I love podcasts just as much as the next person, but I also have a soft spot for TED Talks. I love seeing the person speaking and getting the full experience of their knowledge and wisdom. But how many times have I clicked on a TED Talk only to “X” out when I saw the duration? Too many to count, unfortunately. Sure, I bookmark them and try to revisit them later when I have time, but we all know how often that happens. These TED Talks are under 5 minutes, so they’re perfect for that quick boost of motivation you might need. Try watching one in between switching tasks to help refresh your energy before diving in. You’ll be glad you did!
Why You Should Bring Your Whole Self To Work – 4:25
Favorite takeaway:
“That’s the power of one person, sometimes all it takes is one ally to make you feel comfortable. And my coworkers started acting differently. They became more open, more playful with me, it was as if knowing this other side of me gave them permission to be more of themselves as well. I thought that openness and vulnerability would actually decrease my standing with my team. But it’s done the opposite.” – Dan Clay aka Carrie Dragshaw
This Is The Side Hustle Revolution – 3:20
Favorite takeaway:
“We’re always being taught that we’re supposed to know what we want to do when we grow up. But when you’re multipassionate, you want to dip and dabble in those different things. It doesn’t mean that you’re not committed to your job, it just means that you have other outlets that bring you joy.” – Nicaila Matthews Okome
Try Something New For 30 Days – 3:12
Favorite takeaway:
“So here’s my question to you: What are you waiting for? I guarantee you the next 30 days are going to pass whether you like it or not, so why not think about something you have always wanted to try and give it a shot! For the next 30 days.” – Matt Cutts
How To Start A Movement – 2:54
Favorite takeaway:
“The biggest lesson, if you noticed—did you catch it?—is that leadership is over-glorified. Yes, it was the shirtless guy who was first, and he’ll get all the credit, but it was really the first follower that transformed the lone nut into a leader. So, as we’re told that we should all be leaders, that would be really ineffective.” – Derek Sivers
3 Tips To Boost Your Confidence – 4:01
Favorite takeaway:
“If you have a fixed mindset, meaning that you think your talents are locked in place, you might give up, assuming you’ve discovered something you’re not very good at. But if you have a growth mindset and think your abilities can improve, a challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Neuroscience supports the growth mindset. The connections in your brain do get stronger and grow with study and practice.” – Amy Adkins
How To Succeed? Get More Sleep – 4:10
Favorite takeaway:
“There is now a kind of sleep deprivation one-upmanship. Especially here in Washington, if you try to make a breakfast date, and you say, “How about eight o’clock?” they’re likely to tell you, “Eight o’clock is too late for me, but that’s OK, I can get a game of tennis in and do a few conference calls and meet you at eight.” And they think that means they are so incredibly busy and productive, but the truth is, they’re not, because we, at the moment, have had brilliant leaders in business, in finance, in politics, making terrible decisions. So a high IQ does not mean that you’re a good leader, because the essence of leadership is being able to see the iceberg before it hits the Titanic.” – Arianna Huffington
A Life Lesson From A Volunteer Firefighter – 3:52
Favorite takeaway:
“So as I look around this room at people who either have achieved, or are on their way to achieving, remarkable levels of success, I would offer this reminder: Don’t wait. Don’t wait until you make your first million to make a difference in somebody’s life. If you have something to give, give it now. Serve food at a soup kitchen. Clean up a neighborhood park. Be a mentor.” – Mark Bezos
Forget Multitasking, Try Monotasking – 2:37
Favorite takeaway:
“I know that it could sound pretty weird to speak about mono when the number of possibilities is so huge, but I push you to consider the option of focusing on just one task, or maybe turning your digital senses totally off.” – Paolo Cardini
