ABOUT ME
It all begins with a first step…
MY JOURNEY DOWN THE PATH OF TECHNOLOGY STARTED, I MEAN REALLY STARTED WHEN I GOT MY FIRST COMPUTER IN 1982, A COMMODORE 64. SURE, I HAD SEEN AND PLAYED WITH OTHER COMPUTERS AT SCHOOL AND FRIEND’S HOUSE — AN APPLE IIE HERE, AND A TRS-80 THERE; BUT THIS WAS DIFFERENT. THIS ONE WAS TO BE MINE. WITH ITS SINGLE SLEEK FORM, ALL IN ONE KEYBOARD AND MOTHERBOARD, THE 1541 EXTERNAL FLOPPY DRIVE, FIVE AND A QUARTER MIND YOU, AND A DOT MATRIX PRINTER, I WAS IN HEAVEN — AND IT WAS MINE, ALL MINE! THAT FIRST DAY I REMOVED IT FROM THE BOX AND SET IT UP ON MY DESK; CONNECTING IT TO THE RCA SWITCH BOX ATTACHED THAT TO THE ANTENNA PORT OF MY TV AND VOILA — I HAD A DESKTOP TERMINAL! I FEVERISHLY READ THE MANUAL AND BASIC 2.0 BOOK. ON THE NEXT DAY, I HAD SPRITES MOVING ACROSS THE SCREEN CHANGING COLORS. BY THE END OF THAT DAY, I HAD A SMALL REPLICA OF THE STAR TREK STARSHIP ENTERPRISE WARPING THRU MY SCREEN. (I DID SAY PROFESSIONAL GEEK — I WASN’T KIDDING!) DURING SCHOOL, ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS WHAT I COULD WITH THIS NEW COMPUTER. THAT SCHOOL WEEK BECAME A SLOW AGONIZING BLUR AS INFINITE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT I COULD ACCOMPLISH FLASHED THROUGH MY BRAIN. FINALLY, THE WEEKEND HAD COME, AND I KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO DO — I NEEDED AN UPGRADE!
IT HAD ALREADY BEEN A WEEK, AND I WAS ALREADY DISLIKING HAVING TO COVER A NOTCH ON ANY WRITE-PROTECTED FLOPPY EVERY TIME I WANT TO WRITE TO IT. TO ME, THAT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A PAIN TO DO AND INEFFICIENT. I KNOW, I WILL JUST OPEN UP MY EXTERNAL FIVE AND QUARTER DRIVE AND ADJUST IT SO THAT IT CAN READ AND WRITE WHATEVER DISK I PLACE IN IT. SO, I NEED TO DISABLE THIS FEATURE ON MY EXTERNAL DRIVE. SATURDAY MORNING, AFTER RAIDING MY DAD’S WORKBENCH FOR TOOLS, I SPREAD OUT A TOWEL ON MY BEDROOM FLOOR AND BEGAN OPENING UP MY 1541 EXTERNAL FLOPPY DRIVE UNIT. TWO HOURS LATER, I HAD A NICE BIG LAYOUT OF PARTS ON MY CLEAN TOWEL. AT THIS POINT MY MOM COMES INTO MY BEDROOM TO CHECK ON ME. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE SLIGHT HORRIFIC AND SURPRISED LOOK SHE HAD AS SHE TURNS TO SEE ME HUNCHED OVER THE GUTS OF MY EXTERNAL DRIVE. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” SHE ASKS. “MAKING IT BETTER,” I REPLY. “AS LONG AS IT STILL WORKS WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED,” SHE CALLS BACK AS SHE LEAVES MY ROOM AND CLOSES MY DOOR. FOUR HOURS LATER I HAVE MY 1541 EXTERNAL DRIVE PUT BACK TOGETHER AND SITTING ON MY DESK, SPINNING AWAY, WRITING TO A DISK WITH AN NOTCH STILL EXPOSED. WHEN MY MOM CAME BACK AND SAW THAT I HAD SUCCESSFULLY GOTTEN THE DRIVE NOT ONLY BACK TOGETHER BUT ALSO WORKING, IT WAS THEN AND THERE THAT SHE DECIDED THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY ENERGIES FOCUSED IN A MORE CONTROLLED AND ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT. SO BEGAN MY FIRST OF MANY COURSES IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, AND FIRST OF MANY STEPS DOWN THE PATH OF TECHNOLOGY.
the art of speaking
Public speaking, to me, is much more than a skill - it’s a genuine art form. It’s an arena I’m honored to participate in, grateful to be part of such a vibrant community. The mere fact that people entrust me with their most valuable asset - their time - to share my insights on a subject fills me with both awe and humility. Recognized as a credible source, I am aware of the weight of this responsibility and, rest assured, I don’t take it lightly.
