Paper towel math. It just doesn’t add up.

A former financial analyst turned presenter.

As a former financial analyst, I’ve navigated through countless sessions, crunching numbers, and constructing presentations to convey complex information. But there was one particular instance that left me both puzzled and enlightened about the nuances of communication, especially when it comes to visual aids.

I was working on a speaking engagement session on presentation visuals, aiming for clarity and coherence in my presentation. On this particular slide, I was telling people there’s more than one right way to create visuals and that it’s about creativity in communications. Confident in my choice of visuals, I showed it to a friend for some feedback.

You want me to use what?

He got excited, jumped up, and exclaimed, “I have a better image for you!” He ran off into the kitchen and promptly returned with 2 rolls of paper towels. “Take a photo of these and use it instead of the signs. It’s hysterical!” I blinked, initially taken aback by the seemingly random suggestion. As he elaborated, it became clear to me: everyone processes information through their own life experiences and knowledge. I had no idea where he was going with this. Finally, he said, “Paper towel math!” I got it, but it took a lot of explaination.

Information must be conveyed quickly and efficiently.

My session was on clear communication using visuals and images, having the ability to convey information quickly and efficiently. They should serve as beacons of clarity, guiding the audience’s understanding with ease. The paper towel image is funny but requires a somewhat lengthy explanation. In a presentation, the image may only be used for a couple of seconds to support what the speaker is saying and must make sense immediately.

As presenters, we have a responsibility to ensure that every aspect of our presentation, from visuals to verbal delivery, contributes to a seamless exchange of information. Remember to embrace humor, but never at the expense of clarity. I had to politely explain why I couldn’t use the image of paper towels. So, maybe their marketing team might want to borrow a calculator next time they’re crunching numbers. Last time I checked, 2 plus 2 still equals 4, not 5. If they’re giving away free paper towels with that equation, count me in – I’ve got some spills to clean up!

Think of each slide as a billboard.

The bottom line? Visuals should communicate quickly and efficiently. Think of each slide as a billboard. If you can’t quickly decipher what it is, what it means, and what to do with it, you may want to consider bidding it farewell and find something more straightforward.

More paper towel humor.

If you enjoyed the paper towel humor, check out this hysterical book I found on Audible, but don’t judge my warped sense of humor. In-Depth Market Research Interviews with Dead People: Bounty: A Short Story.