Fundamentally, Webinars are seminars presented over the web. I prepared a Power Point presentation and literally went through it speaking into the external microphone that is plugged into my computer. I advanced the slides as well as monitored chat questions that popped up on the screen from participants. Indeed, the ability to multitask well is mandatory. Thanks to David Mathison’s Be The Media book for providing the added encouragement to jump into the webinar waters.

For once in my life, I actually completed the power point slides in advance and ran through the entire presentation. This was invaluable in many ways. Given that I had not done this type of presentation, it helped answer many questions in advance.

Prior to completing my webinar, I participated in two. One by Paul Kandell for HSBJ and the other by CNN Tech Guru, Mario Armstrong. I strongly encourage you to participate in a webinar prior to presenting. There are so many free opportunities, just google and find one of interest to you.

Webinars are archived and can be held behind a pay wall. The one that I did was free and is accessible on the HSBJ website. Therefore, I am sharing the link with you as well. This is an invaluable marketing tool. Some may not understand why I would share the presentation. For one, it will force me to learn more and not present canned speeches or presentations. Two, it will hopefully grant me exposure to a larger audience. Three and most importantly, I am an educator. If I can’t teach, I don’t feel alive. Sharing is in my nature.

It is wise to gather questions from the participants in advance. This afforded me the opportunity to include the answers to several questions in the slides. I also answered those questions throughout the presentation and during the Q &A at the end. This greatly enhanced the flow of the presentation.

Other Webinar Tips:

Presenters:

When doing a webinar, keep it moving
Don’t overdo personal narrative
Make it more interactive, ask questions throughout the presentation (we included poll questions in mine)
When you use a question from participants either online or submitted previously, state the question because other participants can’t see it. Also, state the name of the person. This humanizes the presentation.
Give your audience a reason to focus, they are multitasking
You must have an entertaining and engaging delivery, voice energy is critical
Realize creating a Power Point is now an art
If possible, provide an outline for participants in advance
Don’t make a webinar feel like an online one-dimensional
tutorial
Use humor-relevant, deliberate, sparingly
Be sure to add a slide with your contact information
Allow the audience to participate any way possible (polls, chat, etc.)
Give the audience what THEY want, not what YOU want

Other thoughts:
If you don’t know something, admit it.
If a participant makes a point via chat, acknowledge it and the person who made the comment.
Side note: In order to chat with the presenter, you must be registered for the webinar.
Smile while presenting, keep water with you.
Unplug your LAN line and turn off your cell phone.
If you are in your office, put a note on your door so hopefully, you won’t be disturbed
Whether paid or free webinar, if you are doing one for someone else, get permission to share the link to the webinar with your colleagues and potential clients, it’s a great way to showcase your abilities to different audiences

I’m sure you’re tired of reading, if you want more information, just ask.

Peace,
Dr. Syb

Share:

Years ago as a graduate student at Vanderbilt University, I was asked to read and respond to the Letter in the Birmingham Jail written by the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 16, 1963. That date is approximately five years prior to my conception. However, in spite of my non-existence when the words were spoken, I was vicariously and figuratively able to grasp the gravity and intensity of Dr. King’s intent. On this day, 46 years after the death of the “drum major for justice”, I honor his legacy by reflecting on his thoughts during his physical captivity. Think about it, his mind was always free in spite of his circumstance.

In his words, Dr. King says that he normally did not respond to his critics because it would waste time. Time is invaluable. It cannot be recreated or made. In his book, Maximize the Moment, Bishop T.D. Jakes emphasizes this point by taking you can always make more money but you cannot make anymore time. How much time is wasted fighting criticism and/or critics real or imagined? Be like Dr. King and only respond to that which is absolutely necessary. And realize that short of confinement, Dr. King may never have taken his time to address his critics. What is your time worth? Is it really worth your time to argue with a “fool?” Who is the bigger fool, the known fool or the one who attempts to reason with a known fool?

