6 TED Talks To Help You Succeed At Work And Life
TED talks are one of the best resources for actionable insights from the world’s leading experts. To refresh your approach to work, business and success, check out the TED talks by: John Wooden, Jason Fried, Yves Morieux, Andy Puddicombe, Richard St. John, and Dan Pink. You won’t regret it. These presentations are as engaging as they are informative.
1. The difference between winning and succeeding by John Wooden
Bio: Born in 1910, Coach John Wooden was the first person to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame both as a player and coach, while ESPN ranks him as the greatest coach of all time, across all sports. He has created a model, the Pyramid of Success, and authored several books to impart his insight on achievement to others.
Summary: With profound simplicity, Coach John Wooden redefines success and urges us all to pursue the best in ourselves. In this inspiring talk he shares the advice he gave his players at UCLA, quotes poetry and remembers his father’s wisdom. Ted.com
2. Why Work Doesn’t Happen At Work by Jason Fried
Bio: Jason Fried is the co-founder of 37signals (now known as BaseCamp) and co-author of Rework
Summary: Jason Fried has a radical theory of working: that the office isn’t a good place to do it. In his talk, he lays out the main problems (call them the M&Ms) and offers three suggestions to make work work. Ted.com
3. As Work Gets More Complex, 6 Rules To Simplify by Yves Morieux
Bio: Yves Morieux is a senior partner in BCG’s Washington D.C. office and director of the BCG Institute for Organization.
Summary: Why do people feel so miserable and disengaged at work? Because today’s businesses are increasingly and dizzyingly complex — and traditional pillars of management are obsolete, says Yves Morieux. So, he says, it falls to individual employees to navigate the rabbit’s warren of interdependencies. In this energetic talk, Morieux offers six rules for “smart simplicity.” (Rule One: Understand what your colleagues actually do.) Ted.com
4. All It Takes Is 10 Mindful Minutes by Andy Puddicombe
Bio: Andy Puddicombe is a mindfullness expert, a former Buddhist monk, and co-founder of Headspace.
Summary: When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe describes the transformative power of doing just that: Refreshing your mind for 10 minutes a day, simply by being mindful and experiencing the present moment. (No need for incense or sitting in uncomfortable positions.) Ted.com
5. 8 Secrets of Success by Richard St. John
Bio: Richard St. John is a success analyst, an entrepreneur, and the author of the bestselling book, The 8 Traits Successful People Have In Common: 8 To Be Great
Summary: Why do people succeed? Is it because they’re smart? Or are they just lucky? Neither. Analyst Richard St. John condenses years of interviews into an unmissable 3-minute slideshow on the real secrets of success. Ted.com
6. The Puzzle of Motivation by Dan Pink
Bio: Dan Pink is a career analyst, as well as the former speechwriter for Al Gore, and author of The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need
Summary: Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don’t: Traditional rewards aren’t always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories — and maybe, a way forward. Ted.com
Conclusion
Did you love these talks? You might also enjoy these Ethos3 interviews with TED speakers:
Insight from TED Speaker and Brain Researcher: Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor
Ethos3 Interview with Simon Sinek
Ethos3 Interview with Shawn Achor
Interested in speaking at TED? Check out:
The Advice I Give To All TEDx Speakers
10 Tips for Becoming a TED Speaker
