Brian JohnsonChairman & Philosopher in Residence at Heroic

The Power of TED* by David Emerald (Heroic Wisdom Daily)

17 Dec 2025 · 2 min

Episode

17 Dec 2025 · 2 min

0:00

Brian Johnson introduces the book The Power of TED by David Emerald and summarizes its Empowerment Dynamic framework. He contrasts the Drama Triangle roles (victim, persecutor, rescuer) with the Empowerment Dynamic roles (creator, challenger, coach), advocates shifting from reactive ‘what’s wrong?’ questions to proactive ‘what do I want?’ questions, and encourages taking one small step toward the desired outcome. The episode is a brief, personal endorsement and call-to-action to consult the Heroic app notes for more detail.

Chapters

Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to Heroic Wisdom Daily. Today's book the Power of TED T E D TED by David Emerald A powerful framework for breaking out of victim thinking and stepping into your full creative potential personally, professionally and relationally. This was one of my very first philosopher's notes I created forever ago. Here's your one minute summary. You're playing a role. Choose it wisely. Are you the victim, persecutor or rescuer? Or will you become the creator, challenger, or coach? It's a really powerful framework. Victim mindset reacts. It focuses on problems, blame, and helplessness. Whereas the creator mindset responds. It focuses on vision, choice, and empowered action. Shift your questions. Ask what do I want? Instead of what's wrong? Then take one small step toward that outcome. You want to change the drama triangle. When you show up as a creator instead of a victim, you invite others to rise with you into growth, service, and courage. You're not stuck in a story, you're writing. One what would your creator self choose today? Again, as always, check out the notes for more in the Heroic app. This is one of not only my first notes, but one of my favorite. I've used this framework of the Victim versus Creator. The power of the Empowerment Empowerment Dynamic is TED T E D the Empowerment Dynamic Super Powerful frame. Hope you enjoy.