Dr. King was in Birmingham to support a local affiliate of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He was the President of the organization and promised each affiliate his assistance when the need arose. Freeze!!! First of all, the SCLC was a very organized network. They had a chain of command so to speak and an open-minded leader. Several questions come to mind. Who are you following and why? Are your leaders dependable? Do they show up when they are needed or send a representative or worse yet an excuse? Dr. King was so accountable that in keeping his word, he was willing to and actually did go to jail. Further, the organizations maintained consistent and clear communication. In a world with mobile devices, emails, text, snail mail, blogs, websites, video/audio conferencing and so much more, is your communication clear, concise and consistent? Dr. King had an effective strategy that helped him form an effective team with a specific goal and vision in mind.

Dr. King noted that the SCLC shared financial and educational resources. Nobody had a lot to save or to lose, therefore it may have seemed the sacrifices weren’t as great. During the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King led the charge to protect and promote principles like freedom and justice. Now, it appears that for some the goal is purely to save principal, money. Another important point that Dr. King made was that he was asked to come to Birmingham. He didn’t micromanage the team. He trusted their judgment and came at their request. True leaders trust their team. To not do so means that you are questioning your hiring practices. After all, aren’t the executives the ones approving employee hires?

Dr. King had a specific reason for being in Birmingham. He said, “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.” And this is the part of the letter where he wrote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” As so many continue to battle for diversity and equality, it may feel, at times as if those efforts are futile. Indeed, when marketers have an inside code “NUD” which stands for non-urban dictate which means that they refuse to market to communities of color, when some companies are using the recession as an excuse to eliminate sensitivity and other educational programs and when there is a clear imbalance in major corporate leadership as it pertains to women and minorities, it is often hard to remain on the battlefield. But fight on, we must. There is still injustice. The fight should not be for equality. That was the wrong goal from the start. Humans are equal by birth. Throughout the world, many lack equity. They don’t have access to resources. I don’t need to be in school with a dominant group in order to feel superior. If that’s the case, I have grave psychological issues and to some extent most minorities do as a result of environmental conditioning. What is really needed is access to the same equipment, quality of teaching and other necessary resources.

As America prepares for the majority to become the minority, and as the buying power of the minority exceeds one trillion dollars, it would behoove companies, churches, civic and non-civic organizations and community groups to figure out how to come together to achieve a common goal that should be survival and connectedness in a global economy. America is separated from the rest of the world geographically. It is imperative that we not be separated ideologically. (Read Thomas Friedman’s book, The World is Flat for starters on this topic.)

Dr. King noted that the officials in the city of Birmingham hated the demonstrations but did not object to the conditions that warranted the protests. In other words, they hated the disease but ignored the symptoms and ways to prevent it. Most rational people understand that hate is not very productive in any form. When people react to mistreatment there is often shock and awe. But why does it take a victim of domestic violence to finally kill the abuser to garner the attention that was clearly needed? This analogy runs deep.

Dr. King also provides the four basic steps in a non-violent campaign. They are: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action. Fundamentally, he was saying know what’s going on. Don’t act out of emotion. Get the empirical, factual data when making a claim. Then, be prepared to negotiate for an agreed upon outcome. You may not get everything you want, but be content with most of the things you need. Examine and face yourself to be sure that your motives are clear. Make sure you are not operating out of pride, jealousy, envy or a spirit of covetousness (taking something or wanting something that belongs to someone else). Once you have a sound mind, a clear plan and a clean heart, then go into battle unarmed because the weapon of justice is on your side. Dr. King went on to clearly state how the first three steps had failed in Birmingham that forced the SCLC to act. Note, he said direct action that implies a necessary boldness.

Dr. King clearly teaches that when people do not keep their word, hold them accountable in concrete and tangible ways. The SCLC had negotiated and agreed upon a course of action with the city of Birmingham. Unfortunately, the city did not hold up their end of the bargain.

