Tim Smit, Eden Project, part 2 (Kick-starting the Sustainable Economy)

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the importance of common sense and belief in one's vision to build a successful business. They advocate for surrounding oneself with positive people and eliminating negativity. The speaker also discusses the transformative power of taking risks and the impact it has on confidence. They touch on the changing landscape of business, with a focus on storytelling and the need for a coherent narrative to guide society. The speaker predicts a future where respect for 'primitive' societies will increase as we value the power of stories and narratives.

Takeaways

• 🤝 Use common sense and surround yourself with believers to build a successful business.
• 🙅‍♂️ Identify and eliminate negative people from your team for a positive work environment.
• 🏆 Believe in the 'Last Man Standing' philosophy, where persistence and charm can lead to success.
• 🚫 Avoid trusting gurus and be wary of those who overuse the term 'entrepreneur'.
• 💡 Recognize that taking risks can transform fear into confidence and propel your business forward.
• 🌍 Consider the developing world's practices and narratives for a more sustainable and connected future.
• 🐓 Understand the importance of storytelling in business, as it connects consumers to products and their origins.
• 🔮 Expect a future where academics will respect 'primitive' societies for their storytelling and narrative value.
• 🌱 Embrace the idea that our dependence on story and narrative is crucial for progress and understanding our place in the world.
• 🌐 Prepare for a future where the ability to tell compelling stories and make sense of complex issues will be key to success.

Q & A

What is the importance of having people believe in your business idea?

Having a few people believe in your business idea is crucial as it can lead to the formation of a great company. It's about finding individuals who share your vision and can contribute to the success of the venture.

Why is it advised to avoid negative people in a business setting?

Negative people are said to drain the energy and will to live from those around them. The speaker suggests dealing with them decisively to maintain a positive and productive business environment.

What does the speaker mean by 'Last Man Standing' in the context of business?

The 'Last Man Standing' concept refers to the idea that if you persist with charm and determination in business, people will eventually recognize your commitment and be willing to pay you well for your services.

Why should one not trust gurus and people who use the term 'entrepreneur' according to the speaker?

The speaker suggests that true entrepreneurs are those who are willing to risk their own security for their ideas, not just those who label themselves as such. They advise skepticism towards those who use the term lightly or without having taken significant risks.

What is the significance of taking risks in business according to the speaker?

Taking risks in business is essential as it transforms fear into reality, changes body language to exude confidence, and makes the perceived risks seem less daunting than before the leap was taken.

How does the anticipation of a difficult action compare to the action itself, as per the speaker?

The speaker uses the example of breaking up with a partner to illustrate that the anticipation of a difficult action is often worse than the action itself. This is meant to encourage taking decisive actions in business without being paralyzed by fear.

Why does the speaker believe in the importance of storytelling in business and society?

Storytelling is crucial as it provides a narrative that connects people to their values, aspirations, and the world around them. It helps make sense of complex issues and is necessary for guiding societies towards a coherent future.

What is the future prediction made by the speaker regarding the use of the word 'primitive'?

The speaker predicts that within 10 years, academics will stop using the term 'primitive' to describe other societies as we rediscover the importance of narrative and respect for different cultures.

What does the speaker imply about the evolution of consumer products like eggs over the past decade?

The speaker points out the rapid evolution in consumer expectations and product storytelling, using the example of eggs becoming increasingly defined by their production methods, from caged to free-range and organic.

What does the speaker suggest is the key to success in the future business landscape?

The speaker implies that the key to future success lies in the ability to tell compelling stories and to make sense of the changing world, as those who can narrate and navigate the future will lead.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Building a Great Business with Belief and Confidence

The speaker emphasizes the importance of using common sense and believing in one's vision to build a successful business. They suggest surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals and eliminating negativity. The speaker also advises against trusting gurus and those who overuse the term 'entrepreneur.' They share their personal philosophy of 'Last Man Standing,' which suggests that persistence and charm can lead to success. The speaker discusses the transformative power of taking risks, arguing that once a risk is taken, the fear associated with it dissipates, leading to increased confidence and a more assured body language. They conclude by advocating for a narrative-driven future, where storytelling and vision are key to progress.

