The Power of Telling Your Story | Dominic Colenso | TEDxVitoriaGasteiz

As humans, we love to listen to good stories. But what makes a story good? Dominic Colenso explores the elements that make a story irresistible, transforming a run-of-the-mill tale into an extraordinary epic.
At TEDxVitoriaGasteiz 2017 our speakers encapsulated the idea of trace, or how our actions and inactions, as well as our ideas, might translate into something tangibly different or even leave their traces in others and in the environment.
Dominic Colenso knows a thing or two about the highs and lows of performance. By the time he was 26 he had flown a Thunderbird, lost a million dollars and been fired by Simon Cowell.
During his acting career, Dominic worked alongside some of the UK’s most famous performers, appeared on the London stage and in BBC Period Dramas, and even took a starring role in a Hollywood movie. Exciting? Yes! But Dominic discovered his true talent when he was asked to give master classes in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, coaching and motivating the stars of tomorrow. This experience inspired him to set up his own company so that he could share his practical and transformational methodologies with a wider audience. He now works with businesses around the world to help individuals, teams and leaders take central stage and deliver outstanding performances.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
Actor. Director. Storyteller. Working with businesses around the world to unlock creativity, connection and communication.
Actor. Director. Contador de historias. Trabaja con negocios en todo el mundo para desbloquear la creatividad, conexión y comunicación.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@cartercameron4999]

POV you're here because your English teacher told you to watch it.

[@ssurayaa]

yes

[@ok-dm1gn]

... yes

[@wes1934]

Amazing - it certainly reveals the true and original nature of our education system by what they bestow upon us and what we should aspire to become.

[@p0kes]

lamo yes

[@obiisdead2224]

yup. "4 main points"

[@realworldtraining5303]

Your past is your biggest asset. Thanks for sharing. On that note, I’ll share some of my story. I am 35 and in reality, I feel like I’m 25, because the last 10 or so years of my life have been a blur. I’ll keep it as brief as I can. It’s hard to know where to start from. My story is a story of ‘trauma’ and how my life has been connected to that word. As a kid I would always play rough and sometimes get hurt, but my first encounter with trauma was when I was about 11. I was in a boarding school, it was late and we had just finished mopping the corridors. My and two other boys decided it would be fun to run and slide on the wet floors. We were having a great time until I slipped and landed on my face. I remember being in a daze, in that daze I noticed my face felt tingly, so I followed the sensation to my mouth, I realised I was missing my two front teeth. There was a bit of blood on the floor and in my dazed state I started looking for my teeth in the blood. I couldn’t find them and this confused me, so I put my hand in my mouth to feel the gums and I felt something hard. All of a sudden I realised what had happened. I had literally hammered my teeth upwards and they were lodged in my gums. I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline in my 11 year old body. I ran to the medical room of my dormitory as fast as I could. In fact I can remember running on the wet floor soapy floor and not even sliding, while all my other dorm mates watched in horror. My two front teeth were lodged in my gums. It turned out that if my teeth had gone up even a few millimetres further they would have crushed my nose bone and killed me. I ended up with false teeth and have since then. Fast forward to when I was about 25, playing football with a few friends when all of a sudden my hip started hurting really bad to the point I had to lie down in pain. After that I started walking with a limp. The doctors couldn’t find anything wrong, I continued with the limp for years, eventually I got really bad, I started having stomach pains and losing weight rapidly. Doctors discovered I had a bowel disease called ulcerative colitis. I was in an out of hospital for years. Sometimes I would become so anaemic that I would need blood transfusions. This went on, my body resembled more of a skeleton than a body. Before all this, I was a big dude, gym fanatic and I had established this reputation for fitness and strength. Now people started to pity me and this was slowly destroying any self worth I previously had. I would get to points where on paper I should be dead but somehow I persevered. One day I went to the hospital to address a neck pain I was having. Turned out my neck was broken, my c1 and c2 joint were snapped. It was broken for so long that my skull had managed to fused itself to my c1(I suppose it was my body’s way of adapting). When the doctors discovered this, they literally cello taped me to the bed and they were all panicking. Apparently there was no explanation for how I was still alive. The extent of my injury according to them was not even a risk of paralysis, I was simply supposed to be dead. Some people say it was because of my fitness training that I had somehow managed to use muscles to support my neck, but who knows. I looked like a skeleton with an athletic physique. I had to wear an uncomfortable neck brace, eventually I went for surgery and had my neck fused, with metal rods. As a consequence, I can’t turn my neck either way and I can’t lift my head up and that is for life. It was hard adjusting to my new movement range. I ended up in hospital again not long after the surgery. I was literally rushed in on an ambulance, half dead. This time my bowel disease had gotten really bad and they now had to remove my bowels and give me one them bags on my stomach. When I heard that, a sudden rush of adrenaline woke me up, as I very sternly refused to give my consent. I wasn’t about to go through another surgery, even if it meant I would lose my life because of it and I stood strong on that. They eventually very reluctantly discharged me. I decided I was going to stop taking their medication against their orders and find a way to heal myself. I did tons of research and tried hundreds of new things, I won’t bore you with all that detail. Eventually I got even worse, to the point I couldn’t even walk. I was fully crippled. I could not even dress myself. I ended up back in hospital, after about 4 years of no medication, literally on deaths door. They discovered that all along, I had a condition called ankylosing spondylitis, I have a slight scoliosis, my s.i joint is partially fused, I have arthritis in my hips, all this along with my bowel disease and my stiff neck. They managed to get rid of the inflammation and sent me home. I start working out slowly, in a few months I stopped using the crutches to walk and I must point, I was walking with the crutches for about 2 years. I carried on working out and I started regaining some body mass and strength. Now, 6 months after being released from hospital, last year October, I feel the best I have in a long time. I am currently about to start my youtube channel, where I will share my story and my workouts with the world. I know the story may seem long, believe me when I say, that was as brief as I could keep it. I hope I have inspired someone to never give up and to always believe that there is a way.

