Unstoppable Achievers - Terry Bean

Summary

In this engaging interview, Terry Bean, a pivotal figure behind TEDxDetroit, shares his journey from various sales roles to becoming the 'Chief' of connecting people and ideas. He delves into the inception of TEDxDetroit, its growth, and the challenges of curating impactful talks. Bean emphasizes the importance of having a unique idea for TEDx, not just being a seasoned speaker, and provides insights into the application process, including the significance of a concise talk description and a passionate video submission.

Takeaways

• 😀 Terry Bean, known as 'Chief,' is a significant figure in the establishment of TEDx Detroit.
• 🚀 Terry's early career involved sales and recruitment, but he excelled in understanding prospects' challenges and connecting them with solutions.
• 🔄 Terry was instrumental in creating networking opportunities, such as Motor City Connect, to foster entrepreneurial growth in Detroit during its economic downturn.
• 🎤 The transition to TEDx began when Terry and his team decided to break the rules of a traditional TEDx event, hosting a larger gathering than allowed and showcasing Detroit's potential.
• 🛠 Terry emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and entrepreneurial, especially in challenging times, to drive change and innovation.
• 🌟 TEDx events in Detroit have grown significantly over the years, moving from small venues to large ones like the Fox Theater and Masonic Temple.
• 🏆 The selection process for TEDx speakers is highly competitive, with a focus on unique ideas rather than the speaker's previous experience or fame.
• 💡 The ideal TEDx talk should revolve around a single, powerful idea that can influence the world of technology, entertainment, or design.
• 🎥申请人需要提交一个视频，展示他们对话题的热情和传达信息的能力，这有助于他们从众多申请者中脱颖而出。
• 🔗 Networking and making connections with the event organizers can increase the chances of being selected as a speaker at TEDx events.

Q & A

What is the significance of Terry Bean's role in the establishment of TEDx Detroit?

Terry Bean played a crucial role in the creation and growth of TEDx Detroit. He was instrumental in identifying the need for a platform that could inspire and connect people in Detroit, and he used his skills in networking and understanding challenges to bring the idea of TEDx to life in the city.

What was Terry's initial career path before becoming involved with TEDx?

Terry started his career in sales, working in various sectors such as IT and telecommunications. However, he found his true strength in understanding prospects' challenges and connecting them with solutions, which led him to become 'the guy that knew a guy' and eventually to his involvement in networking groups.

How did Terry Bean's experience in Columbus, Ohio influence his later work?

In Columbus, Terry oversaw different chapters of a networking group, which allowed him to develop his skills in event organization and community building. This experience was valuable when he later started Motor City Connect and TEDx Detroit, as he was already adept at creating impactful events.

What motivated Terry to start Motor City Connect in 2006?

Terry started Motor City Connect in response to the lack of effective networking opportunities in Detroit and the预见coming downsizing of big companies. He aimed to build up an entrepreneurial class of people who could drive the city's growth and innovation.

How did TEDx come to Terry's attention, and what was his initial reaction?

Charlie Wahlberg, a friend and a curator of TED Talks, introduced TEDx to Terry. Initially, Terry was unfamiliar with TED and even joked about wanting to be a speaker. However, he quickly recognized the potential of TEDx as a platform for sharing ideas and making an impact.

What was the first TEDx Detroit event like, and how did it differ from the standard TEDx rules?

The first TEDx Detroit event was held at Lawrence Tech with around 330 attendees, which was more than the 100-person limit set by TEDx rules for new organizers. The event was raw and authentic, and it resonated well with the audience, despite breaking the rules.

How did TEDx Detroit grow in size and scope over the years?

TEDx Detroit grew significantly, moving from a 330-person event at Lawrence Tech to larger venues like the DIA, Max Fisher, and eventually Fox Theater, where they hosted 2,500 people per event in 2015 and 2016.

What challenges did TEDx Detroit face in terms of venue and scheduling?

TEDx Detroit faced several venue and scheduling challenges, including conflicts with the renovation of Cobo Hall and the move of the Pistons to Little Caesars Arena. These challenges led to changes in venue and event dates, requiring adaptability and resilience.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact TEDx Detroit's plans for 2020?

The COVID-19 pandemic forced TEDx Detroit to pivot from an in-person event at Ford Field to a virtual event, which was made free for everyone. This change allowed them to reach a broader audience while adhering to safety guidelines.

What advice does Terry give to potential TEDx speakers about the application process?

Terry advises potential speakers to focus on a single, innovative idea rather than trying to cover multiple topics. He also emphasizes the importance of the 300-character description and the submission of a self-recorded video that showcases the speaker's ability to convey their message with passion and confidence.

What are some common misconceptions about becoming a TEDx speaker that Terry addresses?

Terry dispels the myth that one must be a professional speaker or have given speeches all over the country to be a TEDx speaker. He also clarifies that TEDx is not a platform for political campaigns or religious sermons, and that the focus should be on the idea being presented rather than the speaker's personal story.

Outlines

00:00

💡 Founding TEDxDetroit and Early Career Insights

Terry Bean, a key figure in the establishment of TEDxDetroit, introduces himself with a humorous anecdote about his numerous titles, settling on 'Chief.' He reflects on his early career in sales and recruiting, highlighting his natural ability to understand people's challenges and connect them with solutions. Terry's entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his first company at 28 and eventually establish Motor City Connect in 2006, a networking group aimed at fostering connections and supporting the growth of an entrepreneurial class in Detroit during a time of economic downturn.