Keywords

💡Common Sense

Common sense refers to practical knowledge or intelligence that is shared by most people and used to make sound judgments in everyday situations. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of using common sense in business, suggesting that it is a fundamental aspect of building a successful company. It is tied to the video's theme by advocating for a practical, no-nonsense approach to entrepreneurship.

💡Belief

Belief is the acceptance that something exists or is true, especially without proof. The speaker mentions the necessity of having a few people who believe in your vision, which is crucial for establishing a great company. Belief is a central theme in the video, as it is portrayed as a driving force behind the success of any venture.

💡Negative People

Negative people are individuals who consistently exhibit a pessimistic or critical attitude, which can adversely affect the morale and productivity of a team or organization. The speaker advises to 'kill' negative people, using a metaphorical and dramatic way to communicate the idea that negativity should be eliminated from a business environment to maintain a positive and productive atmosphere.

💡Last Man Standing

The term 'Last Man Standing' is used metaphorically to describe a situation where one perseveres and outlasts all competitors. The speaker uses this concept to illustrate the importance of persistence and charm in business, suggesting that if you're persistent and people see you won't go away, they will eventually pay you well to continue your work.

💡Risk

Risk is the potential for loss or injury. In the context of the video, taking risks is presented as a necessary step in entrepreneurship. The speaker argues that once a person takes the leap and assumes risk, the fear associated with it disappears because the focus shifts from the fear of risk to making the venture work.

💡Confidence

Confidence is the state of being certain of one's ability to achieve something. The speaker discusses how taking risks can lead to a change in body language that exudes confidence, which in turn can alter perceptions of risk and reality. Confidence is portrayed as a key attribute that can help entrepreneurs succeed.

💡Entrepreneurialism

Entrepreneurialism is the practice of being an entrepreneur, which involves organizing, operating, and assuming the risk for a business venture. The speaker is critical of the term when used by bankers, suggesting that it should be a badge of courage for those who are willing to put themselves at risk for their ideas, rather than a casual label.

💡Fair Trade

Fair Trade is a social movement whose aim is that producers in developing countries receive fair prices for their products. The speaker briefly mentions fair trade, indicating support for it as a practice, and then shifts the focus to the broader theme of learning from the developing world, which is a call for a change in the narrative of how developed countries view and interact with the rest of the world.

💡Narrative

A narrative is a story or account of events or experiences. The speaker predicts a future where the ability to tell stories and make sense of complex situations will be crucial for success. The narrative is tied to the theme of the video by emphasizing the importance of storytelling in connecting people to their values and aspirations.

💡Coherent Story

A coherent story is one that is logical, consistent, and easy to follow. The speaker argues that having a coherent story is essential for humanity's progress and identity as Homo sapiens. This concept is integral to the video's message, as it suggests that without a clear and compelling narrative, society lacks direction and purpose.

💡Respect for Primitive Societies

The speaker prophesies a future where the term 'primitive' will no longer be used to describe other societies, as we rediscover our own dependence on story and narrative. This keyword reflects a theme of the video that involves a shift in perspective, where we learn from and respect cultures that we previously misunderstood or looked down upon.

Highlights

The importance of using common sense and believing in one's vision to build a great business.

The necessity of surrounding oneself with believers to foster a successful company culture.

Understanding one's weaknesses and delegating tasks to others who excel in those areas.

The detrimental effects of negative people on a business and the need to eliminate them.

The concept of 'Last Man Standing' and its relevance to persistence and success in business.

The value of charm and persistence in business, leading to eventual financial success.

Advice against trusting gurus and the overuse of the term 'entrepreneur'.

A critique of bankers encouraging entrepreneurialism without fully understanding its risks.

The true meaning of being an entrepreneur as a badge of courage and risk-taking.

How taking risks can eliminate the fear associated with them and lead to confidence.

The psychological shift that occurs when risk becomes a reality, altering one's body language and perception of risk.

An analogy comparing the fear of risk to the fear of ending a relationship, highlighting the wasted energy on anticipation.

The speaker's stance on fair trade and the importance of having ambassadors to promote it.

