Building A Speech: Outlining The Supporting Statements

I’m working on building a TED talk for TEDxMU on April 14th. I’ve been chronicling the process here on The Daily Blur in the hopes that – by watching me deconstruct the process I’ve gone through many times – you’ll begin to look at public speaking with a little less mystique and anxiety.

So, it’s time to spell out all the arguments that support my thesis. In my case, these are the things Will has taught me about communication.

In truth, while I can paint in shades of gray around my specific thesis statement, I haven’t been able to articulate it simply and plainly yet.

In other words, I can now tell you – in fact, I will – all the things I’ve learned about communication from my son … but I’m not prepared today to tell you what they all add up to total in one simple, astounding, TED-worthy statement.

I’m getting there. It’s called building a speech.

Back to Evernote, where I’ve been collecting all the specific things I’ve learned (or have had reinforced … or bathed in a different light):

THINGS I’VE LEARNED FROM WILL:

A) Overcommunicated society – whisper becomes a scream. Talk quietly. Speak calmly.

B) You cannot expect to have someone else change their behavior until you’re first willing to change your own. It’s called “Parent Training.”

C) Unbuzz. Noise. Noise. Noise. Get away for a short while and unplug. Think. Process. No more input. We’re all overstimulated. Unbuzz. I write most of my stuff in the dark white noise of Will’s bedroom while he falls asleep next to me.

D) Speak positively. Avoid the negativity. Good heavens – there’s enough of that out there now, isn’t there. Snark is dumb and a waste of such valuable smarts. Let’s try earnestness, maybe. Sarcasm doesn’t translate well to social media. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?? *sarcasm* makes me *sad* (John Knowles Quote maybe)

E) Just like branding – consistency, frequency, salience

F) Clarity is the new clever – speak clearly

G) There is no ‘average.’ Why is it everyone wants their children to be normal but no one wants them to be average? Tie this back to the 21-hour-work week. We’re going through motions. We’re better than that. It’s never been easier for us to use technology – to use these powers of connectivity to be better than simply social.

H) We need to question – vehemently question – what we celebrate in this country – whether it’s the Kardashians or the Addy Awards. What’s on our who gives a crap meter. We celebrate little things.

I) Patience is the greater expression of commitment.

J) We need not be so needy for people to like us. What you are is good enough. Actions speak louder than words.

K) Theory of mind – how fiction reading has helped – Times article

L) Listen.

M) focus – with noise and stimulation all around you, can you tune it out and work on what you need to do. “Joint Attention”

N) it takes a team. Whether its a group of therapists or clients, you’ve got to work toward the same goal.

O) look at nps scores – the companies who can teach that and focus on the customer.

P) We need to spend more time asking ‘why?’ and ‘why not?’

Q) “The magic is not in the size of your steps but in the relentlessness of them.”

Now, clearly those statements need a bit of clarity and stories to illustrate of reinforce the points, but I have those in my notes.

Now, I have my outline. It may not look like your traditional outline, but from here, I can build my presentation around these talking points.

I will have to edit. Remember, I’ve got 18 minutes for TEDxMU. I might have to pick the most important three or four or six. It all depends on timing.

But – I also want this to be a 30-minute, 45-minute, and/or 60-minute talk so I want to make sure I’ve got a solid hour’s worth of material that reinforces my thesis.

Whatever it ultimately turns out to be. It’s here – between the words and lines and thoughts and stories. I’ll let you know the minute it comes to me in 1-3 short, powerful sentences.