05:01

🚀 The Growth of TEDxDetroit and Entrepreneurial Spirit

The narrative continues with the growth of TEDxDetroit, detailing Terry's journey from his involvement in networking to the co-creation of the first hybrid networking group and the city's first TEDx event. Despite initial challenges and rule-breaking, the event's success and the impact of TEDx on Detroit's revitalization are underscored. Terry emphasizes the importance of being a disruptor and the role of TEDx in inspiring change and innovation, reflecting on the city's transformation and the increasing interest in TEDx as a platform for ideas.

10:04

🌟 Scaling TEDxDetroit and Navigating Challenges

This section delves into the scaling of TEDxDetroit from its humble beginnings to larger venues, with Terry recounting the story of how they navigated the rules of TEDx to accommodate a growing audience. It discusses the entrepreneurial mindset of taking risks, the importance of authenticity in events, and the strategic scaling back to adhere to TEDx guidelines while maintaining the event's impact. The narrative also touches on the role of social media in the growth of TEDxDetroit and the team's innovative approach to curating unforgettable experiences.

15:06

🏙️ Venue Evolution and the Resilience of TEDxDetroit

The evolution of TEDxDetroit's venues is the focus of this paragraph, starting from the Garden Theater to the iconic Masonic Temple. Terry shares the story of how they had to pivot in 2017 due to scheduling conflicts with the Pistons' move to Little Caesars Arena, resulting in a unique experience at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The resilience and adaptability of the TEDxDetroit team are highlighted, showcasing their commitment to delivering a powerful event regardless of venue size or location.

20:06

🎤 The Journey to Hosting a Major TEDx Event

Terry recounts the ambitious goal of hosting the largest TEDx event, the journey of securing venues like Fox Theater and the challenges of coordinating with major venues like Ford Field. The adaptability of the team is evident as they transitioned to virtual events in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining the spirit of TEDxDetroit. The narrative also includes personal anecdotes, such as Terry's successful pursuit of having Al Jean, the executive producer of The Simpsons, contribute to the event.

25:07

🎫 The Process of Becoming a TEDx Speaker

This section provides insight into the process of becoming a TEDx speaker, emphasizing that the focus should be on the idea rather than the speaker's background. Terry dispels myths about the need for extensive speaking experience and stresses the importance of having a single, powerful idea that can inspire change. He offers advice on preparing for the application process, including honing in on a central theme and avoiding topics that may not align with TEDx's mission.

30:08

🔍 The TEDxDetroit Application and Curation Process

The intricacies of the TEDxDetroit application process are explored, with Terry explaining the volume of applications received and the selection process for speakers. He discusses the importance of the 300-character description and the submission of a video that showcases the applicant's ability to convey their idea passionately. The goal is to find speakers who can offer a unique perspective and tell a compelling story that resonates with the audience.

35:09

🗣️ Final Thoughts on TEDxDetroit and the Power of Ideas

In the concluding section, Terry offers final advice for aspiring TEDx speakers, encouraging them to connect with the production team and demonstrate how they can contribute to the success of the event. The conversation wraps up with an appreciation for the team behind TEDxDetroit and the transformative impact the event has on attendees, inspiring them to engage with the world around them and consider innovative solutions to challenges.

Keywords

💡TEDx

TEDx is a global community of locally organized events that bring people together to share ideas in the spirit of 'ideas worth spreading.' In the context of the video, TEDx Detroit is the focal event that the interviewee, Terry Bean, has been instrumental in organizing and growing. It serves as a platform for various speakers to share innovative ideas and inspire the audience.

💡Networking

Networking refers to the cultivation of professional relationships to expand one's business or client base. In the video, Terry Bean discusses his early involvement in networking groups in Columbus, Ohio, and later in Detroit, which helped him connect people and opportunities, laying the groundwork for his involvement with TEDx.

💡Entrepreneurial Spirit

The entrepreneurial spirit is characterized by a drive to create new ideas, ventures, or businesses and the willingness to take risks to achieve them. Terry Bean emphasizes this spirit as a key element in the revitalization of Detroit and the success of TEDx Detroit, as it represents the mindset needed to bring about change and innovation.

💡Innovation

Innovation is the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay. The script mentions that TEDx is about ideas that drive innovation across industries, highlighting the importance of new and creative solutions in various fields.

💡Authenticity

Authenticity in this context refers to the genuine and true nature of the TEDx talks, which should come from the heart and reflect the speaker's true beliefs and experiences. The video mentions that the audience at TEDx events appreciates the raw and real nature of the talks, valuing authenticity over polished presentations.

💡Community Building

Community building involves creating a sense of belonging and cooperation among people with common interests. Terry Bean's work in networking groups and TEDx Detroit is centered around building a community of individuals who can support and learn from each other, as evidenced by his efforts to grow TEDx Detroit into a significant event.

💡Disruptor

A disruptor is someone who challenges the status quo and introduces new methods, ideas, or products that change the existing order. In the script, Terry Bean describes the entrepreneurial spirit as including those willing to be disruptors, which is a mindset that has contributed to the growth of TEDx Detroit and the revitalization of Detroit.

💡Speaker Application

The speaker application process is how individuals apply to present at a TEDx event. The script details the application process for TEDx Detroit, emphasizing the importance of having a unique idea and being able to convey it in a video submission, which is crucial for selection among hundreds of applicants.

