Standing on the Red Circle: My TEDx Journey
In November 2025, I had the honour of stepping onto one of the most recognised stages in the world, the red circle of TEDx.
Andrew Scott on stage at TEDxBristol before delivering his TEDx Talk, Purpose – The Power to Rise Again.
To be asked to deliver a TEDx Talk was an incredible and humbling experience. Very few people ever get the opportunity, and it’s one I’ll never forget. But it was also daunting. There are no notes, no autocue, no comfort monitors. Just you, your story, and hundreds of faces waiting to be moved or inspired. It requires hundreds of hours of preparation – writing, refining, rehearsing, and rewriting again until every word feels authentic, every pause carries meaning, and every story connects.
My talk, “Purpose: The Power to Rise Again,” explored the pivotal role purpose plays in rebuilding your life after failure or adversity. I shared my own journey, from growing up in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, to losing everything when my business collapsed, to rebuilding from the ashes and creating multiple successful companies. The core message was simple but profound: purpose is what gives us the power to rise again.
Andrew Scott delivering his TEDx Talk on the red circle at TEDxBristol.
Through the talk, I introduced my PURPLEX framework: Purpose, Plan, Execute – a simple but powerful process that has shaped every chapter of my comeback story. It’s the formula I’ve used to transform failure into growth, uncertainty into clarity, and dreams into measurable results. My hope was that those listening would leave asking themselves one question: What is my purpose, and am I truly living it?
Delivering a TEDx Talk wasn’t just another public-speaking engagement; it was a defining moment. Standing on that stage forced me to strip everything back: the business successes, the titles, the brand, and speak from the heart. Because purpose is what gives our life meaning.
View from the stage during Andrew Scott’s TEDx Talk at TEDxBristol, showing the red circle and the audience area before the event began.
If even one person who watched my talk finds the courage to rediscover their purpose, rise from a setback, or take the first step towards a better life, then every hour of preparation was worth it.
The full TEDx Talk, Purpose: The Power to Rise Again, will be released soon on the official TEDx channel in 2026.