How do you inspire people?
How do you inspire people to think big?
How do you inspire people to change their lives?
By presenting ‘ideas worth spreading’ the TED conference and the TEDx conferences around the world have given stage to many inspirational speakers. But it is one thing to inspire people and another to inspire people to think big and take action. Here are my 5 favourite TED talks that inspire me to think big and take action.
Tony Robbins – Why Do We Do What We Do
I have always been fascinated with how some people take action where others don’t, and how some people become successful and others don’t. Having seen Tony Robbins live on stage at Unleash the Power Within and Date with Destiny in 2008, sharing the same principles as he shares in this talk, I know that it can inspire you to think big and take action.
“I believe that the invisible force of internal drive, activated, is the most important thing. I believe emotion is the force of life.
What will you focus on? You have to decide what you’re going to focus on. Consciously or unconsciously, the minute you decide to focus, you must give it a meaning, and that meaning produces emotion”.
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According to Tony, people use stories as excuses for not taking action. Once you decide to change your story you can start to take action. When I was sixteen years old I heard a group of women using their life circumstances as excuses for why they hadn’t followed their dreams. Today I would have showed them this video.
Here is also a link to the full transcript.
Steve Jobs – 2005 Stanford Commencement Address
I am not just a big fan of Steve Jobs because I love Apple products, I am an even bigger fan because of this talk, that I’ve watched again and again and quoted more often than I can remember. Following my heart and intuition, I’ve changed direction numerous times in my life until I found my true calling.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
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This talk was not given at a TED conference but it is on the TED website because it is one of the most inspirational talks you can listen to. Watch and listen carefully, these 15 minutes might change your life.
Here is also a link to the full transcript.
Elizabeth Gilbert – Your Elusive Creative Genius
When I heard Elizabeth’s talk many years ago, I felt she was speaking to me. I had been a successful business person in my home country and was reinventing myself in a new country. Her talk inspired me to – just do my job – and not worry about success, by not focusing on the outcome, I was able to do my job – and success followed.
“Don’t be daunted. Just do your job. Continue to show up for your piece of it, whatever that might be. If your job is to dance, do your dance. If the divine, cockeyed genius assigned to your case decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed, for just one moment through your efforts, then “Olé!” And if not, do your dance anyhow. And “Olé!” to you, nonetheless. I believe this and I feel that we must teach it. “Olé!” to you, nonetheless, just for having the sheer human love and stubbornness to keep showing up.”
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If you feel pressure from your previous success, then Elizabeth’s experience after her hugely successful book Eat, Pray, Love, might inspire you to keep showing up and do your thing and success will follow.
Here is also a link to the full transcript.
Simon Sinek – How Great Leaders Inspire Action
I discovered my WHY when I was sixteen years old or long before I knew that it was important to know your WHY. I got so frustrated and angry by this group of women who used excuses not to follow their dreams. This made me want to follow mine and subsequently to help other women and men to follow their dreams.
“By “why,” I mean: What’s your purpose? What’s your cause? What’s your belief? Why does your organization exist? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? And why should anyone care? As a result, the way we think, we act, the way we communicate is from the outside in, it’s obvious. We go from the clearest thing to the fuzziest thing. But the inspired leaders and the inspired organizations — regardless of their size, regardless of their industry — all think, act and communicate from the inside out.”
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Discovering your why changes everything. Then you can inspire yourself, then you can think big and then you can take action – without any outside motivation.
This talk was given at a TEDx conference but became so popular that it is now featured on the TED website.
Here is also a link to the full transcript.
Sigrun Gudjonsdottir – Be Inspired. Think Big. Take Action.
Last but not least I nominate my own talk, given recently at TEDx Women Zurich in Switzerland.
Knowing my WHY wasn’t enough to ensure that I would immediately find my path in life. I had to take a few different turns and try things out to figure out that my path had always been right in front of me.
In my talk I share a few stories from my life to highlight how small actions can change the course of your life. It is your job to take action – and create your own opportunity.
“Be Inspired to create a vision of what you want your life to look like. Think Big to create a plan on how you can execute that vision. Take Action to create your opportunity.”
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I believe everyone has a true calling, a purpose in life, and it is our task to find our calling and follow it. It starts with taking action.
Have you been inspired to think big and take action? Share this post with your friends.
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