I recently posted an article titled “Internet Marketing and Public Speaking: Ten Tips for When Twain Shall Meet.” One of tips concerned a means to practice your sales presentation with a “Murder Board.” I received several emails requesting a fuller explanation of this practice method.

I decided to write two explanatory articles, so vital is this method to improve one’s public speaking, specifically in preparing a presentation aimed at selling off-line your on-line product. In this article, I’ll provide an in-depth explanation of this practice method; in second, I’ll cover seven steps need for a successful Murder Board.

Simply stated, Murder Board is a realistic simulation of actual presentation to be made. Colleagues role-play audience, asking type of questions they believe this specific group is likely to ask. It is intended to be more difficult than actual presentation.

If you want to become an effective and persuasive presenter to boost your on-line marketing, this realistic practice session is most effective shortcut to speaking excellence. It allows you to make your mistakes when they don't count, increasing odds that you will shine when actual presentation is made.

The Origin of Murder Board

The term Murder Board has its origins within U.S. military, specifically within extensive training system of U.S. Army. When a person has been selected to be an instructor at an Army school, he or she must go through a demanding instructor training program.

Graduation and designation as an instructor is dependent not on a written test, but successful delivery of a 50 minute class from curriculum of school.

The audience for this crucible can be instructors who have gone through their own Murder Board, and are determined that this would-be instructor will experience same frustration and humiliation they did. They ask tough, realistic, questions, type of questions their students are asking.

At end of 50 minute class, aspiring instructor gets a a thumbs up—meaning he or she can now join this band of brothers and sisters as an instructor, or a thumbs-down, meaning another “opportunity” to go through a Murder Board.

Lessons from Pentagon

This realistic simulation has permeated military culture. As an example, when I ran Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) briefing team, we had three Murder Boards before daily briefing to Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The first one was at 5:30 AM, second at 6:30 AM, third in front of two General officers and all analysists, one hour later. By time my briefer or I was standing in front of Chairman, those intense sessions had provided right answers to virtually any conceivable question Chairman was likely to ask.

Why have a Murder Board?

This painstaking practice session has two overriding objectives:

"There is difference between knowing path and walking path" - Morpheus, Matrix Revolutions.

Can you make money on net?

What kind of question is that?

Of course you know that it can be made. That is why you are reading an article on internet marketing

It is good to know. Knowledge is an essential item that we should possess.

My next question is to a particular segment.

Why are you not in business then?

Many a people know that money can be made on internet. A lot of them also know that potential is huge.

But why then they do not start their own business and earn money.

They just know. They do not endeavor.

Just knowing is not enough. One must realize what he knows. Only then he can be convinced about actual path and destination. So many people start their business on net. They know they can earn money and lot of that. But they stop midway before they can earn a single dime.

Why?

There is a difference between knowing and walking path.

They just know. Their knowledge is based on perception. Their knowledge is not based upon realization. They become shaky, loose confidence and stop before they put their first step in.