Pepping for the TEDx
My TEDx talk is only a couple days away. I am nervous, but interestingly not apprehensive. Not sure if I’m using those words correctly. One of the downsides of being a philosopher who worries about language use is I tend to get lost in shades of meaning. But we’ll let it stand for today.
I thought I would be more apprehensive, or worried that things might go poorly, but I am, perhaps to my own fault, not. I’ve practiced, done the talk in different locations so I can not rely on too many environmental cues. I’ve worked on difficult to pronounce lines, rehearsed and reworked bits that needed help. Though I am sure there are some that still need work. I’ve developed a pre-talk routine to help me get into presentation mode. All in all, I feel prepped, ready, and nervous. I doubt any level of prep would ever make me not feel nervous. I guess that means that my worry tells me I care about doing well. I doubt I’d be a good speaker if I wasn’t a bit nervous and worried.
I’ve tried to respond to many of the critiques that I’ve been given. My style, spoiler alert, is clearly professorial, that’s my job. My prosody, my peripatetic wanderings, and overall presentation is of course going to be that. It’s been my job for 20 years. So I’ve tried to tone down my friendly lecturer bits, but they can’t all go away. And this goes right to one of the best pieces of advice that I’ve gotten. “Don’t forget who you are.” It’s that person that got you here, and that’s the person people will want to know. That’s proven helpful advice because I’ve found ways to inject my style into the talk, but not become overly professorial—and trust me, I can lecture. Specifically I wanted my playfulness and cheek to come through. Not because I am doing comedy, I’m not, but because that’s so very much a core part of who I am as a teacher, parent, friend, and person. If that got buried, then the talk would feel, and likely seem to the audience, disengenous.
I am looking forward to this talk. I am looking forward to hearing the talks of my fellow presenters. I’m looking forward to doing something I’ve never done before. So yes, I’m excited. I’m excited for the possibilities that I hope this talk will create for me. So much of what I have been focused on the past couple years, has led me here. I can’t wait to give the talk. So if you want to help me out, stay tuned for when the talk posts on the TED YouTube page. Watches, likes, comments, and shares would be greatly appreciated. Have a wonderful weekend all. I know I will.