Deliver a keynote like Steve Jobs in ten simple steps

Are you a CEO hoping to "step it up," "knock it out of the park," and generally "take it to the bridge" -- old-school style -- but you can't seem to work the magic? Well, BusinessWeek has got just the thing for you: a ten-point plan on how to deliver a presentation like our main man, Steve Jobs. Breaking it down from "set a theme" all the way to "rehearse, rehearse, rehearse," the cats at BW lay out everything you need to know to shatter sales records, hike your stock, and innovate the hell out of a keynote. Of course, they don't advise you on choice of outfits (we suggest jeans, sneakers, and a turtleneck), products to launch (how does iPhone 2 sound to you?), or how to properly execute a "Boom!" ("Boom!") -- but we're pretty sure you can suss those details out on your own. If you want the full breakdown of tips and tricks, including how to properly appear excited about your own products, hit the read link ASAP. To help you along, we've included a clip of Jobs doing his thing after the break. Boom!

[Michael @ Jan 27th 2008 3:36PM]

Man, it really is a slow day. Boom!

I should get out of my pajamas. Boom!

I suppose commenting could be construed as productive. Boom!

Back to my term paper I guess. Boom!

(Proceeds to reflect on this low point in my life)

[derX @ Jan 27th 2008 4:46PM]

Hrm, E, there seems to be a dissenting opinion.

And by 'a' I meant 'a great many'.

Boom!

[Andrew Danks @ Jan 27th 2008 4:49PM]

Eric:
Not only did you make a fool of yourself with that comment of yours (check the rating of your comment), but you left a link to your eBay blog.

You're a sad, sad man.

[dionysus @ Jan 27th 2008 5:52PM]

ha this is so boom. should start registering everything "boom," like iboom, airboom, macboom, job-boom or jobboom...

[David @ Jan 27th 2008 7:40PM]

The problem with applying this to my student life is that the Renaissance is a fairly boring subject. I mean seriously, whatever Apple presents will always be more interesting than the Renaissance, such as the new Macbook Air or iPhone.

[onepointfivevolt @ Jan 28th 2008 10:26AM]

i think it's a pretty sad time to live when we consider the iphone and macbook more interesting than a few hundred of the most remarkable years in history.

[1p5v @ Jan 28th 2008 10:28AM]

p.s. BOOM!

[SIC TR4NSIT @ Jan 27th 2008 3:37PM]

Dont forget the part about being condescending and arrogant... (Fanboys of all flavors can agree on that one) CAN I GET AN AMEN???!!1

[Charles @ Jan 27th 2008 3:54PM]

Most CEO/top execs will come off as condescending and arrogant - it probably has more to do with their own confidence in the company.

You cant deny that Jobs gives the best keynotes around - I think it has a lot to do with how much pride he has in the company he founded with Woz 24 years ago.

.... oh and Boom!

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Jan 27th 2008 4:10PM]

Steve Jobs has had so many repeat successes when the rest of the world had no idea what he saw for the long term. So if the man wants to be a narcissistic, perfectionist asshole, then so be it. Though I do wholeheartedly agree that Jobs is an arrogant, condescending prick.

[SIC TR4NSIT @ Jan 27th 2008 3:38PM]

And Michael beats me to the first joke... Good stuff btw...

[Richard Lai @ Jan 27th 2008 3:40PM]

I bet Steve is a big fan of the Bomberman game. Good old days.

[Liam @ Jan 27th 2008 3:41PM]

Hiking up your stock? I don't think many shareholders watch the keynote. They just hit F5 on sites like these and go "No new iPods/iPhones/God Machine? SELL!" or at least that's how I reckon it played out.

[Will @ Jan 27th 2008 7:55PM]

yeah. . . . . that's exactly how shareholders work. . . .

[dramamoose @ Jan 27th 2008 8:04PM]

Yeah. Definately.
_>

[ez17 @ Jan 27th 2008 3:49PM]

Steve is a true master showman, I try watching other companies keynotes I just cant (have you ever seen a bill gates one? you'd go straight to sleep) but when steve jobs does it its like watching a movie.

[stevio @ Jan 27th 2008 6:14PM]

its just like comparing osx with vista..
vista is dead boring, osx is always fun and has a big BOOM to it

#care

[Kelmon @ Jan 28th 2008 2:44AM]

Absolutely agree. Regardless of whether you like Apple or its products each keynote address by Steve Jobs is a masterclass in presentation delivery. The bad parts of any keynote from Apple is always the bits where Steve hands over to someone else (please spare me from more Bertrand Serlet, Scott Forstall, or the guy from Cingular again) and he can make something dull sound interesting. Ultimately, it comes down to knowing your subject, being seen to be excited about what you are talking about, and general charisma. If I could deliver presentations as well as Steve then I'd be very happy, and probably a lot richer as well.

[bob @ Jan 27th 2008 3:54PM]

Steve's Job's keynotes have always reminded me of a Ron Popeil infomercial. Right down to the crowd of people that cheer the unveiling of a new product. Since Jobs is generally unveiling some cool tech, it's easy to forget that he is really just taking the role of a traditional pitch man. Just think how closely his "one more thing" schtick resembles an infomercial's, "...but wait, there's more."

He's no doubt great at what he does, but I often times feel dirty for being swayed by his keynotes. I laugh when I think of all the people getting lulled into buying Magic Bullets and Oxy Clean, but Job's promoting Apple stuff is in many ways no different.

