The document provides guidance on how to move beyond bullet points in presentations by incorporating storytelling techniques. It discusses how people respond more to emotional stories and recommends crafting a story with a protagonist, desire, obstacles, and conflict. A seven-step process is outlined for taming a story that includes researching the topic, identifying the listener and benefit, finding story ideas, and creating a dramatic outline with complications and resolutions. Examples are given of incorporating story elements like characters, desires, and turning points into a presentation on overcoming a fear of public speaking.

1. Claudio Perrone

2. How relevant are
presentations to
your career?

3. In late 2007, I was leading a
happy life

4. One day, my phone rang…

5. I was offered to speak at a BIG
conference

6. On the one hand,
it was a fantastic
opportunity

7. On the other
hand, public
speaking
scared me to death

8. Year: 1997
Location: C.E.R.N.

9. I trained 15 scientists for a week

10. They skinned me alive

11. I’ll never forget
that experience…

12. There was no way I was going face another
possible humiliation

13. Besides, I could brain-damage
people with PowerPoint

14. What would you do?

15. 1
Move Beyond
Bullet Points

16. In Feb 2008, I joined the revolution

17. “ Simplicity
is the ultimate
sophistication
--- Leonardo Da Vinci

18. Despite my efforts, my first
dry-run was a disaster

19. I had strong images, but lack of
structure confused the audience

20. At first, I created a “logical” outline
Main Point: Agility + Communication + Creativity lead to success
1. Supporting detail: Agility
2. Supporting detail: Communication
3. Supporting detail: Creativity
Summary: Agility + Communication + Creativity lead to success

21. Then, I discovered BBP!

22. Let’s “script” the first 5 slides

23. Let’s see how they “play”
Action!

24. The downturn threatens
the future
of many individuals and organizations

25. You are an
entrepreneur, meeting an
investor
for the first time

26. Investors can be so
H A R D
t o p e r s u a d e

27. You’d love them to invest in
your great idea

28. I suggest...
Move beyond bullet points
Unleash the Power of Story
Tame your story to persuade

29. …And Cut. Well done!
(you’ll add the cool pictures another time)

30. But wait…
What if Spielberg
showed up?

31. Dude,
you are telegraphing.
Your “story” has no
drama.

32. How about this?
telegraphing
vs.
dramatic irony
vs.
dramatic tension

33. 2
Unleash the
Power of Story

34. Enter a new world

35. Why Story?
People make choices based on
emotions
(and use data to justify them)

36. What’s a good story idea?
Someone [character]
wants something badly [desire]
and goes after it
against great odds [obstacles]

37. Story revolves around conflict
Antagonist
Protagonist vs.
Nature
Society
Self

38. Story has good structure
O u t e r j o u r n e y

39. Often, there is a character inner journey
WA=C
W: Weakness (psychological and moral)
A: Action (and struggle to accomplish it)
C: Changed Person

40. Let’s see the “highlights” of a past
presentation
Action!

41. Most IT projects fail
Will yours?

42. Once upon a time I was a successful
software developer…

43. My technical skills made me feel invincible

44. Until one day…

45. …I entered a world of deception

46. It was Hell from day 1

47. What would you do?

48. I choked

49. …but then, I decided to fight back

50. This is what I tried:
2 Effective
Communication
1 Agility
3 Deliberate
Creativity

51. 1
Agility

52. …but the project was still at risk

53. 2
Effective
Communication

54. 3
Deliberate
Creativity

55. So, what happened to the project?

56. Amazingly, it succeeded

57. Lessons learned...
“
“
We moved from the Flintstones era to the future.
I was part of something. I belonged.
--- a developer
--- an end user

58. …And Cut!

59. Agile Tales Walk-through (1/3)
Setup
Setting Setup Character Inciting
(+Hook) (ordinary world) flaw incident
(“naivety”)

60. Agile Tales Walk-through (2/3)
Development
Enter special Complication Dilemma Refusal of the call
world
Turning point Action / New Action /
(will he succeed?) Resolution complication Resolution

61. Agile Tales Walk-through (3/3)
Resolution
Dramatic Climax Aftermath Theme
question
(restated)

62. How do you craft
your own story?

63. 3
Tame
Your Story

64. I used to rewrite a story ~30 times

65. Not anymore

66. I use a 7-steps process

67. Step 1: Research (Create a Data Dump)

68. Step 2: Prepare
Subject
POV
Listeners
Action Benefit

69. Step 3: Fill and cluster content

70. Step 4: Identify Story Ideas

71. Reverse Benefits
(what, how) (why, WIIFY) (lead-to why)
Features Benefits Reversed Benefits E.g.: Candidate Scenario 1
Steel Nib Does not leak Leaks A poet struggles to leave her
Body Provides physical pleasure Inflicts physical torture mark on this earth. She writes
Cap Thoughts flow on paper Thoughts don’t flow on paper terrible poetry, her thoughts
Blue ink Can write beautiful poetry Writes terrible poetry don’t flow on paper, all the
... … … pens she tries are physical
torture for her hand.
Until one day…

72. Step 5: Create a dramatic outline
Complication: Claudio fears public speaking
Development:
1. Claudio moves beyond bullet points
2. Claudio unleashes stories
3. Claudio tames stories
Resolution: Claudio conquers fear

73. Step 5. Dramatic outline II (saga)
Major Complication: Claudio fears public speaking
Semi-Major Complication: Claudio kills with PowerPoint
Development 1,2,3
Interlinked Complication: Spielberg challenges Claudio
Semi-Major Resolution: Claudio moves Beyond Bullet Points
Semi-Major Complication: Spielberg challenges Claudio
Development 1,2,3
Interlinked Complication: Stories consume Claudio
Semi-Major Resolution: Claudio embraces stories
Semi-Major Complication: Stories consume Claudio
Development 1,2,3
Semi-Major Resolution: Claudio tames stories
Interlinked Complication: Claudio fears public speaking
Semi-Major Complication: Claudio fears public speaking (restated)
Development 1. Claudio pursues emotion
Development 2. Claudio welcomes obstacles (carpe diem)
Development 3. Claudio finds own voice
Major Resolution: Claudio conquers fear

74. Final Thoughts

75. “ Be yourself.
Everyone else is
already taken.
--- Oscar Wilde

76. Thank you!
Claudio Perrone
claudio@agilesensei.com
www.agilesensei.com
www.twitter.com/agilesensei