Ted Talk Analysis- Grant Guenther

Ted Talk Analysis
https://www.ted.com/talks/tony_robbins_asks_why_we_do_what_we_do?language=en

.Image of Tony Robbins next to the Ted logo.

          As I near my Ted Talk, I am starting to look into  well- known talks to see  methods that are effective. Relating to “Best Friends”, I have analyzed a talk given in June of 2006 at the annual Ted Conference by Tony Robbins titled “Why we do what we do.” In his nearly twenty-two-minute speech he describes the six basic human needs, and how they relate to the reasons an individual acts the way they do.

Tony walking around stage energetically
with a smile. Notice he has his hands
in his pocket and is wearing jeans. This
shows an action shot of his great speaking skills.

          Tony Robbins truly did release his mastering speaking skills throughout the speech. As I analyzed his clothes, I noticed Tony was dressed casually in jeans and his hands often in his pockets (showed in image on right), showing the audience that he is a normal human. Throughout the talk he engages the audience by allowing them to answer questions and he makes eye contact throughout the whole audience during his talk, causing exceptional conversational skills. As Tony walks around the room he talks at a lightning fast pace using his booming voice, making the audience think and pay attention. Lastly, he grabs the audience’s attention through stories, humor, and exceptional insight. Tony truly has mastered his speaking skills in this talk.

          Coming into the speech, the audience knew everything Tony said but did not really know they knew it because his topic was on a subject that most people do not typically think about. Coming into the speech, he audience expected that he was going to be a motivational speaker since that is Tony's profession; however, Tony arrives and immediately states that he is not a motivational speaker, but rather the why guy: why we do what we do. What he taught the audience was the six basic human needs including certainty, variety, needing to feel significant, connection and love, growth, and contribution beyond oneself.

Tony's dinner give-away project where he gives away millions of
dinners to those who cannot afford them otherwise. 

 Most Ted Talks contain a jaw-dropping moment in the speech somewhere, but the jaw-dropping moment is uncertain in Tony's speech.  Two stories Tony told could possibly be considered jaw dropping. One story Tony Robbins tells is about how as a young kid he wanted to feed families during Thanksgiving time, so he would go to the store and purchase meals for families in need. At first, he started with a meal a year and gradually increased to millions of families being fed each year now. Another story relates to 9/11 and how a couple broke up recently before 9/11 and while one of the people was far away from New York, they happened to give a nice phone call to apologize. Little did this person know that their loved one would die that day in 9/11 with that message being their last memory. These stories show how humans always have to strive to get better and how something in us just has to try to help others. Because these stories effect emotions, they can be considered jaw-dropping. 

Tony giving Al Gore a high-five. At this point the
audience was lauging hysterically.

          His humor is what really gets the audience going. He opens up by saying the shortest speech he has given was 50 hours, and that 18 minutes would be hard. Then he goes on to asking the audience what hinders them and Al Gore, former vice president, says “the supreme court”. Tony hysterically goes into the audience to give AL a high-five. Throughout the whole speech he often criticizes people using bad language, making it funny. He is an extremely funny guy and uses his humor appropriately throughout his speech.
           Throughout the whole talk, there are only a few things I would change about Tony's talk. One thing I would change would be a better jaw-dropping moment because I feel that is an important part of the speech, but his jaw-dropping moment was not clear or jaw-dropping. Another thing I would do is use more visual aids. Tony used a couple powerpoint slides but no other visual aids. Lastly, his speech could be condensed to under eighteen minutes by removing some parts in the middle of his talk.
           Overall, the speech was very effective. He stayed in his lane the whole time and his organization was well-thought-out.  “Best Friends”  draws relations to Tony's talk because the patients at this daycare are the most down-to-earth people I have ever met. Knowing they have a disease  of dimentia, they still live each day to the fullest by giving back wonderful times to the volunteers. They exhibit growth, love and connection, and contribution to my life through their smiles and stories. This speech by Tony Robbins tells me why these people are so happy all the time; it is because it is in basic human need to act the way they do. Tony's speech was amazing and I would strongly recommend it as I have watched it close to ten times now.