Inspiring Audiences Through Compelling Presentation

Normally, I post about specific music related topics in my blog. This week, I want to cover a topic from my favorite TED speaker. The presentation is called: “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”, by: Randy Paushe, is full of fantastic examples of how to effectively communicate, use compelling images and examples in one’s presentation, great use of simplicity and slide design concepts, and how to memorably convey and communicate presentation messages through personal experience and physical examples.

This blog based on how Mr. Paushe used the elements and structure of persuasion to overcome the, “brick walls” in pursuit of his personal childhood dreams.

Mr Pausch, from the start of the lecture, exercises his ability to “Speak from authority” and with “Logic”, explaining his personal struggles with cancer and the fair reasoning behind his ultimate outcome of this ailment. Pausch uses a well-planned, verifiable, thought based system of facts, to establish, not only his credibility, but also overcome “division”, by establishing rapport between himself and his audience.

Perhaps, one of my favorite examples of how Pausch utilizes “The structure of Persuasion” is during one of his personal “Brick Wall” stories, relating to publishing a paper, through research with Disney’s “Imaginarium” department. When faced with an initial “no” answer from the dean of the University of Virginia to move forward on researching for this publication, he very cleverly takes a step back to “Identify and Isolate” the true problem within the situation, being the dean A. Not understanding how important and significant the research is to future generations, and B. Wanting Disney to amend the intellectual property clause in the agreement for the overall research. Mr. Pausch then “Identifies the Cause” of the issue itself and “Establishes Common Ground” among himself and the dean, realizing the actual cause of the issue was due to “not knowing if the paper itself was a good idea” beneficial to the school and future Virtual Reality Research. (Showing intellectual negligence on the dean’s part) Next, Pausch attempts to “Formulate and Workable Solution” by finding an action-able, alternative that is personal and immediate, by double checking which department is actually in charge of making intellectual property decisions for the college itself; turning out to be a division very different from the scope of what the dean is required and/or qualified to do. As Pausch entered the Dean of Sponsored Research’s office, he then proceeded to “Speak to the Heart” of the administrator in charge, speaking logically and with great excitement and enthusiasm on the subject matter, gaining himself the permission needed to go research and publish the paper.

Perhaps, my second favorite aspect the lecture, is how, Mr. Pausch understands how people typically settle or compromise their own personal ambitions to appease others. His ability to create rapport with the audience by infusing humor, personal stories and physical examples and images, is very effective in his overall message of how people can actually achieve their own personal childhood dreams. Mr. Pausch touches on some of the irrefutable laws of leadership, which also shows great character and the understanding of how important mentoring and legacy is to one’s personal contributions to society.

The tone of Mr. Pausch’s lecture is very uplifting and positive. I feel that his terminal condition has no bearing on what a great lecture he’s provided. In the beginning of the lecture, his slide on what he wasn’t going to talk about it the lecture set the overall tone of the event.

I absolutely believe that his speech would’ve been just as effective either way and truly understand more about the incredible person he really was, from this presentation and his stories. Pausch spends a great deal of time enlightening and engaging the audience on “how to lead their lives” and how to develop their own abilities to overcome and lead in the same way as he has, and the others before him.

I think the only other major difference in the lecture would be his dedication of it to his kids at the end and perhaps bringing his wife on stage for the birthday cake.

This is the type of presentation all educated people should strive for. It embraces aspects of many different genres of sociological thinking and cognitive approaches to persuasive speaking, simplicity in design and appealing to the senses and sole of the audience.

I was fascinated by it and walked away after 1:16:27 with an understanding for how appealing, entertaining and effective a lecture and presentation can and should be.

Please click HERE for more inspirational and amazing speakers on TED.