It's Your Career

Why do you do what you do? Great TED Talk by Simon Sinek

Here is a really nice presentation by Simon Sinek, the author of "Start With Why". He talks about the success of Apple Computers, and the proper use of your limbic brain.

Very interesting thoughts. Why are some people or companies successful at everything they do, and some not so much? What sets the successful apart?

TED Talks - Taryn Simon photographs secret sites | Video on TED.com - worth seeing again

I am re-posting this one more time.  Mostly because it is truly worth seeing.  But also because she makes this page look better. 

Here is a nice example of speaking from notes. Taryn Simon at TED Talks   In this video, Taryn Simon speaks from notes in the first part, and then uses her photos as prompts in the second part.  The second part is more informal, but the whole presentation is clearly carefully prepared, more precise than conversational, and very well done with stunning visual aids.  Her measured articulation works well and is a nice contrast to the Guy Kawasaki keynote presentation I posted about earlier.

One More Time (It's Been 3 Months After All) - Tony Robbins at TED Talks - it never gets old

By popular demand, here is the video of Tony Robbins at a TED conference.  I have been told that this stuff is not for everyone.  Maybe he is over the top.  But learn from his energy.  Learn from his command of the stage.  Learn from his confidence.

Want To Know The Secret? The TED Commandments – rules every speaker needs to know

I always knew there was a secret to why the TED Talks presentations were so uniformly good.  I thought that it was the speakers.  Experts all, each in a fascinating niche.  Or maybe the visual aids.  Or the technology.  Now I find out that as early as 2008 a list of Commandments has been floating around.  The TED Commandments – rules every speaker needs to know. 

Seriously, these ten rules are the guide to live by if you are planning to speak to a group.  Print them and put them on your wall.

My favorites:
3.  Thou Shalt Reveal Thy Curiosity And Thy Passion
4.  Thou Shalt Tell A Story
9.  Thou Shalt Not Read Thy Speech

Need A Refresher? Great TED Presentation By Master Presenter Lawrence Lessig

Need a refresher on making a powerful presentation? You can do no better than to watch Dr. Lawrence Lessig, a law professor and activist, here at a 2007 TED event. This presentation is used far and wide as the model for Power Point use. For our purposes, it is also valuable for his conversational manner, his complete control over his topic, and for his total confidence in the presentation.

The Science Of Aging - TEDx Talk by Dan Buettner - A Great Presentation For The Study Of Public Speaking Skills

Here is an interesting talk at a TEDx event in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dan Buettner talks about lifestyle and its affect on living longer.  It is a great presentation of science in an understandable, conversational manner.   I found it at Presentation Zen today.  This talk is entertaining and educational by itself.  Buettner has a lot to teach us about the science of aging.  But for my purpose, this talk is worth studying solely for his technique. 

500 TED Talks in a spreadsheet - the ultimate public speaking resource

From Twitter traffic today comes a resource as valuable as Dale Carnegie's The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking.  Not kidding.  I have posted it here as a direct link and as an Excel Spreadsheet.  500 TED Talks / Download TEDTalks as of 10.26

Many who know me or who read this site know I am a big fan of TED. 

Here you will find the link, the speaker, the title of the talk and a summary.  I haven't seen all of these talks.  Not even a fraction of these talks.  But 100% of those I have seen are outstanding.  Every one of them teaches.  Every one demonstrates elements, often many elements, of effective and compelling public speech.  What a great resource!  Thank you to the people at TED Talks for assembling it.  And to @zecool (Ze Cool Blogue) , @fogfish (Fogfish) , and @amysbryant (iPlayBIG) for pointing me to it.

Learning from TED Talks videos, or Steve Jobs commencement address, or Guy Kawasaki keynotes

A friend told me yesterday that she was getting ready to make a series of presentations for work and turned to several of the TED videos I have posted on this site for a refresher.  Perfect.  That is the perfect use for this material. 

Everyone can learn a lot, so much that it is difficult to measure, from watching any one of the people who are the stars of public presentations.  Each presenter featured on this site offers something different.  An expertise outside of our own.  Or supplementary to our own.  All offer fascinating material or information.

But it is the presentation itself that I want you to learn from.  How do they do it?  Why that outfit?  Why those words, those slides, that movement across the stage?  What makes a Tony Robbins talk so big?  (Why we do what we do)   Why is Elizabeth Gilbert (Creative Genius) so compelling?  Why do we like David Pogue (David Pogue On Cool Tools) or Seth Godin?  What is the best way to use notes or slides in your talk - see TED Talks - Taryn Simon ?

You can become a better speaker by watching and thinking about the techniques of those who do it well.  Find sources and study them.

Another talk posted on the TED website worth watching - David Pogue on cool phone tricks | Video on TED.com

David Pogue is one of my favorite NY Times columnists.  He writes the personal technology column for the paper, which comprises a pretty interesting collection of reviews and essays on all things tech.  He also happens to be a pretty good speaker with a natural, conversational approach.  You can learn about technology trends from him.  His columns will educate.  They also piss off a segment of readers.  But he is good at what he does. 

But his presentation is worth watching even if you are not interested in the topic.  He has a great approach to sharing with his audience.  You can learn a lot from his conversational style.  Here he is talking at the EG '08 Conference on cell phone tools and services that can save you money.   David Pogue on cool phone tricks | Video on TED.com.

Another great TED talk - John Gerzema talking about the post-recession consumer - from Six Pixels of Separation blog

John Gerzema is the co-author of the book, The Brand Bubble. He spoke at TEDx KC about what the Post-Crisis Consumer will look like.  If you haven't tuned in to any of the TED talks I have posted here in the past, you are missing out on a wealth of information and a great resource for studying public speaking at its best, all in approximately 20 minute bites.  The people who talk at TED events are smart, engaging, and generally passionate about their topics.  And they talk in front of crowds really, really well.  Here is Gerzema presenting on what the consumer looks like in the post-recession day - yes, this dovetails with my conclusion that the job market (as well as many other markets) is turning for the better.

Elizabeth Gilbert at TED

Elizabeth Gilbert gave a good presentation to the TED conference that I think is worth seeing.  She is the author of Eat, Pray, Love, a book I have not yet read but one that I see being read by those around me.  Now I may have to see what her writing is like for myself.  Enjoy!

Another great TED talk

Here is another great talk from TED, this time with Shai Agassi.  He talks so easily to the audience that it is easy to forget that he is talking to an audience - a couple thousand people.  How can he do that?  Confidence.  Command of his topic.  Familiarity with the crowd.  Experience.  And PRACTICE!!!

More from Scott Ginsberg - HELLO, my name is BLOG!: 241 Ways to become a Living Brochure of Your Own Awesomeness

Here is a question for everyone to consider!  

"Are you a living brochure of your own awesomeness?" 

Get more at -  HELLO, my name is BLOG!: 241 Ways to become a Living Brochure of Your Own Awesomeness.