Guy Kawasaki, a renowned author and former chief evangelist for Apple, shares his insights on making communication captivating rather than merely informative. He emphasizes that storytelling should evoke emotions, suggesting that entertainment enhances the chance to inform. From crafting engaging presentations to utilizing the 10-20-30 rule, he offers practical strategies for pitches and talks. Kawasaki also discusses how fostering a growth mindset is crucial in both communication and personal endeavors, highlighting the transformative power of storytelling.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Entertain to Inform
Entertain your audience first; information comes second.
Prioritize engagement to effectively inform and connect with listeners.
insights INSIGHT
Pitching Goals
The goal of a pitch is not to secure immediate funding but to avoid elimination.
Focus on progressing to the next stage, due diligence, rather than aiming for a check right away.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Pitch Like a Fighter Jet
Deliver pitches concisely and get to the point quickly, like a fighter jet taking off.
Avoid long-winded explanations; present core information immediately, focusing on value.
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In this book, Carol S. Dweck introduces the concept of two mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe their abilities are static, while those with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning. Dweck shows how these mindsets influence success in school, work, sports, and personal relationships. She also discusses how to adopt a deeper, truer growth mindset, and how this can transform individual and organizational cultures. The book emphasizes the importance of perseverance, learning from failures, and embracing challenges as key components of the growth mindset[1][2][5].
Think Remarkable
9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference
Madisun Nuismer
Guy Kawasaki
In this book, Guy Kawasaki and Madisun Nuismer provide a roadmap for personal and professional growth. It synthesizes knowledge from over 40 years of working with organizations like Apple, Canva, Google, and Wikipedia, along with insights from interviews with remarkable people such as Jane Goodall, Steve Wozniak, and Stacey Abrams. The book is divided into sections on Growth, Grit, and Grace, offering practical advice on adopting a growth mindset, developing resilience, and making a meaningful difference in the world.
How to captivate an audience and make your message stick.
Pitches and presentations don’t fall flat because speakers aren’t prepared. For Guy Kawasaki, it’s because speakers miss the point. “If all you're trying to do is inform, you're not going to pull it off. You have to entertain your audience.”
A renowned author, speaker, and entrepreneur, Kawasaki knows that the point of great storytelling isn’t about information, it’s about emotion. “Too many speakers think, ‘I need to inform my audience. I need to get my story across,’” he says. But throughout his career, formerly as Chief Evangelist at Apple and now co-founder of Canva, he’s shown how successful communication is about captivating audiences, not conveying facts. “If you entertain people, you have a chance of informing them.”
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Kawasaki joins Matt Abrahams to explore practical strategies for building decks, structuring presentations, and tips for keeping audiences engaged. From investor pitches to keynote presentations, these strategies help create effective storytelling — in business and beyond.
Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques 
