Top 9 business TED Talks for entrepreneurs

What is one TED Talk that you’d recommend every entrepreneur listen to and why?

To help motivate and inspire you to succeed as an entrepreneur, we asked established entrepreneurs and business leaders this question for their best recommendations. From Jay Johnson’s TED Talk on Dealing With Difficult People to Your Vision Statement Sucks by Cameron Herold, there are several business TED Talks that are highly recommended for any entrepreneur who is serious about achieving their goals and making an impact.

Here are 9 top business TED Talks for entrepreneurs:

Jay Johnson’s TED Talk on Dealing With Difficult People
The Single Biggest Reason Why Startups Succeed by Bill Grossby
Jian Jiang’s What I Learned in 100 Days of Rejection
How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek
Paul Tasner’s How I Became an Entrepreneur at 66
Tim Ferriss on Why You Should Define Your Fears Instead of Your Goals
Tim Urban’s Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator
Brené Brown’s TED Talk on The Power of Vulnerability
Your Vision Statement Sucks by Cameron Herold

Jay Johnson’s TED Talk on Dealing With Difficult People

Jay Johnson has a great Ted Talk on how to deal with difficult people. I have watched it over 20 times and I use his methods all the time as an entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, you’re going to have employees who butt heads but for your success, you need to figure out a way to get everyone to work towards the common goal. From Jay’s talk, I learned to use the words us and we instead of you or them to help show that we are all working together and to unify my team. Jay Johnson’s Ted talk helps to understand the science of why you feel someone will be difficult and how to slow down your initial response to work together and get angry out of working together. These are all the skills you need to be a successful entrepreneur.

Evan McCarthy, SportingSmiles

The Single Biggest Reason Why Startups Succeed by Bill Grossby

Bill Gross’s “The Single Biggest Reason Why Startups Succeed” is a great look at startups and the data that Gross has reviewed to come up with the five key factors that contribute to a business’s success. He goes further on to rank the factors, identifying the one he deems the most important for making or breaking a company (don’t worry, I won’t ruin it for you here). He breaks down the different elements of creating a business from an idea, and the different factors that play a role in the success or downfall of the business during early stages. Namely, I appreciate his discussion of timing and the role that the market plays in the adoption of a successful business idea, and the ways in which even if everything else is right but the timing is wrong, a business is bound to be unsuccessful. He introduced ideas that are imperative for any entrepreneur to consider before beginning their business journey.

Guna Kakulapati, CureSkin

Jian Jiang’s What I Learned in 100 Days of Rejection

Every entrepreneur, if he wants to succeed, must learn about rejection. After all, we will go through this many times. And the expert on the subject, Jia Jiang, speaks better than anyone else on the theme. In his talk “What I Learned in 100 Days of Rejection,” he teaches how powerful it can be to learn how to deal with rejection and turn it into a successful tool for entrepreneurs.

Thaina Geniselli, Financer.com

How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek

I highly recommend “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” by Simon Sinek. In this TED Talk, Sinek discusses why some leaders are able to inspire others to take action, while others are not. He argues that the key difference is that great leaders start with why they do what they do, rather than what they do or how they do it. This simple but powerful idea can have a profound impact on how entrepreneurs lead their businesses and teams. By starting with why they do what they do, leaders can inspire those around them to take action and achieve greater things. This is a must-watch TED Talk for any entrepreneur who wants to learn how to better inspire and motivate those around them.

Brandon Schroth, Reporter Outreach

Paul Tasner’s How I Became an Entrepreneur at 66

Do you want to become an entrepreneur but think you’re too old for it? That in your 30s, it’s worth growing in a corporation? That in your 40s, it’s not worth changing jobs? Then listen to Paul Tasner’s “How I Became an Entrepreneur at 66“. See for yourself that entrepreneurship is not a young person’s game, and any time is an excellent time to follow your dream career path. Age is not the deciding factor, it’s just a number, and in fact, you can start whenever you want. But this TED Talk is not just for those new to the market. It shows experienced entrepreneurs that it’s worth moving forward and that you can’t be afraid to change industries, transform your business or handle something completely new. But Tasner’s talk conveys another significant point. It’s worth it to believe in yourself and your abilities and not let others destroy your confidence. Check it and get motivated to act.

Nina Paczka, Resume Now

Tim Ferriss on Why You Should Define Your Fears Instead of Your Goals

I highly recommend watching Tim Ferriss’ TED talk, ‘Why you should define your fears instead of your goals.’ He shares an exercise which he credits as the foundation of all his biggest wins, as well as the reason for any disasters he has averted. This knowledge is what led him to become the successful, dynamic, entrepreneur and bestselling author he is today. It’s a simple exercise, and yet when I tried it myself, I found it incredibly beneficial. It totally transformed my life.

As well as discussing the philosophy and people who have inspired him, he offers a framework for making good choices in high pressure environments. This is an essential skill for entrepreneurs. Ferriss’ teachings can enable entrepreneurs to thrive in stressful situations, and to make wise decisions. They also help to prevent self-destruction, which can be a risk for entrepreneurs, who shoulder a lot of responsibility. Ferriss’ talk is insightful, interesting, and inspiring, just like his books.

Mario Cacciottolo, SBO

Tim Urban’s Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator

Tim Urban’s “Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator.” This talk is witty and insightful, and it tackles one of the bigger challenges that entrepreneurs face: procrastinating. There’s nothing worse for productivity; but sometimes, staying motivated can feel impossible. While the talk itself won’t solve all your procrastination problems, it can encourage you to think more deliberately about when you choose to unfocus and will resonate with most entrepreneurs.

Vimla Black Gupta, Ourself

Brené Brown’s TED Talk on The Power of Vulnerability

Brené Brown’s “The Power of Vulnerability” explores human connection through allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. Starting a business places an entrepreneur into situations that require human connection to thrive. You want to put together the right team to work toward a vision together, and keep that talent around as you grow. You want to connect your product or service to customers and deliver for them. Understanding what drives humans in how they seek happiness and worth can give any entrepreneur the perspective to ground their company’s mission in the human factor. Understanding what drives yourself to behave in a certain way can help you gain empathy and an understanding of others. This knowledge can open you up to conducting your business in a more authentic, selfless way. Brown talks about how being kind to yourself can make you more compassionate, and therefore be a better person and entrepreneur.

Theresia Le Battistini, Fashion League

Your Vision Statement Sucks by Cameron Herold

One of the first things they teach in business school is how to create a clear project mission and vision. “It’s a crucial step,” they say. But how many companies actually have their vision all mapped out? This TED Talk by Cameron Herold is precisely about that. Instead of a short and imprecise vision statement, he believes that a company should have a vivid vision written down. And it shouldn’t fit on a post-it note.

Cameron’s TED talk, represents some of these unique ideas that he has also shared and expanded on in his books, Double Double, The Miracle Mornings for Entrepreneurs, and Meetings Suck. His business sense has proven his aptitude and desire for disruptive and accelerated growth. I would definitely recommend it.

Sara Smuczynska, STX Next