No slides. Just talking. No problem.

We have a default to want to look at something when we present or do a talk. 

It gives us comfort… a kind of safety net if you like. 

I was invited as a guest speaker to talk to business owners over a coffee. 

The catch? No slides… just chat. Or a blether if you prefer in Scottish.

It lasted 30 minutes, and I wanted to avoid making them feel like they were being talked at for the whole time.

So instead, I treated it like a workshop session, where we shared ideas and stories and connected as a group.

In fairness, I did cover quite a bit, but I wanted to highlight some foundations of brand strategy and how it can help them grow.

We covered:

• What is a brand?
  
• Why is a brand essential?
  
• Why does your organisation exist beyond making money?
  
• What problem do you solve for your customers?
  
• How do you solve the problem compared to your top competitors?
  
• Are they different or unique enough in their category?
  
• What is the perception of their brand now, and how would they like it to be in the future?
  
• The power and role of a brand archetype.
  
• What words capture the essence of their brand?
  
• And how consistency can help with growth and revenue.

There is a lot there, but again, it’s about helping people see the value of a brand and how it can benefit them.

We did run over, but that’s a sign of a good debate.

The business leaders will hopefully feel empowered by knowing how a brand can help them grow.

If you plan on doing a talk, 80% of it is around the preparation, similar to a workshop. 
You’ll be amazed at how much time and effort you put into it… and how quickly it goes. 

Enjoy the process. 

Note to myself… take better pictures 😂