Millions of people watch Ted talks on YouTube, but honestly, it’s unfortunate that billions aren’t watching. The Ted talk is the perfect way to share new ideas and gain valuable knowledge from a wide variety of experts on a wide variety of subjects. They’re 100% free, too, so you really can’t go wrong.
The one issue with Ted talks, however, is that there are almost too many of them out there. If you are new to Ted, or just interested in some recommendations, I have picked out five particular Ted talks that I found to be especially powerful and memorable, and that I feel everyone can greatly benefit from. Without further ado, here is the list:
1. Tai Lopez: The Law of 33%
If you’ve been on YouTube within the last year, you’ve probably seen the “Here in my garage with my Lamborghini” advertisement played ad nauseam.
However, Tai Lopez’s remarkable rise from poverty to multimillionaire status is definitely worth viewing. In his Ted talk from earlier this year, Lopez explains how he “found the good life” by reading a book a day, finding wealthy mentors to help educate him about business, and persevering for years to achieve his goals.
Can anyone become a millionaire? Should I quit my job and follow my childhood dreams? For anybody looking to maximize and make the most of their lives, this talk is an absolute must.
2. Hyeonseo Lee: My Escape from North Korea
Millions of people are starving every day in North Korea, yet Hyeonseo Lee believed that she was living in the best country in the world. Kim Jong-Il had painted a facade that tricked innocent people into believing that their hardships were their own faults.
It wasn't until Lee saw people dying on the streets that she realized she and her family needed to escape as quickly as possible if they wanted to live. The journey from North Korea to the outside world is an incredibly difficult one, as she soon found out. Even after leaving North Korea, the risks only get higher.
An illustrative look into the harsh reality of North Korea, as well as an inspiring story of hope in the face of absolute hopelessness, Lee’s talk will stay with you long after you shut down your computer.
3. Dr. Ivan Joseph: The Skill of Self Confidence
Repetition, repetition, repetition: that’s the key to achieving confidence, according to Dr. Ivan Joseph. Look at yourself every day in the mirror and say to yourself, “I am the captain of my ship.” Get away from the people who will tear you down. Never give up.
Points like these can truly help a struggling individual overcome their self-doubt and succeed at levels they never thought possible. Dr. Joseph’s inspiring talk focuses on eliminating negativity and, instead, using encouragement through positivity. Don’t tell the kid what he’s doing wrong; praise him for what he’s doing right! By the end of this talk, you’ll never want to procrastinate again, thanks to Dr. Joseph’s inspiring words.
4. Susan Cain: The Power of Introverts
Does the idea of going to parties fill you with dread? Have you ever had a brilliant idea in class, but couldn’t share it because you were drowned out by the loud group sitting in front of you? If you said yes, then you might be an introvert.
That’s not a bad thing, though. Susan Cain says in her Ted talk that one-third to one-half of the world’s population are introverts. You wouldn’t know it, though, because like it or not, we’re living in an extrovert’s world. We’re taught from the beginning that louder is almost always better, and the more outgoing you are, the further you’ll go in life. Introverts, therefore, feel pressured by society to become something they’re not, which can be detrimental to their natural abilities and talents.
The ultimate key, Cain says, is for you, the introvert, to find a healthy balance between high-stimulating environments and more low-key environments so that you can enjoy your inevitable social situations without always burning out in the end.
5. Sid Efromovich: 5 Techniques to Speak any Language
Admittedly, this one sounds a bit gimmicky. How many times have we all seen the ads on the sides of websites, proclaiming, “WANT TO SPEAK 8 LANGUAGES IN 8 DAYS!!”? But, surprisingly, this talk is the real deal.
Sid Efromovich speaks several languages himself, and in charismatic fashion, he outlines five incredibly helpful tips to make the language learning process a fun and easy one. He breaks down how we tend to apply our Americanized English pronunciation to other alphabets of different languages (how would you pronounce “Mão” or “Cocô”, for example?), and how to correct that problem. He emphasizes the importance of practicing your new language in the shower, which he says can provide a major confidence boost, and to make as many mistakes as you possibly can.
A great resource for any budding polyglot or language-learner, Sid Efromovich’s talk is one of the most entertaining and useful presentations on Youtube, and it provides possibly the greatest ending to a Ted talk ever.
