I just had Gordon Brown in my living room

Wow…I never thought I’d be blogging here about Gordon Brown but having just watched his talk from TED in Oxford earlier this year I was genuinely moved to do so.

During some media training I did (I know, it failed) a few years back a journalist from the BBC told me that Brown was the smartest person he’d interviewed or met. I’ve always pondered that given his lacklustre performances we regularly see on TV etc. It shows how much our impressions are formed by the media as I thought this performance was brilliant. He spoke passionately, excitedly and with humour. For 18 minutes I was actually transfixed by our PM. He was really rather good and he seems to understand the power of the web to change the world. Okay you can argue that he made lots of bold statements and action are how we should be judged but one pure delivery, it was the best I have seen from him.

We're at a unique moment in history, we can use today's interconnectedness to develop our shared global ethic -- and work together to confront the challenges of poverty, security, climate change and the economy

 

Previously, had Brown been speaking at my local pub giving a talk I wouldn’t have gotten up to go hear him but having watched this 18 minutes, I’d now be off my sofa and in the front row.

That’s the power of TED. It brings the best speakers, and minds in to the world right in to your living room.