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Growth Ladder Academy
Free Knowledge Hub

Your Free Resource Library

55 carefully curated books, TED talks, and tools. Every one is free. Every one supports your GLA journey.

Book
Mindset & Growth
As a Man Thinketh
James Allen
One of the most powerful short books ever written on the mind and character. Free on Project Gutenberg. Esse...
MindsetF101Identity
Video
Mindset & Growth
The Power of Believing You Can Improve
Carol Dweck · TED Talk
The definitive 10-minute introduction to Growth Mindset. One of the most watched educational talks ever. Per...
Growth MindsetF101
Book
Mindset & Growth
The Science of Getting Rich
Wallace D. Wattles
Written in 1910 and still transformative. A philosophical guide to thinking in ways that produce results. Fr...
WealthMindsetB301
Video
Mindset & Growth
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Angela Duckworth · TED Talk
The science of what makes people achieve great things. Grit, not talent, predicts success. Directly supports...
ResilienceGritF103
Book
Mindset & Growth
Self-Reliance
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Emerson's classic essay urging individuals to trust themselves and think independently. One of the most quot...
CharacterF105
Video
Mindset & Growth
How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over
Mel Robbins · TEDx
Raw and practical talk on activation energy, the 5-second rule, and taking action when you feel stuck. Loved...
ActionMotivation
Book
Mindset & Growth
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
The private journal of a Roman Emperor. A master class in Stoic philosophy, self-discipline, and keeping per...
PhilosophyStoicismCharacter
Video
Mindset & Growth
The Puzzle of Motivation
Dan Pink · TED Talk
Dan Pink reveals the surprising science of what truly motivates us. Challenges conventional thinking and per...
MotivationCareerT205
Book
Mindset & Growth
The Art of War
Sun Tzu
Applied to modern life, this ancient strategy guide teaches focus, planning, and decisive action. Favourite ...
StrategyB301
Video
Mindset & Growth
Change Your Mindset, Change the Game
Dr Alia Crum · TEDx
Fascinating research showing that what we believe about our stress, exercise, and food profoundly affects ou...
MindsetWellbeing
Video
Leadership & Character
How Great Leaders Inspire Action
Simon Sinek · TED Talk
The Start With Why talk that changed how the world thinks about leadership. Over 60 million views. Required ...
LeadershipT202B301
Book
Leadership & Character
Up from Slavery
Booker T. Washington
The autobiography of one of America's greatest leaders. An African-American who overcame slavery to build a ...
LeadershipCharacterAfrica
Video
Leadership & Character
Every Kid Needs a Champion
Rita Pierson · TED Talk
A powerful talk on the relationship between educators and students. One of the most emotionally moving talks...
LeadershipB305
Book
Leadership & Character
Character Building
Booker T. Washington
A timeless collection of addresses on how to build genuine character, not just appearance. Deeply relevant t...
CharacterF105Leadership
Video
Leadership & Character
The Danger of a Single Story
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie · TED
One of the most important talks of this generation. A Nigerian author on the power of stories, stereotypes, ...
AfricaLeadershipS403
Video
Leadership & Character
What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness
Robert Waldinger · TED
75 years of research on what truly makes people happy and healthy. The answer is not money or fame. Essentia...
LegacyRelationshipsS405
Video
Leadership & Character
The Art of Being a Great Leader
Will Smith · Motivational
Will Smith shares raw, unfiltered insights on discipline, responsibility, skill, and what it really takes to...
LeadershipDisciplineCharacter
Book
Leadership & Character
Acres of Diamonds
Russell H. Conwell
The famous lecture delivered over 6,000 times. Your greatest opportunity is where you are right now. Free on...
OpportunityLeadershipB301
Video
Leadership & Character
We Are the Leaders We Have Been Waiting For
Grace Lee Boggs · TEDx
A 97-year-old activist on revolution, community, and what real leadership means in the 21st century. Deeply ...
