This summer, while vacationing in the North Carolina mountains, my wife and I decided to go on a rafting trip down the Nantahala River with two of our children. Each year we do something like this—rafting, tubing, canoeing, etc.—on a different river, usually in Tennessee or North Carolina. My family loves the rapids and the excitement of going down a river. I love the scenery and tolerate the rapids that take us down a river (but that’s another story).
As is the usual pre-river practice, the outfitter had us watch a safety video and one of the guides gave us all a few lessons in operating a raft, using a paddle, and staying safe and preventing injury during our journey.
I imagine this guide has given his educational safety talk hundreds of times. But when he was talking to us, his presentation was anything but routine. He told some corny jokes. He interacted with us. He told more corny jokes. He made himself look silly as he showed us how to get back in a raft if we were to fall out. And most of all: He made what some people might consider to be boring, let’s-just-get-it-over-with content seem fun and fresh.
Interestingly enough, I wrote the first part of this blog after that rafting experience. I was that impressed with the guide’s presentation.
The next day, my wife and our daughter went horseback riding in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Before they headed out, as is the usual pre-ride practice, one of the employees gave the horse safety talk, which was somewhat similar to the raft safety talk. But this presentation was “just the facts” with a monotone delivery. Sadly, it was about what you’d expect from someone who has given the same talk a hundred times.
Both of these guys had the same basic job—educating strangers on a specific subject and doing it quickly. However, one man was making the experience entertaining and memorable. The other man was just going through the motions and investing as little as possible.
Think about this. When you’re at work and interacting with a client, are you making the experience a positive one? Is the client enjoying the time spent with you? Are you having fun? Is your time together actually interactive? Will it be memorable?
Contrast your last product demonstration or a recent PowerPoint presentation with the excitement and emotion you have when describing your child’s winning goal or celebrated artwork or spelling bee success.
If a young man can make a talk about raft safety sound interesting and exciting, certainly you and I can make our own business interactions enjoyable and memorable.
Do what the rafting guide did, and you’ll do what you do better.