TED challenges folks “to give the talk of their lives,” and that’s exactly how I approached the invitation to speak at TEDxLansing. Some 400 people came to Michigan State University’s Wharton Center to hear me and nine others discuss what TED deems “Ideas Worth Spreading.” Yeah, that threshold for content – not to mention performance – was pretty intimidating!
My talk on the “Disabled Listener” is 14 minutes of me talking about being a stutterer and dealing with all of you fluent speakers. That description makes even me cringe, so you can understand why I’ve been absolutely blown away by the positive response. (The official versions of the TEDxLansing talks have just been released on YouTube, so if you’re one of the 600 people who endured the unofficial version of my talk, please take another look.)
For years I’ve hoisted myself into speaking situations, only to be met with listeners who endure me at best and heckle me at worst. And then suddenly, just after 11 a.m. on May 20, I get a standing ovation. You gotta be kidding!
I’ve loved being stopped on the street, I’ve loved being sought out. But what I’ve valued most is hearing your stories, few of which deal with stuttering but with your own experience of being “The Other,” the person who doesn’t quite fit in, for whatever reason.
It turns out we’ve all been there and it’s important to know that about each other! Lansing, let’s get that message to the international TED stage!
More than 900 TEDTalks are available on the TEDTalks website, in an effort to share what happens at TED events with the rest of the world. The site has a global audience of millions.
Kudos to Michigan’s own Steelcase Inc. in Grand Rapids for being a sponsor. It’s among 27 companies worldwide that “believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world,” according to TED. “So we’re building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world’s most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.”
Lansing, that’s us!
If the “Disabled Listener” talk moved you, let TED know. If you were instead moved by another talk at TEDxLansing, nominate that one for broader TED notice!
Let the world know Lansing is worth listening to.