LeadershipCommunityS403
Video
Leadership & Character
First Follower: Leadership Lessons from a Dancing Guy
Derek Sivers · TED
A 3-minute masterclass on how movements start. A lone nut becomes a leader when someone dares to follow firs...
LeadershipT202
Video
Entrepreneurship & Finance
How to Build a Startup
Steve Blank · Udacity Free Course
The scientific approach to entrepreneurship from the man who invented the Customer Development process. Comp...
EntrepreneurshipB303
Book
Entrepreneurship & Finance
The Art of Money Getting
P.T. Barnum
Written in 1880, this practical guide on earning money remains surprisingly relevant. Free on Gutenberg. A g...
FinanceEntrepreneurshipB303
Video
Entrepreneurship & Finance
Why the Secret to Success is Setting the Right Goals
John Doerr · TED
Introduction to OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) — the goal-setting system used by Google, Intel, and thous...
GoalsB301Strategy
Video
Entrepreneurship & Finance
The Single Biggest Reason Why Start-ups Succeed
Bill Gross · TED
Analysis of 200 start-ups reveals the single factor that most determines success. Surprising and data-driven...
StartupsB303Timing
Video
Entrepreneurship & Finance
Why I Read a Book a Week and Why You Should Too
Tai Lopez · TEDx
Tai Lopez on the fastest way to acquire knowledge and why reading is the greatest ROI investment any young p...
LearningGrowthEntrepreneurship
Video
Entrepreneurship & Finance
Rethinking Money: The Financial Habits of the Wealthy
Daymond John · Talks at Google
FUBU founder Daymond John shares financial lessons learned building a $6 billion brand from $40. Real, pract...
FinanceWealthB303
Book
Entrepreneurship & Finance
Thinking, Fast and Slow — Summary
Daniel Kahneman
The Nobel Prize-winning economist reveals two systems of thinking that drive every decision we make. Underst...
Decision MakingFinanceB303
Video
Entrepreneurship & Finance
The Philosophy of Finance for Young People
Khan Academy · Finance Course
Free, world-class financial literacy education from Khan Academy. Covers budgeting, saving, investing, credi...
FinanceT204Financial Literacy
Video
Entrepreneurship & Finance
How to Get Your Ideas to Spread
Seth Godin · TED Talk
The marketing genius behind the Purple Cow explains why being remarkable is the only marketing that works. D...
MarketingB302Branding
Video
Entrepreneurship & Finance
Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator
Tim Urban · TED Talk
Hilariously honest and deeply useful talk on procrastination. 20+ million views. Helps students understand w...
ProductivityHabitsF103
Video
Mental Health & EQ
The Power of Vulnerability
Brené Brown · TED Talk
The most watched TED Talk on human connection. Brené Brown's research on vulnerability, shame, and belonging...
EQVulnerabilityF102
Video
Mental Health & EQ
How to Make Stress Your Friend
Kelly McGonigal · TED Talk
The science is clear: believing stress is harmful makes it harmful. This talk shows how to change your relat...
StressResilienceF104
Video
Mental Health & EQ
Why We All Need to Practise Emotional First Aid
Guy Winch · TED Talk
Psychologist Guy Winch makes the case for taking psychological health as seriously as physical health. Simpl...
Mental HealthEQF102
Video
Mental Health & EQ
The Secret to Self Control
Jonathan Bricker · TEDx
Science-backed strategies for building self-control that actually work. Challenges willpower myths and offer...
Self-ControlHabitsF103
Video
Mental Health & EQ
How to Spot a Liar
Pamela Meyer · TED Talk
Deception expert Pamela Meyer shows the many signs of lying. Develops emotional intelligence and social awar...
EQT201Communication
Video
Mental Health & EQ
The Happy Secret to Better Work
Shawn Achor · TED Talk
Positive psychology researcher shares the science of happiness and why it predicts success, not the other wa...
