Gregg Fraley

For about three years in the early 80’s I was a stand-up comic. It was a humbling experience. I was bad. Really, bad — particularly at first. I learned how to be a better speaker the hard way. There is nothing quite like “dying” on stage as a stand-up, think the Hindenberg disaster. Multiply by 10 your most humiliating experience — that will give you some idea. Stand-up audiences have a notoriously short fuse for inauthentic, not-funny, boring, stupid, or pretentious comic wanna-be’s. Basically, you have a brief moment to get their attention and hold it. If you haven’t got the attention of a group in the first six seconds — and this is true for any presentation — you

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The Front End of Innovation 2011 conference was last week in Boston. A few comments and impressions for your consideration. * It would be hard to imagine a more serious group with regard to innovation. This is probably the most concentrated group of pure corporate innovators you’ll find. These are the folks who are working hard to make innovation happen at the biggest organisations in the world. And they are desperate to find ways to improve. I don’t have a count on numbers, but it’s not Mac World, it was a focused group. In a way, this group is almost an ad hoc innovation industry association. * Which is not to say these folks are “too serious” — there were

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Pecha what?  Pecha Kucha (sounds like “peh-cha koo-cha”) is a pithy presentation format, 20 slides, 20 seconds each.  You have six minutes and 40 seconds to get your point across.  People all around the world are doing Pecha Kucha. My friend Simon Strong of Human Zoo is organizing a series of Pecha Kucha events in the suburbs of London, and stay tuned for more information. Be looking for Rhyme Not Reason, later this year, in: Guildford Woking Farnborough London High Wycombe (I’ll be helping organize this one!) Oxford Reading Simon’s events won’t be focused on innovation per se, but I’m thinking this public speaking format/phenomena is a great innovation stimulant — no matter what the subject.  Why?  Well, first of all

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As promised here’s the official link to the TEDx NASA conference.  I was a featured speaker, and, there were a great many excellent people speaking and performing.  I suggest that you link through the TEDx NASA site — it provides some context and it has a nice list of all the speakers with direct video links. I’ve gotten an unprecedented number of unsolicited emails in the last couple weeks — people who’ve seen my video. It’s delightful to receive the feedback — keep those cards and letters coming. http://www.tedx-nasa.org/

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I just noticed that the video from my talk at TEDxNASA is now available online. I spoke at that wonderful event about two weeks ago in Newport News, Virginia. (Oops… I’ve been advised that I’ve posted this link pre-maturely… that the editing isn’t done, etc.  Stay tuned, I’ll update this post when it actually becomes available, my apologies.) This is a short 18 minute video about how to be more creatively effective. I talk about having heart for what you do, deferring judgement, play, note-booking, tools, and the link of creativity to innovation.  I link all these topics with the visual metaphor of a creative coat. I would love to hear your comments, and, please send this link to anyone

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I had the honor of speaking at the first TEDxNASA, which took place on November 20, 2009.  I was thrilled to be involved because of my respect for both TED and NASA — and also because I had the sense that this was the start of something big.  What’s started is more than just a TED offshoot.  What’s started is a new, diverse, creative community that blends the rocket science of NASA with the “ideas worth spreading” philosophy of TED. Unless I miss my guess TEDxNASA will emerge over the next few years as the premier TEDx event.  It will also, I predict, serve as a focal point for a new, and inspiring, deliberate creativity and innovation community. TEDx is

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I am surprised by the reaction to my last post. It appears I’ve hit on something of interest to my readers. One of the responses was basically a query as to “how” one might develop more interesting keynotes. The short answer is it requires creative thinking. The longer answer follows. Stories Getting your stories together is a real challenge. Keep a notebook and every time you think of something from your past, write it down. Even the ones that don’t seem big enough or good enough. Prototype your stories with friends for reactions — sometimes what you think is obvious is profound to others. Yes, you can tell a story about someone else, if — you give attribution (are honest

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I got an email from an old friend, somebody who has seen me speak on a few occasions.  He’s thinking about getting into the public speaking business and wanted to know if I could recommend any good books.  It got me thinking about speaking and innovation. I speak about innovation as a topic and when I think about “innovating” in the context of speaking I have to say that it’s not about re-inventing the format (although you could) it’s more about mastering the art first.  If you are truly self-expressed and understand what the role/job of a speaker is you are half way home towards your own personal speaking innovation. It’s a good question about a speaking book.  The bad

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I did a speech last week in Belgium and it occurred to me the night before that I was missing something. I was doing a two hour workshop on “Holistic Innovation” at CreaWAL in Belgium. I planned to make the point that the current crisis is a huge opportunity.  I planned to follow with a point about the need for Innovators to “worship at the alter of perspective shift” — because I believe that’s where insight happens. Good content I thought, but lacking an emotional connection.  And it came to me in a flash, innovators need a prayer.  The crowd in Belgium seemed to  like it, but judge it for yourself… The Innovators Prayer Dear Lord, please grant me the

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