What are you willing to sacrifice to get what you need? Dr. King stated that since the city could not be trusted, the SCLC members would literally give up their bodies to fight for freedom. That’s coal miner DEEP!!!!! Today, some people won’t give up their time, let alone their attention to even think about supporting a cause, let alone sacrifices their positions, homes, jewelry, cars and other material possessions. It’s funny the slaves and so many other generations gave up their lives for a generation they would never see and now it seems as if the living generations are willing to allow the gains of the past to create graves of the future. Again the warriors were fighting for PRINCIPLES NOT PRINCIPAL.

Dr. King strategically timed the Birmingham attack on the economic structure during the Easter shopping season. He knew that it was a major shopping season. Do you go off half-cocked trying to fight an opponent? Have you examined yourself and your tools to make sure that you are sufficiently prepared for a short- and/or long- term battle? In other words, don’t quit your job without a six to twelve month emergency fund in place. Don’t rush into a situation without understanding all or at least most of what is at stake. Strategize, Strategize, Strategize!!!!

Of course, plans can change so you have to be flexible. Dr. King knew the mayoral election was going to take place and he didn’t want the demonstration to interfere with the civic process in any way. Dr. King said, “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks to so dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.” He didn’t want any other issue to get in the way of the purpose. Be patient, wait for the right moment.

Dr. King talked about creating a situation that was so tense, people had to respond. He didn’t want the violence but he knew it was a possibility. Vanderbilt University Philosophy Professor Dr. Lucius Outlaw spoke during the MLK celebration at Belmont University two years in a row. I’ll never forget the phrase he uttered the first time we invited him to come. “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable, this is not a resort.” The words seem more than fitting as I reflect upon Dr. King’s letter.

When there is a power deferential, Dr. King said, “Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups tend to be more immoral than individuals.” The action the SCLC took under the leadership of Dr. King was a last resort. There is a time to wait and a time to act, wisdom teaches one to know the difference.

Some argue that Dr. King encouraged people to break the law. He responds to that charge by saying, “To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.” Discrimination, segregation, alienation, prejudice, malice, racism, sexism, etc. distort the laws of creation and the universe. When this imbalance occurs, all of mankind suffers. History books have documented this type of destruction extensively.

Further, Dr. King was heavily criticized for the timing of the non-violent initiative. Here are his words of wisdom about time, “Actually, time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. More and more I feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will.” In other words, some people manipulate time and people for their benefit. If something is wrong, once you are adequately prepared, then action must be taken to correct it. Dr. King adds, “Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability…”

Some called the actions of the SCLC extreme. As Dr. King analyzed this claim he acknowledged what W.E.B. Dubois, Carter G. Woodson and others recognized long ago, the duality of the Black existence. Dr. King said, “One is a force of complacency, made up in part of Negroes who, as a result of long years of oppression, are so drained of self-respect and a sense of “somebodiness” that they have adjusted to segregation; and in part of a few middle class Negroes who, because of a degree of academic and economic security and because in some ways they profit by segregation, have become insensitive to the problems of the masses.” What is the cost of complacency?

Dr. King went on to write that “The other force is one of bitterness and hatred, and it comes perilously close to advocating violence. It is expressed in the various black nationalist groups that are springing up across the nation…” This should all sound frighteningly familiar. He attempted to stand in the gap for the two extremes.

In the past people marched, boycotted and protested to express their frustration. Now the concerns Dr. King expressed about pent up anxiety and anger seem to be ringing true. He said, “The Negro has many pent-up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides–and try to understand why he must do so. If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history. So I have not said to my people: “Get rid of your discontent.” Rather, I have tried to say that this normal and healthy discontent can be channeled into the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action.” What are you doing to deal with the frustration of dealing with overt and covert racism?

Dr. King was often accused of being an extremist. A label that he eventually accepted as he reasoned that in the Christian Bible that Jesus, Amos, Paul were considered by some to be extremists. He also mentioned Abraham Lincoln, Paul Bunyan and Martin Luther. His thought process led him to this poignant question, “So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love?” What is your answer? I’m an extremist for love.

