Why are images so powerful? Well, it appears that while your brain is unlike any organ ever owned by a human being, it has its own idiosyncrasies. For example, it is obsessed with focus. It does not favor multiple activities being simultaneously thrown at it. In short, it does not like multitasking.

For many, this would be sacrilegious. You pride yourself on your amazing ability to do multiple things at a time, all the time. For that is the mark of a highly productive person, is it not? You will pooh pooh this suggestion that your brain does not like it which translates to actually not being good at it. How dare somebody suggest that you cannot multitask. You can, however, your brain is operating full tilt on only one of those activities at a time whether you like it or not (don't take my word for it, brain research has proven this. Read this book: Brain rules by John Medina). So, you are kidding yourself if you think you are multitasking. You are only indulging in more than one activity but at varying focus levels.

But why am I telling you this. What has this got to with visual presentations? Well, it turns out that while listening/watching to presentations too, the brain can only focus on one activity. If you clutter your slides with a fusillade of bullet points, your audience's brains get muddled and simply tune out. You have lost your audience. You must as well stop presenting and ask everybody to head home. They are not interested any more.

So, remember, since the brain can only focus on one activity at a time, it makes sense for you to limit the words you show on your slides, instead adorn them with brain supportive images and then say what you need to say as complementary to the images/words on your slides. This way you are showing support for your audience's brains, activating them and thereby enhancing their ability to pay attention to you. It is a win-win.

Have you ever watched a Steve Jobs keynote presentation? Click here to watch him unveiling the iconic iPhone in 2007, one of numerous, mesmerizing keynote presentations he made during his short lived but legendary career. You will not find more than 4 or 5 words on any one slide. Often, there is only one word accompanying an arresting image. Steve Jobs was a master storyteller. He transfixed his audience. It is a perquisite of sorts that he also tuned into the way your brain would appreciate his presentation.

Who is your all-time favorite historical figure?

Identifying with somebody
Human beings by themselves vary as much as they do in their likes and dislikes. Most of us have a favorite figure - historical or otherwise (but more often historical). Some one who you identify with, whose thoughts are closer to what yours are, whose philosophy resonates with you. If imitation is the best form of praise, then you probably are guilty of imitating. But so be it. It is an entirely human emotion to emulate those who we revere. It makes you feel nice internally. You feel validated. There is someone who was or is a well known figure (or even not so well known at times) who is like you, or the other way round.


The Saint from Sabarmati

The Saint from Sabarmati (his home town and also the name of the river that flows by it) was often what he was known as in India as opposed to the internationally recognized Mahatma Gandhi. "Mahatma" means "great soul." An individual without any political title or far flung business or any other regular icons of wealth or fortune. He was a professionally qualified attorney (education was very important to him) who gave up a lucrative practice to take up cudgels with the mighty British empire to grant India freedom. And he did it with a brand of non-violence and sacrifice which resonates to this day (and will forever to come too) all over the world.

What was so special about this personality? I would say that the single most important factor was that he articulated and acted upon many of the thought processes and philosophies that you and I (or people from his generation) hold sacred but possibly have no way to express or espouse. You needed a beacon of hope to follow, some one who would sacrifice everything for a worthwhile crusade. So, the best way to validate would be to support. Mahatma Gandhi made you feel something about yourself beyond just you, he kindled the soul. One of his most incisive and unforgettable quotes was:"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

  

As another example, take Leonardo Da Vinci. Arguably the greatest genius in the world - he was painter, inventor, architect, astronomer, biologist, physicist, anthropologist, craftsman, the list goes on and on - he forged new paths, created entire new thought processes, made impossible inventions (he drew a prototype working idea of a parachute a full 200 years before the Wright Brothers invented the airplane) and generally questioned every established principle he came in contact with.

Why is Leonardo revered so much? It was his unquenching thirst for knowledge in its applied form, an almost frightening ability to challenge status-quo (a trait you would similarly find in Mahatma Gandhi as well), an unparalleled ambassador for the magnificence of the human brain and mind - he invented mind map concepts even at that time - he made you believe that you can do it too. That is a validation that even the most modest of us will not deny ourselves. Leonardo made you feel creative. And he made it seem simple. His most famous quote was:"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."


Your Life Philosophy
As human beings we are granted certain faculties which distinguish us from the animal world. Emotion is one and having a life philosophy is another. As a human you cannot live life as a mere process of existence. There is something you stand for, something that you are particular about, something that galvanizes you into action. You have a philosophy all your own. As unique as your DNA. But you may not be willing to share it openly, it may be well be your best kept secret. However. you have no hesitation in supporting some one who mirrors that kind of thinking and philosophy as one among the many. This way, you get to keep your secret and yet in some (not so overt) ways, you have shared that through your support for this well known historical (or otherwise) personality. In reality, millions belong to this group of individuals who silently provide support and in return earn some validation for their own philosophies and thought processes.

 

 

The Underdog
The world has a soft corner for the underdog, the downtrodden, the suffering. It is again a natural human trait. When you see some body in a rather humble position pitted against a giant force, your support immediately tends towards the underdog. You want the underdog to overcome the giant. This way you would find validation in your own beliefs - and possibly things that are holding you back from realizing that force in yourself.

This is the reason why you and I possibly like rags to riches stories. People who overcame great odds, trials and tribulations to succeed. It makes you feel nice inside. It gives you hope too.


Meaning
At the end of the day, you crave to lend some meaning to your life. You would like to do it in various ways but silently supporting some one who has done it or is doing it, seems a good way to provide that meaning you seek. It is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it is something of a morale booster and an inspiration and we all need those in a greater or lesser degree.

 

 

Let me leave you with this thought.
Think about your favorite personality - historical or otherwise.
Why do you gravitate towards that individual or their views?
You may well find a mirror image of your own philosophy.
That should be inspiring in itself to lend meaning to your life.