We often hear that a presentation needs a good story. But the tricky part is to get your story to be clear and concise. So how can you avoid beating around the bush? 10-MIT Storytelling: The 10 Most Important Things you want to tell your audience.

1. 10-MIT Storytelling
A quick and easy way to ensure a succinct story in your presentations.
Brought to you by:
Keane at CrispyPresentations.com 11.10.14

2. We often hear that
presentations should
have a good story.

3. !e tricky part is
getting your story to
be clear and concise.

4. So how can you avoid
beating around
the bush?

5. 10-MIT Storytelling: !e 10 Most Important Things
Write down, in order, the 10 most
important things you want to tell your
audience.
!ese 10 things become short
headlines on each of your slides.
You can expand and contract from
there – but keep it clear and concise.
Remember: like any good story, it
should have a beginning, middle and
an end.
Your beginning should set the stage
with a question or challenge that you’ll
be answering.
Your middle is the meat of your
presentations and by the time your
reach your end, no one should be
confused by your conclusions.
Your ending wraps everything up in a
nice bow. Also, don’t leave the
audience hanging with what should
come next.

6. Example: A (fake) research
report about the
Brown Pelican.

7. Example: A research report. 7
Let’s create a 10-MIT for a fictitious research report on Brown Pelicans.
1) Set the stage
2) Pose a problem
3) What we did to solve it
4) !ere’s four things we found out
5) Finding 1
6) Finding 2
7) Finding 3
8) Finding 4
9) Here’s what all of those things
mean for you and your business
10) Based on this information, here’s
what needs to happen next

8. Example: A research report. 8
Let’s create a 10-MIT for a fictitious research report on Brown Pelicans.
1) Set the stage
2) Pose a problem
3) What we did to solve it
4) !ere’s four things we found out
5) Finding 1
6) Finding 2
7) Finding 3
8) Finding 4
9) Here’s what all of those things
mean for you and your business
10) Based on this information, here’s
what needs to happen next
“We’re here today to talk about a field
study conducted on the
Brown Pelican and their diet.”

9. Example: A research report. 9
Let’s create a 10-MIT for a fictitious research report on Brown Pelicans.
1) Set the stage
2) Pose a problem
3) What we did to solve it
4) !ere’s four things we found out
5) Finding 1
6) Finding 2
7) Finding 3
8) Finding 4
9) Here’s what all of those things
mean for you and your business
10) Based on this information, here’s
what needs to happen next
“We set out to find out whether or not
Brown Pelicans prefer fish tacos
or fish and chips.”
+ or +

10. Example: A research report. 10
Let’s create a 10-MIT for a fictitious research report on Brown Pelicans.
1) Set the stage
2) Pose a problem
3) What we did to solve it
4) !ere’s four things we found out
5) Finding 1
6) Finding 2
7) Finding 3
8) Finding 4
9) Here’s what all of those things
mean for you and your business
10) Based on this information, here’s
what needs to happen next
“So we followed pelicans around for 4
years and studied their eating habits.”

11. Example: A research report. 11
Let’s create a 10-MIT for a fictitious research report on Brown Pelicans.
1) Set the stage
2) Pose a problem
3) What we did to solve it
4) !ere’s four things we found out
5) Finding 1
6) Finding 2
7) Finding 3
8) Finding 4
9) Here’s what all of those things
mean for you and your business
10) Based on this information, here’s
what needs to happen next
“We found that pelicans far prefer fish
tacos, but this comes with
several caveats.”
✓
+
✓

12. Example: A research report. 12
Let’s create a 10-MIT for a fictitious research report on Brown Pelicans.
1) Set the stage
2) Pose a problem
3) What we did to solve it
4) !ere’s four things we found out
5) Finding 1
6) Finding 2
7) Finding 3
8) Finding 4
9) Here’s what all of those things
mean for you and your business
10) Based on this information, here’s
what needs to happen next
“Most pelicans prefer fish tacos to fish
and chips.”
“Nearly all fish tacos consumed by
pelicans are accompanied by a
lime wedge.”
“!e only time pelicans eat fish and
chips is at Irish pubs.”
“Pelicans only prefer fish taco joints
that are top rated on Yelp.”

13. Example: A research report. 13
Let’s create a 10-MIT for a fictitious research report on Brown Pelicans.
1) Set the stage
2) Pose a problem
3) What we did to solve it
4) !ere’s four things we found out
5) Finding 1
6) Finding 2
7) Finding 3
8) Finding 4
9) Here’s what all of those things
mean for you and your business
10) Based on this information, here’s
what needs to happen next
“If you’re going to sell to pelicans, it
should probably be fish tacos.”
“When selling fish tacos, ensure that
you have lime wedges to compliment.”
“!ere aren’t that many Irish pubs
near pelicans, so that rules out fish
and chips.”
“Ensure that your fish taco joint has
high ratings on Yelp. Consider using
pelican influencers.”

14. Example: A research report. 14
Let’s create a 10-MIT for a fictitious research report on Brown Pelicans.
1) Set the stage
2) Pose a problem
3) What we did to solve it
4) !ere’s four things we found out
5) Finding 1
6) Finding 2
7) Finding 3
8) Finding 4
9) Here’s what all of those things
mean for you and your business
10) Based on this information, here’s
what needs to happen next
“Next, we should confirm these
learnings in a pelican focus group and
then begin the communications
planning process.”

15. While this was
fictitious, you
can see how
clear and
concise the
story could be.

16. Lastly, the 10MIT technique
works on nearly any type of
story.
Try it on your next presentation!

17. !anks!
Hopefully you learned something.
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18. Attribution 18
Images and assets used in this presentation.
1) https://www.flickr.com/photos/cimere/3201190596/
2) https://www.flickr.com/photos/g-ratphotos/3352055289/
3) https://www.flickr.com/photos/125943647@N02/15606944816/
4) https://www.flickr.com/photos/dodogoeslr/2340175472/
5) https://www.flickr.com/photos/taylar/12218024886/
6) https://www.flickr.com/photos/sempivirens/3318198408/
7) https://www.flickr.com/photos/htakashi/10995863465/
8) Icons – http://thenounproject.com