💡Curatorial Role

The curatorial role, as played by Charlie Wahlberg in the script, involves selecting and organizing the content and speakers for a TEDx event. This role is essential in maintaining the quality and thematic coherence of the event, ensuring that the talks align with TEDx's mission of spreading ideas worth sharing.

💡Social Media

Social media is the use of internet-based platforms to share content, ideas, and information. In the video, Terry Bean mentions teaching one of the first social media classes, indicating the growing importance of social media in connecting people and promoting ideas, which is also a key aspect of TEDx's outreach.

Highlights

Terry Bean's role in establishing TEDx Detroit and his journey from early career to becoming a significant player in the event.

Terry's initial career in sales and his transition to understanding and solving prospects' challenges by connecting them with the right people.

The founding of Motor City Connect in 2006 as a hybrid networking group aimed at fostering entrepreneurial growth in Detroit.

Terry's realization of Detroit's lack of recognition and his efforts to change the city's narrative through TEDx events.

The story of how TEDx came to Detroit and the initial challenges faced in organizing the first few events.

The growth of TEDx Detroit and its impact on the city's entrepreneurial spirit and community building.

Terry's experience with scaling TEDx events and the strategic decisions made to adhere to TED's rules while maintaining the event's growth.

The importance of authenticity and the entrepreneurial spirit in the success of TEDx Detroit.

Terry's approach to selecting speakers for TEDx Detroit and the emphasis on innovative ideas over professional speaking experience.

The process of applying to be a TEDx speaker and the criteria used to evaluate potential presenters.

Insights into the TEDx application process, including the significance of the 300-character description and the self-video submission.

Terry's advice for aspiring TEDx speakers on focusing on a single, impactful idea for their talk.

The evolution of topics presented at TEDx Detroit, reflecting societal shifts and emerging interests over the years.

The unique aspects of organizing TEDx Detroit, including venue selection and the team's dedication to creating a memorable experience.

Terry's personal anecdotes and the passion behind the TEDx Detroit event, highlighting the team's commitment to inspiring change.

The future plans for TEDx Detroit, including the venue for the upcoming event and the team's vision for continued growth and impact.

