I'd Like to Introduce You to TED...

I have recently gotten to know TED.

TED is not my newest crush...that would be Scotty McCreery from American Idol. He is so, so, so precious. I mean, hello:

Singin'  Thompson Square's "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" 

I'd kiss him... but he is only 17!?! That might be robbin' the cradle ;)

Sorry, I digress.

Back to TED who is not my crush because TED is... not a person.  

TED is an awesome website with the primary purpose of providing access to

Ideas Worth Spreading.

Isn't that cool? 

It is a nonprofit that "started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader." (1)

The additional topic themes are Business, Science, Culture, Arts, and Global Issues. But the home page features a variety of videos from all the different topics. And, even cooler: you can rearrange the homepage by things like: 

•  most emailed 
• most commented on  
• most jaw dropping 
• most inspiring/courageous/beautiful/persuasive/fascinating/funny/ingenious/informative
• and more...

I could spend days on this website. 

I love their mission: 

"We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other." (1)

And lots of people are on-board with TED's mission:

Their advisory board includes people from diverse backgrounds - everything from an anthropologist to an architect, a physicist to a futurist, AND big names like the CEO of Amazon and the founders of Google... even Meg Ryan!?! 

TED stays busy: 

"Along with two annual conferences -- the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh UK each summer -- TED now includes the award-winning TEDTalks video series, the Open Translation Project and Open TV Project, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, the social media platform TED Conversations, and the annual TED Prize." (1) More info here.

Lastly, here are a couple of my favorite finds (so far) on TED: 

Viktor Frankl: Why to believe in others

A talk all the way from 1972 is still relevant: how to make people reach their full potential, using an example of planes...

 

Ron Gutman: The hidden power of smiling

  Smiling is as stimulating as pounds of chocolate and thousands of dollars and helps your marriage and your health... plus, it makes you look good! 

(1) are quotes taken from ted.com