I like watching great speeches and am always looking forward to listen, write down insights, ponder on the nuggets, analyze the anecdotes, laugh at their jokes, and apply the principles and advice they share. Success leaves clues, and learning from accomplished individuals is very exciting and exhilarating either from Commencement Speeches or other prepared speeches such as TED Talks.
Here are some of the most inspiring and insightful speeches have come across in my search and looking forward to updating it:
Commencement Speeches
- Steve Jobs | 2005 Stanford Commencement Address | Transcript | Video
- J.K. Rowling | The Fringe Benefits of Failure | 2008 Harvard University Address | Transcript | Video
- Naval Admiral William H. McRaven | Make Your Bed | 2014 University of Texas | Transcript | Video
- Neil Gaiman | Make Good Art | 2012 University of the Arts Keynote Address | Transcript | Video
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | 2015 Wellesley College Commencement Speech | Transcript | Video
- Oprah Winfrey | 2008 Stanford Commencement Address | Transcript | Video
- Dr. Rick Rigsby | The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout | Transcript | Video
- Charlie Munger | 2007 USC Law School Commencement Address | Transcript | Video
- Shonda Rhimes | 2014 Dartmouth Commencement Speech | Transcript | Video
- David Foster Wallace | This is Water | 2005 Commencement Speech at Kenyon College | Transcript | Video | Amazon
- Anna Quindlen | 1999 Mount Holyoke Commencement Speech | Transcript | Video
- John Roberts | I Wish You Bad Luck | 2017 Cardigan’s Commencement Address | Transcript | Video
Prepared Speeches
- Art Williams | Just Do It | 1987 National Religious Broadcasters Address | Transcript | Video
Award Acceptance Speeches
- Jim Valvano | Don’t Give Up | 1993 ESPY Acceptance Speech| Transcript | Video
TED Talks
- Sir Ken Robinson | Do Schools Kill Creativity? | Transcript | Video
- Elizabeth Gilbert | Your elusive creative genius | Transcript | Video