Transcripts

today I have got Terry Bean in here who

is a very large part of why tedex

Detroit

exists okay I'll accept that we'll go

with that we'll get into some more

details on it yeah yeah as we go so

Terry I want to start off first of all

by having you introduce yourself give us

your your fun title and then uh and then

we'll kind of dive into how you got to

where you are today yeah so Tara when

she asked on the Tara on the production

team said what's your title and I'm like

you pick man I don't I have 87 of them

so I think we settled on chief chief

just Chief which is really more of a

nickname for me but it it's fitting for

all the chiefy things that I do and so

the rest of the question was what now

what are we trying to accomplish so

let's let's talk a little bit about how

it is that you got to where you are

today so let's start from from from

Young I was born you were born yeah that

was an exciting time for me it was

favorite day it was a good day but let's

talk about how you got to a point where

where you've become such a major player

in the Detroit tedx so I would say that

it started a while back right we're

sitting here in

2024 and in my early career I was in the

sales game right people always told you

me that you know you can talk to anybody

you should be in sales yeah such bad

advice right you should be able to

listen to anybody and that would make

you a good salesperson right it's it's

backwards but I sold Tech I sold people

I I was a recruiter I worked in the it

space I worked in the Telecom world for

a while okay um none of it really took

what I was really really good at though

was understanding prospects challenges

okay and connecting them with the people

that could solve them so you you enjoyed

very much being the guy that knew a guy

I was the guy that knew a guy I like

that and so I was involved in a large

networking group down in Columbus Ohio

uh I moved down there right after grad

school so early 90s mid 90s lived there

for a handful of years we ended up

growing this networking group it was

cool I oversaw a handful of different

chapters I'm 26 27 running around all

these different events helping people

Network helping people get better

connected and and really focused on

giving and being of service okay and I

moved back here to the Detroit area in

2000 and and I came back up here for a

job and I came back up here because what

I was doing down there wasn't uh in

favor anymore and this words home and

where family was so I was happy to come

back and I found some networking groups

but I didn't love any of them it didn't

have that same impact and I'm

entrepreneurial enough it already

started my first company at 28 that when

you see a problem you solve a problem

yeah so I had been networking on

LinkedIn in 2004 2005 connecting with

people all over the world one day I sat

there and I realized that nobody gave a

crap about Detroit yeah right it was

especially at that time at that time

people here didn't really give much that

was before the big name started to come

in that was before the Dan Gilberts came

in that was before so I I had to work

down in the city shortly after that and

it was just as things were starting to

come around and every time you tell

somebody you worked on there you almost

got like this like you do you do why

would you do that were are you the only

one and yeah and it was such a strange

time so it's it's that's a great time

for an entrepreneurial person to get

involved that's it that's it so in ' 06

Motor City connect started M and it was

one of the first hybrid real world we're

going to meet in the street and online

networking groups on the planet right so

we were really intentional really

focused on helping people get better

connected to the opportunities to the

people to the ideas they needed to grow

because in ' 06 I could already see that

all the big companies around here were

going to be shipping people out right

downsizing was going to become a thing

and so we needed to figure out how to

build up an entrepreneurial class of

people in this town because those in my

mind were the people that were going

going to save this town right so fast

forward uh you know

2010 11 when Dan Gilbert by his in moves

downtown For the First Time Peter

carmano said had built the Compuware

building at the time and so there was a

little smidge of energy here and a

little smidge of energy there um so but

that's that's where it really started

and so now you talk and then I'll tell

you the story about how actually began

so yeah so so that time again was a

really fascinating time to get involved

in Detroit especially as an entrepreneur

because you could get excited about what

was happening because you knew you and

we had a we had an interview in here uh

we are starting up a a big

entrepreneurial wing of Walsh college

right now and it's incredible and we're

really excited about the center for

Innovation and Entrepreneurship and

through that we have uh a guy that came

in and he's going to run the program his

name is Dan Sam and he and I sat in here

a couple weeks ago we had a very similar

conversation about the entrepreneurial

spirit and kind of how that comes to be

as somebody who's got to work in the

entrepreneurial world for a handful of

years now that is a very different

energy it is but it is absolutely what

you need in a time like that with

Detroit where what what had worked in

the past is no longer working in order

to have something change you have to

bring in somebody that's willing to make

that change and the best way to do that

is bring in a whole lot of people that

are willing to make that change and put

the energy forth now again you're saying

that you're you're in your late 20s

you got to have that late 20-year-old

energy to get through this because it is

not going to be easy it is not going and

a lot of times it may not be fun but you

know what's on the other side of it and

you know what has to happen that's it so

now we now bring us into the world where

you've now developed this networking

group you've you've grown this in a

space where you understand it and you've

grown it to be a lot of people I'm

assuming at this point how do you go

from that into something as big as the

name Ted X well when you grab something

that nobody knows about or few people

know about where it's not nearly as big

as it becomes it's a lot easier to get

on that bandwagon right so I remember

our third event the third one we did at

the time the iPad 2 had come out and the

very first thing in the commercial spot

for the iPad 2 was a video of someone

watching a tad talk yeah that's cool

right so that was like the first time it

got really seeped into the real public

Consciousness but we were on event three

right so if I back up to 2009 one of the

catalysts for great growth in Motor City

conects a gentleman named Charlie

Wahlberg okay Charlie runs a company

called Curve Detroit marketing

advertising and design I'm sure I should

be getting paid for a plug by and and

Charlie's a good friend and a great guy

and awesome awesome curator of TED Talks

he is the curator so Charlie calls me

one August afternoon and says hey good

news we're gonna put on a Ted event and

I said who's Ted who's Ted and why is he

doing events who's Ted and more

importantly am I speaking at this

because if I'm speaking at this the

answer is yes already because in 2019

like all I really wanted to do was go

stand on stages and flap my gums because

it's fun yeah so he said Ted all those

videos I've been sending you I'm like

yeah I I don't make a lot of time to

stand or watch people talking sorry I

got I'm actually doing things I I want

to be the talker not watch the talkers

yeah I'm not I'm not into that whole

