place, it’s captivating; they can get the audience to follow easily in all they do.” Another piece of advice she shares is to “find a small group of supporters who will always be there for you and lighten up your spirits on your journey. No matter how much speaking experience you may have, you might get nervous on the TEDx stage.” When asked what stands out for her, Vanichkul replied, “The whole experience. I learned about my strengths and the skills that are always within me. I learned that the concern about my accent wasn’t a barrier.”
TEDx talk had long been on their bucket list. “We have lived a unique and interesting story and to get the chance to be on the world’s largest stage—together—in order to tell it was a dream come true.” When it comes to preparation, they said it goes back five years when they started writing their story about going “all in” for (OME Gear) their outdoor furniture company that is perfect for camping, the beach, tailgating, and other sports and nature- related activities and recreation. The actual talk, they said, took them about a month to write and memorize. “We prepared it old
Pierce adds that “procrastination is not your friend. So, don’t put it off, and don’t think you can just get up and do it off the cuff. Also, don’t beat yourself up after your talk is over; celebrate the opportunity no matter how you think you did!” For this dynamic duo, the best part was sharing the stage together, and having their story validated on such a large platform. “The biggest challenge,” Pierce said, “is having to memorize 18 minutes and recite it in front of a large audience. Our story, which took 25 years to live, is very emotional to us, so keeping our emotions
“Everyone has his or her own way to prepare, but the key ingredient for a successful presentation is flow” —Dan Young
She adds, “Speaking with my authenticity, sincerity, and passion is what moved the audience. The standing ovation at the end was the cherry on top.” Not only does Vanichkul appreciate the positive feedback she has received from her talk, but “it reminds me of the whole journey and the great friendships that happened along the process. We always know that strong part inside of us, that we can do it. That’s why we applied for speaking in the first place. To put energy and effort into something that’s meaningful is always fruitful.” Entrepreneurs, innovators, and life partners Jules Weldon and Stacey Pierce say that doing a
school style—writing it out, breaking it up, and then starting to memorize it,” Weldon explained. Adds Pierce, “Once we felt like we had it memorized, we said it again, and again, and again. Then, we did it in front of people, got their feedback, made edits, rememorized, then practiced some more!” Their main piece of advice is “practice, practice, and practice,” Weldon said. “Rehearse saying it in front of other people; time yourself; and have some fun time. After all, this is the chance of a lifetime!” They practiced in front of trusted family and friends and after taking their advice, the story flowed more smoothly.
under control was also a major challenge.”
When it comes to the finished product, they are immensely proud. “We did the very best we could,” added Pierce, “and we put our hearts and our story out to the audience. What more could we ask of ourselves?” There are many life lessons that they discovered. “We prepared, we messed up, we adapted on the fly, and we felt like we crushed it,” Weldon said. “So, we would say ‘Never give up—someone needs to hear and be inspired by your story!’”
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