Please meet Janice Tomich of Calculated Presentations. Janice helps you give a presentation that will keep the attention of the audience instead of having everyone snoozing in their chairs.

1) Can you describe your business? How long have you been doing this?
Have you been to a presentation that has you resorting to your smartphone or worse still falling asleep? I fix them.

Okay seriously, I work with executives to develop their public speaking skills and to create presentation content that will be compelling to their audience.

The skills that I help develop allow the speaker to connect to their audience such as voice modulation, eye contact, and powerful body language. From the content perspective a distinct plan of attack needs to be implemented, which can be created through strategies such as strong open and close and by enchanting audiences through storytelling.

I have been offering this type of communication skill development for close to two years. This is my third career. I was a late bloomer who returned to university to receive my Communication degree while in my late forties.

2) How long have you had a website? a blog? How have they contributed to your business?

My website has been live for almost two years. I realized the importance of having a website from a marketing perspective and it was my first priority when I started Calculated Presentations.

Within a few months of getting the website going I began writing blog posts. It was lonely at first and took lots of love and care to come to a point where I wasn’t just talking to myself. The blog has been an invaluable tool to connect with clients and as a learning tool for myself.

My blog has offered me the opportunity to connect with experts in my industry and understand views and theory from a global perspective.

3) Do you use social media to market your business?

Yes, I use social medias to connect with potential clients. Twitter is my favorite – I also have a robust Linkedin account. I have learned that like a blog social media connections take time to develop and require commitment to be successful.

4) Can you help people with their presentations even if they live on the other side of the world?

Absolutely, I use Skype and Go to Meeting, both fabulous tools for connecting with clients outside of Vancouver, Canada. These tools make it possible to develop content with my clients as well as watch them present. How cool is that?

5) Can you talk about the variety of clients you have had – business, non-profit, political, education fields?

My clients come from a broad range of fields and industry. That is one of the reasons that I chose this niche offering. It allows me the opportunity to always be learning. Right now I am working with a client whose specialty is environment and safety in the mining industry. I have been doing my research this past few weeks to learn about his industry so that I can support him with full confidence.

6) Is clothing important when presenting? Any suggestions on what to wear?

Yes clothing is important. Just as with your content you need to consider the audience. I recommend to my clients that they dress just a little more formally than they expect their audience will. This shows respect but I also caution don’t overdress as this will create a barrier between you and the audience.

7) How do you come up with new topics for your blog?

My ideas come through other blogs that I follow through RSS feeds, Twitter, but for the most part just everyday life. Things that happen to me both personally and professionally. I correlate my lessons learned to those that transfer to public speaking.

8) As a child or teen, did you like public speaking or dread it?

As a child I was lucky to have a teacher who taught our class debating when I was in grade six. I loved it, in particular the mechanics and rules of debating. Then when I hit my teen years the ugly “peer factor” reared its ugly head and I did everything in my power to not have to engage in public speaking. The fear of public speaking haunted me until I returned to academia. This was the pivotal time for me where I consciously decided that I wasn’t going to let the fear win.

A presentation over ten years ago – Leora was supposed to present with her then kindergartener son, but son hid under the table.

9) Any quick suggestions on how to prepare for a presentation?

For quick content creation take a pack of sticky notes and on the first write down your key message – what do you want your audience to learn or takeaway? Then on three additional stickies write down how you will support your key message. Under each key message write down as many ideas as you can think of that will support your argument. When you are finished look them over and keep the best supporting arguments. From here you can prepare a script or for those who are gifted speakers use these notes to riff off of.

10) Do you have any favorite people to follow on Twitter?
@MarionChapsal – Marion offers the same type of service that I offer as well as executive communication training. She shares a wealth of information both from a practical and academic viewpoint. Marion lives in Lyon, France.

@SandiAmorin – Sandi is a business coach and friend (who I met through Twitter) and her blog posts are simply wise. She attended the World Domination Summit in Portland a few months back, which has been excellent fodder for great conversations.

@emoticomma – Barbara was one of the first people who I met on Twitter. Her specialty is leadership and communications. She brings a wide range of topics to her Twitter stream and holds a #emoticommaswinebar on Fridays (summer hiatus) when a bunch of us chat and talk about how the week unfolded.

As you can see I have met some amazing people on Twitter who I have had the good fortune to be able to develop some cool friendships with. Including you Leora!

Janice, I love hearing about how this your third career, and you went back to school for communications! Hearing about your sixth grade debates is inspiring as well. Your clients are lucky to have you.

And now, a word from Jerry Seinfeld:

“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” – Jerry Seinfeld