Everyone should do a TED-type talk. It focuses the mind in a way not dissimilar to mountain climbing or big-wave surfing: high risk, high reward, and thank God we are still alive at the end of it. I prepared for these talks for 3 months, with the last month doing 2 hours/day every day. I did not want to be the guy who messes up, and then have videos that live for 20 years documenting the horror. Like I said, mind focusing.
The upside is huge. The process of forcing yourself to trim, hone, edit what is essentially a performance rather than a speech, is invaluable. Then there is the crowd feedback, which is incredible. TEDx was only 1500 people, not 15,000, but I get why musicians live for that. It’s a massive shot in the arm.
The audience at both events get the AGEIST message on a gut level; they understand that we see them, appreciate them, and that there is a future for all of us. It’s a powerful thing to say to someone who feels invisible that they are visible, that they count, and that we get them. It’s also nice when your email box is full of brands and companies wanting to know how we can help them surf this coming wave. It’s a breakout year for AGEIST. Let’s do this thing together.
