Business Presentation Folders

Presentation folders are one of the most popular means of transferring documents among the world’s business communities.

Whether promoting a product, a company or an individual, the presentation folder is the foremost visual connector at the beginning of the transaction, and the opportunities to impress are countless.

The introduction of ‘oversize’ digital presses has further enhanced the benefit and impact of the presentation folder by allowing personalisation of information as well as catering for multiple page presentations when including a gusset in the product.

As well as personalisation, digital presses also offer the option of a unique design for every folder produced – and it costs no more at the print stage.

Digital of course also implies, quite correctly, print runs as required – one copy and upwards. This is a far cry from as little as three or four years ago when the only method of producing a folder was using offset technologies which frequently necessitated larger than necessary print runs to obtain a perceived scale of economy.

Presentation folders are traditionally manufactured to accommodate A4-sized documents in countries using international paper standards. These folders are generally within the limits of what is achievable on a digital press, but smaller folders such as A5, or square shapes (cd case size for example) can have equal or even greater impact on their intended markets.

The well-designed folder may also cater for additional materials such as a business card inserted in a pre-cut location. If you think your unique folder may have subsequent applications, it is worth taking this option into consideration before designing the product, as the cost of manufacturing a die for cutting the folder’s shape following printing is substantial.

Folders manufactured using recycled paper stocks are extremely popular and help to promote and reinforce good green practices. The range of recycled materials available to digital printers is substantial and growing rapidly, while contemporary digital printing itself is the most environmentally friendly method of ink/toner transfer yet devised.

A further benefit of the presentation folder may well be its re-use by the client to whom it was originally given. Folders are handy items for storing any amount of printed matter that is of interest to that person. Hence its shelf life (along with your name, message or idea) may be extended indefinitely.

Presentation folders are offered by a variety of print firms, many of them on line. The better companies offer a template for downloading so that you or your graphic designer may generate the personalised item you require. The completed design is simply uploaded back to the printing firm where the file will be proofed and printed to your specifications.

Be bold in your folder designs for they remain your invisible handshake when you are no longer in the presence of the person to whom the folder was given. Primary colours can make an outstanding statement, so remember, bold is beautiful and colour has never been more affordable.

Being Present For Peace

Being present fully. Who is? Zen masters who have done years of training in meditation and deliberate consciousness? Athletes and performers who have done years of practise, endless hours of rehearsal and perhaps hundreds of hours on stage or before a camera?

In one of her fascinating mystery novels, Patricia Cornwell’s lead character Kay Scarpetta reflects on the consciousness of a murderer. A consciousness that works the environment – notices every person around himself, the awareness levels of the individuals he is studying – who could help him, who could hinder him, in his quest for the next kill, or his quest in manipulating and using anyone to forward his goals. Scarpetta muses how unaware most folks are in comparison. How we don’t notice people around us, or the details of the setting we’re in. How much more present a serial murderer is, than us plain folks.

That’s scary, huh? Do any of us enter a public place or a workplace on the leading edge of awareness – scouting for someone to exchange a positive communication with, someone to help, or ask for help? Do we scan the crowd for persons of peaceful or cheerful demeanors with which to resonate, enjoy, and move on? Do we notice? Are we ever fully open to the scenario we are in, drinking in every tiny vibe of “Yes!” from the movements, mannersims, expressions of individuals in our immediate landscape, be it the mall, the bus stop, the parking lot, the office tower lobby?

So do we have to be a murderous predator to even contemplate that degree of awareness?

It strikes me that the opposite – serenity – might be an equivalent presence. I’ve experienced serenity after meditating, after exercising, after performing especially. There were moments of a real high, of extended perceptions, a sense of seeing every face in an audience. Also a sense of hearing every individual in an audience breathing individually from the stage. (No, I was not on some chemical or herb.) An open, receptive consciousness, taking in astounding detail.

Not so much extending perceptually out into the environment scouting for certain things, but BEING the whole area of perception, wrapping around it in a way. And therefore knowing what was there.

So my train of thought kept going with the idea that if we non-predatory individuals walked through life via a presence, our presence, opened and extended in this way, that we would notice more of a like consciousness anywhere we go. Or just look at. And we, being in this frame of mind, would be Being more.

In most busy, crowded, public places I tend to shut down. I know where I need to go, what I need to do, and then I want to get home, or to my next quieter place, or next commitment. So it’s like the goal is to NOT be there!

Now the thought hangs – what have I missed? Who have I missed? I will never know – but possibly now I will remember, once or twice a month, to wake up in my environment, really Be There and take it all in, look for what I think of as good in the environment, anything good. Not as in a delusion or fantasy – but with bold, sharp-edged awareness.

New Way of Negotiation

Think back to a recent negotiation that you were involved in. Were you apprehensive that your counterpart in the negotiation would be better prepared or more skillful? Perhaps you were hopeful that the facts favored you and that your alternatives were much better than those of your counterpart. Were you nervous because your processional possibilities were tied to the outcome? During the negotiation, were you surprised by some new facts you didn’t know or made angry by the patronizing attitude of the other negotiator? And at the end, were you thrilled at the outcome.

Don’t let them get to you, good advice for negotiating? But what is the way to become the expert negotiator? I have experienced the new way of negotiation, which is very intrinsic, primary and fundamental part of human experience. We often negotiate under the influence of emotions, it plays many important roles: it motivates us to act; it provides us with important information about ourselves, the other party, and the negotiation; it helps organize and sharpen our cognitive processes; and it enhances the process and outcome of a negotiation when used strategically. While the emotion we experience provides us with information, the emotion we display provides information to others that can be an incentive or deterrent to their behavior. 

Initially, emotion was considered to be an obstacle to a good negotiated outcome and a foe to an effective bargaining process. Emotion in negotiation is a very common thing. Yet, many people suggest that being emotional is a sign of a weakness or is the behavior of an unsophisticated negotiator; some say that emotions must be repressed. 

There are many advantages to being an emotionally intelligent negotiator. For example, an emotionally intelligent negotiator is able to gather more and richer information about the other side’s underlying interests and reservation points; can more accurately evaluate risk, which leads to better decision making; can better perceive opportunities to use negotiation strategies and tactics that involve emotions; and can more successfully induce desired emotions in negotiation opponents. 

Negotiations often suggest a variety of emotions, especially anger and excitement. Angry negotiators plan to use more competitive strategies and to cooperate less, even before the negotiation starts. However, expression of negative emotions during negotiation can beneficial: legitimately expressed anger can be an effective way to show one’s commitment, sincerity, and needs. Excitement provides the high charge of negotiation.