The road to TEDxBrisbane..

A special Blog post by Nikki

Nikki

One of the things on my ‘bucket list’ has always been to attend a live TED event.  I have watched many great talks on their YouTube channel and really enjoy the concept that the TED experience is about having an idea worth spreading.  I even dared to dream that one day I might be on stage sharing an idea, if only it weren’t terrified of public speaking…

I’ve been with Toastmasters Sandgate for just over 12 months and I have challenged myself to get out of my comfort zone.  It has definitely taught me to believe in myself and the club has helped build my confidence in front of others.

So when the I heard about the TEDxBrisbane event I applied to attend (there is a whole selection process to go through just to be in the audience).  The theme for 2017 was Stand Up and speak out.  I got the acceptance email was very excited to be going and ready to be inspired by the speakers of the day.

As part of the acceptance we were all invited to submit a 60 second pitch to the TEDx team.  They would then review the submissions and would choose the top 8 to 10 ideas and have those 60 second presentations become part of the day’s event.  Well, I like a good challenge, so I decided to submit my pitch (all about changing the conversation around death) and see what happened.  The TEDx team liked my idea and I secured a spot with 7 other finalists for the 1 minute talks.  Wow!  This was an amazing opportunity.  Not only would I get to tick off an item on my bucket list, I would get to share my idea with over 500 people and really challenge myself to be a confident public speaker.  I was excited and extremely nervous but very determined to put all my Toastmasters learning to good use and give it my best. 

One of the most interesting things I learned is how many hours it actually takes to put together a refined, punchy speech with a clear message that fits into 60 seconds.

How did I go?  Well I can honestly say that it was one of the most intimidating yet exhilarating experiences I have ever had.  The TEDx team are a great supportive group who welcomed us with open arms and worked hard to make us ready and relaxed for our time in the spotlight.  On the day I reminded myself that I had done the hard preparation work and I just needed to engage the audience and have fun.  And I definitely did have fun. 

It was a truly memorable experience and one I cherish.  Yes, it was a great opportunity to speak to over 500 people about my work and more importantly, it was also a moment that I personally celebrated because, in the arena of speaking in public, I have come a long way.

Nikki