Talk Like Ted: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds

TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, is a nonprofit organization focusing on the power of ideas and sharing knowledge on a global scale. It grew into a worldwide phenomenon and transformed how we think about public speaking and education.

It began with a 1984 tech conference organized by Harry Marks and Richard Saul Wurman. Among the new technologies demonstrated at the original conference were the compact disk, e-books, Lucasfilm 3D graphics, and mapping coastlines through fractal geometry. After a rocky start due to the conference losing money, Marks and Wurman tried again in 1990. Then TED became an annual conference in Monterey, California.

Over the years, the conference has branched out to include various topics, including education, health, art, business, and activism. TED gained a dedicated following over the years and attracted influential speakers from all walks of life. Its popularity skyrocketed in 2006 when TED launched the TED Talks website and made its conference videos available online. The first six posted on the website were Al Gore’s “Averting the Climate Crisis,” Hans Rosling’s “The best stats you’ve ever seen,” Majora Carter’s “Greening the Ghetto,” Sir Ken Robinson’s “Do schools kill creativity?” and David Pogue’s “Simplicity sells.” The decision to digitally release recordings of its talks marked a turning point for the conference. Millions worldwide had ready access to its content for the first time, and the site exposed them to a wealth of knowledge and inspiring stories from the TED speakers.

TED Talks became a viral sensation due to their ease of access and the accessibility of the presentation material. Each presentation is limited to 18 minutes and may or may not be accompanied by visual materials, such as PowerPoints. The organization carefully curates its lineup of speakers and ensures each talk is insightful and has the potential to create positive change. This approach gives TED credibility and brands it as a trusted source of information and inspiration. Carmine Gallo references many of the most popular talks throughout Talk Like TED when giving his examples, including Brené Brown’s “The Power of Vulnerability,” Malcolm Gladwell’s “Choice, Happiness & Spaghetti Sauce,” and Cameron Russel’s “Looks aren’t Everything. Believe me, I’m a Model.”

Today, TED continues to evolve to adapt to the changing landscape of technology and communication. The organization hosts multiple conferences worldwide each year, attracting diverse speakers and attendees. In 2009, TED also launched TEDx, a program allowing communities across the globe to host TED-like events. TEDx follows the same basic format as standard TED Talks but focuses on local individuals and communities. More than 3,000 of these independently run TEDx events are held across the globe each year. In 2018, TED also launched the Audacious Project, a collaborative program between TED and other nonprofits to fund urgent causes chosen by the winners of that year’s conference.