deal man and so you know Charlie

Charlie's a great marketer and designer

I'm a great relationship guy we both can

communicate effectively so it became a

relatively easy thing he was going to

work on the speakers I was going to fill

in all the gaps find the

location find people to speak tell

people get sponsors we got a couple

other people that joined our team thank

you Derek thank you Katherine for year

one and we we did it right and we put it

on in like six weeks and the rules of

Ted are if you haven't attended a big

proper Ted event you don't get to have

more more than 100 people at your event

okay well it was 2009 man Detroit needed

a shot in the arm I well 2009 the

country needed the shot in the arm the

whole dang shooting match no if answer

you're right about that and so I'm like

let's break some rules and we'll

apologize if we need to yeah and so it's

not like we blew it out of the water but

we had about 330 people show up great we

were at Lawrence Tech for the first one

a friend of mine that was a professor

there she I asked her if I could borrow

a cup of

Auditorium she said sure no problem and

it was uh well it was a [ __ ] show can we

say [ __ ] show yeah okay good um but you

know the people that were in the

audience loved it because it was raw it

was real the authenticity was cool and

like Lee Thomas from Fox 2 spoke and

Terry barklay the head of inum spoke and

we had a few other really great speakers

that first day or that first time and

you know in hindsight you look back that

event was one of the first 50 Ted x's in

the entire world really yeah okay very

cool we got in a lot of trouble because

you had way more than 100 people right

yeah you didn't follow the rules but Su

us but but that's but that again is part

of the entrepreneurial Spirit you have

to have people that are willing to go in

and be a disruptor that's it and and

that's that's how things grow to be what

what they are today because especially

in the world of tedex I I that is a that

is a group of people that are there to

be influential and the whole the whole

mindset around Ted is to be influential

and Inspire the next person so I would

imagine that at at the same time that

they're saying you know you guys are in

trouble you guys didn't follow these

rules they're probably in the back going

these are our people yeah we were in so

much trouble that they used promo

pictures and and insights from us for

years by year four finally called us

after we'd been on their website in many

different iterations cuz year two we

were at the DIA that was a th person

event year three we were at the max

Fisher 1500 person event by the way

still hadn't followed the you must

attend main Ted and you know we were

raising money for charity you're not

supposed to do that so we we we're doing

what the right thing to do was and and

you know we definitely leverag their

name in their brand um

simultaneously I feel as though we

helped create their name in their brand

yeah exactly I mean if you're bringing

in over the course of four years you're

bringing in 5,000 new people that may

not have ever had access to that stuff

otherwise you've just grown Their

audience by 5,000 people that's right at

no cost to them and and those are the

people that showed up right you know

back back in the day we Charlie and I

taught the first big social media class

that was held at was College that's cool

right back in like January of 2009 it

snowed 9 in that day there were 200

people in the auditorium right it was

that big that fresh that people are like

you know I might die but I should really

learn how to use this yeah well

especially 2009 you're you're fairly new

into social media world but it is

gaining steam quickly it and it is be

especially 2009 2010 now people are

starting to leverage things for the next

job and in 2009 2010 everybody needed a

job so is as you start to realize what

the power of social media is I would be

I'd be curious to go back and look at

what the look at the the outline of that

class today because I would imagine some

of that stuff's so relevant and on the

other side I'll show you the deck I

still have it that would be incredible I

would love to see that especially

knowing that that was here because I

would imagine it was probably one of the

first ones in Michigan at or at the very

least in southeast Michigan was again no

one had done it at that point right it

was January we started we came up with

the idea in November December ended up

partnering here and and just ranking it

all and it it was super cool man and it

was and the amount of people that I see

that are doing social media management

social media Consulting that were

sitting in that class it's pretty it's

pretty bad ass yeah that's very very

cool okay so now you've gotten to a

point where you guys have have launched

into tedex so you're four years in now

and now now full Ted comes to you guys

and says what full Ted

says if if you don't follow our rules

for episode 4 we're not there's not

going to be an episode five okay right

so we went from 1,500 people at the max

Fisher we scaled it all the way back to

about 300 which felt like enough of a

myopa we were supposed to be at 100

we're like dude it's 300 we at the

Garden theater you got you got 200

volunteers they're not they're not here

they're just helping it's a lot of

speakers we decided to go with 15 second

at xtox trying something new yeah it was

so we but we did we scaled it all the

way back to to like 300 folks again and

and it was cool it was nice to have that

intimate little

thing um and I think we're at

2012 if I'm my numers and memor is good

and you know so that was that was fine

2013

um it was either 2013 or 2014 that we

moved over to Kobo Hall okay so we did

the we did the first one we were one of

the first four or five events when they

redid Cobo back in the day and that was

a super cool event we had Segways and

people were riding Segways down on the

riverfront and and so it was either I

think I think it was 13 you'd have to

check when coo opened and if it was 14

it was 14 yeah and that's what you said

from the beginning if that's what it was

yeah right right it's one of those two

people and then the opposite year of

that was at the opera house oh yeah yeah

which was super cool well the tread

opera house is is made for something

like that I mean the the entire

architecture of that building is

designed for for a tedex event it it's

pretty incredible so okay so now they've

now they've agreed to let you grow now

they now we're back now we've we've

apologized politely you've taken the

step back you've doing you've done the

right things now you're starting to grow

again quickly over the next couple years

y so now we're talking 20 let's say 2015

15's Fox Theater and that's when we go

to Fox Theater okay so we do fox theater

in 15 and 16 okay we get

22500 people at both of those events

super sweet and now we're thinking

how do we have the biggest tedex event

on the planet yeah right and turns out

that the number is not as big as you'd

think it is okay

10,500 people okay buenos Ares all I was

ask 2014 okay uh in a soccer football

field as they would tell you it is not a

soccer on a pitch on AIT there you go

thank you there you go damn it I and I

watch Ted lasso I'm so mad at myself

right now um um anyway so we did we did

like all right Little Caesars is opening

right that would be a cool spot so you

know Fox and Little Caesar are conjoined

so easy

conversation we're in we're doing the

thing we're getting ready 2017 we're

going to knock it out of the park that

was a year the Pistons decided to move

into Little Caesar so now they're saying

yeah we can't really schedule your ply

little event because we got an NBA team

