Talk like TED

Lesson 1: Passion is crucial to a successful talk.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. The byline of the organization, “ideas worth spreading” is self-explanatory. Passion is, without a doubt, a necessary emotion that enables one to gain the mastery of public speaking. All the presenters at these conferences are incredibly passionate about what they believe in and what they speak about. The first step towards preparing oneself for a successful presentation is to understand what one is truly enthusiastic about. Science claims that passion is contagious. The only way to create an inspirational presentation is by being inspired yourself.

It is not always easy to be passionate; it requires a lot of mental stability and strength. Being passionate requires vulnerability, and is a difficult mindset to achieve. Speaking about something personal would require the speaker to talk about a specific story that they had experienced, and connect with the audience on an emotional ground. 

Speakers must find a way to distinguish themselves from the crowd to succeed in whatever they wish to do. The first self-help book of the world by Daniel Carnegie, called The Art of Public Speaking, highlights this trait. Touted as being essential even a century ago, simply highlights that passion is more than necessary now. In today’s world, where competition is higher than ever, it is essential to be original and unique for ideas to stand out. 

Passion is an intense and enthusiastic feeling that one experiences from pursuing activities that are meaningful and personal. Pursuing something you are passionate about, is essential in order to achieve success in that field. If we are speaking on a topic that makes our heart sing, our natural passion will make us happy, reduce nervousness, and our happiness and joy will be infectious. 

Passion is also essential for delivering excellent speeches and presentations. It has been observed that investors are more likely to invest in start-ups that are passionate about their work and funding. They based their evaluations on 15 minute presentations by start-up companies. Our level of passion isn't limited to personal thoughts and feelings. It's essential to surround yourself with equally passionate people.

Passion isn’t easy to achieve. However, anybody can learn how to be a passionate speaker. It just requires a bit of practice and patience. Speaking passionately daily will encourage your brain to be passionate during everyday tasks. As our muscle memory develops, it gets easier to adapt. 

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