Have you ever been inspired by a TED Talk?

I asked my Facebook friends what TED Talks inspired them and received some great recommendations for videos to watch.

I asked because I’ve been challenged to create and deliver a TED-style talk at a mastermind meeting.  All kinds of fear-based thoughts and feelings flowed through me when I received the email with the challenge. I could opt out of the exercise, and I knew I wouldn’t. That’s what started my quest to watch a selection of TED Talks so I could study style, passion and delivery.

Have you ever done or imagined doing a TED Talk?

What would you talk about?

What do you do that is important enough to talk about on a world stage?

What would you need to do to to prepare?

Those are the questions (from my mentor) I’m working on as I contemplate and make notes about my talk.

Today, by chance, a TED Talk I had read about (in how to deliver a TED Talk) showed up in my Facebook newsfeed. I figured I better watch it.

The 18 minute talk by Simon Sinek on how great leaders inspire action rocked my world. It’s not that the content was so earth-shattering, but that Mr. Sinek expressed it in a way that inspired how I want to approach my own TED-style talk.  Sinek talks about leaders inspiring action and I believe that as an entrepreneur, YOU are a Leader… of your community/tribe/network, whatever you want to call the people who follow you.

Therefore, it’s your duty not only to inform your followers about how you can help them solve their problems, but more importantly to inspire them to take the necessary action to do whatever it is you help them do. Watch the video to see what I mean.

I haven’t fully developed my talk yet. I know though, it’s going to focus on my passionate belief that you can be successful building an attractive, powerful presence on the Web when you let go of fear and doubts and embrace uncertainty. When you say “yes” to trying, even when the outcome is uncertain… when you open up to the fun and joy of sharing your expertise with those whose lives you can transform for the better… the results may surprise and delight you.

My plan is to illustrate this with a couple of stories from my recent life-changing trips to Peru. The goal is to deliver it in such a way that inspires action. I’ll let you know how it goes…

Now that you’ve watched Simon Sinek’s talk, what would your TED Talk be about?

Recommended TED Talks:

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity

Jill Bolte Taylor’s stroke of insight

Brené Brown: the power of vulnerability