The Seven Strategies of Master Presenters

Speakers are, for the most part, road warriors. Few of us have the luxury of speaking only in our home towns; the rest of us have to travel extensively to and from speaking engagements. And as every frequent flyer knows, it can be maddening to arrive at your destination only to discover that a key piece of equipment you thought you had packed is still sitting at home. The checklists on the following pages will help you think through your packing process.

Checklist 1: Don't Leave Home Without It

• _____ Travel documents: airline tickets, government-issued ID, frequent flyer ID number for all airlines (in case you end up on a different airline than you intended).

• _____ Hotel information: reservation confirmation number, street address, telephone number, and driving directions.

• _____ Rental car information: reservation confirmation number, pick-up location, frequent-renter ID number.

• _____ Cell phone, complete with fully charged battery, battery charger, hands-free earpiece for states that require them when driving.

• _____ Pre-paid long-distance calling card for remote locations in which your cell phone won't work or is not part of your service system.

• _____ Laptop computer, complete with fully charged battery, AC adapter/battery charger, telephone cable for modem, blank floppy disks and/or blank CD-R disks, remote control mouse.

• _____ Handouts, including not only a printed copy but a backup copy of your handouts in your laptop computer and a second backup copy of your handouts on disk.

• _____ Cables and wiring, including video cable to connect your notebook computer to an LCD projector, and a multi-outlet power strip.

• _____ Essential office supplies, including legal pads, note cards, paper clips, pens, pencils, highlighter, mini-stapler, calculator.

• _____ Large-display LCD travel clock to keep your presentation on time in rooms in which wall clocks are not visible.

• _____ Resource material, including free items as well as items you may have to sell.

• _____ Sales material, including credit card imprinter, charge slips, order forms, merchandise bags.

• _____ Repacking material, including sealing tape and shipping labels.