[@futzycodm2716]

why did u write so much man

[@michaelhastriter3299]

If you can tell this in a British Accent I would be more inspired.

[@jonathanqamanzi]

Thank you. You reminded me my accident in 2012 i had forgotten for about 2 years now . Telling your story is strong

[@aquamarine2416]

your story is amazing to know! when I was young I fell on my teeth too , men life is hard.

[@realworldtraining5303]

@@aquamarine2416 it is, but we just got to keep soldiering on

[@IDontKnowMuchAtAll]

When we run from the past, we lose our identity, no matter how successful we have become. When we remove emotion and purely replace it with logic, we lose our humanity. There's no Base 10, Base 2 or other numbering scheme that can add up the experience of each individual person. That is what makes us unique. Not how you invented something, or created the next best thing/innovated something in your respective career field. Our experiences and dreams that mold us into the people we become. Not logic. This was well said and really seals the deal for me to start my podcasting hobby I have wanted to start. Thanks Dominic.

[@richarddavies3955]

Dominic. What a great talk. Eloquent, thought provoking and you have inspired me to tell my personal 'once upon a time'. Telling your story is the best way to being authentic and make meaningful connections.

[@gsyeoh4119]

Learnt a lot from Dominic! Glad I found this video - inspiring and gives me more ideas and confidence in starting my youtube channel.

[@ToddisCurious]

Wonderful, so wonderful. Thanks.

[@world_vfxed9528]

You don't read CVs of the people you admire! You read their biography. Wowww. What an amazing view. That hit me!

[@TYAmentor]

Excellent! The skills you demonstrate are so needed today! For instance, in the British Labour Party. Oh, and the Church of England...You have a terrific past, an inspiring present, and as for the future - stand back....

[@MissUnderstoodasAlways]

Thank you sir. Love this

[@ritakamus774]

Great presentation! Thank you

[@Playboysmurf1]

How we tell our own story has a huge affect on our outlook, in the same way as affirmations are said to do. If your story lists only or mostly the horrible and tragic events you can become a victim or worse. It needs to be honest but confident and said frequently to yourself.

[@SteveTurtle]

I love it! Thanks for telling us YOUR story.

[@NguthiJosephkagechu]

The confidence is so inspiring

[@antonynjenga001]

powerful narrative..the stories of the past make movies of today and the future...

[@Dr.WaltzFromChicago]

Beautiful speech and story!🌹🌹🖤✌🏾☮🙌🏻 Thank you Victoria..

[@arlinegeorge6967]

Interesting n informative talk. Thank you, bless you. All your dreams come true.

[@rjtheripper931]

That was amazing. That was just awesome. Go and seek the truth and find it people. You can do it.

[@lucasj3111]

Always good and its good to come back and listen again :)

[@AlexisKingsbury]

Great presentation Dominic! Such awesome advice - I accept your challenge and promise to share more.

[@aquamarine2416]

😍 Stunning!

[@JoeGregoryOfficial]

Great questions Dominic. I definitely share too little. Made me think.

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Thanks Dominic

[@lucasj3111]

Great Speech, I am planning to tell my story since many years, after watching You Dominic now is time to learn and build the plan towards it :)

[@robertzemsky8972]

Agreed - he's inspired me also to start the memoir!

[@krystleroyse103]

Sharing our story is so powerful! I am sharing my story online in hopes to help others with theirs!

[@meghanhenderson1063]

Yes same

[@LearnHub641]

Just share with me

[@SuperNiceTv1]

Great thought 😍

[@teokotaiandrew3472]

The greatest presenter.

[@tulsipatel4883]

Made me think about how I share my story

[@christianlamb]

Solid! Well done sir! Thx :-)

[@candicejohnson7576]

THIS REALLY GAVE ME CHILLS ''THE POWER OF TELLING YOUR STORY ''..BEAUTIFUL

[@aquamarine2416]

its true , I remembered when I was young I enjoyed hearing stories from my elders. You get a very Good sensation listening to them.