[EddieW @ Jan 27th 2008 3:56PM]

You know? I honestly don't think he is a great public speaker. I work for a Fortune 500 company and the CEO of the company does a better job at speeches than Steve Jobs. Steve seems to 'hang' sometime during the speech and he tends to repeat himself from time to time. Of course, that doesn't make Steve any less of a 'God' to some people, but strictly on giving out keynotes, I don't think he is one of the best.

[Ellianth @ Jan 27th 2008 5:18PM]

I agree, I think he is all that great. I find his keynotes boring. I'm interested to see what he's gonna announce, but not really interested in him or how he says what he has to say.

[hariss @ Jan 27th 2008 4:01PM]

WoW..so many BOOMS! in one BOOOMING video.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jan 27th 2008 4:02PM]

Wutheboom?

[Sander de Regt @ Jan 27th 2008 4:06PM]

I've played around with some Macs from time to time - isn't 'boom' the MAC alternative to the Windows BSOD?

[Derek @ Jan 27th 2008 4:18PM]

Was that a joke?

[Sander de Regt @ Jan 27th 2008 4:25PM]

Only partly. I seem to recall that whenever those Macs froze (and contrary to popular/fanboy believe they CAN freeze up) there was an ominous 'boom' like sound.

[Sean D. @ Jan 27th 2008 5:29PM]

No boom sound, but there used to be a picture of a bomb in OS9 and earlier.

Now it's just a semi-transparent black veil of death (BVOD) that slowly creeps over the screen.

[Ted @ Jan 27th 2008 4:10PM]

HAHhahahaha! Man, that really made me crack up.

[Ellianth @ Jan 27th 2008 5:19PM]

Then you're easily amused.

[Ted @ Jan 27th 2008 7:01PM]

And there's no shame in that :P

[Ron Hands @ Jan 27th 2008 4:14PM]

Steve is good but not great. He also has a large support team making everything look a feel soooo good. BOOM! I also believe he looked almost sick at Macworld and surprised people didn't question his health. Its easy to look and sound great when everything is currenly going your way but 2008 might be a tough year for Steve an crew.
http://www.ronhands.com

[ark_v2 @ Jan 27th 2008 4:19PM]

I expected the kids' photo to blow up with da "boom".
Oh well...

[Macroy @ Jan 27th 2008 4:21PM]

Well, this will come in handy when I give that presentation in class next week.

[ark_v2 @ Jan 27th 2008 5:11PM]

Just remember to wear a black turtleneck.

[Ellianth @ Jan 27th 2008 5:22PM]

also remember to think that you're God. Or, at the very least, Gods gift to the world.

[conservative @ Jan 27th 2008 4:27PM]

List of celebrity Mac users:

Gary Glitter
Pete Townshend
Johnathan King
Chris Langham

See if you can work out the connection...

[Dave @ Jan 27th 2008 4:33PM]

I'm forwarding this over to Bill Gates and Steve Balmer. Im not being a fanboy... you just HAVE to admit that Steve Jobs is much better at keynotes and public speaking than the MS guys. Im reminded of when Bill Gates was on the daily show... that was horrid. Or what about the conference where they were on stage sitting next to each other. I loved watching that, but felt bad for Mr. Gates as his speaking skills were lacking.

I think Bill's best performance was the one he did for his "last day at MS" That was AWESOME!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1M-IafCor4

[ItsTheOMGShow @ Jan 27th 2008 4:33PM]

lol @ "take it to the bridge." Great post

[crescentdavid @ Jan 27th 2008 4:41PM]

The vid is down for some reason. Boom.
I wish I could see it. Boom.
I think Jobs gives a better than average address. Boom.
I'm still not sure why he's worshipped. Boom.
Is he like that cool guy most people will never be? Boom.
Or a father figure applets can look up to? Boom.
FTR, Jobs surrounds himself with excellent workers. Boom.
There's Jobs, then there's the hundreds of key employees who make Apple really work. Boom.
My hat's off to the guys and gals who actually do the deal. Boom.

[derX @ Jan 27th 2008 4:49PM]

Man gems?

I don't think I'll be going there.

[jbspeyer @ Jan 27th 2008 6:10PM]

Never forget to wear the signature black turtle neck.

[Ron @ Jan 27th 2008 5:28PM]

For everyone that missed Steve's Booms during the last keynote, you can revitalize yourself with that video

[hellalame @ Jan 27th 2008 6:29PM]

Eric. Yeah Mr Ventronics

Not only did you make a fool of yourself with that comment of yours.

Not only are you a sad, sad man.

But I just took the liberty of grassing you up to ebay for selling vast amounts of copied MP3's on their site.

Have a nice day!

Boom!

[Dave @ Jan 27th 2008 7:09PM]

HAHAHAHAHahaahahahaaa...... AAHHH HAHAHAHAaaaahaaaaa

OMG I literally LOL'd when I read you comment! Awesome!!! ; )

[Mike10010100 @ Jan 28th 2008 6:05AM]

GJ dude! His site's already down!

[3rdsun @ Jan 27th 2008 6:54PM]

Put the Bomb Squad on standby Jobs' keynotes could be considered acts of terrorism.

[MasterCKO @ Jan 27th 2008 7:04PM]

zing!

[rav97 @ Jan 27th 2008 8:38PM]

I think Jeremy Piven would be perfect as Apple CEO when Steve Jobs retires.

[bob @ Jan 27th 2008 10:24PM]

Boom.

[SteveMB @ Jan 27th 2008 10:30PM]

One more thing...