Martin Jacques : Understanding the rise of China

Speaking at a TED Salon in London, economist Martin Jacques asks: How do we in the West make sense of China and its phenomenal rise? The author of "When China Rules the World," he examines why the West often puzzles over the growing power of the Chinese economy, and offers three building blocks for understanding what China is and will become.

 http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_jacques_understanding_the_rise_of_china.html

William Ury: The walk from "No" to "Yes". 

William Ury, author of "Getting to Yes," offers an elegant, simple (but not easy) way to create agreement in even the most difficult situations -- from family conflict to, perhaps, the Middle East.

http://www.ted.com/talks/william_ury.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2010-11-30

Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile

When the dotcom bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what you count.

http://www.ted.com/talks/chip_conley_measuring_what_makes_life_worthwhile.html 

 Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity.

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. Business and society needs invention and creativity to prosper.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html 

Simon Sinek - Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Action

Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?" His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers -- and as a counterpoint Tivo, which (until a recent court victory that tripled its stock price) appeared to be struggling.

http://youtu.be/u4ZoJKF_VuA

Daniel Pink- on the surprising science of motivation

Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories -- and maybe, a way forward. 

http://youtu.be/rrkrvAUbU9Y