The webinar presenter knew his stuff. He didn’t know his audience. He was a technical expert talking with business owners who have more pressing concerns than deciphering his message.

Someone should teach him how to use similes to explain complicated concepts in pictures. Which is easiest to remember: a dolphin or a “terrabystalbit”?

Similes are preceded by the word “like”. For example, “neuro-linguistic programming is like creating a movie in your mind that changes your behaviors.” “An iPod is like a jukebox that holds thousands of songs.” “Jim is like Tom Hanks.”

If you’re talking with a customer and her eyes glaze over like the deer in the headlights, back up and use a simile to put your idea into pictures she can understand.