TED Tips

1. Everybody has an idea worth spreading.
2. Choose your persona based on your primary objective
   • educate (i.e., educator, inventor, life scientist, natural scientist, and social scientist)
   • entertain (comedian, magician, writer, and performing and visual artist)
   • inspire (change agents: activist, authority, business guru, explorer, personal guru, and social entrepreneur)
3. Frame your idea worth spreading as an action-outcome response to a question worth asking. (Donovan 2013)

4. Sow a single seed of inspiration.
5. Connect with people’s deep-rooted needs for belonging, self-interest, self-actualization, or hope for the future.
6. Speak about a topic you are passionate about.
7. Remember that you speak in service of your audience. (Donovan 2013)

What’s wrong with TED Talks?

What’s his critique and your feedback on his oration? (Bratton 2013)

What was Anderson’s response?

. . .

Before you can answer the question “Are TED talks dumbing people down?” you really need to ponder: “compared to what?” The critics pushing the oversimplification argument seem to believe that if only people weren’t wasting their time on silly TED talks, they’d be reading books, taking evening classes, poring over scientific papers, or at the very least subscribing to the critic’s uniquely brilliant blog. (Anderson 2014)

A battle for attention

Our minds are ground zero in a battle for attention. And most of the time, the memes that matter are getting buried. (Anderson 2014)

The right kind of simple

Let’s give Einstein the last word. His dictum is our guide. And we give both its sentences equal weight. “Things should be made as simple as possible. But no simpler.” (Anderson 2014)

“How to sound smart”

In a hilarious talk capping off a day of new ideas at TEDxNewYork, professional funny person Will Stephen shows foolproof presentation skills to make you sound brilliant – even if you are literally saying nothing.

(Full disclosure: This talk is brought to you by two TED staffers, who have watched a LOT of TED Talks.) (Stephen 2015)

What are the oratorical strengths??

Prepare

• You are to speak for 1–2 minutes on a position on the value of TED Talks.
• You will have 5 minutes to prepare.

Volunteers?