TED Talks Storytelling Quotes

“If I could leave my audience with only one single key takeaway message, what would it be? If my audience was to forget everything else I said, what one single idea or lesson would I want them to remember?”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“the best speakers on the TED stage were the ones who had mastered the art of storytelling.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“People are hardwired to listen to stories. Stories are the way human knowledge was passed down before the written word. Storytelling is hardwired into our brains. It’s the natural way that our brains learn and process information.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“IN A NUTSHELL Build curiosity with your opening. Create questions in your audience’s minds. Promise value from your talk. Keep your audience engaged with stories. Connect with conversational language. Make your talk relevant to your audience. Use the magic word: “You.” Use a “we-focus” when sharing negative ideas. Highlight the problem before you offer the solution. Use an analogy, metaphor or simile. Include as many stories as you need, but have only one key takeaway message. End with a clear call to action.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“The best way to thank your audience for the opportunity to speak to them is to deliver a speech that keeps them engaged, interested and involved.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“No more boring speeches and presentations.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“So, what is the best way to open a speech? You’ve probably guessed it: open with a story.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“Analyzing the effect a presentation has on you is a fantastic way to learn what works and what doesn’t when it comes to public speaking. If you don’t grab your audience’s attention within the first 30 seconds, your audience will mentally tune out of your presentation. Don’t bore your audience with introductory remarks. Begin with a story. Stories are powerful because people are hardwired to listen to stories. Stories take your audience on a mental journey. Audiences cannot resist a well-told story (even if they try). CHAPTER THREE The Surprising Element That Makes a Story Irresistible What is it that hooks us into certain stories?”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“People don’t remember what you say as much as they remember what they see when you say it.” That”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“The number one thing that makes a story irresistible - that has audience members sitting on the edge of their seats, totally captivated by your every word - is conflict. What do I mean by conflict? Conflict refers to a fight. It’s a fight between opposing forces. A fight between life and death. A fight between hate and forgiveness. A fight between freedom and oppression. As long as there are two strong, opposing forces that make the outcome of the story uncertain, a story will be gripping. It keeps us engaged. It keeps us curious. It makes us ask the question, “What will happen next?”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“IN A NUTSHELL Share a personal story. The surprising element that makes a story irresistible is conflict. The stronger the conflict, the more captivating your story will be. Ask yourself, “Is the conflict in my story strong enough? Does it arouse the audience’s emotions?” The conflict in a story is what keeps your audience curious. The conflict is what makes the audience ask, “What will happen next?” No conflict = no curiosity = no interest.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“IN A NUTSHELL Analyzing the effect a presentation has on you is a fantastic way to learn what works and what doesn’t when it comes to public speaking. If you don’t grab your audience’s attention within the first thirty seconds, your audience will mentally tune out of your presentation. Don’t bore your audience with introductory remarks. Begin with a story. Stories are powerful because people are hardwired to listen to stories. Stories take your audience on a mental journey. Audiences cannot resist a well-told story even if they try.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“Positive-message stories are inspiring. They leave audiences on an emotional high. Negative-message stories are instructive but they leave audiences on an emotional low.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“starfish story” - the one where a man walking along the beach sees a young boy throwing starfishes back into the ocean. When the man tells the boy, “Why bother? There are so many starfishes you can’t possibly make a difference,” the boy picks up a starfish, throws it back into the ocean and says, “To that one, I made a difference.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“The one thing that all great TED speakers have in common is that they are master storytellers.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

“Dialogue is more powerful than narration. It puts audience members into the scene, allowing them to hear exactly what was said. Dialogue is also shorter and punchier than narration. Finally, another advantage of dialogue is that it allows you to use vocal variety - to slightly change the pace, pitch and volume of your voice to reflect the emotions and speech of the different characters in your speech. As a result, your delivery will be more dynamic and engaging. When delivering your story, always use dialogue - not narration.”
― Akash Karia, TED Talks Storytelling: 23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks