If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, then you probably know that I’m a big fan of starting over, reinventing, and beginning again. Whether it’s starting a new project, a new career, moving, or even starting over after a divorce. All are perfect times to examine who you are, what you are doing, and what direction you want to go in. But sometimes, something holds us back. Usually, fear. Here are 6 TED Talks that will help you conquer fear.
Emilie Wapnick says that if you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up that it’s ok! In this TED Talk find out about “multi-potentialities” and why it’s ok to want to do many different things. Her book is How To Be Everything: A Guide for Those Who (Still) Don’t Know What They Want To Be When They Grow Up.
In this talk, Larry Smith tells you why you’re going to fail when you want a great career. Excuses. Great big excuses like “…great careers are a matter of luck or they are geniuses.” Larry hates to see wasted talent. Be A Star: Finding Important Problems.
Tim Ferris, famous for his 4-Hour Work Week program was afraid to go in the water due to a summer camp experience. At 31, he not only learned to swim but swam in a 1-kilometer open ocean race. This is just one of three problems he shares and how he conquered fear in order to learn.
Meet Paul Tasner. Such an innovative genius. Paul shares how he founded his own company two years after he was laid off when he was sixty-four years old. He talks about other seniors who are also becoming entrepreneurs when people think they should be retiring.
What about being uncomfortable? Luvvie Ajayi talks about speaking up and doing the thing that is difficult when fear rules our lives. Her book is I’m Judging You: The Do Better Manual and she blogs at Awesomely Luvvie.
I hope you enjoyed these talks. Do they make you want to go out and conquer fear? They sure have me all riled up and ready to take on the next challenge. If you’re still not sure then please read Why Trying New Things Is Important.

Great post Jennifer. Thanx for sharing – I think it might be exactly what I needed to see/hear and read. 🙂 – fear/procrastination/fear/procrastination/fe …. you get it … lol
These are all great videos to watch them. Tim Ferris is always great for smashing fear.
These sound like great talks! I’m a TED fan, but haven’t seen these. I’m looking forward to listening. I’m particularly curious about growing new brain cells and Luvvie’s story. Thanks for sharing, Jennifer!
Luvvie is awesome. She’s smart and feisty and a little shady (that’s what she says at least!)
TED talks are always winners. Thanks for this list. I just added watching the one from Luvvie to my calendar. 🙂
Thanks Jennifer. I’ll be bookmarking this post to watch a few of those ?
I think you’ll be inspired.
I’m sure I will be!
I want to watch a few of these, especially from the neuroscientist. Are these free? If not, how much do they cost?
I love Ted Talks! I’m bookmarking this post so I can come back later and check all of these out! Thanks for sharing!
I am a BIG fan of starting over and starting new adventures. Fear kept me from doing a lot of things, but once I conquered it…watch out world. The sky is the limit 🙂
You GO!
🙂
Love this. I use TedTalkd in class where I can. They are an amazing resource.
They are amazing. I am inspired all the time.
Bookmarking! I love TED talks and Tim Ferris is a person I really admire!
Thanks for bookmarking. I love Tim Ferris’ book.
Fear is one of those strange concepts where we think it’s all about spiders and life or death scenarios, but it actually is part of our everyday existence. Some great vids. Shared on twitter and stumble.
Is it just me or does Larry look like Stephen King?
Lol. Just a little!