If you want to step on a TEDx stage, here’s the truth: it’s not just about having a message. It’s about packaging it, pitching it, and performing it in a way that earns you the mic.
That was my wall.
Before joining Leadr (Thought Leader’s coaching program), my biggest resistance was… myself.
I’ve taught over 13,000 people. I’ve written books. I’ve acted. I’m 76 years old and have decades of life and teaching experience behind me. But that’s exactly what made it hard. I thought I already knew how to tell my story. I didn’t realize I was overthinking it—hiding behind my polished prose and professional persona.
The truth? My biggest obstacle was getting out of my own way.
What shifted during the Intensive wasn’t fluff or motivation. It was structure. Strategy. Specific, surgical instruction.
The breakout groups? Uncomfortably focused—in the best way.
They forced me to throw out everything that sounded “good” and get down to what was real. Vulnerable. Raw. That’s when I realized: the point isn’t to perform; it’s to connect.
I teach that. But I hadn’t fully done it with my own story.
One of the biggest breakthroughs was letting go of the polished book-version of me. TEDx doesn’t need a professor—it needs a person. Someone real. Someone willing to say, “Here’s what I’ve been through. Here’s what I’ve learned. Here’s what can help you.”
My talk structure is locked in. My message is tight. My application’s strong. Now I’m doing the reps—cranking out applications and getting it in front of organizers.
I’m not looking for perfection. I’m looking for opportunity.
And now, I’m not waiting for someone to find me—I’m showing up in the inboxes of the people who book speakers. Again. And again. And again.
Final Take
If you’re wondering whether a program like this works, here’s what I’ll say:
- I’m 76. If I can learn something new and reshape decades of teaching, anyone can.
- The Leadr process didn’t just help me with a TEDx talk—it reconnected me with my mission.
- The right structure can unlock the clarity you’ve been missing.
I’ve always taught from the hardest things I’ve been through. And now? I want to talk about them on the biggest stages possible.
TEDx isn’t about ego. It’s about impact. And Leadr helped me rediscover how to deliver mine.
