Blissful TEDx speaker

I am honored to be chosen to give my first TEDx talk!

It will happen this October 10 sponsored by TEDxAmoskeagMillyard in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The theme this year is “wild” and all about unfiltered ideas that drive creativity, as well as groundbreaking change. 

And, let’s be honest, my story has been all about wild change!

What exactly is a TED talk?

Cofounded by Richard Saul Wurman and Harry Marks, TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. 

The first event happened in 1984 mostly to showcase developments in Silicon Valley. It featured a stellar lineup discussing fractal geometry, 3D graphics and a brand new invention, the compact disc.

But that first event was a bust and it would take another six years before the idea caught on, eventually attracting presenters (and audience members) from from a multitude of disciplines all united by a shared sense of curiosity and intellectual query.

TED went non-profit in 2001 and continues to foster a commitment to seek out the most “interesting people on Earth and let them communicate their passion.” Eight years later, TEDx was founded to help usher in a more localized and independently curated version of the event.

Right, but what is a TED talk?

Sorry! A TED talk is pretty unique. 

It’s not an academic presentation. It’s not a business presentation. It’s not a sermon, an essay, a legal brief, or a performance. But, in a way, it’s a little bit of all of these.

The TED tagline is “ideas worth spreading.” These ideas don’t have to be new, but they need to be big and profound, thought provoking and timely – even revolutionary – ideas that have an impact on our lives and the world.

The key is not to simply identify and present that idea, but to be clear on why this speaker is the exact right person to share the idea. So, the talks are usually very personal, filled with stories that touch on the speaker’s experience while at the same time are also universally relatable.

We do that by using an informal speaking style, one, for me, that’s familiar. It can likened to my work as a radio host where I aimed for a more conversational one-on-one style, less speaking “to” the listener, and more “with” them.

And we have to get to the point quickly.

There’s an old chestnut about a minister giving a passionate and well-crafted sermon. He hits all the right notes, tells good stories and compelling anecdotes, and his delivery is flawless. As congregants file out of church, one stops to offer advice to the minister, “You know, you can still save souls in under 20 minutes.” 

TED talks are all under 18 minutes. That requires a speaker to “kill a lot of darlings” in her editing process and hone in on what counts.

You might be familiar with TED’s red dot. That’s where a TED speaker places herself on stage to speak – without notes and all from memory. This challenge is particularly of interest to me in helping get me off the page to interact more naturally with the audience. 

Why is giving TEDx talk important to you now? 

The TED brand is respected worldwide and one the most sought-after public speaking forums around. Speakers may not be paid, but TED’s influence and the exposure it brings will mean a great deal to my brand going forward, help build my audience and likely boost my speaking career. 

All that aside, the timing is perfect since I am in the midst of defining who Blissful Hiker is and what exactly she does. And the unique TED process will keep me from writing and practicing in a vacuum. I’ve been provided with a coach to shepherd me through.

My coach is fabulous. A TED alumna herself, she’s a creative and an entrepreneur – and, like me, from New York. On day one she asked how I preferred to work, and I said by not wasting time trying to making me feel good when you offer up criticism and advice. We’re a match made in heaven!

…and, um, New Hampshire?

Nowadays, TEDx is so competitive, it’s spawned an entire cottage industry of coaches, trainers, mentors and public relations/marketing gurus. 

I had the good fortune to meet two extraordinary women from New Hampshire in one of my networking groups. They both liked my story and unique approach to life. We started talking and the next thing I knew, I was formally recommended as a speaker. 

Still, to be chosen as a speaker requires an application. In it I outlined my “big idea” both in writing and in video, justified why I was the perfect choice to present the idea and bolstered my idea with solid research. 

I have a deep connection to New Hampshire. I was seven when my mom moved my brother and me up there from New York after she left my dad. It was such a painfully lonely and confusing time, I began wandering the woods and meadows to soothe and ground myself. In some ways, Blissful was born in New Hampshire.

Can I come and see you speak?!?

Yes, please! Tickets are available online with a significant discount until the end of August. Use the code ‘WILD’ at checkout.

But if you can’t come in person, the talk will be filmed and made available online after the live event to watch for free!