to deal with you have to wait till their

schedule comes out right now if you

would like Tuesday between 1:00 a.m. and

4:00 a.m. I think we're going to be fine

we can make that work right but

otherwise you're you're probably so so

we took a hard left in 2017 and most of

the team was like we just can't do it we

don't have time we screwed around too

long and I'm like we're fine we're

Nimble we're flexible people that's we

do so we went to the Wright the Charles

Wright Museum of African-American

history okay right tiny little

Auditorium 330 people we had the same

session twice and so if you came and you

were in the first session you watched

the session then you toured the museum

after okay alternatively you toured the

museum and then watch session two that's

incredible what a fun way to do that it

was cool man and if you haven't been to

the Charles Wright Museum it's like the

largest museum of African-American

history in the country if not the world

wow okay it's it sucks don't get me

wrong it sucks but it's

amazing and awesome simultaneously yeah

it's like going to the Holocaust Center

W it's always going to it's always going

to hurt it's going to suck to be in

there because it's going to hurt man is

it incredible to see the history and and

you know and see how far things have

come so so okay so now go 2018

back out of the little spaces again no

more little spaces for us we got all

grows up fast yeah we went to the

Masonic it's incredible venue oh so cool

yeah it's massive it's cool the history

is there yeah like a every year we do

like a VIP the night before speaker

sponsor meet and greet y there's tickets

available for that so people that want

to spend too much money to go do

something get VIP treatment and get to

hang out there um and so we did that and

that included a wickedly cool tour of

the Masonic yeah and so 18 was kind of

bananas and we had

roughly 28 to 3,000 people there and

then 19 we got sucked back into the

whole Little Caesar's idea and we were

ready for it and I don't remember how uh

I'm going to be polite how that went

sideways yeah um but it did okay and we

ended up at Masonic again not a bad

fallback not a bad fallback right and it

works cuz there's plenty of space and so

that year was like 3500 people which was

just bananas right just bananas and then

2020 we're like this is the year we're

nailing this 105 man we're going to get

112 we're going to crush it yeah and uh

we decide to partner with Ford Field

right we're going to do it at Ford Field

we're going to take up you know we're

going to put the stage in the end zone

we're going to fill up the side of the

bull and we're going to knock it out of

the park or or we're going to suffer

through Co one of the two one of the two

is going to

happen and you know we obviously we're

not having a fall event in 2020 um until

we decided to have a fall event in 2020

and made it all virtual made it all free

and it was crazy the best part for me MH

there's a guy named Al Jean okay Al Jean

is the executive producer and show

Runner of my alltime favorite TV show

full of a bunch of little yellow

people okay so this dude I've been

asking Al jeene to come be on the tedex

stage because he graduated from

parmington

Harrison I wanted him you know talk

Simpsons do something Simpsons you I

don't care what he did yeah um but he

always said we're running the show I

can't I can't just stop to go do this do

this for you who I don't know

um but I you know I stalked him on

Twitter for years right CU I'm I'm an

entrepreneur I want something I get I'm

going to go get it that's right and he

he

spoke he sent his little eight minute

video and it was it was it he he at one

point said and now you know I I'm behind

the scenes on TV but it was it was great

man it reminded me of like a 13-year-old

Jewish fella uh being bar mitz yeah

right his little not I mean but how how

cool though to get so to get somebody at

that caliber because and especially

somebody that was not necessarily super

willing to do it but they saw the power

of what you were doing that's it and

that has to speak even more volumes than

the audience itself is that you have

people that are that are not your

typical speakers but are the big names

and they're willing to come give that

talk at your event yeah it was cool he

was he was kind enough after the fourth

no I finally said all right well at

least let me interview you on my podcast

so he did that and that was super dude I

had to talk to Alene for like an hour on

a podcast that was so bananas um and and

you know he turns out he puts his pants

on like you so it was two feet at a time

just jumps right in just jumps right in

it's amazing he has the move where he

bounces on the bed three times and then

hops in them I I tried that L it on my

head no no then you got to go see a

physical therapist it's a whole thing so

okay so now fast forward to this year so

all right fine like we didn't just do

three years 2122 and no just skip not

I'm not talking about those it's over so

all so last year so what's your record

year that you've had so far that that

2019 that last year of Co was was the

best 21 was like pulling teeth to people

were still on unsure they were still

trying to be careful got it and then to

22 22 was cool we did Music Hall yep and

what a what a man then the foyer of

Music Hall is signatures of all the

everybody that's ever played there I

know and just to just to go through and

just see that and know who stood there

she like wait a second I'm on the same

stage as Prince or you know name it they

were there so that was that was like a

piece of iconic history sweet 23 we did

Motor City Casino soundboard y so we

went from all the icon old school

kickass places in Detroit to like the

newest freshest coolest Tech we could

find and so the ju position of that was

pretty cool and soundboard soundboard

was soundboard was solid stage setup was

really sweet yeah and then so now we

fast forward to this year where are we

going to be we're going to be at Wayne

State University at the Fieldhouse okay

which is like 2 years old so it's super

brand new it's where the the Detroit

shock play and it's where

the play and the Women's Basketball team

plays so yeah it's really really cool

we're excited to partner with them one

of our executive producers Nick who runs

all our Tech is been a has worked at

Wayne State the whole time so we've been

like kind of they've been sponsoring

whether they wanted to or not for all

these years and uh so it's nice to be

able to kind of give back to that

Community for sure um and we're excited

because it's it's going to be a cool

venue it's going to have a totally

different feel we're talking about maybe

doing tedex in the round okay right you

put somebody at the center

Court it it'll be it'll be interesting

I'm curious to see how we pull this up

yeah we should probably have a meeting

about it or something you should yeah

yeah so what's the date on on tedex this

year September 18 so coming up soon

coming up soon it's coming up soon

tickets are on sale applications to

speak are available till August 4th okay

so I don't know when this will we'll try

and get it out quick and see if we can

get a couple extra people listen we

don't have to edit anything there's not

going to be any editing it's fine just

take the Shine

off okay so all right so you have

everything's coming up coming up quick

yeah all right so now I would love to

pick your brain on how does somebody get

to be a tedex speaker is a consultant

that run runs a networking group phrase

pick my brain gives me PTSD all right so

I would love to chat with you about oh I

love that there you go oh we could

totally we could just talk I would love

to hear your fully educated opinion on

