2017 Checklist: What Your Business Needs to Do to Start the Year Wisely

business

Business Checklist

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Gifographics

New Year

Presentation Agency

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

It’s already the third day of 2017. My, how time flies, doesn’t it? With the new year, though, how much have you done? Or, perhaps, a better question would be, “How far are you willing to go this year?”Past the fireworks and new year’s feast lies an unknown. The uncertainty of the future. But then again, it’s a brand-new start… isn’t it? Blank slate, anyone?New beginnings can be looked at in a myriad of ways: positively, negatively, pragmatically, stoically, and so on. If you’re one who holds new years in a high note, then you’re sure to hope for the best in 2017—like the past years as they started. Others can be unconcerned, at worst be apathetic, and just go on with their daily grind. Not saying this is wrong, mind you.No matter how you look at it, the new year is about to give another set of challenges—other chances to grow, opportunities to take, and lessons to learn. But before that, you have to be prepared for them. Check out the infographic below to know how you and your business can have a fresh start to be wiser.Business Checklist for 2017If you hold on to the thought that how you start your year will affect the rest it, then stop. It doesn’t work that way. Just stop. You may start the year in a good mood, but someone or something may ruin parts of it. Or the other way around: 2017 may start in a bad way, but someone or something will turn all of it around. When you begin your day, does it always stay good or bad?And there’s the lesson there: don’t just wait for your year, or day, to be magically fixed. It’s your effort that will get you through the day or through the year.You decide your own future. A more familiar version of that is, “Life is what you make it.” This presentation design agency made it because of hard work. You can too. “Decide my own future.” How’s that for a New Year’s resolution?

Resources:

Evans, Lisa. “4 Ways to Get into a Positive Mindset for the New Year.” Entrepreneur. December 18, 2013. www.entrepreneur.com/article/230427Ratliff, Joseph. “The Myth of The New Year’s ‘Blank Slate.’” Medium. December 31, 2013. www.medium.com/challenging-the-status-quo/the-myth-of-the-new-years-blank-slate-11b342611a36#.e7dl0fmf6

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Season of Giving: Making Your Audience Happier with Gifts

audience

business

Christmas

gif

Gifographics

infographics

presentation

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Ah, the Yuletide season. Nothing like the cold winter nights, all snuggled up in a blanket and drinking hot chocolate or eggnog—or any hot drink at all. Perhaps alone, if you so choose, or with loved ones. A cozy thought, especially for those looking to make the most out of this time of the year.And by “make the most out of this time of the year,” let’s define it as “going out and spreading the message of the holidays.” Or, you know, “the season of giving.” This group of PowerPoint presentation professionals would like to think that, aside from the above statement, we consider that every day should be like Christmas—and in turn, every presentation should be just as giving as the last, if not more.But what are you actually giving to your audience? Do you have to be a secret Santa to do that? Let’s take a step back and have a look from the observer’s perspective with this gifographic.Making Your Audience Happier with GiftsThere’s no season like Christmas. For many, it’s a time of cheer and splendor, while for some, it’s a time of charity and selflessness.For each and every one, it’s about merrymaking. Parties with officemates, friends, family, and relatives all make the holidays worthwhile. Get-togethers from distant beloveds and reunions with people you seldom see but often miss. Getting into the spirit of the season with decorations, fetes, and gift-giving truly make it a joyous part of the ending year.And there’s no feeling better in the world than the merriment spent with those close to you.It’s not as if your audience shouldn’t be treated as such. They’re an integral part of your task—as small as a group of company executives or as big as a jam-packed auditorium as it may be. Your audience is one of the reasons you’re onstage; they’re there to cheer you and to make sure you’re not doing this in vain.Don’t take for granted that kind of support. You and your audience are playing your parts. Make the best out of it.

Resources:

Dorfman, Jeffrey. “Twenty Quotes And Verses On Giving For Christmas.” Forbes. December 25, 2014. www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2014/12/25/20-quotes-and-verses-on-giving-for-christmas/#54867dde1e17Mack, Lloyd. “Christmas is the season for giving.” Kenora Daily Miner & News. December 1, 2016. www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/2016/12/01/christmas-is-the-season-for-giving

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Presentation Lessons You Can Learn from Your Thanksgiving Dinner

