Motivational Speakers Know Their Stats
65% of all audience members appreciate statistics. 100% of people will show
their appreciation 50% of the time by evaluating 95% of your presentations at an
average 8.9 on a 1-10 scale. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) Seriously, effective use of
statistics really appeals to those “thinkers” in the audience. They want facts, figures, and
precision.
When you use statistics, be graphically dramatic and creative, and always give
your sources when it will lend credibility. Audience retention is augmented when you
accompany statistics with clear, uncomplicated visuals. Statistics have no meaning
without interpretation. When interpreted well, a few dramatic numbers can be
invaluable.
I won over an audience of information technologists by employing a statistical
comparison that I discovered on the Internet. I call it my “Jock vs. Nerd Stat Story.”
Here are the statistical innards of the story:
• Michael Jordan –the “semi-retired” Michael Jordan, that is –currently makes $40
million a year in endorsements.
• That translates into $178,000 per day.
• If he goes to see a movie, it’ll cost him $8.00, but he’ll make $18,550 while
watching it!
• If someone were to hand him his salary, dollar by dollar, they would have to
do so at the rate of $2.00 every second.
• This year, he’ll make more than twice as much as all past U.S. Presidents, for
all of their terms combined.
• Amazing!! However, if Jordan saves 100% of his income for the next 450
years, he’ll still have less than Bill Gates (the “nerd”) has today!
I know very little about what information technologists do for a living, but I do
know that in a “jock vs. nerd” survey, most of them would fall more into the “nerdish”
category. And when I ended that story with “Game over. Nerd wins!” something
interesting happened — hands shot up around the room!
One participant initiated her first comments since our class had started.
“I love Bill Gates. He is responsible for putting computers in schools throughout
our nation!”
Another member of the class commented, “I saw a TV special on Mr. Gates
once. He had dirt under his fingernails because he does his own gardening!”
As others eagerly shared, classmates responded with “ooh’s” and “aah’s.”
I smiled, as I had just learned the power of audience-specific statistics.
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