Feeling in a slump? We’ve been in lockdown for almost two months now and it can be hard to keep motivated and inspired. With traditional methods of inspiration-seeking off the cards (no gallery visits or long walks in nature at the moment!), we’ve been watching some great TED talks to get the cogs going again:
The 3 As of Awesome, Neil Pasricha
In this talk, Neil Pasricha shares his personal story and the difficulties he faced that led him to start his website 1000 Awesome Things. If you’re feeling at a loss or unsure how to get over the negativity surrounding us all at the moment, this is a great talk to watch.
Teach girls bravery, not perfection, Reshma Saujani
The quest for perfection is something that can deter us from even trying in the first place. In this talk, Reshma Saujani explains the need to unleash ourselves from this pursuit for perfection that’s put on girls from childhood.
How to gain control of your free time, Laura Vanderkam
Far from a trite ‘how to find an extra hour in your day’ talk, Laura Vanderkam gives an insightful and funny look at managing your time effectively, with some home truths along the way.
Why do ambitious women have flat heads?, Dame Stephanie Shirley
A truly wonderful, inspirational, funny and motivational talk. Dame Stephanie Shirley founded a female-run tech start-up in the 60s, and speaks about the glass ceiling she shattered, the expectations she overcame…and why ambitious women have flat heads and big feet!
Fashion and creativity, Isaac Mizrahi
Inspiration doesn’t always come from the most obvious places, and Isaac Mizrahi takes us on a wonderful journey through his creative process.
How to find work you love, Scott Dinsmore
Advice to ignore and advice to take forward to pursuing work that matters to you. Scott Dinsmore brings energy and enthusiasm to this talk that will get you asking yourself some big career questions.
What I learned from 100 days of rejection, Jia Jiang
A laugh-out-loud look at rejection, and how you can turn it to your advantage.
Why we ignore obvious problems – and how to act on them, Michele Wucker
The scale of the current situation we’re all in can cause a feeling of helplessness, and this can lead to inaction. Michele Wucker talks about how we can predict problems by facing them head on, and how to tackle the challenges life throws our way.
And if you’re pushed for time, here are some fewer-than-five-minutes talks to squeeze in!
How to start a movement, Derek Sivers
This is the side hustle revolution, Nicaila Matthews
How to make faster decisions, Patrick McGinnis
Should you live for your resume…or your eulogy? David Brooks
Things I’ve learned in my life so far, Stefan Sagmeister