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Gifographics

Powerpoint

presentation

presentation design

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Thanksgiving

With fall ending (fine, let’s cave: Winter is coming), it’s high time again for turkey season. Thanksgiving. In one Thursday night, families dine together for a feast. For a holiday that had its roots on the popular belief that the first-year survivors who came to the New World aboard the Mayflower dined with the Wampanoag tribe after a great harvest, it has since become more than just that and more about the appreciation and giving thanks for basically every good aspect in our lives.While not forgetting the memorable parades, awesome sales, great sportscasts, and the coming holiday season, people look forward to Thanksgiving dinners the most.The soggy yet scrumptious croutons floating on the soup. Two bowls of glorious mashed potatoes—one smooth and one with chunks—side by side a gravy boat filled to the brim. Fruits of a myriad colors on one corner and freshly baked loaves of bread on the other. The smell that wafts across the room from that first slice of turkey.Looking at a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner table, you can draw the similarities between the feast in front of you and a great PowerPoint presentation in front of your audience.You don’t? Well, awesome presentation design agencies certainly do. Here’s an infographic showing you the anatomy of an excellent visual aid with food that only comes on the last Thursday of November.Presentation Inspired by Thanksgiving Dinners_GifographicNow’s the time to be appreciative of the many stuff you can be grateful for: a great family, an awesome career, a solid support group, and even the material things. There’s no greater sense of being alive than being thankful to be alive. (But, come on, it doesn’t mean it just has to be during this time of the year. Show it all year round!)With the Yuletide season looming, it won’t be long after new year comes—new beginnings, resolutions, targets, goals, etc. Another year of successes and failures. Another year of expectations and efforts.Before those come, take a breath. You wouldn’t want to be exhausted when the year ends a month from now, don’t you?

Resources:

Faught, Steven. “Anatomy of a Good Presentation.” wePresent. September 23, 2014. blog.wepresentwifi.com/anatomy-good-presentation“HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING.” History.com. n.d. www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving

How to Loop a GIF Background in PowerPoint 2013

animation

gif

powerpoint presentations

Powerpoint tips

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

GIFs (Graphics Interchange Format) can bring motion and energy to your PowerPoint presentation. Whether you’re using a GIF as a background or as part of your content, looping it correctly ensures that the animation repeats smoothly throughout your presentation. Here’s how to loop a GIF background in PowerPoint 2013.


1. Insert the GIF into Your Slide

To use a GIF as a background or part of your presentation, you first need to insert it into your slide.Why It’s Important:

  • Adds Dynamic Visuals: GIFs can add motion to your presentation, making it more visually engaging.
  • Provides Continuous Animation: A looping GIF keeps the motion going, maintaining the dynamic energy throughout your presentation.

How to Do It:

  • Go to the Insert tab, click Pictures, and select This Device.
  • Navigate to the location of your GIF, select it, and click Insert.

2. Set the GIF as the Background

If you want to use the GIF as a slide background, you’ll need to adjust its size and positioning to cover the entire slide.Why It’s Important:

  • Creates a Visually Engaging Background: A GIF background can add movement and life to an otherwise static slide.
  • Enhances Presentation Design: A well-chosen GIF background can align with your theme and create a professional look.

How to Do It:

  • Once the GIF is inserted, drag the corners to resize it until it covers the entire slide.
  • Right-click the GIF, choose Send to Back, so it doesn’t cover other content on the slide.

3. Set the GIF to Loop Continuously

By default, GIFs in PowerPoint don’t always loop. To ensure that your GIF background loops seamlessly throughout the presentation, you need to adjust the settings.Why It’s Important:

  • Ensures Smooth Playback: Setting the GIF to loop ensures that it plays continuously without restarting or pausing.
  • Keeps the Animation Going: A looping GIF maintains the motion throughout the duration of the slide.

How to Do It:

  • Click on the GIF to select it.
  • Go to the Playback tab in the ribbon, and under Video Options, check the box labeled Loop until Stopped.

4. Test the GIF in Slideshow Mode

Once you’ve set your GIF to loop, it’s important to test it in Slideshow mode to ensure that it works as intended.Why It’s Important:

  • Avoids Technical Issues: Testing ensures that the GIF loops smoothly without interruptions during your presentation.
  • Ensures Consistent Motion: Make sure the GIF continues to loop without restarting or freezing.

How to Do It:

  • Press F5 or click Slide Show > From Beginning to start the presentation.
  • Watch the GIF to ensure it loops smoothly and doesn’t disrupt the flow of your presentation.

Final Thoughts

Looping a GIF background in PowerPoint 2013 is a simple yet effective way to add motion and energy to your presentation. By setting your GIF to loop continuously, you ensure that it plays smoothly throughout the duration of your slide, keeping your audience engaged and enhancing the overall visual appeal of your presentation. Just be sure to test the GIF in Slideshow mode to guarantee seamless playback.