RAC – Example, Example, Example…

Updated: Mar 5, 2022

Another presentation class I ran in Shanghai. Always love this class. The class size is small enough for me to give significant attention to each one. And because of the topic nature, I can see the training effect more easily than other topics e.g. some participants would demonstrate their learning in Day 2. It is fun.

As in other presentation classes, I always suggest learners to give a lot of examples. It is almost true to say that it will never be too many examples. And I do the same in the presentation class. I gave a lot of examples in how to do this and that tip or technique. And here an interesting example I gave – one participant presented a rather complicated idea called Optimization. There are 6 steps. I cannot remember all exactly but it somehow includes with ‘Setting Objective’, ‘Define Offer’, ‘Estimate Response’, ‘Track Progress’, ‘Refine Offer’, ‘Continuous Improvement’.

He explained it rather academically. In other words, no real live example. Whilst I was listening to his presentation, I was thinking that he needs to include some example. But how should I make this point? I demonstrated it. After the fellow experienced a presentation without example, I gave them one with example. I used ‘relationship’ as an example. I first arouse audience’s interest by asking them to raise hand for those who have not married. I said then getting your ideal girlfriend or boyfriend is like ‘Optimization’ …. somehow. I said, “For example, I would have my optimization plan as follows:

Objective Setting – My objective is to have a Shanghaiese girlfriend before I reach 30
Define Offer – I got to speak Shanghaiese
Estimate Response – Should be OK to get to know some within 3 months
Track Progress – I will review it every month (in fact every minutes if it is about relationship)
Refine Offer – After a few month, I probably have to change my offer. I got to have a mortgage-free apartment
Continuous Improvement – I got to do the above regularly

Course: A presentation class
Date: 26-27 Nov 2007
Location: Overcast days in Shanghai, China
# of Participants: 8
I am feeling: Good

说一下我在上海上的另一堂演讲课。我很喜欢这个班。由于规模不大，我能够给予每位学员较大的注意力。而且，由于这种培训的本质，我可以很容易地看出培训效果，比如，有的学员在第二天就能展示他们所学到的东西。这很有趣。

和在其它演讲培训班上一样，我总是鼓励学员举出大量例子。可以这么说，例子永远不嫌多。而且我自己在课上也是这样做，我通过举出大量例子来说明演讲技巧。在这里，让我举一个非常有趣的例子：一名学员陈述了一个相当复杂的概念——最优化(Optimization)。实现最优化有六步，我记不清准确的说法，但大致包括“设定目标”、“确定办法”、“估计反应”、“跟踪进展”、“改进办法”以及“持续改善”。

他用非常学术化的语言解释这个过程。换句话说，没有实际例子。在听他讲的时候，我在想，他需要举一些实例。但是我应该怎样说明这一点呢？我举例说明。在这个学员讲完后，我加入了一个实例进行说明。我用“谈恋爱”这件事做例子。首先，我问学员们谁没有结婚，通过这个问题使他们产生兴趣。然后，我说：“找到理想的男朋友或女朋友就好比实现最优化。比方说，我可以制定以下优化计划。”