HappinessWellbeingProductivity
Video
Mental Health & EQ
There Is No Shame in Taking Care of Your Mental Health
Sangu Delle · TED
A Ghanaian entrepreneur on African men's mental health. Breaks stigma and calls for more honest conversation...
Mental HealthAfricaWellbeing
Book
Mental Health & EQ
The Prophet
Kahlil Gibran
One of the most beloved books of the 20th century. Gibran's wisdom on love, work, children, pain, joy and fr...
WisdomCharacterLegacy
Video
Communication
Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are
Amy Cuddy · TED Talk
The "Power Pose" talk. Amy Cuddy reveals how posture and body language not only affects how others see you, ...
CommunicationConfidenceT201
Video
Communication
How to Speak So That People Want to Listen
Julian Treasure · TED Talk
The four foundations of powerful speaking. Teaches vocal warmth, honesty, directness, and more. Perfect comp...
CommunicationT204Public Speaking
Video
Communication
10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation
Celeste Headlee · TED Talk
A radio host with decades of experience shares the most important rules for great conversation. Simple, imme...
CommunicationRelationshipsEQ
Video
Communication
The Power of Listening
William Ury · TEDx
Co-author of Getting to Yes on why listening is the greatest superpower in negotiation and relationships. Es...
ListeningB304Communication
Video
Communication
Dare to Disagree
Margaret Heffernan · TED Talk
Why the best partnerships and organisations are built on honest disagreement, not consensus. Challenges comf...
ConflictB304Communication
Video
Communication
The Art of Asking
Amanda Palmer · TED Talk
A punk rock musician on asking for help, trust, and human connection. Challenges the hustle-only mindset and...
RelationshipsB305Community
Book
Communication
The Art of Conversation
Catherine Blyth
A witty and practical guide to the lost art of conversation. Learn how to open, deepen, and memorably close ...
CommunicationSocial SkillsT204
Video
African Voices
What It Means to Be African in the 21st Century
Sangu Delle · TEDx
A Ghana-based entrepreneur challenges what it means to be African today, rejecting pity narratives and embra...
AfricaIdentityS403
Video
African Voices
Why Africa Needs Its Own Monsanto
Bright Simons · TEDx
A provocative and brilliant talk from a Ghanaian innovator on African solutions for African challenges. Insp...
AfricaInnovationS401
Book
African Voices
Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe
The most widely read book in modern African literature. Explores identity, culture, change and resistance. A...
AfricaIdentityLegacy
Video
African Voices
Africa: Time for Renewal
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala · TED
Nigeria's former Finance Minister and current WTO Director-General on Africa's economic transformation. Visi...
AfricaEconomyS402
Video
African Voices
The Story of Africa — A Continent of Achievement
BBC World Service
A comprehensive series on the history, culture, and achievements of Africa from ancient times to today. Buil...
AfricaHistoryIdentity
Video
Career & Future Skills
How to Find Work You Love
Scott Dinsmore · TEDx
Scott built a movement around helping people find work that matters. This talk is a framework for discoverin...
CareerPurposeT205
Video
Career & Future Skills
Do Schools Kill Creativity?
Sir Ken Robinson · TED Talk
The most watched TED Talk of all time. Sir Ken argues that education systems crush creativity and we need a ...
CareerCreativityEducation
Video
Career & Future Skills
The Future of Work — 3 Big Shifts
Rainer Strack · TED
BCG partner reveals the three forces reshaping work over the next decade and what young people should do tod...
CareerFutureT205
Video
Career & Future Skills
What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work
Dan Ariely · TED Talk
Behavioural economist Dan Ariely reveals what truly motivates people at work. Practical and research-backed....
WorkMotivationCareer
Video
Career & Future Skills
The Surprising Science of Happiness
Dan Gilbert · TED Talk
Harvard psychologist on why we are terrible at predicting what will make us happy, and the surprising truth ...
HappinessCareerPurpose