In every speech I deliver, I aim to weave together five integral threads: Entertainment, Personalization, Passion, Education, and Connection. I firmly believe that a successful presentation, irrespective of the subject or audience, hinges on these crucial elements.
Allow me to explain...
EntertainMENT
It goes without saying, entertainment is key. We all know audiences can be unpredictable and require quick engagement. If not captivated swiftly, your talk could quickly devolve into an unintended siesta, instead of the energizing, ‘must-invite-again’ kind of session! And no, this doesn’t mean you should resort to juggling or magic tricks, unless that’s your forte! Instead, mastery over your subject matter, familiarity with your visual aids, and a polished delivery can often do the trick. Thorough planning and rehearsal for potential questions are also key. Above all, stay relaxed! But hey, if all else fails, some juggling skills or magic tricks up your sleeve may not be such a bad idea after all. ☺
the personal TOUCH
In public speaking, it’s crucial to establish a connection with both the content and the audience. By incorporating a touch of your personality into the speech, you can foster a sense of common ground and openness. I often infuse my talks with personal experiences, whether they directly relate to the topic or mirror the situation I’m discussing. This strategy not only humanizes me as a speaker, but it also brings the content to life. By infusing your talk with your own essence, you invite the audience to take part in a shared experience, rather than being mere spectators.
the passion
When it comes to presenting, passion reigns supreme. After all, if you’re not invested in your topic, why should your audience be? It’s the spark that kindles a connection between speaker and listener, showcasing your dedication, effort, and personal stake in the subject. Without it, you risk coming across as a disinterested salesperson hawking their wares. It’s crucial, however, not to mistake passion for expertise. One can be passionate about a topic without being an authority on it. I’ve delivered numerous talks where my enthusiasm and perspective took center stage over expert knowledge. Of course, if you are an expert on the topic, passion should already be your constant companion.
educatION AS AN OBJECTIVE
Second only to passion in my list of priorities is the aim to educate. No matter the existing knowledge level of my audience, my goal remains to foster learning and provoke insight. I aspire for each participant to leave with an ‘aha’ moment, or even better, a fresh perspective or deeper understanding of the topic at hand. In constructing the narrative for my talks, I weave in elements of novel ideology, innovative thinking, or alternative viewpoints, hoping these insights will stimulate learning and inspiration.
connectION
To me, this is the ultimate goal. It happens when I’ve successfully interwoven personal experiences and passion into my talk. It’s that moment when you and your audience are in perfect harmony, collectively experiencing the journey. This is the coveted ‘talk nirvana’ that all speakers aspire to, where everything from your slides to your improvised jokes perfectly ‘clicks.’ The audience hangs on your every word, immersed in the narrative. But while this is a powerful position, it’s also precarious. One misstep could be disastrous, so while you relish the moment, proceed with caution and humility.
My hope is that you’ve gained an insight into my perspective on the art of public speaking, and maybe you’ll find some of these ideas useful in your own speaking journey!
Client Reviews
“You CRUSHED it! ...We had a feedback session-workshop at the end of the day. People got into groups and talked about what they learned over the 2-day Summit, what they wanted to see next time, and ideas they were going to take back to work and actually implement. Several people shared that they were inspired by your talk... it was great to hear an executive discuss something they’re doing behind the scenes. Someone else commented that it was hard finding executives who ‘get it’.”
“I spoke with Kevin this morning and got a debrief on how amazing your presentation was at AX, and he and many others were very impressed with how you told the story.”
“Engaging, entrancing, and funny ... I even learned a thing or two.”
