your truth. Said another way, the benefits and the liberation that comes with living your truth often far outweigh any potential risks or fears.” When it came to preparing for and giving her talk, Dr. Yeung faced many challenges that caused her to need to lean into the very message that she was sharing. “I had to trust myself and my intuition when it came to what I would share in the talk and how I would write it. My talk seemed different than other TEDx talks that I’ve seen because I was sharing personal and vulnerable stories,” Dr. Yeung said. “I learned even more to trust myself, give myself permission to do it my way (in a way that was authentic to me), and not compare myself with others or do it the way I thought I was supposed to.” Now that her TEDx talk is available on YouTube, she has basked in the positive feedback. “The best part of the experience is people reaching out to me in person after the event or via social media after watching the video to tell me how much my talk has resonated with them and impacted them,” explained Yeung. “This has made all of the hard work worth it,” Dr. Yeung said. “Knowing that people have heard the message and it has inspired and empowered them in some way in their lives is exactly why I embarked on this journey!” While many TEDx speakers are afraid to take the plunge, Vanichkul called the “big stage
with a great reputation” the perfect place for her to share her knowledge about her topic of Intelligent Beauty while reaching a global arena. She said that she honed her craft for about two months and taking Dr. Young’s speakers course with several other Bellwether members gave her valuable insight into the process. “Being in a group that was experiencing the same thing was extremely helpful because we supported each other, and I learned a great deal from every aspect of this experience.” Her individual process involved “gathering all my ideas, constructing the points, feelings, and the journey that I wanted to lead the audience on,” said Vanichkul, who has extensive experience in the health/wellness, fashion, and beauty arenas. “I reviewed, rehearsed, and practiced with close friends and family. After I received comments from those I trusted, I adjusted
and practiced again. For me, it was about not compromising my key message which is the importance of Inner and Outer Beauty in harmony.” would recommend anyone considering taking the TEDx plunge to thoroughly follow the TEDx guidelines and make sure to have someone to help who is experienced enough to guide you in the right direction. She said that she “Just because a topic sounds cool or impactful, does not mean it will work for TEDx,” she said. “So, I would say it is important to pick a topic that is close to yourself or your heart. I think people speak better on topics that are meaningful to them.” The main aim, Vanichkul said, is that speakers are “creative and authentic. It’s just not about cool sentences or stories, it’s more about the connection with the audience. When the speaker is able to speak from that authentic
| The Bellwether |
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