How to Use This Book and Put Your Good Intentions to Work

One Sunday as President Lincoln was leaving church, he was approached by an aide who asked him if he enjoyed the sermon. "It was well crafted and delivered." he replied.

His aide pursued the matter, asking, "So you liked the sermon?" Irritated, Lincoln replied, "No son, I did not!" "It was well crafted and delivered, but the preacher failed in one thing. He didn't challenge us to do anything great with what he shared—in that he failed."^[13]

Just like the preacher in this story, we will have failed unless we challenge you to do something specific and concrete with what you learn. Therefore, at appropriate points in this book, you will be given exercises that are designed to make sure your good intentions are translated into concrete action steps, starting with the Presentation Skills Survey that follows. The survey was designed to help you think about yourself as a presenter.

^[13]Swindoll, Charles, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart. Word Publishing, 1998.