The Minto Pyramid Principle is a method for structuring and communicating information effectively. Developed by Barbara Minto, it emphasizes starting with the answer or key point, then grouping and summarizing supporting arguments, and finally presenting detailed supporting ideas in a logical order. The principle is based on a top-down structure, where the main point is presented first, followed by the reasoning and supporting data. This approach helps in maximizing the audience's attention and making the message more convincing and easy to understand. The book is widely used in business, technical, and consulting fields and introduces concepts such as MECE (Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive) thinking and the Situation, Complication, Question (SCQ) framework[2][3][4].
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John provide a comprehensive portrait of Jesus Christ. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels due to their similar narrative order and shared content. John's Gospel is distinct and includes much unparalleled information. Each Gospel was written for different audiences and emphasizes different aspects of Jesus' mission and teachings[1][2][3].
This book, released in conjunction with the film of the same name, presents a comprehensive look at global warming. It combines leading-edge research, photographs, charts, and personal anecdotes to document the rapid and widespread impacts of global warming. Gore explains the causes and effects of global warming in clear terms, highlighting the urgent need for action to mitigate its detrimental consequences. The book is designed to be accessible and educational, using easy-to-grasp graphics and revealing before-and-after photos to illustrate the climate crisis[1][2][4].
This book details a twelve-stage, myth-inspired method for storytelling that has significantly influenced cinematic narrative. Originally based on a memo Vogler wrote for Walt Disney Animation executives regarding 'The Lion King', the book expands on Joseph Campbell's 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces' and provides a practical guide for writers using examples from myths, fairy tales, and classic movies. It includes stages such as 'The Ordinary World', 'The Call to Adventure', 'Meeting with the Mentor', and 'The Resurrection', among others, and is widely acclaimed for its impact on screenwriting worldwide.
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Nancy Duarte is the CEO of Duarte Inc. and has helped create over 250,000 presentations for influential business leaders across the globe, including Apple, TED, the World Bank, and Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. She’s also written six best-selling books, and her TED talk has garnered over 3 million views. She regularly contributes to HBR, MIT-Sloan, and Forbes, and her books are essential reading in leading business schools worldwide. In today’s episode, we discuss:
• Why empathy is at the heart of everything Nancy does
• Why you’re presenting more often than you think
• Tactics for creating interesting presentations and telling better stories
• The concept of a “torchbearer leader” and why it’s important
• Strategies for overcoming stage fright and nerves
• Tips for communicating and presenting remotely
• How Nancy landed Apple as a client and what she learned
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Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/storytelling-with-nancy-duarte-how
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Where to find Nancy Duarte:
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancyduarte
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyduarte/
• Website: https://www.duarte.com/
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Where to find Lenny:
• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lennysan
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/
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In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Nancy’s background
(03:25) The insane number of presentations Nancy has helped create
(04:52) The most memorable presentation of Nancy’s career, and what it taught her
(07:04) The lasting impact of working with Al Gore
(09:00) How Nancy landed Apple as a client
(11:44) How working with Apple informed future presentations
(16:22) 3 things to remember when creating a deck
(17:33) The importance of empathy
(20:29) Empathy in action
(22:40) Why internal presentations are so high-pressure
(23:09) Signs you’re doing a good job making the audience the hero of the story
(25:38) The structure of great talks
(28:08) Lessons from great historical speeches
(30:02) You’re presenting more often than you think
(32:07) How Nancy uses this story structure in her marriage
(35:00) The framework What is? What could be? What is the ideal bliss?
(36:07) The importance of visuals
(41:12) Slide-making principles (titles, organization, and more)
(45:46) The Minto Pyramid Principle
(48:02) Think and plan before diving into software
(50:00) The Duarte process for crafting presentations
(53:18) How remote work has influenced the way we communicate and present
(55:46) Strategies for overcoming stage fright and nerves
(1:01:10) The concept of “torchbearer leaders” and why it’s important
(1:04:54) The surprising truth about informal vs. formal production quality
(1:07:37) Examples of PMs telling great stories
(1:11:49) Lightning round
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Referenced:
• Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth: https://algore.com/library/an-inconvenient-truth-dvd
• Apple’s Think Different campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sMBhDv4sik
• The Secret Structure of Great Talks (Nancy’s TED talk): https://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_duarte_the_secret_structure_of_great_talks
• The Structure of Great Talks graphic: https://www.google.com/search?q=nancy+duarte+ted+talk+great+story+up+and+down+like+teeth&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi2hoCZmJH_AhVXATQIHb1KC2AQ0pQJegQIBxAB&biw=1512&bih=838&dpr=2#imgrc=5Jei-bDCXe2qQM
• I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP4iY1TtS3s
• The Minto Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing, Thinking and Problem Solving: https://www.amazon.com/Minto-Pyramid-Principle-Writing-Thinking
• The Minto Pyramid Principle and the SCR Framework, by Lenny: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/minto-pyramid-principle-scr
• Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols: https://www.amazon.com/Illuminate-Through-Speeches-Stories-Ceremonies
• Marshall Ganz: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/marshall-ganz
• Brian Chesky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianchesky/
• Airbnb’s Snow White storyboards: https://uxdesign.cc/how-airbnb-proved-that-storytelling-is-the-most-important-skill-in-design-15d04ac71039
• The Writer’s Journey: https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Journey-Anniversary-Mythic-Structure
• Business Proposal: https://asianwiki.com/Business_Proposal
• Writer: https://writer.com/
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Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.
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