TED Talks—short video presentations on topics big and small—started in the early ’90s as part of TED, originally an invitation-only event that focused on technology, entertainment and design. With the catch phrase “ideas worth spreading,” past notable speakers and subjects have included former Vice President Al Gore on climate change, author Elizabeth Gilbert on creativity and Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg on women in leadership roles. The conference created spin-offs that cater to specific audiences, including TEDx, which allows communities, colleges and other organizations to feature speakers with new ideas on a smaller scale.
In essence, the popularity of TED Talks stems from its simple formula: Interesting people share thought-provoking ideas in 18 minutes or less. The TED brand has established a standard that is ubiquitous, with unique points of view delivered in an engaging and easily digestible way, often with humor or quirky visuals.
Out of thousands of TED Talks that exist, here are five that every content marketer should watch for inspiration, ideas on how to better own mistakes and instructions on how to let go in order to gain more understanding.