At this point, there are 1,534,464 total TEDx videos online and the rolling counter at www.TEDxvideocounter.com shows an upward trend.
With too many videos to choose from, focus on the 5 listed below to make an immediate and noticeable change to your life (style).
THE KEY TO TRANSFORMING YOURSELF
By Robert Greene | Link to video
Greene recounts his story as a struggling writer at 36 years old with no real prospects for success. His life up till that point was one of several menial jobs as he traveled the world in search of himself. He was told by his publisher that he would never become a good writer and that he should instead choose something easier, such as becoming a lawyer. Instead Greene realized that his life experiences had prepared him to write the book 48 Laws of Power and by sticking to it, he was able to become one of the most successful non-fiction writers of all-time.
Key Idea: Stop fixating on all things outward and instead look inward. Focus on the small internal changes that will lay the groundwork for massive change. Reality will liberate you. Doing your work every day will transform you.
Read More: 48 Laws of Power and Mastery (Amazon)
STOIC OPTIMISM
By Ryan Holiday | Link to video
Ryan Holiday is all over the internet. He has been on almost every single podcast that I listen to and has written four really good books. He is also an avid reader that inspires what we do at Outwork. Reading is leading and reading leads to winning. In this video he talks about Stoicism, like he always does, of historic figures that exhibit Stoic principles in their lives. Those that look at obstacles as opportunities.
They take a challenge and then look for ways to improve. There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so. Obstacles are opportunities: Roosevelt, Rockefeller, Edison, Aurelius, & Stockdale proves this so.
Noteworthy articles by Holiday:
- Stoicism 101: A Practical Guide for Entrepreneurs (fourhourworkweek.com)
- How to Read More- A Lot More
- Advice to a Young Man hoping to go Somewhere
- How to Advance Your Career While you are Stuck Doing Grunt Work (Observer)
Read More: The Obstacle is the Way and Ego is the Enemy (Amazon)
BODYBUILDING AT AGE 90
by Charles Eugster |Link to video
Bodybuilding will save humanity! There are some good points presented by speaker Charles Eugster and he was absolutely spot on. He lists a ton of stats summed up by a pending population weighed down by its obesity problem. He notes a shrinking brain that is accompanying all this fat. He talks about old people that retired too early and are now burdened with degenerative diseases. He mentions that we shouldn’t eat fruit; if Adam refused the fruit by Eve and instead opted to eat the snake, the world would be different.
Key Idea: work, diet, & exercise (what we write about). Cultivate a passion for the basics and stick to it for the long-term.
This is my most recommended TED talk for the layman. The everyday obese person that Charles speaks of. One that will potentially retire early, suck money from the Government and die from a boring and average life.
THE SECRET TO BECOMING MENTALLY STRONG
By Amy Morin | Link to video
Morin wrote an article called 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do that went viral. Viral to the point where it has been featured on several different mainstream media sites. She also cunningly transformed that article into a book and then made a TEDx video about that same article!
The basic premise of her philosophy is to avoid the three kinds of destructive beliefs: unhealthy beliefs about ourselves (self-pity), unhealthy beliefs about others (don’t give away your power by announcing how others influence you), and unhealthy beliefs about the world (victim mindset; the world owes me for something that I did).
You need to counter unhealthy beliefs with healthy ones. Morin notes that it takes a holistic approach to become mentally stronger. When things get really bad, positive habits will no longer be enough. She presents a strategy to counter each of the three destructive beliefs.
Read More: 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do (Amazon)
EXTREME OWNERSHIP
By Jocko Willink | Link to video
Jocko is the most intimidating Navy SEAL that you will ever meet. But one who is also well-read, well-spoken, and extremely intelligent. A commander to some of the deadliest and fearsome people on the planet. Jocko has become a sort of cultural icon for discipline, or more importantly, his own extreme brand of it; discipline equals freedom.
From this idea, emerges extreme ownership of oneself and one’s actions — as a leader, as a man, and as a person.
Read More: Extreme Ownership (Amazon)
Don’t binge-watch all of these at once. Don’t keep a rotating loop of other recommended videos by YouTube. Instead, watch each one carefully, take notes, and use the information to make an impact on your own life. I only listed five videos but five is already too much.
Aim for a narrow approach that produces wide results.
Onward,
Chief
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