A call to learn from the developing world rather than being patronizing, citing Muhammad Yunus's bank in Glasgow.

The prediction of a future where Europe and other regions will undergo significant changes, including a shift in business narratives.

The evolution of consumer goods, exemplified by the story of eggs, reflecting societal changes and the demand for stories.

The importance of storytelling and narrative in connecting people to their values and aspirations.

A prophecy about the abandonment of the term 'primitive' in academia, reflecting a newfound respect for other cultures' stories.

The critical role of coherent stories in defining humanity and driving progress.

Transcripts

so anyway the tips are on great business

just use it common sense believe in

Tinker Bell if you can get three or four

people to believe in what you believe in

you'll get a great company understand

what you don't do very well and get

people other people to do it then

they're really serious one kill negative

people kill them and make their death as

bloody as you can make it on the grounds

of anybody who's ever worked with

negative people knows that the SAP just

drains out of you and your will to live

has gone go believe in Last Man Standing

we could last man standing which I need

my life by is that if you have a certain

amount of charm and people learn that

you're not going to go away they'll

eventually pay you large sums of money

to do so and after that you probably got

pretty successful business seriously

don't trust gurus and also don't trust

people who use the word entrepreneur

right if you ever hear a banker saying

they're encouraging entrepreneurialism

hit them right I once went out with a

whole bunch of bankers who wants to be

entrepreneurial and they said we put ten

thousand pounds in it whatever and we

give you easy terms I said let your was

a easy terms I put my house up an

entrepreneur should be a badge of

courage that you actually believe in

your ideas enough to put yourself at

risk because one of the weirdest things

that no one will ever tell you it's not

run in any business manual at all is

that by taking the great leap of risk

all that fear that you had about risk

disappears because now you've got to

make it work and what happens then this

is true because what happens then is

your body language changes and when your

body language changes because you're

dealing with something there's no longer

a risk it's a reality your body language

exudes confidence it's sometimes exudes

desperation but let's but

but it exudes it exudes confidence and

suddenly the risks that you've perceived

to exist do not exist at all at the same

scale you had before and only way you

need to test that on yourself is

everybody in the audience go back to any

was 17 in the first girlfriend or

boyfriend you dumped is it not true that

the anticipation of the dumping was way

worse than the moment itself so think of

the energy you wasted on all of that

where you could have just said it's over

I know relationships aren't really like

that usually but that's what I wanted to

say really I didn't want to talk about

fair trade because we have fantastic

ambassadors for that we of course fair

trade why wouldn't you have it was I

would said everything there was to say

about it but the future the future is

going to be in turning the whole of

Europe to start with let's talk about

countries and places we're living in for

a moment as opposed to being patronizing

at the rest of the world learning from

the developing world that our arrogance

that not seen some of the systems that

we're trying to export should actually

play here Muhammad Yunus is starting a

bank in Glasgow I mean I do understand

but but but but but just just think

about that the future is going to be

monstrous this isn't about little

business man this is about a vision and

we entering a period of narrative those

who can tell stories those who can make

sense of the sunny up plans that we're

heading towards will win the day have

you not noticed that you can't buy eggs

anymore oh no you didn't know you can't

just buy an egg can you oh no you used

to buy an egg then you bought an egg

from a chicken that was no longer in a

cage then the chicken with a bit more

rock and roll and was thing about and

then absolutely free range and crapping

everywhere right and then it was laying

it and it was doing it organically and

then you put it in a box which could

biodegrade that's just happened in 10

years a miracle of ignis ya know there's

a serious point the point isn't the eggs

it's us and our need for a story that

connects us to the soil in some way and

make sense of who we want to become I'll

make you another prophecy it's not my

own i read it it's a bridge

within the next 10 years you will not

find academics using the word primitive

about societies elsewhere as we start to

rediscover our dependence on story and

narrative we will suddenly rediscover

our respect for things that we didn't

understand and disrespected before and

suddenly understand the importance of

stories because without a coherent story

we're going nowhere and actually if we

haven't got a coherent story we're not

worthy of the name Homo sapiens are we

so it's a real joke and we deserve to

fry thank you very much