Before the Mic: How to Compose Meaningful, Memorable, and Motivational Presentations

by Glenn Gibson

Compose amazing presentations that are meaningful, memorable, and motivational. To deliver truly captivating presentations, you do not need to be a born performer, a gifted artist, or a natural comedian. Before you think about working on any of these presentation skills, you need to learn how to write impactful presentations. It’s all about the work that needs to happen before the mic. Glenn Gibson—who has delivered thousands of presentations and trained hundreds of executives and sales professionals in public speaking—shares practical guidance, helpful templates, and easy-to-use tools in this engaging, must-read guide. He explains the 3 Ms of his “aMMMazing presentations” concept, showing you how to beMeaningful by narrowing down your content to the most impactful information;Memorable by applying techniques such as analogies, the rule of three, and mnemonics; Motivational by knowing how to finish with flair, on time, and stir your audience to action!Whether you are nervous or a natural in front of an audience, Before the Mic will help you add substance to your style. When delivering virtual presentations or keynotes to a packed room, this book will put you on a certain path to composing highly effective, captivating presentations.

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2021

About the author

Glenn Gibson is an award-winning presenter who has combined his love of public speaking and technology throughout his 20-year career, leading software training, product marketing, and technology evangelism teams. Born and raised in Scotland, Glenn now lives in Avon, Ohio, with his wife, two boys, and West Highland Terrier.

Reviews

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glenn Gibson leverages his years of presentation experience and teaches how to make an amazing presentation with Before the Mic! Gibson’s writing is fun and engaging, making this guide extremely easy to read. I enjoyed seeing the art of composing a presentation broken down into three easy to understand categories: Meaningful, Memorable, and Motivational. Gibson adds a lot of great tips in each of these sections, and even provides some great templates and examples. Even if you’re not going to make a formal presentation, I felt that Before the Mic had some great skills for being more successful in a variety of workplaces. Ultimately, if you’re looking to up your communication game or are looking for a bit of motivation, definitely come composing with Gibson’s fun personality in Before the Mic!

[Ray Gerwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glenn is a proven presenter, and this book has instruction and helpful tips for both new presenters and those that are more seasoned. There are many presentation books out there, but few with the basic outline for how to create a memorable presentation. I've been presenting for many years, and I still find the tips in Glenn's book to be worth their weight in gold! It's a fast read.... If you are a presenter (or want to be) and want to be the best presenter you can be... read it! Oh, and he even did his own illustrations, how talented!

[Michael Lovett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend "Before the Mic" for anyone who ever needs to speak in public or give a presentation. So, pretty much everyone. Glenn Gibson's approach to delivering amazing presentations -- and just communicating effectively, in general -- makes total sense. He's not concerned with PowerPoint wizardry or other gimmics. He lays out a repeatable, creative process, showing us how to unpack our ideas and find our key messages, organize them into a logical structure and present in a way that audiences find memorable and motivating. Plus, Glenn writes in a humorous, congenial style that makes for a fun, engaging read and gets me excited for my next presentation. Thank you, Glenn, for sharing your tried-and-true methods!

[Drew Chapin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glenn is the most gifted presenter I've ever seen and I've personally benefitted from his genius. The first time I asked Glenn for help with a presentation he suggested using a monarch butterfly analogy to illustrate an organizational transformation. It was a wild idea and I was terrified to use it considering I'd be speaking in front hundreds of C-level executives. Glenn gave me the confidence to run with the butterfly analogy and the presentation was an amazing success! In fact, it was so successful I was invited to give the same presentation at another large conference shortly thereafter. Over the years I've watched Glenn give many memorable presentations and coach others to deliver outstanding presentations as well. I'm so glad that Glenn decided to share his unique talent with the world with "Before the Mic". Glenn's book is a step by step guide to create meaningful, memorable and motivational presentations. Take it from me, Glenn's approach can turn anyone into a presentation superstar.

[Russ Shuster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been giving presentations for over 30 years in the insurance industry, bulk food sales, and as a high school teacher, I was curious as to what Glenn Gibson could add to this already saturated topic. I was absolutely blown away! His reasoning was so sound, and so easy to understand, it was refreshing to say the least. It's not a reinvention of the wheel, but rather he takes a step back and gets down to what should be the basics of any presentation. It cuts thru all the latest "flavor of the month" gimmicks, and by paralleling a presentations to writing and singing songs, makes it possible for anyone to feel good about their ability to make an effective presentation. A school district could save so much money by having their teachers follow Mr. Gibson's methods and stop investing in all the latest gadgets that quickly lose their luster and are soon outdated. I highly recommend this to anyone that ever has to give a meaningful sales pitch, presentation, or lecture.

[Amy Maxey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Developing aMMMazing Presentations with the Glenn Gibson method will ensure your audience hangs on every word and leaves motivated to put your message into action! Adult attention spans wane after as little as 10 minutes and in this virtual world we’re living and working in, there are infinite distractions competing for your audience’s attention. Now more than ever, creating meaningful, memorable and motivational presentations is critical to reaching your audience – whether through your computer screen or standing center stage. Glenn’s methods are honed by years of experience, research and practice, which he has graciously shared with us in this book!

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect book to recommend to anyone and everyone who is involved in delivering successful and effective presentations. It's an essential gem that you not only read but can actually use! Easy to read, nicely illustrated, packed full of practical, no-nonsense, tried-and-tested advice, guidance, helpful templates, and easy-to-use tools. Brilliant!
Stuart Richardson
Businessman, entrepreneur, and author of The TRIM Course
www.abmtrim.com

[Glory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interactive, engaging,easy to follow instructions and suggestions for the perfect presentation. I would highly recommend for both the noob and experienced presenter. A unique perspective involving a musical narrative.

[July de la Cruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me lo dieron como cursito en mi trabajo y me gustó muchooo
Ahora seguiré siendo penosa pero con presentaciones on point 💅

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers an eye-opening new perspective on giving presentations that truly transforms your approach! 🙌💡 After reading @beforethemicbook , my very next presentation received rave reviews, thanks to the impactful techniques I learned. 📊🔥 This book will be a go-to resource every time I create a presentation from now on.

The visuals and graphics in the book make it easy to grasp complex concepts and apply them effectively.
🎨💥 If you're looking to up your presentation game and leave a lasting impression, "Beyond the Mic" is a must-read!