aspiring professional trying to make it in the world.

來認識一下 Jim，一位有抱負的專業人員想要嘗試著達到目標。

Jim used to give presentations like just about everyone else he knew. PowerPoint was his tool of choice.

Jim 之前在做簡報的時候就像大家所知道的那樣。PowerPoint 是他的首選

He'd use it like an outline, with a header followed by bullet after bullet, and sometimes even sub-bullets!

他會寫上大綱，跟在主題後再接著一個個要點，有時甚至還有副標題！

When he wanted to be fancy, he'd add what usually turned out to be an ineffective chart or sometimes a table.

當他想要嘗試更花俏些，他便加入沒有效用的圖表或是表格

And when Jim wanted to really spice things up, he'd add... yep... clip art.

當 Jim 想要嘗試添加樂趣，他加了.... 美工圖案

Unfortunately, Jim's approach would often confuse and bore people.

不幸的是，Jim 的方法往往會讓人混淆，也使人們感到無聊

This was a problem because he had important things to say.

這便是個問題，因為他有重要的話想要說

And because it was dimming his prospects for success.

但他向成功的道路變得越來越昏暗了。

Fortunately, Jim learned a better way and didn't stay in the dark for long.

幸運的是，Jim 學到一個更好的方法，也不需要處在黑暗中了

Perhaps most importantly, he now focuses on the story he wants to tell.

也許重要的是，他將注意力集中在他所要說的故事

In doing so, he tries to follow a simple structure, with a clear beginning, middle, and end that links together his various points and builds to his conclusion.

一操作下來，他試圖遵循一個簡單的架構，有清楚的開場白，中間精彩部分，以及結尾要相呼應到他所提及的要點與結論。

When formulating his story, Jim uses a simple pad of paper or sticky notes.

在擬定故事的時候，Jim 使用了紙張以及便利貼。

Staying low tech at this stage helps him think more creatively and stay outside the box.

處在低技術的環境下，幫助他思考更有創意，提供更多的建議和新奇的想法。

He then considers what will help him best tell his story.

之後他思考什麼是幫助他說故事最棒的輔助工具

Jim sometimes opts to use a whiteboard, flip charts, handouts, or even no props at all.

有時候 Jim 選擇白板、掛紙白板、講義或是沒有任何輔助工具。

When it makes sense for him to use PowerPoint, he tries to remember the adage that sometimes "less is more."

適合用 PowerPoint時，他便會使用 PowerPoint，他試著記住「少即是多」這個諺語。

He doesn't dumb down his presentations, but he does try to limit each slide to one key idea.

他並沒有使他的簡報保持沉默，但是他也嘗試每張投影片限制一個關鍵概念

Or, depending on the content, he sometimes builds an idea incrementally so it's easy to follow.

或視內容情況而定，有時候他會逐步地建構一個想法，所以要理解是件很容易的事情。

He always looks for visual ways to tell his story, with supporting images, minimal text, and clear charts and graphs.

他試著尋找著可以以視覺感受的方法去陳述他的故事，以最少的文字、照片和圖表、示意圖。

Sometimes he uses quotes, but he tries to remember that people can't read his slides and truly listen at the same time.

有時候他會引用，但他知道聽眾們並不會一邊看簡報一邊認真聽演講

Jim still uses plenty of text to help him remember what he wants to say, but he hides it in his notes that only he sees.

Jim 還是持續大量使用文字以幫助他記住想要說的話，但是他將之隱藏在只有他能看的到備忘錄裡

Jim's new approach takes more time, energy, and rehearsal, but it's been well worth the effort.

Jim 的新方法雖然花上了比較多時間、經歷和練習，但是一切的努力都是值得的

His audiences are now much more engaged and better understand and remember his presentations.

現在他的聽眾更投入也更容易理解和記住他的簡報。

And, as if that weren't enough, this pocketbook doesn't mind either.

如果上述方法還不夠，用本小冊子當小抄也沒有什麼不好

This has been Powerful Presentations: Simply Stated.

這是一個強而有力的簡報：簡單地說