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    November 26 2020

    Betty Hart – The Experience

    xccadmin 2020-Women2

    Giving a Ted Talk is an incredible experience.  Giving a Ted Talk to a near empty theatre is different than I had pictured it, but it was completely worthwhile.  Allow me to share some of the process with you.

    First, you should have an idea that’s worth spreading.  The idea is sound…or is it?  I found myself questioning whether anyone would be interested in my idea.  How does one know?  The incredible Tedx Team of people who you meet with three times helps in this area.  They gave assignments that yielded great dividends if you accepted and completed them. First assignment:  agree to not script your talk.  Actually allow it to be a talk, an organic thing that isn’t to be fully controlled–just like life.  I accepted this enthusiastically.  I am privileged to get to talk for a living as an actor, director and as a facilitator.  As an actor, I’m required to memorize words.  In the other spaces, I’m free to simply speak. When I do, my speech should be thoughtful, it should be relevant and it should be responsive to the audience.  Thoughtful, relevant and responsive sounded like great starting points to a strong Ted Talk.

    Next, they encouraged the Ted Talk to have three areas to shape the conversation:  we were instructed to elevate, empower, and engage. I could write about each of these, but you may do a Ted Talk sometime, and it’s best to experience this on your own.  What I will share is that crafting this Ted Talk using these tools felt very familiar to me–part of a scaffolded process that I use regularly in creating outlines for workshops or teaching artistry lesson plans.  I embraced the suggestion and found this led to more questions.  And, that is worth mentioning:  a strong TED talk should keep your brain humming, buzzing, singing with additional ideas and too many questions.  If your mind isn’t constantly processing more and more information, you may not have found an idea worth spreading.

    So, now I have too much information in my mind and too many questions.  Enter the next step in the process: deliver your Ted Talk to multiple audiences.  Wait, what?  When my Ted Talk is in its infancy, you want me to expose it to other people’s potential criticism???  Yes, that’s exactly what they wanted.  The Team asks you to give your talk to people you know, to those in your inner circle–safe audiences, if you will.  You’re asked to deliver your talk, just like you will on game day, and immediately ask them a set of questions.  Again, I won’t share the questions with you, but the answers reveal:  1.) that you’re onto something, 2.) that others can articulate what your talk is about, and 3.) areas of opportunity that can strengthen your talk if you choose.  Words cannot adequately express how thankful I am for this step in the process.  I truly questioned if my idea was worth spreading.  The enthusiastic response to the Talk in its formative stage convinced me it was.  My friends affirmed me (without trying) and asked fantastic questions and offered a few suggestions too.  They convinced me to add time to my Talk.  I had decided 9 minutes was the longest I should speak.  They made compelling cases for adding time.  Thank you to Dwayne, LeeAnn, Jacq, Tasha, John, and Jim.  You all helped more than you’ll ever know.

    So, at this point,  my Talk is developing and moving in different directions than I had intended.  This living thing is reshaping and becoming something more than I had imagined.  Excited, I came before the Team once more and the next assignment was to do my Ted Talk for strangers.  WHAT??? Why would I ever give my Talk to people I don’t know???  I never asked them why they encouraged this, but I will say, sharing the Talk with those who don’t know me, or my story, or any of my life experiences, was scary and, once again, affirming.  I shared my Talk with the other presenters.  Women who were in the process of recrafting their own talks were now being asked to listen and give feedback to mine.  I enjoyed listening to their talks.  Those women were earnest and passionate and they inspired me. I gave my Talk, and they were unbelievably complimentary toward my Talk. 

    I went into my final session with the Tedx team fully believing that not only did I have an idea worth spreading, but that it might also actually be a good idea!  I generally walk in confidence, but now I had a gleam in my eye, and I was excited to share my Talk with them one last time in the Zoom room. 

    From there, I was assigned to be the closing Talk.  Amongst so many incredible women with so many powerful ideas, this idea about creating compassion culture was going to have the final word.  I was surprised, pleased, and humbled by this vote of confidence.

    The day of the TEd Talk was weird.  It was strange to deliver the Talk to a nearly empty room.  The beautiful theatre that would have been filled with people had only a few technicians and a few of the ladies who had already given their talk.  I didn’t get a chance to view the livestream of the morning’s talks because I had a Colorado Theatre Guild Board meeting to run. 

    I enjoyed being in the Theatre watching the women’s talks.  I laughed when they were funny, sent them love from my seat, and marvelled as they spoke.  I returned to the dressing room to look at myself one last time and to have a moment of prayer with a dear friend.  It was time.  Time to get the microphone on and then to step onto the stage.  Michael Jenet, the Tedx producer, gave a great piece of advice to us.  He said “take as long as you need before you begin.”  This allowed me to take some deep breaths onstage and then I talked to the people in the Theatre and to my friends who were watching the live stream.  I don’t remember a lot about delivering the talk.  In the same way as when I converse with my friends, I remember where I was, but don’t remember what I said.  I mostly remember the exchange of ideas.  That’s how the Ted Talk felt–like I was talking to people about something I cared deeply about.

