Speaker Notes

Speaking at conferences has changed the course of my life. Conferences are where I’ve met some of my best friends; they’ve taken me across the country and around the world; they’ve given me access to a network of people that means I’m never wanting for work or for guidance.

Outline Your Talk with Presenter Notes

How to get over the blank slate and start writing your…

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Do or do not. There is no try.
 — Yoda

Speakers, Take Care of Yourselves

From my experience, “conference season” seems to come twice a year: spring and fall (or fall and spring, if you’re in the southern hemisphere). It’s the perfect time of year to have a conference: the weather is generally the best it’s going to be (not too hot, not too…

The Art of the Gif

5 Tips For Using Animated Gifs in Your Presentations

Writing Conference Proposals

This post was originally published at rmurphey.com, but with the conference season heating up, I thought it was a good time to re-post it here with some minor changes.

When I’m having a conversation with a prospective conference speaker, one topic that…

Overcoming Stage Fright

Sweaty palms. A keen urge to pee despite plenty of visits to the restroom. Mixed martial artists sparring in my stomach. A shaky voice that sounds like I could cry at any moment. A flight instinct that wants to overpower fight.

Misfits Make Great Speakers

The number of women at tech conferences is growing, but we still represent a fraction of the attendees, not to mention the speakers. You may look around at a conference and say, “There aren’t a lot of people like me here.” But that’s not inherently a bad thing.

Asking For Help

The first web talk I ever gave took place in a little basement at a BarCamp in front of six or seven people. We chose the rooms we…