I gave a talk yesterday at TEDxYouth@Monterey (I think I got all the various Xes, @s, and other connectors in the event name).

via flickr

It was a very interesting event: there were some good speakers, and the setup was pretty great.

via flickr

I talked about blogging Buddhist monks and what they can teach us about mindfulness and technology. After it was over, I was struck by just how different the kids of arguments are that you can develop in writing and on stage.

When you're writing, you can be complex and multilayered.

In talks, the simpler you can make your story, the better. This is not to say that it can't be intellectually ambitious, just that you have to direct that ambition in different ways than you would in print. It's better if your audience remembers one thing you tell them than if they forget five. It does you no good if they think you're smart but can't tell people what you said.

I also came up with a pithy line that I may use in the future:

Distracted people never change the world. Focused people change the world. And mindful people change it for the better.

I just hope there's some truth to it. I think there are audiences that will like it.