    I’m grateful for the opportunity to give a different perspective on cancel culture.  I’m grateful to have shared my love for my Daddy with the world.  I’m grateful the Talk has been well received.  The process was an invigorating one for me.  I highly recommend taking a leap of faith when you give your Ted Talk.  There’s something powerful about new ideas popping into your head while you’re speaking live, and experiencing that discovery alongside the audience.  There’s nothing like a communal learning experience.  That’s what my Ted Talk was for me–a journey of discovery where I had the opportunity to share, learn, grow and expand beyond my wildest dreams.

    Nikki Dority – The Experience Kara Burns – The Experience

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    2020-Women2

    Hilary Blair – The Experience

    The Journey of An Idea Worth Sharing

    Precipitating events:
    Another incident hits our news feed where the linking element was the description of the victim, as seen by the assailant, as only one or two stereotypical descriptors. And that was enough to set in motion a series of tragic actions without actually seeing the person beyond this limited view. The news feed then deepens the understanding and ability to see this victim by expanding on all the details of who this person really is – or was.

    Supporting ground-work:
    My journey in leadership and communication has been brought round to studying the archetypes through Culture Talk and how they impact our connecting and our cultures by helping us identify our values and beliefs. Through a life steeped in studying theatre and story, it revealed itself a perfect tool as it linked my theatre world to our coaching/training business.

    Activating ingredient:
    The repeated destruction justified by stereotype meets the age-old wisdom of the multifaceted archetype. Now add that…

    I get to give a TEDx talk.

    A talk.

    An idea worth sharing.

    A talk of an idea worth sharing.

    I hear the call to give voice to the outrage and deep sadness I feel in those who feel unheard or silenced again and again. But not directly for who will hear that from me, this older white woman — as I was so aptly and pointedly labeled by a fellow speaker? Through the use of a tool or technique. I’m a teacher. Always have been. What idea could I possibly share that would have any impact? Carry any weight? Make any difference?

    These ideas grew and morphed, and by the time I was backstage about to walk out alone, to share this idea in a talk, not a speech, I’m thinking “oh, goodness – or something like that – I really hope I’ve figured out how to make this an idea worth sharing.”

    Thankfully, because of the TEDxCherryCreek process I then feel all the people behind me who got me to this moment of stepping onto the Red Dot. And feeling them, I know they are with me, and before I know it, I’m stepping back off the stage. The 11 minutes are over and a wave of glorious “heck, yeah” comes over me. May a seed have been planted and may it grow.  A seed of an idea worth sharing. 

    I’m not sure I’ve prepared as intensely for anything in a really long time. That mattered because the talk matters. And it mattered because I didn’t do this alone. Far from it.  This process becomes about community in a unique and powerful way.

    I speak often, I train/facilitate all the time and I’m a professional actor – I have decades of experience sharing ideas.

    Yet…

    The Red Dot seemed different. More intense than I had anticipated. It carries with it the expectation of ideas that are worth people’s time to tune in to, to take up space, to share a stage and a platform.

    Practice:
    The process they laid out was different than anything I had experienced or even considered. We are to brain dump on paper and then, without notes, share with a series of invited audiences who watch the idea as it is and give feedback guided by 3 specific questions.

    Time kept escaping me and excuses filled in.

    I had experienced the suggested process in the rehearsal. Interesting to see what comes out of my mouth. Fascinating that it is a process that is repeatable and allows the talk to evolve and deepen. The next rehearsal was coming up and I hadn’t done my homework: I’m a rule follower and it bothered me – a bit.

    But time was tight and… and… excuses.

    Then the gift from a fellow speaker in this cohort and fellow performer. “Do it! It’s really cool and really helpful.”  And then one additional excellent piece of advice from her – “choose people who love you.”  Yes, that’s what I needed to hear to keep the expected anxiety at bay.

    In a process that suggests that you share your fledging idea and get input and feedback, I realized the loving part was super important. And I knew I needed people with opinions as well!

    So I kicked in and sent out a batch of emails inviting colleagues and friends to join the process for my TED talk – and people responded! I had given very little turnaround time and fabulous, loving people jumped in to give of their time and input. My heart was filled. Nerves of course still ran the show, even though these were old friends of mine.

    And WOW!  I write, dump my ideas on paper, put it away, share the talk, timed to 10 minutes. They write feedback and then share the feedback with me. What’s my idea worth sharing? What info did you want more of or was missing? And what else would be good for me to know?

    Four rounds of that with small, loving and opinionated audiences of 4-5 — people from all realms of my life: professional and personal, who’ve known me all my life or just met me within the year.

    And the talk grew and expanded and deepened through the input of these amazing people. I felt strongly that each and every one took it very seriously, and the candid feedback and curious questions helped me take it more seriously as well.

    I had HR professionals suggest which words to use or not. A DEI specialist’s questions solidified the importance of emphasizing the age-old wisdom in the archetypes. I had a former police officer question the directness of the mention of violence and others request that I speak even more directly to that fact. I had artists and actors and a PR specialist and teachers and a corporate attorney and a social justice preacher – each challenging words and concepts. 

