No Shortcuts in Life?

My colleague Ken and I led a presentation workshop over the past two days. Anytime I participate in this class, one thing becomes obvious to me:

Whoever coined the oft-repeated phrase, "there are no shortcuts in life" was either stupid or lying.

For better or worse, there can be no question that presentation skills are one shortcut in life.

We've all known people who are really smart but can't present their ideas. Chances are they didn't get very far.

We also know people who aren't so smart, but can make a great presentation. Bet they got pretty far, huh?

The goal, of course, is to achieve both.

If you watch videos by famous scientists and researchers, you'll be surprised how many of them can give a good speech. Even the biggest geeks in the group can tell a good story and get his or her message across. 
Watch Richard Feynman, Francis Collins, or Buckminster Fuller to see what I mean.

I don't think that this is an accident.
They had to get funding. They had to get their ideas heard.

That wouldn't have happened if they couldn't communicate.

Here's Richard Feynman, a great storyteller (and Nobel Prize winner)

Next time you think that presenting is a pain in the butt, think again.

It may be just the shortcut you're looking for.