Web 2.0 Expo NY 09: Scott Berkun, "Confessions of a Public Speaker"

Summary

The speaker, an author and public speaker, shares insights on the timeless nature of communication despite technological advancements. He highlights the importance of storytelling in various mediums, from public speaking to social media, emphasizing the human element that technology cannot replace. Drawing from his experiences at Internet World and Microsoft, he illustrates the power of authentic connection and the pitfalls of relying solely on technology for communication. The speaker encourages the audience to seek genuine stories and connections at events, rather than passively consuming information, and promotes his new book on public speaking and communication.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The speaker is an author who makes a living by writing books and engaging in public speaking, blogging, and tweeting.
• 📚 The author's new book focuses on public speaking, sharing personal stories and lessons learned from his experiences.
• 🤔 The speaker's background includes studying creative thinking, invention, and innovation, with a book titled 'The Myths of Innovation'.
• 🕰️ Despite technological advancements, certain universal drives, needs, and problems remain constant, which the speaker finds intriguing.
• 🏢 The speaker reminisces about his time at Microsoft, working on Internet Explorer and attending Internet World, highlighting the rapid changes in technology.
• 📈 The speaker emphasizes that public speaking is still crucial even with technological advancements, as it helps in promoting and explaining new ideas.
• ✍️ Writing is an often-overlooked technology that remains fundamental in communication across various platforms like blogs, emails, and social media.
• 🍻 The speaker mentions 'beer and booths' as timeless social media technologies that facilitate networking and communication at events.
• 📖 Storytelling is key in all communication mediums, and it's the responsibility of the individual to infuse authenticity and value into their stories.
• 💡 Authenticity in communication is crucial; the speaker shares personal anecdotes to illustrate the impact of genuine interaction and storytelling.
• 🚫 The speaker argues that technology cannot solve all communication problems, such as misinterpretation and miscommunication, which are fundamentally human issues.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker's new book?

The main theme of the speaker's new book is public speaking, drawing from his experiences and lessons learned from his career as an author and public speaker.

Why did the speaker choose to write about public speaking?

The speaker chose to write about public speaking because he has been doing it for the last seven years as part of his career as an author, and he believes he can share valuable insights and lessons from his experiences.

What is the speaker's background in the technology field?

The speaker has a background in technology, having worked on Internet Explorer at Microsoft in the early '90s, where he was a project manager on the development team.

What historical book did the speaker write in 2007?

The speaker wrote a book in 2007 called 'The Myths of Innovation', which focused on the history of innovation, creative thinking, and the true stories behind the myths often portrayed in media.

What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of storytelling in communication?

The speaker believes that storytelling is central to communication, regardless of the technology used. He emphasizes that the ability to tell a good, authentic, and moving story is something that technology cannot provide; it must come from the individual.

Why did the speaker and his colleague decide to engage with people in the exhibition hall during Internet World in 1997?

The speaker and his colleague decided to engage with people in the exhibition hall because they felt it would be more effective to proactively approach interested individuals rather than passively wait for them to come to their booth.

What was the speaker's realization after engaging with people at the exhibition hall?

The speaker realized that when people understood he was not a salesperson but someone who was involved in the development process, they became more interested and engaged in the conversation, valuing the authenticity and insight he could provide.

What is the speaker's view on the role of technology in communication?

The speaker believes that while technology can facilitate communication, it cannot replace the human element of storytelling and authentic connection. He suggests that the failures in communication are often due to human issues rather than technological shortcomings.

What advice does the speaker give for improving communication at events like the one he is speaking at?

The speaker advises to humanize connections by asking for stories instead of allowing scripted responses. He suggests sharing your own story and asking how the technology can solve your problem, which encourages authentic and meaningful interactions.

What is the title of the speaker's new book, and when was it released?

The title of the speaker's new book is not explicitly mentioned in the transcript, but it is about public speaking and storytelling. It was released a few days before the event he is speaking at.

What is the speaker's view on the use of social media and the importance of authenticity?

The speaker criticizes the practice of retweeting or passing on information without having read or understood it, arguing that it lacks authenticity and integrity. He advocates for sharing information that one truly believes has value.