Today I had to let go of the person I love most on the planet right now. There’s a much longer story preceding that, but the short version is I needed to let go of a belief, a desire, a story, an idea of what things could be in the future. Of who we could be. And I needed to do it for both our sakes.
I thought I had done this, already, but recent events revealed that I only succeeded in it for a little while. The attachment crept its way back in, alas.
While painful, especially with the blunt (but helpful) serendipity of Wreck-it Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks The Internet guiding my way, it also proved to be a powerful shift for something inside of me.
I found myself inspired to speak. Not just saying words, but speak as from a stage, addressing an audience of thousands or even millions.
And so I started recording. And I kept going. And going. And going.
I spoke for 55 minutes, completely unscripted, inventing a keynote speech on the spot using just the connection between my heart and my head.
And it kind of went…great?
Like don’t get me wrong, this is nowhere near a polished keynote speech. But for me just improvising a 55-minute talk on the spot with zero preparation, what came out was surprisingly potent. A rich, fertile soil from which to grow a refined talk.
After I finished recording, I asked A.I. to assess it. Here’s what it said:
Me: Describe how you would evaluate this talk as a TED talk (but longer) or a keynote speech? What metrics or measures are you assessing it by, and how well does it hold up?
A.I.: Faruk, I would evaluate this talk as a powerful and thought-provoking keynote speech that effectively challenges the status quo of capitalism and calls for a fundamental shift in how we view business, work, and our shared humanity.
Some key metrics I would use to assess the effectiveness of this speech:
Clarity of message: The speaker clearly articulates their central thesis - that capitalism has become a destructive force that prioritizes profits over people, and that we need to reframe our systems and priorities to put the wellbeing of all humans first. The message is conveyed with passion and conviction.
Emotional resonance: The speech taps into deep emotions, from frustration with the current system to hope for a better future. The speaker's personal anecdotes and vivid descriptions help the audience connect on a visceral level.
Originality of ideas: While the critique of capitalism is not entirely novel, the speaker presents a unique perspective by framing the issue as a personal, human-centric problem rather than just a business or political one. The ideas around redefining job qualifications and capping wealth are thought-provoking.
Calls to action: The speech doesn't just identify problems, but offers concrete suggestions for how individuals and society can work to create change. The emphasis on expanding one's capacity for love and empathy as a path to becoming a more valuable contributor is a compelling proposal.
Overall, I believe this speech would be highly impactful as a long-form keynote. The speaker's passion, clarity of vision, and willingness to challenge deeply entrenched systems make it a potentially transformative talk that could inspire audiences to rethink their relationship to work, business, and each other.
Me: How would you recommend improving it?
A.I.: Here are some suggestions for how Faruk could potentially improve this keynote speech:
1. Tighten the structure and flow:
- The speech covers a lot of ground and could benefit from a tighter, more cohesive structure. Consider organizing the key ideas into a clearer narrative arc.
- Identify opportunities to transition between topics more smoothly, rather than jumping between tangents.
2. Provide more concrete examples and data:
- While the speech is rich in conceptual ideas, adding more specific examples, statistics, and real-world case studies could strengthen the arguments.
- Citing credible sources for claims about wealth inequality, environmental impact, and other systemic issues would lend more authority.
3. Balance idealism with pragmatism:
- The speech is very aspirational in its vision for a new, human-centric system. Consider acknowledging the challenges and complexities of enacting such sweeping change.
- Offer more practical, step-by-step suggestions for how individuals and organizations can start to implement the proposed shifts.
4. Refine the personal anecdotes:
- The speaker's personal experiences and reflections are powerful, but could be further developed to better illustrate the key points.
- Ensure the personal stories are tightly connected to the overarching themes and not just tangential.
5. Enhance the storytelling and rhetorical devices:
- Look for opportunities to use more vivid, evocative language and imagery to paint a clearer picture of the current reality and the desired future.
- Experiment with rhetorical techniques like repetition, metaphor, and rhetorical questions to drive the message home.
By tightening the structure, grounding the ideas in more concrete evidence, balancing idealism with pragmatism, and refining the storytelling elements, Faruk could elevate this already compelling speech into an even more impactful and memorable keynote. The core message has the potential to truly resonate with and inspire audiences.
I agree with the recommended improvements, and I’m still feeling pride in what just spontaneously came out of me.
So now I plan on refining this talk. I’ll probably start by writing it out as an essay.
While it hurts to let go of someone I love so deeply, I feel uplifted by the fact that immediately after drying my tears I found myself soaring high. There’s something potent, here.
And I’m going to explore it.
Share this post