By Mary Kay Scharf
I would like to bring you forums each month with the talent, clarity, and compelling nature observed in TED talks…which are videos of somewhat ordinary people with extraordinary delivery of ideas worth sharing. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done, but using the principles of a TED talk is becoming the standard for public speaking.
Let me back up and tell you more about what a TED talk is. TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to “ideas worth spreading” which doesn’t sound like it defines TED. The concept of bringing people and ideas together from three powerful fields: technology, entertainment, and design – IS what defines TED.
The TED formula is something like this:
A video that presents a great idea…
- In 18 minutes or less
- Is borne from personal passion or mission
- And, of course inspires listeners because they include “ideas worth spreading!”
Here are a few of the 2,000 + TED talks you can view on line at TED.com.
- How to Spot a Liar
- How great leaders inspire action
- The Magic of Kindness
- Do schools kill creativity? The most viewed with 33million views.
Be sure to have some time when you explore this site, because one TED talk is never enough!
Just talking about TED talks would be random, even if interesting, but there is a local connection and opportunity coming up next week called, “Anything but Normal” which is a TEDx event.
Anything but Normal is a TED -style event celebrating locally-driven ideas. The Normal event, which will blend local speakers and viewing of selected TED talks, has the following theme:
There are normal ways most people do things.
Then there are ways innovators do things.
We’re interested in highlighting and empowering the latter.
The event will be at the Normal Theater November 7 and some tickets are still available.
Even if you cannot get a ticket for this inaugural event, visit the Facebook page and learn more about it.
Showing interest to the organizers may encourage future TEDxevents .
In the meantime, I’ll keep working to perfect this craft of speaking to an invisible audience!
And don’t worry; forums will not be expanding to 18 minutes.
Mary Kay Scharf is the Director of Principal Leadership in the Bloomington Public Schools. A Clinton native, she was a teacher for 7 years and has been a principal and school administrator for the past 26 years. She is a volunteer for multiple community organizations, most passionately for the Not In Our Town initiative. The proud mother of 3 and grandmother of one, Mary Kay lives in Normal with her husband, Jamie.
The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Cumulus Media, Inc.
