Ideas worth spreading

Sorry, this talk has not yet been translated into: Kurdish|Want to help translate this talk? Become a TED Translator.

5,474,130 views | Tim Harford • TED@Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

A powerful way to unleash your natural creativity

What can we learn from the world's most enduringly creative people? They "slow-motion multitask," actively juggling multiple projects and moving between topics as the mood strikes -- without feeling hurried. Author Tim Harford shares how innovators like Einstein, Darwin, Twyla Tharp and Michael Crichton found their inspiration and productivity through cross-training their minds.

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about the TED Institute.

What can we learn from the world's most enduringly creative people? They "slow-motion multitask," actively juggling multiple projects and moving between topics as the mood strikes -- without feeling hurried. Author Tim Harford shares how innovators like Einstein, Darwin, Twyla Tharp and Michael Crichton found their inspiration and productivity through cross-training their minds.

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about the TED Institute.

About the speaker

Economist, journalist, broadcaster

See speaker profile

Tim Harford's writings reveal the economic ideas behind everyday experiences.

Learn more

About TED Institute

Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.

Read more about the TED Institute