What’s a TED talk and why should I watch it?

Above you right now there are hundreds of conversations taking place at 75% of the speed of sound. Some are about whether or not there will be enough time in Washington Dulles Airport to run over and grab a bacon cheeseburger from Five Guys, some are about Breaking Bad and how far you are into the series, and a rapidly growing number are about TED. If you haven’t heard of TED and its mission, I’m honored to welcome you to the party. There are two main things you should know about TED before you go forward. 1) It’s awesome. 2) It’s free for you.

I first discovered TED about 2 years ago. After a couple videos, I was hooked. TED’s mission is uber simple: spread ideas. It’s reach, massive. It’s effect on the world, immeasurable. The prices to attend a TED event is $4,250 per ticket. The events sell out far in advance and some tickets end up going for as much as $17,000. But for those that don’t get to attend these mind-blowing conferences, you can watch them at home. The best TED videos are professionally produced and uploaded to Youtube and TED.com for you to watch for free!

Technology, Entertainment, Design – TED – Ideas Worth Spreading

TED talks are short, pithy talks given by the world’s thought leaders. They are usually limited to 18 minutes long. There’s no limit to the topics. Here’s a quick list of talks with catchy titles that stand out.

How Schools Kill Creativity -29 Million Views

Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are -21 Million Views

How Great Leaders Inspire Action – 19 Million Views

The Power of Vulnerability – 17 Million Views

10 Things You Didn’t Know about Orgasm – 13 Million Views

Here’s a link to the top 20 TED talks of all time!

TED talks will blow your mind with some crazy ideas about the world and how it works. TED is where the metal meets the road with new and sometimes dangerous ideas. Whether you want to change your behavior, understand people and make better connections, or push past fear to achieve that next level in life; these videos are presented by the thought leaders in the world. Here’s a list of 5 videos that have changed the way I view the world. If I’ve missed a good one that you like then leave a comment so I can bump it up in the queue!

The ability to communicate ideas on a large scale has become more and more of a focus point in my life. Last November I had my first thoughts of doing some public speaking just to get over the fear of it. It took me several months to come to terms with committing to an actual event but just like anything, once you commit, something happens inside your brain and you get down to business. I was excited to share my message with friends traveling down other roads and meet many new faces. I plan to continue speaking and improve until I make it onto a TED stage. If you missed it, here’s my story about really getting out of my comfort zone and doing some public speaking.

I hope you enjoy the TED videos.

Johnathan Fields

Wow, just wow. This guy. If you only watch one, watch this one. Extremely empowering story from a man that took an insane risk at the worst possible time.

Scott Dinsmore

Next up is Scott Dinsmore. A guru on quitting the job you hate and doing work you love. I found him while searching the term “Live Your Legend.” This was my original idea for the tag line to this site. He was already using it and doing an amazing job. It’s crazy to find someone else online with such a similar philosophy.

Amy Cuddy

Next up, Amy Cuddy. She’s going to tell you that you can actually change the way you feel in certain circumstances just by the way you stand, sit, or present yourself. I watched this about a year ago and it changed something very specific about my body language that has made a big difference in my interactions with other people. I don’t remember if she mentions that just forcing a smile when you feel terrible has been proven time and time again to improve your state of mind. If you feel bad, you can’t learn well, be genuinely friendly, or enjoy your situation. It’s worth a try. I’ll try to find a different video on this subject that I really liked from way back when moon pie’s were better known.

Dr. Ivan Joseph

Dr Ivan Joseph is an incredible story teller and his point about practicing one thing until exhaustion is very much in line with Bruce Lee’s quote.

I fear not the man who has practiced ten thousand kicks once. But I fear the man who has practiced one kick ten thousand times. – Bruce Lee

Brene Brown

Brene Brown has put in thousands of hours of research on this topic. In short, she’s the boss. In just 20 minutes she will tell you why you can’t make deeper connections with other people. I think what she’s come up with will change the way you communicate with family, friends, and strangers.

So, what do you think about TED? For those who have been on the TED train for awhile, what behavior have you changed based on a TED talk. Let me know what your favorite or most inspiring TED talk is in the comments?

Thanks so much for all the feedback and support. You rock!

If you have friends that don’t know TED, share the love.

Brad

2 thoughts on “$17,000 ticket, Mind-bending Ideas, Free for You – Welcome to TED.”

Camilla says:

November 17, 2014 at 9:42 am

I love TED talks. It’s up to 18 minutes of inspiring, awesome and often mind-blowing information. A classic I feel should have been on your list is Simon Sinek’s Start With WHY talk. Brilliant. Another good one that many miss is Derek Sivers, Keep your goals to yourself and Joe Abraham’s Entreprenurial DNA. Both gets you thinking…

- Bradley Gann says:
  
  November 18, 2014 at 2:54 pm
  
  Hey Camilla! I love when you come and visit! I forgot to put Simon’s talk on but I agree, it’s a classic. I need to watch Derek’s and Joe’s video though. Thank you for the tips! Loved your “Doer or a Wisher!”