My First TEDx Experience

My First TEDx Experience

My First TEDx Experience

I gave my first TEDx (x= independently organized) talk on Saturday, October 24th at St. Edward’s University in Austin. What an incredible experience.

I have wanted to give a TED talk for a long time. It has been a business goal and bucket list item for many years. Having applied once before and been rejected, I was afraid to apply again. One of my best friends found this opportunity and recommended me. This time I was accepted, and I was simultaneously ecstatic and terrified. This was the shot I’d been waiting for. The challenge was that I’d only been given a little over a week to prepare. Ouch!

Anne Grady My First TEDx Experience

Anne Grady My First TEDx Experience

Practice Makes Panic!

I’ve been doing this long enough to know that a good speech takes work, and a great speech takes a LOT of work. If this was going to be successful it simply had to be great. It meant writing, declaring it crappy, tossing it, re-writing, practicing every chance I got, meeting with my coach, sleeping, eating, and breathing TEDx, all while traveling and doing speaking engagements. It was hard to keep everything straight and panic began to set in.

There came a moment when I literally had a conversation with myself. “Ok, quit freaking out. You have to choose what this experience will look like. You want to look back and remember a positive experience that ends with you being energized and proud of the accomplishment.

So, more practicing. And practicing. And practicing. Until finally, there was nothing more I could do but NOT practice.

IT’S SHOW TIME!

I went to the staging area to get mic’d up, stared at that famous, small piece of red carpet in front of me, took a huge deep breath, and walked out. I’ve been speaking professionally for 20 years, and I cannot remember the last time I felt this nervous.

I said the last line of the speech, and the audience applauded, and then they stood up! People began to cry, laugh, and come up and hug me. It was one of those moments I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.

My presentation was titled “Find Your Courage”. Rather ironic since I’d been so afraid. It’s funny that it took writing a speech on courage to find mine. Here’s the thing about courage, in order to find it, you have to go through being insecure and uncomfortable to get it. Courage means being afraid and doing it anyway.

We have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s the only way we truly grow. 

Don’t let fear hold you back. What have you always wanted to do, but have been afraid to try? What is one thing you can do this week to get out of your comfort zone?

Anne’s First TEDx Talk

Anne’s Second TEDx Talk

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Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 3 books. Her newest, Mind Over Moment: Harness the Power of Resilience, is available on Amazon now.

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23 Comments

  1. Rock stars always know what to do when they hit the stage and you my friend ARE A ROCK STAR.

    I can’t wait to see the video. Your courage, your story and your commitment to being the best trainer, speaker and overall professional I know inspires me in my own work.

    Keep Rippling On my friend!

  2. Way to go, Anne! Someone told me years ago that we “teach” the best of what we need to learn the most. I was reminded of that when I read your post this morning!

  3. Anne,

    I am so happy for you and proud of you!! I have always wanted to do a TEDx too and hope to have the same honor! I know how hard it is to pull off a condensed version of what you want to say. I would love to see it when it is ready to be viewed on video. Keep Rocking!! You are a gift to so many!

    Sincerely,

    Aric

  4. Anne, I’m so proud of you and especially honored to have gotten a glimpse behind the scenes, “pre-Ted,” ha.
    Everyone is going to love your talk and the message only you can convey with courage from the heart. Bravo!!!!!

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