    I rehearsed again and again. I worked with my team and rehearsed again with a few of my fellow cohort members.  It was messy and my technique barely carried through. Some comments reassured and some comments reminded me bluntly how I show up. I was pushed to drop in even more to truth and universality in order to show up, with my one voice on that dot and by speaking for the many, make a difference.

    Great ideas from my middle of the night awakenings, from my colleagues but no through line. Many stories, but what holds it together in order for the idea to breathe and have life?

    My supporters saw the through line when I didn’t, and they believed in it.

    I kept working it.

    Kept questioning and asking.

    I’m not remembering clearly when it locked in because I remember before and I remember after.

    I had an arc! The story hung together, and I needed no notes because the concepts built on each other.

    Ah, then I realized I’ve been in this little zoom box and I need to get on a stage since I’ll be on a stage. My dear theatre friend gave the actor feedback and guidance – all the little things I needed to realize I was doing that undermined the message. Get out of the way – be the vehicle not the message itself.

    And my team listened and shared tweaks again and again.

    So patient and demanding in the most supportive way.

    And I talked it to myself everywhere – while walking the dogs, while driving, in the shower and before drifting off to sleep and when I awoke in the night.

    I wanted the talk in my bones – so I could share from my heart.  

    One demon from a past performance surfaced three days out – and I crashed emotionally.  Wow, a talk in a pandemic.  A Ted talk. I can’t let down all these people who have helped me. I thought, pull it together Blair.

    An attitude shift came. I’ve got this. I’ve worked on this because it matters. Hard work is needed for excellence or at least aiming for excellence.

    I wrote it out in thought chunks, and I spoke it out again and again.

    I needed to trust the process. “Fearless”, the theme of our event, comes as I step in and trust.

    Do the work.

    And then work even harder.

    My voice and message carries with it the notes of my community – and my one song rings true because of the many. Fearless comes as I realize I’m but one part of a loving and challenging expansive community.

    Fearless to be me and share my one idea: Can we see each other? Truly see each other and be curious enough to learn more. Be aware of our stereotyping as a destructive habit and choose instead the age-old tool of archetype, story and characters to see our fantastic multifaceted nature playing a variety of roles in our shared journey. Not exclude but include, not make them other but to see our shared humanity, and not limit but keep expanding.

    We need to be fearless enough to stop the cycle of exclusion, to truly commit to seeing each other and wanting to know more. 

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    2020-Women2

    Maggie Johnson – The Experience

    At the time I am writing this it has been three days since my TEDx Talk, and while I have had three days to process this experience, I still am unable to put into words what an amazing experience this was for me. Ever since I was twelve years old I watched TEDx Talks for absolutely everything, and I knew that one day I wanted to stand on that red dot. After writing my book, never in my wildest dreams would I expect to end up on that very red dot telling my poems and my stories. 

    There are so many things that made this day as special as it was. The amazing TEDxCC team who calmed my nerves and put on such a lovely and seamless event even in the midst of a pandemic. The beautiful and strong women that I got to present alongside who were cheering me on from the greenroom. Finally, my fantastic friends and family who watched on livestream. When I got back to my dressing room my heart was so full when I saw all the messages from my loved ones. 

    Was I nervous? Absolutely. Did I have moments of doubt? Of course. Yet the people around me pushed me to be the best I could, they assured me that my poetry was an idea worth sharing and that my perspective on the pandemic mattered.

    In my seventeen years of life I have had many experiences that I will never forget, but this was easily my favorite. I wish I could go back and show my twelve year old self what just happened because she would not believe it. I cannot wait for my talk to be put into the world. 

     

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    2020-Women2

    Carrie Morgridge – The Experience

    This was my second time on the Cherry Creek TEDx stage and I never take the opportunity for granted. This year, as we navigated the pandemic and ever-evolving safety procedures, one word kept coming into my mind: resilience. The team behind Cherry Creek TEDx met every changing circumstance with a positive and proactive attitude that ensured a successful event. 

    As a truth teller, I have to share the unique challenges this year brought. First, our coaching sessions were limited to meeting on Zoom. Last time I gave a TEDx talk we were blending our coaching sessions with a hike, a meal, and always sharing plenty of hugs. This time we weren’t able to be together for the coaching sessions or even reassure our fellow speakers with a hug or a hand squeeze before going on stage. As women, we often show our love and support for one another in these gestures. 

    Despite the physical constraints, our cohort of speakers found beautiful ways to love and support each other in safe ways. One woman even brought an angel coin for every speaker. We created a WhatsApp group to support and encourage one another. The truly amazing part was the support of the team. Michael, Dafna, Christy and Becky did a blow away job that made the event look like a TEDx talk in the best of times. That is a remarkable feat when there is no audience and a mountain of safety hurdles to overcome. 

    As all of the pieces of TEDx came together, from the community of speakers to the staff and theme, I realized how much a woman’s voice means right now. These TED talks are pivotal to empowering the messages of women working passionately to make the world a better place. For one day, the women took to the TEDx stage to share messages of resilience, connection, and community. I am honored to have been a part of it, and hopeful the inspiration shared in our talks will create a ripple effect of good in the world.

     

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    Ideas Worth Spreading

    About TED/TEDx, x = independently organized event.

    In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.