A few days ago I had the opportunity to witness (Yes, live) TEDx Vitoria Gasteiz 2021, an event we should never miss.
And I was lucky enough to see it with three looks:
- That of a TEDx volunteer, in my case of TEDx Eixample
- That of a true fan of oratory and, Especially, of the story
- That of a very close friend of someone who gave a talk in Vitoria
That experience confirmed something he long suspected: the best speeches always have good stories that support them.
If you're short on time, I invite you to watch a one-minute video summary:
TED didn't make up the stories, but it's one of its biggest drivers
TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. Something that was born in 1984 as a conference has become today a viral phenomenon and a global community of passionate people. And that was thanks to the stories, stories.
And precisely to turn the event into a global phenomenon, the current director of TED, Chris Anderson, created in 2009 Tedx, free licenses for local organizers who want to host their own TED events.
Today you can find close to 60.000 TEDx talks from all subjects and from anywhere in the world.
From Sir Ken Robinson's choreographer to the history of humanity told by Yuval Noah Harari, short but eternal stories
There are stories of all kinds, historian Yuval Noah Harari just needed 16 Minutes to summarize two exceptional books such as "Sapiens" and "Homo Deus".
And the recently defunct Sir Ken Robinson touched us In 18 Minutes with his English humour, her story of a choreographer and her explanation of why schools kill creativity.
The strength of the best stories is not related to their duration
And the TED and TEDx talks prove it. But also this photograph that Barack Obama uploaded to Twitter when in the middle of the early morning of the election recount he learned that he had been re-elected as US president. U.S..
Four more years. pic.twitter.com/bAJE6Vom
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 7, 2012
The story was born near 15.000 Years, in the upper Paleolithic, where there are already hunting performances in the Altamira Caves (Cantabria).
We tend to think that a story should be long-lasting, But it's not like that.. TED proves it, but also the music, painting, photography, sculpture, the tales of Julio Cortázar, the jokes, memes… There are excellent short films, and even silent cinema gave us essential stories like The boy, by Charles Chaplin.
Even in TED there are several memorable videos that rub against the 3 Minutes, of which Derek Silvers would stand out, "How to start a movement".
Stories like glue from a speech
Stories can help us emotionally connect the points of a speech. If there's no emotion, there's no story, that's why it's good that those who handle statistics, big data... be able to move from the fact to the story.
Emmanuel Faber, former global CEO of Danone, knew how to weave an impeccable speech from a story of his brother. And that story gave cohesion to the axis of discourse: social justice as a purpose and personal compass. Ten minutes was enough.
The sugar cloud skewer
In this TEDx talk, held last Saturday at TEDx Vitoria Gasteiz 2021, the initial story has as its protagonist a skewer of sugar clouds. Counted exceptionally by my good friend Celestino Martinez, the skewer helps connect different elements of the story. Losing it is a sin (you're on alert).
I had the pleasure of attending live and I assure you that a good story can accommodate the most rational of explanations. Celestino explains the future of local trade with a very sweet metaphor that cohesives a discourse aimed at establishments in very diverse sectors to which an idea unites, positive customer experience as an element of progress and survival.
Don't explain it, tell it
In essence, explain gains strength and attention when you include stories based on real facts. Stories connect us to moments lived, and they have the power of empathy. Don't explain it; as the friend would say Storyteller Antonio Nunez, ¡You'd better tell it.!
Stock Photos from Irishasel / Shutterstock
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The best of 2022 and trends 2023 in Personal Branding
by Guillem Recolons
Convinced that everything leaves a mark, I help companies better connect with their stakeholders through personal branding programs (personal brand management) and employee advocacy (programs of branded internal ambassadors).
Socio of Soymimarca's Integra Personal Branding, Brand Directory of Omnia Branding, I also collaborate with Ponte en Valor, Brandergizers, MoreThanLaw, Noema Consulting and Quifer Consultores.
I participate in various programs at IESE, ISDI and EAE, among others. Collegiate advertising, Master in Marketing. Humanities Degree Student.
My advertising DNA comes from 20 years in agencies: Time/BBDO, J.W.T., Bassat Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi, Altraforma and TVLowCost among others.
Good afternoon, Guillem
I think you already know that I was going to like this post, I was going to share it and I was going to comment ;)
Just yesterday a colleague asked me to recommend a book and I told her “many! but if I have to say one is: “Sapiens” it's not just a book, is THE BOOK of our evolution as human beings.
Whoever you went to see Celestino Martinez at his TEDx talk I understand because of your friendship with him, volunteer TEDx ( I did too and it looks from another perspective ) and as a professional you're a branding staff because WE ALL have a story to tell whether it's a story or a micro-story but ultimately there the question is we willing to tell it ? I do ! Of course.
A hug,
Mirka
Hahahaha, Mirka, I knew you'd like it. Communication, Stories, Stories, Emotions, People… irresistible, and more with nice examples.
You are right, we all have a story to tell that explains where we are, who we serve and what we do. It's positive that you're ready to count yours, our story is part of our personal brand.
A big hug and thanks for participating!