Before you dive into the details of your next presentation and start preparing your PowerPoint and stressing about how it will go…

Stop.

Ask yourself a more important question.

A question that far-too-few people ask.

How will I earn their attention?

Because if they aren’t paying attention, your message will be lost.

This has always been an important question, but in our frantic, internet and gadget-filled lives, it is now absolutely critical.

If you don’t earn their attention, email, Twitter or something else will.

Here is the bottom line – the best presentation in the world is meaningless if no one is listening.
Answering our question then: “how will I earn their attention?” is critical to our communication success (and let’s face it, our ego too). Here are some ways to do exactly that…

It’s about earning, not getting. Let’s start with the question itself. Most people, if this even crossed their minds, would think about how they can get someone’s attention. You really want to earn it. You don’t want people to feel tricked or duped. You don’t want to get their attention and then not deliver (more on that later). If you want people to put down their phones and listen to your message, you must come to this task with the goal to serve them and their needs. Think about how to earn their attention, which requires you to do the next point…

Put yourself in their shoes. This isn’t about what excites you about the topic or what you think is important. (You’ve been to plenty of presentations where the expert cared, but you saw no relevance, right?).

Repeat after me: This isn’t about me; it’s about my audience. So get to know their situation, their needs, their interest, and their perspective. There is more you want to know (and I will highlight them before we are done), but this is a good start. Remember you are giving the presentation for their benefit, so everything about your design and delivery needs to be about them.

Attention follows interest. Think about it. You will partly watch the TV while you do something else, until YOUR show is on. You will listen-with-one-ear to the lunchtime conversation until it is important to you.

Attention is a valuable commodity; it is the use of the finite resource of our time. You will earn people’s interest once they are interested in what the topic means to them. Which means you must put yourself in their shoes and get to know their needs so you can address them directly. When people know that what is coming is of interest to them, they will listen. So make sure you let them see that connection.

The data alone won’t do it. Sorry to all of the data wonks and people who consider themselves critical thinkers; the data is important, but alone it is never enough. Human beings are emotional beings and so to earn attention (and therefore interest), we must do more than craft the perfect logical argument or the most beautiful pie chart. Let people see, or help them discover what is in it for them, and why this should matter to them. Think about human needs and not just logic. When you do that, you will earn their attention and be more excited to share with them too.

Pain before pleasure. Study after study shows that people would rather avoid loss than hope for gain. We remember negative things longer than positive ones. We buy more aspirin than we do vitamins. So when people see how your message will remove pain, stress or frustration, they will be more attentive. If you can help them avoid uncomfortable or unsavory things, they will more likely be with you. This one is hard to remember if you are a generally positive person, or if you are motivated by the possibility of gain. Even if that is you, remember the mantra, remove pain first, then extol the positive possibilities.

It’s the message, not the tactic. There are plenty of tactics that might be a big enough surprise to get people to listen to you at the start. While a tactic like the right joke, a simple magic trick or banging your shoe on the table (a la Nikita Khrushchev), might be enough of a pattern interrupt for people to look up and listen, it isn’t enough to hold them with you for the message you want to share. After all, you don’t really want them to remember the joke but miss your message, do you?

For your next presentation, start with these ideas and your strategies for using them, not by firing up PowerPoint. It will seem like it is taking you longer at first, but you will get a much better result when you are through.

Alcohol is included in a variety of personal care products. It is oftentimes a main ingredient, too, to the point that you know a product has alcohol in it before using it. If you do not want to have alcohol in your products for any reason, you are going to want a way to avoid it. Whether it is something you feel does not belong in your products or you do not like the potential negative effects of alcohol, such as drying the skin, you have to find alternatives. There is a huge selection out there, many advertised as alcohol free. You can find something high quality and reliable with ease.

You first have to know which products have alcohol in them. Many skincare and oral care products do, like acne solutions and mouthwash. These products will have the alcohol smell and burn to them usually so you will know if they have alcohol from a single use. Like most people in this situation, you do not want to get to that first use. You want to keep these products out of your home completely, which means that you have to know what to avoid. Like many other products, you may fear that there is more to this than just alcohol.

You do not have to worry. Alcohol is usually listed at the top of the ingredient list and has the word alcohol in it. Look out for ethyl alcohol when shopping as that is what you will likely see on these products. You can find it with a quick read through and there are not a lot of names for you to remember. If you see it, avoid the product and look into what else is around. You can find several personal care products that do not contain any alcohol, but continue to offer the quality and results that you expect out of these products.

There are products advertised as alcohol free if you want a quick search for something alcohol free. They will put this information on the label in large print so that you do not have to hopelessly search around for something good. They provide the quality and reliability that you need without the use of any alcohol, at least for the most part. You can find a large selection, too, so you will have the opportunity to find alcohol free personal care products that work for you personally.

Valentine’s Day is coming up and you are looking to get her a perfect gift for this one special night romance. It is important to find the right present that fits her style and ideas. Depending on where you guys are in the relationship, there are different type of gifts to consider. I’ve combined a list of the top 10 awesome Valentines present ideas for her.

1. Valentines’ flower is obviously one of the best choice no matter how serious or new the relationship is. Make sure you go with red roses and not other colors like white or yellow. A nice little teddy bear along with the flowers will make it a simple but perfect gift for her.

2. Diamond rings or earrings are very special for this type of occasion. Women love diamond because it is beautiful and it also represents that your relationship with her will last forever. Depends on how long you guys have been together, spend accordingly.

3. Chocolate can’t be forgotten during this special event. Not only chocolate is a symbol of the Valentine’s day, but also taste good and enhance the mood significantly.

4. Women’s dresses or lingerie is really good Valentines present ideas. Buy her something sexy to wear on this day and both of you guys can have a great time.

5. Ipod touch from Apple is next on the list. You should get her a red one or a color and design that she likes the most.

6. Women’s design handbag will definitely be one of her top choices. Women love handbags so why not give them what they want? Perfect colors for this season are red, metallic or jewel tones by designer brands like Coach, Marc Jacobs, Stuart Weitzman and Kate Spade.

7. Heart pendant is great because you can remind that special love one in your life that you love her. She will be happy with this perfect Valentines present.

8. Romantic Bath & Spa kit is another common gifts for her on Valentines day. A large variety of products you can choose from are warming massage oils, rose scented bubble bath, succulent scented candles and more! This can set up the mood perfectly for a beautiful Valentine’s evening.

9. Ugg boots are perfect for this romantic winter walk on the street. Toast up her tootsies in a fabulous pair of Ugg boots and you’ll be surprise how much she would love it.

10. Lovely makeup set by Sarah Jessica Parker from Sex and the city. The signature fragrance is a blend of musk, orchid, apple, lavender and amber. It is especially suitable for casual wear.