He began with a brief summary of the state of the economy, including statistics of job losses and financial collapses. Even the President of the United States admitted, in answer to a reporter's question, that he didn't know the specifics she was asking for, but would check and get her the information. Your credibility will take a much bigger hit when you try to side step a question or answer with a bunch of fluff the audience can see through. Participants in my presentation skills workshops typically cite concerns about not being credible to the audience as one of the key contributors to their presentation nervousness and anxiety.

The compelling and educational montage combined text, music, still photos, and film and audio clips to tell the story of the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia since 1932. If you think a story can only be told through words, and images are superfluous or " fluff ," check this out. I watched the movie "The Kingdom" the other day, and while the movie was average, the opening sequence was one of the most captivating I've ever seen. As a vehicle for information and setting up the backstory of the movie, the sequence, just over three minutes long, was stellar.