[@coachkagiso1773]

Man -you are the greatest 🙆🏽‍♀️🔥🔥

[@lordofcringeviii7861]

🧠🧠🧠

[@harrypearle9781]

WONDERFUL WISDOM Thanks so much I never heard advice expressed in such simple and hopeful terms. =====================================================

[@yourtrustedpersonalityguide]

Love your accent

[@Facesofdiscofan]

I thought this was great. You are an excellent presenter.

[@motskii9117]

POV your writing teacher is showing you this.

[@justtet9492]

Im going to the university and I accept your challenge. I will write my plot for my first video right now and share my thought

[@johnthompson6772]

I was actually searching for how to create a life legacy biography video and found this page. If anyone has any thoughts on this I'd really appreciate it. My aunt has a great life story and I'd like to find a way to professionally record it in the New York City area. thanks!

[@nahanhasan]

Sir, I like your body languages.☺

[@venkateshg07]

The best way to introduce yourself and connect yourself with opposite person effectively..

[@carriegriffithsvoice]

You can tell he's an actor.

[@maryeviljane]

Rule number 1: Have a strong, british accent.

[@GeorgetheArchitect]

maryeviljane Rule #2 Don’t forget to use it on ladies :)

[@itry5906]

AYO HE DO BE PACKIN THOOO

[@decireearadillos9106]

So yes, I am here because my teacher told me so.

[@mk7828]

Same here😊😅

[@decireearadillos9106]

@@mk7828 🤦

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Very nice...a story of a venezuelan immigrant..in Colombia..l wonder if i will be able to tell it @

[@aquamarine2416]

yes you can 👍

[@stevelambert313]

ALL FOR THE POWER & GLORY OF THE MOST HIGH,YHWH!REMEMBER THAT THE UNIVERSE & EARTH WERE SPOKEN INTO EXISTENCE.

[@hinkledennis1476]

I wanna share my story I have started but keep getting stuck I have so much to say but have no idea how to write it out

[@masemaster2k440]

0:14 you had ONE JOB

[@ahnnapiersol5504]

Your here because of a health assignment

[@Tiffany-fp9rt]

SIMON SAYS FIRED YOU 😂 I BELIEVE YOU , YOU HAVE TO MUCH SPUNK AND SPIRIT FOR HIM 🎉

[@teresasambuceto]

What if your story is too dark and depressing and you feel like "your ruining somebodies day"

[@AlexisKingsbury]

Some of the best talks I've been to have shared the dark story behind the person. Anthony Robbins is a great example. The key to make it uplifting is to put in context of explaining your 'why' - and then paint a positive future.

[@teresasambuceto]

What if its so hard to paint a positive future if your past and present are both messed up.

[@ainikiai67]

First of all, from my experience, you have to find the proper moment and this is valid for all things in life, because important things are happening at the right moment. My first attempt to go public and share my story one month ago did not worked out, but for me it is important to understand why and to know it will work out at the right moment. Anything happens by chance in life. Another thing is to see who is your public, to whom suits your story. After you do it once, you will understand things much, much better. All who are coming here speaking about stuff are so confident on the stage because they came up here on the stage at the proper moment and in the front of the right people. They have lived a story, they are confident about themselves, they were helped to present themselves in this way, but behing all final products there is a lot of work and happenings.

[@assasinerd6650]

My story is kinda sad

[@lucasj3111]

My story is very sad and I am planning to tell it anyway, I know there is many people with similar story to mine and this is why I will make this world a better place by telling my story and connecting with those who understand me. Dominic here is completely right about it, nothing to add... Guys to not be scared of sharing the stories :) We all have good ones and all will be good!!! Good Night to all :) from IL

[@danielandrews1999]

How can I tell my story to the world for free ?

[@marcsymons1553]

Is this the same guy that gave that truley awesome talk on drug addiction?

[@antoniodossantos5960]

A youtuber at 63 years old

[@tucosalamanca5818]

Mr Watney please send us shorter videos in the future

[@kolacao8134]

Who wants to know someone was a shut in and depressed....?

[@chefg6381]

The righteous conga sequentially fasten because snowflake geometrically tip mid a successful bed. draconian, vacuous chill

[@allisongervais9266]

I like the concept, however your past, present, future story is quite impressive and high achieving (staring in a Hollywood movie, being a Ted speaker, etc.) It seems quite boastful, yet you said it doesn't need to be. You also mention stories are a way to create connection. I felt less connected with you after hearing your story.

[@klindner1]

@Allison: It all depends how you look at things. Is his story better because he stared in a Hollywood movie? Not necessarily. it just shows where he came from. Find the joy in your own story instead of feeling not enough because of someone else's. :-) I felt he connected with me.

[@CJS_Artist]

It was going well until example “Hollywood, tedx talk, teaching public speaking to important people “ oh and lost million dollars at one point. No sure I can tell my past, present and unknown future now. I’ll take away the advice before the examples and tell my story even if I’m unsure if it helps professionally with the art business; it makes me more human and hopefully more approachable. Also to share the highs as well as the lows, not keep in one gear .

[@lordofcringeviii7861]

I hate how every time he talks his mouth smacks And this is so slow paced

[@eddygan325]

Join toastmaster is a great start to share your story