Themes Not Business as Usual

143_291x218

The digital revolution has changed much more than technology, entertainment and design. It has completely transformed business -- in ways that could scarcely have been imaginable at TED's first conference, in 1984.

Chris Anderson of WIRED explores the four key stages of viable technology: setting the right price, gaining market share, displacing established technology and, finally, becoming ubiquitous. Marketing guru Seth Godin spells out why, when it comes to getting attention onto a product, bizarre ideas are more successful than boring ones. And Malcolm Gladwell comes to a fascinating, counterintuitive truth about product development through the tale of one man's quest to find the perfect pasta sauce.

Sergey Brin and Larry Page offer a peek inside the Google machine, sharing tidbits about international search patterns and the philanthropic Google Foundation project (which soon became Google.org). Jeff Skoll, founder of eBay, social entrepreneur and film financier, speaks out for media that educates, changes minds and impels us to action. And iconic businessman Richard Branson reveals some of the (surprising) motivations with which he bootstrapped his way from record shop owner to head of the Virgin empire.

Nokia researcher Jan Chipchase shares some unexpected discoveries about the way people around the world interact with cell phones -- even so far as the emotional bonds we seem to share with them. An emotional talk by John Doerr, Silicon Valley's legendary moneyman, makes the case for investing in green technology -- to save the planet and make a profit to boot. Sasa Vucinic, meanwhile, wants to spread his plan to foster new free presses -- by treating them as entrepreneurs instead of charity cases.

Email to a friend »

 

Subscribe to TED

New talks are released weekly. Be the first to know!

Newsletter:  
Podcasts:   Video  |  Hi-Res video  |  Audio
Blogs:         TED Blog  |  TED Prize Blog

Discuss this theme: Not Business as Usual

  • Fake Steve Ballmer March 1 2008

    I have a few speeches that should be here! I think that the thoughts of the CEO of MS should qualify me!

    http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

  • Rory Gallery February 25 2008

    For some reason i keep getting these messages
    This Module is Unavailable
    This module has been disabled by a site administrator.
    Could anyone help me with this problem?

  • christopher macrae June 9 2007

    Are there galleries of Business Not as Usual Videos anywhere else? And how can we clollaborate in reconnecting them and www2.1 - one of 24 inquiries being open spaces out of London for the next 24 weeks at http://24weeks.com and any space your peers face - eg facebook

  • Vaidhy Mayilrangam April 16 2007

    I had the oppurtunity to share Malcom Gladwell's speech with my coworkers. It really made us think about what we are building, and how to present options to customers instead of the one size fits all approach.