My First TEDx Experience
My First TEDx Experience
My First TEDx Experience
I gave my first TEDx (x= independently organized) talk on Saturday, October 24th at St. Edward’s University in Austin. What an incredible experience.
I have wanted to give a TED talk for a long time. It has been a business goal and bucket list item for many years. Having applied once before and been rejected, I was afraid to apply again. One of my best friends found this opportunity and recommended me. This time I was accepted, and I was simultaneously ecstatic and terrified. This was the shot I’d been waiting for. The challenge was that I’d only been given a little over a week to prepare. Ouch!

Anne Grady My First TEDx Experience
Practice Makes Panic!
I’ve been doing this long enough to know that a good speech takes work, and a great speech takes a LOT of work. If this was going to be successful it simply had to be great. It meant writing, declaring it crappy, tossing it, re-writing, practicing every chance I got, meeting with my coach, sleeping, eating, and breathing TEDx, all while traveling and doing speaking engagements. It was hard to keep everything straight and panic began to set in.
There came a moment when I literally had a conversation with myself. “Ok, quit freaking out. You have to choose what this experience will look like. You want to look back and remember a positive experience that ends with you being energized and proud of the accomplishment.“
So, more practicing. And practicing. And practicing. Until finally, there was nothing more I could do but NOT practice.
IT’S SHOW TIME!
I went to the staging area to get mic’d up, stared at that famous, small piece of red carpet in front of me, took a huge deep breath, and walked out. I’ve been speaking professionally for 20 years, and I cannot remember the last time I felt this nervous.
I said the last line of the speech, and the audience applauded, and then they stood up! People began to cry, laugh, and come up and hug me. It was one of those moments I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
My presentation was titled “Find Your Courage”. Rather ironic since I’d been so afraid. It’s funny that it took writing a speech on courage to find mine. Here’s the thing about courage, in order to find it, you have to go through being insecure and uncomfortable to get it. Courage means being afraid and doing it anyway.
We have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s the only way we truly grow.
Don’t let fear hold you back. What have you always wanted to do, but have been afraid to try? What is one thing you can do this week to get out of your comfort zone?
Anne’s First TEDx Talk

Anne’s Second TEDx Talk

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Anne breaks down the daily habits and skills needed to grow and cultivate RESILIENCE.
I had an incredible time chatting with @dr.cindyspeaks on Positively Altered about one of my favorite topics >> resilience!
💪 We covered everything from how stress affects the brain to actionable strategies for resetting your resilience and reclaiming balance. Plus… we even talked donkeys!
🎧 Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-23-the-resilience-reset-transforming-stress/id1773804535?i=1000699134975
In this episode, we dive into:
🧠 How to train your brain for resilience
😩 The power of sitting in the “suck”
💡 Simple strategies to reset stress and find balance
If you’re ready to transform stress into strength, this one’s for you!
What is on your to-do list for the week? ✅
I’m sure it includes meetings, tasks, personal chores, and follow-ups, but does it include things that bring you joy?
Instead of waiting for happiness, create it.. You can even focus on enjoyable things while doing the have-to do things.
Slogging through paperwork? Light a candle and listen to your favorite tunes.
Going for a drive? Listen to a stand-up comic or a great book.
Don’t neglect what brings you joy and happiness—make it a ritual and part of your resilience-building routine.
You know that heart-stopping moment when you try to change lanes, only to realize that someone is in your blind spot?
Blind spots aren’t just for driving. In life and leadership, we all have blind spots—things others see clearly that we don’t.
The tricky part? Blind spots aren’t always glaring flaws. Often, they’re our good intentions getting lost in translation. So, how do you uncover them?
Here’s a simple twist that will make a big difference: Ask for advice instead of feedback. 🗣
This slight shift makes people more likely to offer constructive, actionable insights—without triggering defensiveness. Plus, it builds trust and strengthens relationships.
Rather than trying to make drastic changes, pick one behavior and integrate it into your day.
Want to start a gratitude practice? Do it while you brush your teeth. Want to take deep breaths? Practice while you make coffee. Adding a new habit to an existing one makes it easier to stick with it.
#mindfulmonday #habitstacking #atomichabits #jamesclear
Humor changes your biochemistry, emotions, thoughts, and behavior. 😆
A positive mood boosts your immune system! Whether you find your laughter through being around friends, going to a comedy show, watching funny movies, or just being goofy, don’t underestimate the power of a belly laugh and a sense of humor.
When something stressful happens, there are really 2 different things taking place.
There’s the thing that is happening, and then there is the story that you tell yourself about the thing that’s happening.
The story is where criticism, judgment, self-doubt, and shame come in.
Whatever you have going on in your life right now, take a step back and try to view it from a third-person perspective. See if you can separate the facts from the story you tell yourself about it.
If we can start to separate the situation from the story, the story becomes much less scary because we realize it is one we’re telling.
This makes it easier to accept where you are without judgment, self-doubt, and shame. What we practice grows stronger. 📕

Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #TruthBomb Dropper.
Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 3 books. Her newest, Mind Over Moment: Harness the Power of Resilience, is available on Amazon now.
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Fantastic Anne! I am so happy for you. Sounds amazing!
Thank you, Julia!!!
I am happy for you.
“We have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s the only way we truly grow.” So true.
Thanks JK!
Congratulations on another amazing accomplishment. Can’t wait to see it.
Thank you, Laura!
Rock stars always know what to do when they hit the stage and you my friend ARE A ROCK STAR.
I can’t wait to see the video. Your courage, your story and your commitment to being the best trainer, speaker and overall professional I know inspires me in my own work.
Keep Rippling On my friend!
Ah, thanks Steve. You are an inspiration as well!
What an inspiring way to start this work week! Feeling very courageous now:)
Have a great week, Kim!
Way to go, Anne! Someone told me years ago that we “teach” the best of what we need to learn the most. I was reminded of that when I read your post this morning!
So true, Kay. Those who can’t do teach. Those that can’t teach consult 😉
Please be sure to tweet a link to the video when it’s available. Jennifer and I are both eager to see it.
-c
Will do, Charlie!
I can see that group giving you a standing ovation that’s the inspiration you give when you speak!!
Congratulations on another well done talk.
Thanks, Lesa! It certainly feels good 🙂
Wish I could have been there. Would love to see the video when it is available. Of course, no surprise to me that you got a standing ovation. You rock!
Thanks, Leslie! I’ll send the link when I get it. I appreciate your support!!!
Anne,
I am so happy for you and proud of you!! I have always wanted to do a TEDx too and hope to have the same honor! I know how hard it is to pull off a condensed version of what you want to say. I would love to see it when it is ready to be viewed on video. Keep Rocking!! You are a gift to so many!
Sincerely,
Aric
You’re not so bad yourself Aric!Looking forward to catching up!
Anne, I’m so proud of you and especially honored to have gotten a glimpse behind the scenes, “pre-Ted,” ha.
Everyone is going to love your talk and the message only you can convey with courage from the heart. Bravo!!!!!
You are an inspiration. I’m (and a lot of others) looking forward to the video. Thank you for sharing your personal experience.
Ah, thank you, Robbin! I’m anxiously awaiting seeing it myself! Happy Thanksgiving!