TEDx blog #1

A Sweaty Start to a Dream

My TEDx Truth #1: The things we’re meant to do usually start with sweat.

What do you do when a long-held dream suddenly becomes possible - and you realise you’ve (again) left it until the very last minute?

You sweat. Literally.

When our good friend Ben told me TEDxNorthwich was being hosted at The Grange School (he’s the Head of the Junior School - shoutout, Ben!) I felt butterflies. Giving a TEDx Talk had been on my bucket list for years - quietly sitting between “learn to salsa” and “figure out taxes without crying.” But this? This one felt... real.

Ben had actually messaged me about it well before the deadline. I just didn’t act on it right away. (Hi, ADHD!) By the time I was ready to apply, the deadline was in two days.

I was in Mexico for Opportunity Collaboration, juggling meetings and sunburn, when I was finally able to carve out a moment to film my 2-minute application video.

Writing the script was easy. I realised I knew exactly what I wanted to say.
Obviously, it did take me 42 takes as the first 41 were well over the 2-minute limit.

Okay, so perhaps my message wasn’t quite that straight to the point (yet!), but this ‘idea worth spreading’ had been brewing in my mind for years and through Period Reality, I’d been talking about it for just as long.

I recorded it in the only quiet-ish corner I could find, doing my best not to melt or get interrupted mid-sentence. I struggled with the lighting, the angle and even tried to get the logo placement on my shirt just right.

My video ended with:

“I’m so excited to share this conversation that could spark meaningful change for millions of people.”

And oh boy, was I excited.

True to form, I submitted it on the very last night - November 13th - with a late-night “Is this okay?” WhatsApp to Ben at 23:05pm. The submission deadline was in 55 minutes and in true Ben fashion, he replied within 10:

“I think this is really strong. You covered all bases and you're really clear in what you want to say.”

That little nudge was all I needed.
I hit submit with a big grin.

I really believe I do my best work with a deadline breathing down my neck - and even though I was happy with what I submitted, as soon as I hit ‘submit’ the nerves started to kick in. I realised I REALLY wanted this.

It felt scary to admit that to myself.

I had butterflies in my stomach. Would they get it? Like, really get it? Had I said all I needed to, in 500 characters and a 2-minute video?

Queue the waiting.

Six days later, I got the email.

“We’re excited to invite a shortlist of ideas to be pitched in person.”

I nearly launched my phone across the room.
In-person pitch! I was one of them!

The first person I messaged - after running into my husband’s office?
Ben, obviously.

And that’s how the TEDx adventure began; technically under a palm tree, with a big idea and with a whole lot of heart 🌀