how so how does somebody get to be a

speaker so I would and I'm going to tell

you from my perspective so being a tedex

speaker is something that's always been

on my bucket list it's always been

something that would be so fun to do I

do have family that have done it and

they loved it and so one of the things

that one of the myths that I I would

like to hear from you either busted or

proven is do you have to have already

been giving speeches all over the

country oh I love that question so no

okay hard no hard hard No in fact Ted

and Ted X is really about the idea far

more than the vessel delivering set idea

right so there are I I do some coaching

and Consulting with people to help them

get on other tedex Detroit

and so as part of that I provide a list

of events that they should apply to

which means that I spend a bunch of time

researching a bunch of other events and

so if you look at the application

process on many they say Point Blank Ted

is not the place for you to give your

can talk Mr Speaker in fact some of them

will go so far as to say we don't want

professional speakers we don't want

coaches we want people that are out

there doing a thing right that can come

talk about that thing with an expert

level of experience and opinion so it's

it's the myth busted I love it I love

that so all right so now let's say I'm

the person that says you know what this

is the year I'm going to do it and let's

say that we're having this conversation

three months in advance the

application's coming what am I doing to

prep for when that application comes up

so I think the number one thing is

people need to focus on an idea okay so

what'll happen a lot of times we'll see

applications people want to talk about

this and this and this and this and this

they're like they don't have time for

that this is my time on the Red Dot I

got to spit it all out uh no no you

don't yeah no in fact please don't

please don't you won't so just don't

yeah and the challenge is coming up with

that one idea right and so what I don't

think a lot of people realize and much

like I didn't when I asked who's Ted um

technology

entertainment

design these are the three areas that

drive Innovation across industry MH so

as many times as we'll see the you know

I was going along life was great my my

pickup truck broke down I turned into an

alcoholic my wife left me I lived in a

garbage can I picked myself up by my

bootstraps and now I'm a gazillionaire

and you can be too that's not really a

TED talk right it's it's it's inspiring

and people like the human spirit and

they love that energy um but a TED Talk

is really supposed to be that like this

is an innovation yeah right so my

question people always are if you had

eight minutes to share one thing that

would change the world right what's the

idea what's it going to be yeah yeah so

so now let's say that there's you're

talking about somebody who is who is on

the fence and they're like look I have

three things that I want to get it all

in there but obviously that that can't

be how does somebody go about whittling

that down to the thing I mean I know you

say like what is it that you can do

eight minutes on right what is it that

you can get up there and talk in

inspirationally for eight minutes but if

is there a world where those things can

be combined is it is there a topic that

resonates more with the audience is

there is there things to stay away from

is there what what is there that

somebody could latch on to so there are

things to stay away from for sure right

politics is a no no absolutely not

religion is real delicate um you can't

sell a ding dang thing from stage right

so those things are all like you're out

yep our religion again debatable

debatable there's an angle that you can

take and do if you do it right um the

rest of it like hey I'm running for

Senator of the state I want to give a

TED talk right well you might need to

give a talk somewhere else cuz that

ain't happening that's not what we're

here for right yeah and so those things

are a hard no as far as taking the ideas

and whittling them down I always look at

things from different lay layers of

abstraction okay right so if you've got

these three things things and in their

desp Spirit it doesn't work but if you

can find the interconnectedness between

those three things and draw a string

through them and line them up to a

bigger idea and then they become the

three main talking points to support

that Topline idea that's a thing yeah

right but most people are like no I have

to talk about this or this and this is

there a topic that you feel resonates

with with the tedex audience more than

any other

topic man somebody called me the other

day hey tell me what to talk about so I

can

apply off to a bad start no no I I that

seems disingenuine well you told me how

to do it last time well yeah it's cuz it

was for tedx Alpena I didn't have any

vested interest in that dude um and they

had a theme we don't have a theme our

theme is ideas were spreading from

Detroit right so is there a topic that

resonates

well I think a lot of the Forward

Thinking scientific stuff okay right

things that are like oh man I'm looking

at real progress here I want to see it

uh we had electric

vehicle uh that does it vertical takeoff

and Landing okay right

EV y uh a giant drone that you could fit

six people in that's cool right that's

being worked on in Detroit it's happened

and so that was cool when they came out

and they talked about how they're going

to turn the road to solar power to

transfer energy to

EVS that was cool right even the guy

that gave the retrospective of the EV

Vehicles a couple of years back where

you know they were talking about before

World War II EV and internal combustion

were neck and neck right so we all like

well EV has been around for 6 years

right not quite they' been popular

versation yeah yeah nine decades but

same same so interesting so so now let's

say I mean because the tech stuff

obviously is so fascinating but now Joe

Schmo that's not in the tech base what

are what do they what do you find that

they generally will be talking about so

it's fascinating to me you can really

get a finger on the pulse of the mindset

of people based on reading tedex

application really I would imagine that

that's very fascinating to do so 12

years ago everybody wanted to talk about

Communications and social media yep

right 12 14 years ago right 10 12 years

ago lots of people wanted to talk about

leadership and communication y right now

you know the last few years people are

talking about trauma response

interesting

authenticity

vulnerability right so those things it's

really kind of cool cyclically to see

like I said where where people are

really thinking what they're focused on

yeah see a lot of stuff on forgiveness

we see a lot of stuff on being a better

human yeah and in in obviously I was

overdramatic about the guy losing his

wife and living in a garbage can earlier

but we see a lot of stories about

overcoming trauma right in the hardest

thing to do is to figure out if your

trauma

is better than their I would imagine

yeah and that's like such a weird like a

weird predicament because those are

triumphs of human Spirit yeah right but

did you dine on the hospital table for

clinically for 38 seconds and seeing the

light is that different than the guy who

got hit by the car and broke his back

and his legs and learned how to walk

again right I don't I don't know yeah

you know how does how does that

application process work from the

receiving end of it on start from your

side you how many applications do you

generally receive for a single session

we'll get

2300 this year although maybe a little

less because we put such a tight window

