What do you do when everyone says your idea is impossible?
In 1947, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl had a theory that ancient peoples crossed the Pacific Ocean on primitive rafts. The scientific community dismissed him. “Impossible,” they said.
So Heyerdahl built the Kon-Tiki, a balsa wood raft held together with rope. And he sailed across the Pacific to prove them wrong.
The lesson Kon-Tiki holds for public speakers
Every time you step on stage to deliver a speech or presentation, you are launching your own Kon-Tiki.
Public speaking is never without risk. You may forget your words, face skepticism, or fall short of your own expectations. But if you never set sail, you’ll never make waves.
Your audience might doubt your message. They might think your idea won’t work. They might dismiss you before you even begin.
But here’s what Thor Heyerdahl understood: If you truly believe in your message, you have to be willing to take a risk share it.
This short video, filmed at the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo, explores what it means to speak with conviction so strong that you’re willing to face the unknown ocean of audience reaction.To make waves, you have to set sail.
What message do you believe in strongly enough to risk failure?
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