Success is the ultimate aspiration of business owners and entrepreneurs. But what exactly does it take to succeed in today’s competitive business environment? While there is no single recipe for success, the TED talks listed below can help you position yourself on the right track.

1. How To Get Your Ideas To Spread (by Seth Godin)

Seth Godin’s entrepreneurial credentials are strongly established, as he is widely acknowledged as a marketing guru. Godin is qualified to speak on the relationship between entrepreneurship and marketing, and in this talk he challenges conventional wisdom by affirming that it is not always the best ideas that are successful, but rather the most widely spread ones. He suggests that mass marketing is not suited to the needs of modern consumers and entrepreneurs should instead target audiences that care about a product or idea. Godin then offers some real-life examples of how successful entrepreneurs spread their ideas among the right audience.

Watch it here.

2. The Single Biggest Reason Why Startups Succeed (by Bill Ross)

Business failure is one of the most common concern among entrepreneurs, and not without reason. A recent study showed that only four out every 10 UK businesses survive for 5 years, and the figure goes as high as 70 per cent after 10 years (2). Business failure can be attributed to many factors, but according to serial entrepreneur Bill Gross, timing is the most important element influencing the success of startups. In 2015, Gross delivered a TED Talk that described his own research and experience in the topic, where he examined key factors like idea strength, team, business model, and funding. However, in 42 per cent of cases he researched, it was timing that accounted for the difference between success and failure. In this talk he describes examples like Uber, Airbnb, and some of his own business ventures.

Watch it here.

3. If You Don’t Understand People, You Don’t Understand Business (by Simon Sinek)

Simon Sinek is a renowned author and motivational speaker with ample expertise in business and marketing (3). Although he has delivered several TED Talks that have attracted millions of viewers, “If you don’t understand people, you don’t understand business” will be of special interest to first-time business owners and entrepreneurs who don’t have a business background. In this talk, Sinek explains why human factors matter in business, and highlights the importance of authenticity and trust.

Watch it here.

4. The Surprising Habits Of Original Thinkers (by Adam Grant)

Adam Grant is often regarded as one of the most influential figures in the field of management. He has talked and taught extensively about organisational psychology topics that every entrepreneur must be familiar with, including leadership, motivation, and productivity. In this TED Talk, he discusses three habits that original thinkers have in common and that could be adopted by anyone who strives to succeed in very competitive environments.

Watch it here.

5. How To Make Work-Life Balance Work (by Nigel Marsh)

Running a business calls for dedication and hard work, so it’s hardly surprising that many entrepreneurs end up spending most of their day engaged in work-related activities. To avoid burnout and increase your chances of success, having a work-life balance strategy in place is a must. In this TED Talk, British author and public speaker Nigel Marsh clarifies some common misunderstandings about the work-life balance concept and calls for his audience to take individual responsibility when it comes to achieving their goals in this respect. Lessons learnt from this talk will surely be useful for entrepreneurs.

Watch it here.

Sources:  (1) http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/bio.asp   (2)  http://smallbusiness.co.uk/business-failure-four-ten-small-companies-dont-make-five-years-2533988/  (3) https://www.ted.com/speakers/simon_sinek  (4) https://mgmt.wharton.upenn.edu/profile/grantad/  (5) https://nigelmarsh.com/