Of course, Dr. King challenged the clergy and the church. “In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.”

Here is what else he said, “But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.” No commentary needed.

“Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status quo to save our nation and the world? Perhaps I must turn my faith to the inner spiritual church, the church within the church, as the true ecclesia and the hope of the world.” Remember, this is from 1963.

There were those who helped willingly and for them Dr. King was grateful. “But again I am thankful to God that some noble souls from the ranks of organized religion have broken loose from the paralyzing chains of conformity and joined us as active partners in the struggle for freedom, They have left their secure congregations and walked the streets of Albany, Georgia, with us. They have gone down the highways of the South on tortuous rides for freedom. Yes, they have gone to jail with us.”

Dr. King finishes his letter by explaining that the violence peaceful protesters suffered at the hands of the police did not disturb the sensibilities of his critics. He also acknowledged that his letter was lengthy due to his solitary confinement. What do you do when you are forced to be alone? What are you thinking? Are you meditating and praying? Or are you just envying and complaining?

In the final analysis, any biologist will tell you that humans are the only race. Watch the PBS documentary, Race, the Power of an Illusion. Black and White do not exist anywhere else in the world the way they are used in the US. They are extremes that fundamentally don’t exist beyond political reason and rationalization. We are the United States of America to divide us internally is to make us vulnerable externally. Focus on what we have in common and right now that should be surviving in a global economy where other countries are clearly exploiting our weaknesses on a continuous basis. All hands are needed on deck to battle for justice here and abroad.

Happy Birthday and thank you Dr. King,

Dr. Syb
A Child of the Dream, Born in 1968

Share:

As for diversity, please, most industries do not understand basic biology. When biodiversity is compromised, species die. It’s just that plain and simple. Just ask Bill Nye, the science guy. This is America’s tragedy, we are among the most diverse populations in the world, yet we do not know how to leverage that cultural wisdom. Corporations that understand balance are doing better than those that do not. Comcast Universal needs to be responsible and present a sustainable model for the future. To learn more about what different media companies own, visit the Columbia Journalism Review’s “Who Owns What” site.

With that said, to Comcast’s credit, their revenue model is far more feasible than the major broadcast networks. Since television’s inception in the 1940s and 1950s, ABC, NBC and CBS have primarily depended on advertising dollars to sustain their business. It was beyond shortsighted to depend on one revenue stream. (Hint, if you only have one source of income in your house, you are not the brightest bulb in the bunch either.) Comcast generates revenue from subscriptions, advertising, pay per view, On Demand and a myriad of other sources. As long as they don’t exploit the pay for play or itemize their audience into obscurity, they should be able to maintain. More industries need to understand this concept and diversify their portfolio.

I was pleased to see that Comcast understands that the audience wants what they want, when, where and how they want it. If only the movie industry would finally stop promoting a film and release it on the spot on iTunes, Netflix, in theaters, on DVD, on mobile devices, etc that would severely undercuts piracy. But I digress.

If you’ve read this far, you are very committed and interested. Many people don’t have or take the time or the attention span to focus for any length of time. So here’s your reward. Comcast’s new position is an opportunity for entrepreneurs. Don’t focus on the negative, focus on the positive. What opportunities are now available. If I am an aspiring artist, producer, director or writer with an innovative idea that will reach emerging markets, I am getting in position to present my ideas to Comcast now. HBO is the clear leader (“It’s not TV, it’s HBO) in its field. Comcast needs to be prepared to forage for it’s own survival in a landscape that has been shaped by HBO. In order to do that, they will need an infusion of fresh water, new ideas, new voices and a new paradigm.

In the end, it really doesn’t boil down to the survival of the fittest, it is the survival of the richest and that doesn’t just mean money anymore. And now Comcast has an arsenal, let’s see if they shoot blanks or bullets.

Share: