TED is a non-profit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world. Its iconic tag line is “Ideas Worth Sharing”. In this article, I will share with you some of the key TED talks on sales and marketing that you should watch.
The Greatest TED Talk Ever Sold
This one is top of my list of recommendations. Be open-minded when you watch it because you might miss the essence of the talk.
Speaker: Morgan Spurlock makes documentary film and TV that is personal, political, and above all deeply empathetic.
Description: With humour and persistence, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock dives into the hidden but influential world of brand marketing, on his quest to make a completely sponsored film about sponsorship. (And yes, onstage naming rights for this talk were sponsored too. By whom and for how much? He’ll tell you.)
Why You Should Watch It: He delves into a pertinent area in sales and marketing which is brand marketing. That is an area that you must appreciate as an entrepreneur.
Watch It Here.
Reinventing Creative Thinking
Speaker: Luc de Brabandere is a fellow and Senior Advisor with BCG, specializing in applying creativity and strategic vision techniques to business. He is a professor at the Louvain School of Management and the Ecole Centrale in Paris. He is the author or co-author of a dozen books including “The Forgotten Half of Change” and “Thinking in New Boxes.”
Description: Thinking out of the box — it’s one of the most cited strategies for innovation. Corporate philosopher Luc de Brabandere pondered exactly what was happening in our minds when we think creatively, and shares his own perspective on this strategy. He argues that the most incredible ideas don’t come from just thinking beyond the perimeter of our current perception, but from relocating our minds to an entirely different box where preconceived ideas don’t limit imagination.
Why You Should Watch It: Due to the fierce competition in the business world nowadays there is a need to think differently. I believe entrepreneurs should now not only think outside the box but also think as if there is no box. These aspects are so pivotal in sales and marketing.
Watch It Here.
How To Sell Without Selling Your Soul
Speaker: Steve Harrison is a leading sales and marketing consultant in the world.
Description: Want to persuade more people to say “yes” to what you offer without feeling as if you’re some kind of ‘high-pressure salesperson’? In this inspiring and humorous talk, marketing expert Steve Harrison redefines what it really means ‘to sell.’ He reveals a simple four-step method for unleashing your desire to serve others so you can be more comfortable, confident and convincing.
Why You Should Watch It: The man has a wealth of knowledge on the true essence of selling. The great thing is that in this talk he breaks how you can effectively sell, something every entrepreneur yearns to know and practise.
Watch It Here.
What I Learned From 100 Days Of Rejection
Speaker: Jia Jiang is an author, blogger and entrepreneur.
Description: Jia Jiang adventures boldly into a territory so many of us fear: rejection. By seeking out rejection for 100 days — from asking a stranger to borrow $100 to request a “burger refill” at a restaurant — Jiang desensitized himself to the pain and shame that rejection often brings and, in the process, discovered that simply asking for what you want can open up possibilities where you expect to find dead ends.
Why You Should Watch It: Rejection is an inevitable part of any sales and marketing drives. This talk will give you an interesting perspective on how to deal with rejection and bring the best out of it.
Watch It Here.
If You Have Had Sex You Know How To Sell
Speaker: Mace Horcoff is a renowned medical sales expert.
Description: People don’t like to sell because they think they can’t. Yet, whenever they want sex with another consenting adult, they implement sales skills they don’t even realize they have. Sales expert Mace Horcoff says, “The question isn’t whether you can sell or not—the question is, “What motivates you to sell?”
Why You Should Watch It: He shares practical and relatable analogies that help you understand sales and marketing.
Watch It Here.
I am sure you will be inspired and learn some interesting things from these TED talks. The thing about TED talks is that you should be very open-minded. I say that because if you are not, some of these talks might seem irrelevant to you when they actually are.
