Breaking Down the Best TED Talks

May 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

In the 20th Anniversary edition of WIRED Magazine, Jason Kehe gives the winning formula for the most successful TED talks.  I listen to several TED talks a week, so I found his list right on the money.

  1. Simple PowerPoints slides or graphics. It turns out, most great presentations have simple presentations with minimal graphics.  Those bullet points aren’t all that inspiring.
  2. Opening jokes.  A few catchy statements, but most people just get right to it.  When you’re on the clock, you don’t have time to waste words.  The first five minutes of any talk are the most important, because this is your chance to connect.
  3. A spontaneous moment.  Kehe points out that there are few memorable, unscripted moments.  Don’t be afraid to respond to the audience.
  4. Statement of Certainty.  When you’re standing in front of a room full of people, be the expert.
  5. A snappy refrain that’s repeated often.  Work hard to craft a sticky statement, then repeat it again and again.  Like the chorus of a song, repeat what’s important.  I call this a sticky statement, and there’s a formula to create a good one.
  6. A story of personal failure.  John Maxwell says you can impress people with your success but you impact them with your failure.  Be authentic and honest.
  7. A contrarian thesis.  Saying something everyone already knows isn’t all that interesting.  Look for the tension.
Filed Under: Communication

Meet Jack Carrol, a 14-year old Comedian with Cerebral Palsy

May 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Jack Carrol is a 14-year old comedian with Cerebral Palsy who appeared on Britian’s Got Talent.

“I’ve still got it..it won’t go away,” he says. ”I use it in my act, because your weakness can be your strength.”  There are a lot of reason why you might not be able to do something, but then there’s Jack Carrol.

As I watched the video, several thoughts raced through my mind.

  • Laughter brings people from diverse backgrounds together.  It really is a common language.
  • Finding your unique message is so important.  Everyone needs to find their angle and develop their voice.
  • Reasons don’t have to become excuses.  There are lots of reasons Jack Carrol can’t be a comedian.  But he has no excuses.

What did you think as you watched this video?  What is your inspiration for overcoming excuses?

 

Filed Under: Communication, Personal Tagged With: , ,

Your Tone Can Change Your Message

May 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Every Sunday, as we leave our church, I notice a slide that’s part of a looping presentation.  It simply says, “Don’t forget to turn ON your cell phone after the service.”

See what they did there?

With a few simple words, they turned a negative into a positive.

Instead of saying, “Please turn off your cell phones,” they said, “Don’t forget to turn them back on.”   Both messages convey the same information.  But only one makes you feel good.

You can use that same principle in a variety of settings.

  • When you get the opportunity to provide feedback, you can say it negatively or positively.
  • When you have to correct someone, you can take a negative tone or a positive tone.
  • When you need to teach your children, you can take the positive path or the negative road.

You might not think a slide about cell phones is a big deal, but there’s an important principle here.  If you need to correct or instruct, taking a positive path might get you to a better outcome.

Filed Under: Communication Tagged With: , , ,