No matter how much you prepare for your presentation, there are external factors beyond your control.

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Using their input, I designed the flow of the two days and asked each person to prepare a PowerPoint presentation of the strategy for their area.

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It is a room for Mr. Rubin's son, age 15, to prepare his science presentation, or for Mr. Rubin to read while the rest of the family is doing homework or watching television.

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"You'd see a group of consultants hovering over a laptop, trying to prepare for a presentation, or else people had interviews, and the lobby wasn't providing enough privacy for the topic they were discussing, " says Brian Povinelli, senior vice president and global brand leader at Westin and Meridien.

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In addition, you want to prepare your pitch, presentation, or whatever you are delivering for the event.

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