TED Talks began in 1984 with the mission of “spreading ideas”. TED is dedicated to researching and sharing knowledge that matters through short talks and presentations. Their goal is to inform and educate global audiences in an accessible way. TED Talks will motivate you to take that next step in your career and help you break out of your professional slump.
Here’s the list of 5 TED Talks that will motivate you and take your career to the next level.
1. There’s more to life than being happy
Emily Esfahani Smith
Our culture is obsessed with happiness, but what if there’s a more fulfilling path? Happiness comes and goes, says writer Emily Esfahani Smith, but having meaning in life — serving something beyond yourself and developing the best within you — gives you something to hold onto. Learn more about the difference between being happy and having meaning as Smith offers four pillars of a meaningful life.
2. Don’t suffer from depression in the name of silence
Nikki Webber Allen
Having feelings isn’t a sign of weakness — they mean we’re human, says producer and activist Nikki Webber Allen. Even after being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, Webber Allen felt too ashamed to tell anybody, keeping her condition a secret until a family tragedy revealed how others close to her were also suffering. In this important talk about mental health, she speaks openly about her struggle — and why communities of color must undo the stigma that misreads depression as a weakness and keeps sufferers from getting help.
3. Philosophy For A Happy Life
Sam Berns
Here’s one of the most inspiring TED Talks you will love to watch. It is the fascinating legacy of a boy who can be considered one in ages. Seventeen-year-old Sam became the spokesman for a genetic condition called Progeria, also known as the aptly named ‘ageing disease’. Sam refused to allow his disease to define him and worked to overcome limitations others said he never would. He lived the life he chose to and didn’t focus on his illness and this is what made him different, and it is his dreams which turned all his dreams into happiness.
4. How great leaders inspire action
Simon Sinek
One of the most inspiring talks you can ever hear, something so engaging and promising. Sinek talks about the importance of defining the “why” of what you do before talking about the “how” or the “what.” This applies to both companies and individuals. Before you determine what it is you want to do, you need to determine what motivates you to do it and what inspires you. Think of this something like a statement that defines the mission or vision. Once you do that, your career and your life will have a purpose and you’ll be able to inspire others more effectively.
5. The 3 A’s of awesome
Neil Pasricha
One of the major keys to success, no matter what you’re trying to be successful at, is happiness. Finding a way to fight through the bad times, stay positive and generally be happy can impact how successful you are in all areas of your life. Pasricha opens up candidly about things that happened to him that would have completely broken many people.
Instead of breaking down and giving up, however, Pasricha started to document 1,000 things that he considered to fall into the category of awesome. He created a blog and wrote about the small victories in life like when another lane opens up at the grocery store or when you get called first to be in the buffet table at a wedding. Watch this video to learn about how attitude, awareness and authenticity can change your life and make it more awesome.
There are plenty of such talks and videos and something which can motivate you to extreme. TED Talks are a great way to get inspired and get motivated to improve both personally and professionally. There are many more inspirational talks available, so don’t stop at just these. Start your day and draft your vision from now, there are leaders with the stories, let’s hear them out.
