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TEDxTuesdays, a weekly-ish 'zine about TED-style messaging.

From... The TED Talk Whisperer, DEVIN

I help niche execs, experts and authors master the TED stage and "short talk" messaging style. (TEDx clients enjoying views in the many, Many, MANY millions.) LET THE WORLD LIVE YOUR MESSAGE!™ #tedtalks #tedx #tedstyle #publicspeaking #speechwriting #pitches #presentations #messaging #branding #publicrelations #events #conferences

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TEDxTuesdays: Insights from... The TED Talk Whisperer (09apr24)

UNVEILING THE 6 SHAPES OF STORY: Decoding Kurt Vonnegut’s Narrative Arcs. From ancient myths to modern blockbusters, stories have the power to connect and compel with audiences. But beneath the surface of every narrative lies a hidden structure — a design that gives shape to the audience’s emotional arc. Credit: Yousuf Karsh (c) 1990 In the early 1980s, while in graduate school, Kurt Vonnegut proposed that the simple shapes of stories could be fed into computers. At first, his professors...

24 days ago • 3 min read

THE NEW PUBLIC SPEAKING TOOLBOX: 3 Ways TED Talks Redefined Keynotes TED forever changed how we spread ideas from stage and screen. In discovery calls with potential clients, I regularly reference 3 ways that TED Talks have improved the public speaking toolbox: 1. CUSTOMIZED TOOLS 2. 3D PRINTED TOOLS 3. DISCARDED TOOLS Let’s briefly unpack what I mean by those three and touch on some actionable next-level examples... CUSTOMIZED TOOLS a) TED CUSTOMIZED the scripting process to emphasize...

about 1 month ago • 2 min read

FIVE (critical) POWERPOINT LAWS TOP TEDsters USE. These PowerPoint laws worked for my client with 46-million views on TED. It is an all-time TOP 10 TED Talk. And guess what...? While Dr. Robert Waldinger shared Harvard research from an enormous data set... Not a single slide included a graph, statistic, or pie chart. No bullet points either. He scrupulously followed these rules. Consider doing the same. They work wonders! 1. Don’t use fonts, animation, and transitions.** Just as...

2 months ago • 2 min read

THE HUMOR BUFFET. (The secret to TEDster joking.) As a TED-style speaking expert, I’m often asked about talk humor. I always turn to Gene Wilder. Willy Wonka knew something about humor and captivating an audience. He once observed: “A little nonsense, now and then, is relished by the wisest men.” That said, I’m not a fan of heavy-handed, scripted humor in a talk. Performing stand-up comedy is a heavy lift. (Google “Jerry Seinfeld” and “practice” to learn more.) And yet, "too serious" can...

3 months ago • 3 min read

FROM MEHHH TO MEMORABLE: 5 Moves to Prep a Message. When thinking about a keynote or all-hands presentation, few of us anticipate a flat, “Mehhhh” delivery. Rights?? We imagine smiles, high-fives and even a standing ovation! But as we know, a lot can get in the way of that dream. - Frenetic PowerPoint edits. - Last-minute re-Re-RE-scripting. - Hotel bathroom mirror rehearsals. - “Wait, what the #$%! was my topic again??” Take heart, my team can be right beside you — coaching you to bridge...

4 months ago • 4 min read

A NEW YEAR + APPROACH: Decoding the Real Challenge Behind Your TEDx Dreams. I know last year was going to be different — better, impactful, even career-defining. You knew that a successful TEDx Talk could be part of that change. In fact, one of your New Year resolutions was to share your “idea worth spreading” with the world! And you did more than just dream. You took action: ✔ You bought the book. ✔ Signed up for an online course. ✔ Clicked over to TED.com to learn more. But things...

5 months ago • 3 min read

TEN MORE: Another Ten TED Commandments. Delivering a successful TED Talk involves a multitude of steps and strategies. But it all begins (and can end) with clear instructions from on high. But there are more. So without flourish, here are Ten More Commandments of TED Talks: Hint: Don’t think of these ten as comprehensive. But do regard them as table ante for crafting, rehearsing, and delivering a successful talk. Fun Fact: In the early days of TED, each speaker was sent an actual rock-styled...

5 months ago • 5 min read

RESOLVE NOW: Deliver Your TED Talk in 2024! (5 Reasons) On the cusp of a new year, the air is charged with promise. Many are contemplating resolutions that will reshape personal and professional paths. While the classics like hitting the gym or earning more CEU credits have their merits, the New Year’s resolution that goes beyond the ordinary is delivering a TED Talk. Frankly, a breakaway TED Talk can make 2024 a career game-changer. (I know, because the "New Years effect" has happened again...

5 months ago • 2 min read

IDEAS WORTH FOLDING: The TEDster Approach to Fivefold Focus. A decade ago, a buddy in Florida began an online business producing silk ties overseas and marketing them in the United States. He offered five ties with distinct patterns. Among those who knew the difference, his prices under $200, couldn’t be beat. Those ties were sumptuous, bespoke pieces. Heavy. Quality. Unlike most ties with a layer of silk covering cheap padding, the fivefold is a large, single square of silk folded on itself....

5 months ago • 4 min read

TRIPLE ADVANTAGE: The Pattern, Psychology & Power Behind the Rule of 3. The Rule of 3 stands as a timeless and powerful principle. Appied throughout history, it saturates our culture. Whether you are telling a story, designing a marketing campaign, or crafting a speech, harnessing the true power of a “triple” can significantly enhance your message's impact and memorability. What’s more, recognizing the psychology and application of the Rule of 3 (Ro3) can benefit your next story, tagline, and...

6 months ago • 8 min read
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