out and we're not uh you we're old

school so we're still using Facebook to

Market so you can scold me later Mr

marketing profess after we turn the

cameras off yeah definitely let's not do

that on camera um and then how many seat

how many spots do you fill right

20 so two to 300 applications for 20

spots that's exactly and and so and to

be fair included in those two to 300

there's going to be some dance acts

there's going to be some musical acts

there's going to be some magicians some

comedians right maybe an artist

um so but I said some yeah right it's

like 20 to 30 are that category and

there's always going to be something

there because as I mentioned Charlie is

a masterful curator it is a roller

coaster ride through three different

sessions every single time every year we

finish I look at the team and I say I

don't know how we're going to beat this

there's no way it's going better way and

then it does it again the next year so

you have so you have three sessions per

per week weekend per day per day

September 18th Wednesday so it's just

the day so you have three sessions of

you have three sessions of 20 per uh no

no okay so how many people get perform

36 different acts so act music artist

magician comedy um presenter act right

so between those five there's probably a

couple other categories that I'm not

thinking about but between those there's

about 30 five

different moments on the stage yeah

right and so the longest single longest

person well scheduled to uh 12 minutes

okay right and that person's usually

going to be someone that's telling a

story and then doing some art or playing

some music they're doing multiple things

yep the majority of the people that are

presenting have 8 minutes yeah right and

there's a timer and right there's a

countdown

we don't normally grab the

hook off sometimes we need to um but so

but that's the that's the that's the lay

of L there's a couple of people that'll

get up and talk for four minutes yeah

and okay so now let's talk about let's

talk about what that application looks

like so now let's say I'm somebody I'm

going to do the application what am I

what is it that I'm doing that I'm going

to submit to you you are going to do a

few things right name rank serial number

all the typical stuff that you'd expect

how do we contact you where do we find

you on the socials because we're going

to we're going to check you out yeah for

sure um the things that are I don't I

don't want to go so far as to say unique

to tedex Detroit but are specific to

tedex Detroit some they are some of them

are unique I've seen other apps that

don't have this because they're all

independently run right right if it says

X that literally used to stand for

independently organized okay that's that

was what the X meant got it they've

taken that away now they also changed

the color in the font yes they did I

noticed you did I did but it's my job to

notice those things you know I did it's

my job to notice I Charlie yells at me

all the time you're using the wrong

color I'm like

dude I I it's red I'm using red I'm

using red it's fine us red it's fine so

yeah I don't have an eye for design um

so anyway the application here the two

things that really stand out and help

people stand out is your 300 character

description right what's your talk G to

be and it's really important to note

that 300 characters is not 300 words and

300 characters include spaces and it is

not much it is not much Mark Twain

famously quipped I would have written

you a shorter letter if I had more

time which is a great one because it

does because you will write it out you

be like oh that's that's 300 no that's

700 and you got a ways to go 560 so good

luck you basically have to cut it in

half and and and yeah spaces count yeah

which is brutal spaces shouldn't count

but spes but they do so okay so now I've

I've done all the written pieces of it

the written piece is done the other

thing that's unique is now you have to

upload a video okay and so this is where

I tell people that I work with I want

you to do a self

video right I want you to stand in front

of the camera talk about your big idea I

want to see your ability to convey that

message I want to hear what that message

is I want you to seem excited about it

yeah right have some passion and some

energy around it and I want you to seem

like someone that if you're going to

stand on the Red Dot you're not going to

faint I don't want you to just drop in

the middle of it we you know that you

can talk confidently that's it that's it

and so but a lot of people will just

grab a clip of them speaking from

something else right oh well I I was on

this very popular stage so I'm going to

share this this is where they burn

themselves though because what they'll

do is they'll take video of them

speaking on the topic that they're

submitting to do a TED talk with right

when I don't want the talk you give

everywhere else if I can go see it at

the chamber

it's not a TED talk right right it's so

that's a really fascinating thing so you

so so your tips would be then to do do a

selfie video don't don't brush it up you

don't need to do all the extra editing

we don't need the extra things turn your

phone on point at yourself and talk yep

and talk about something that is going

to be interesting to the masses if it

can be Detroit specific even better and

you're and show that you are somebody

that people are going to find

inspirational and and you have a story

to tell you said something and I don't

even know why it jogged my memory but

somebody gave a talk 10 years ago about

Chief Pontiac okay right and told the

story of this super dope Warrior guy

yeah that you know has a car line and a

city named after him and it was a five

minute talk and it was just awesome it's

cool and it was like a book report right

it it not what I would think of as a TED

talk but super memorable because of the

way he did it yeah right and so yeah if

you can bring some sort of thing that's

unique and interesting and probably a

bit esoteric not known by as many people

as it could be that might be your Ang

yeah that's it sounds pretty incredible

well Terry is there do you have any

final tips for anybody who is looking to

be on the tedex stage whether it be this

year next year or in the future I I tell

my clients make friends with the

production team right so much like

applying for a job if you're sending

your little application through the

application tracker system right you

have no idea why or not anybody's going

to see it

right listen it's not difficult to find

people that are organizing the event

yeah reach out to them Facebook LinkedIn

they're they have a goal of putting on a

great event right if you can show how

you can help them do that yeah you're

doing them a favor as well not a bad way

to go well that's pretty incredible well

Terry your story is so fascinating I

love the history of tedex Detroit I love

the event that you put on it is always

so incredible every year it's so

inspiring and I will tell you that every

time I've seen it I leave there and I

have weeks and weeks following of just

feeling this excitement towards

everything that is going on not only in

in the Detroit area but around the

country because you are so inspired by

the fact that you have these people in

the world that are trying to make the

world such a better place and I

appreciate so much that you and your

team bring that together to allow other

people to see how incredibly powerful

that is team the team the the team the

team is pretty incredible well Terry

thank you so much thank you to you uh

for coming in today and thank you for

the team for putting on an incredible

show pleasure man thanks for having me

absolutely absolutely