Tim Smit. In tweets.

by kiwanja

Tim Smit may be an extraordinary individual, but he’s no ordinary entrepreneur. Founder of The Eden Project – described by some as the “Eighth Wonder of The World” – Tim has taken an unconventional if not fascinating path. By all means read those Business Bibles – but then tear them up. Read Marketing 101 – but then toss it aside. In the sometimes rigid and stuffy world of social entrepreneurship, Tim is a breath of fresh air. And his short talk last weekend at Emerge 2010 in Oxford was nothing short of inspirational.

Courtesy of Twitter, here’s a short summary of a “lucky 13″ key points that stood out most for me.

Context: Never forget what you were like as a child. Push the boundaries of your imagination, live out your dreams, find that one thing which truly “switches you on”. And then relentlessly pursue it.

Context: Don’t get caught up in the lingo. Buzzwords mean little if they’re not backed up by very real action.

Context: Inspiration and innovation can happen any time, any place. No person and no structure have exclusive rights over the best ideas. Unconventional can be king. It usually is and, what’s more, it will usually come with the most compelling story.

Context: Seize the moment – it won’t last forever, and there will likely never be a “best time” to execute your idea.

Context: Not everyone will be able to take that “big risk”, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be able to join you on a journey. Inspire others to join you. Don’t travel alone. Build it, and they may just come.

Context: In ICT4D we talk about silos. Take every opportunity to step outside yours. Be open minded. Meet people who, on the surface, have very little in common with you. Explore new horizons. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Context: If you don’t follow your instincts, you may always regret it. Don’t put yourself in that position. Success is just as much about “positive thinking” as “positive doing”.

Context: Make the art of the possible seem possible for everyone. If people can imagine themselves in your shoes then your story will not only resonate, but will gain a reality and life of its very own.

Context: Organisations are only as good as the people who show up every day to work for them.

Context: Actions speak louder than words. Anyone can talk about anything. Creating and building doesn’t happen on the sidelines. Beware of the inexperienced “expert”.

Context: If you have good fortune, pass it on. Use it to help others. Think about who you were, not what you’ve become.

Context: For some people, anything they haven’t had a hand in is rubbish. Quite often, they’ve never actually done anything themselves. Avoid negativity. It’s a cop-out. (Note: Negativity is different to constructive criticism).

Context: Language is EVERYTHING.

This is the second time I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Tim speak. If you ever get the chance, grab it. After all, Tim might be the person you never knew you were meant to meet.

52 comments

1 Ken Banks { 11.30.10 at 5:35 pm }: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #edenproject
2 Rubicon Property { 11.30.10 at 5:50 pm }: RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #edenproject
3 changefeed { 11.30.10 at 5:52 pm }: ->@kiwanja: Tim Smit. In tweets. http://bit.ly/g7piyl
4 Mission MANNA { 11.30.10 at 5:57 pm }: RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #edenproject
5 Think! Research { 11.30.10 at 5:59 pm }: Great summary of messages from Tim Smit on social entrepreneurship and social innovation http://ow.ly/3hDZx #socent
6 Caya Kaad { 11.30.10 at 6:31 pm }: RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #edenproject
7 Skoll Centre { 11.30.10 at 7:14 pm }: Love this. RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent
8 Liam Black { 11.30.10 at 7:19 pm }: RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #edenproject
9 Aashika { 11.30.10 at 7:21 pm }: RT @SkollCentre: Love this. RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emer …
10 Faisel Rahman { 11.30.10 at 7:32 pm }: RT @SkollCentre: Love this. RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emer …
11 Dal LaMagna { 11.30.10 at 7:40 pm }: RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from unconventional entrepreneur. http://is.gd/i0cys Want more oddity? Read my 1st chapter http://ow.ly/3hHwr
12 Pritha RaySircar { 11.30.10 at 7:42 pm }: RT @SkollCentre: Love this. RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emer …
13 Paul Cheng { 11.30.10 at 7:56 pm }: RT @SkollCentre: Love this. RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emer …
14 katyms { 11.30.10 at 8:39 pm }: RT @SkollCentre: Love this. RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emer …
15 Social Enterprise { 11.30.10 at 8:51 pm }: RT @SkollCentre: Love this. RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emer …
16 DigitalSocial { 11.30.10 at 8:55 pm }: @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 @skollcentre #digigood #socent
17 glynis powell { 11.30.10 at 9:28 pm }: RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent
18 Andy Stoll { 11.30.10 at 9:43 pm }: RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #socent (via @skollcentre)
19 PopTech { 11.30.10 at 9:47 pm }: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #edenproject (via @kiwanja)
20 Daniel Fletcher { 11.30.10 at 9:52 pm }: RT @andystoll: RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #socent (via @skol …
21 Tim Smit. In tweets. | Global Health Hub { 11.30.10 at 9:59 pm }: [...] the original post: Tim Smit. In tweets. [...]
22 Heather Mason { 11.30.10 at 10:02 pm }: TIm Smit is priceless, spoke at Skoll Forum too. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #edenproject @poptech @kiwanja
23 Ali Morton { 12.01.10 at 9:08 am }: RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #edenproject
24 Ken Banks { 12.01.10 at 10:08 am }: Thirteen lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #innovation
25 Marta Poblet { 12.01.10 at 10:17 am }: RT @kiwanja: Thirteen lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #innovation
26 Innovation Junkies { 12.01.10 at 10:24 am }: Thirteen lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #innovation
27 Loretta Rae { 12.01.10 at 10:33 am }: RT @kiwanja: Thirteen lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #innovation
28 Maryam Pasha { 12.01.10 at 10:42 am }: RT @kiwanja: Thirteen lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #innovation
29 Irene Guijt { 12.01.10 at 10:46 am }: RT @kiwanja: Thirteen lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #innovation
30 Keith Ricketts { 12.01.10 at 10:50 am }: RT @kiwanja: Thirteen lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #innovation
31 Think! Research { 12.01.10 at 11:53 am }: RT @kiwanja: Thirteen lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #innovation
32 Klaas van Boeckel { 12.01.10 at 12:09 pm }: RT @kiwanja 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #thisiswhattwitterisfor
33 HeroRATs { 12.01.10 at 12:53 pm }: RT @kiwanja: Thirteen lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 #socent #innovation
34 Jason Haber { 12.01.10 at 1:28 pm }: RT @WeAreThink: RT @kiwanja: Thirteen lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emerge10 # …
35 Richard Shaffer { 12.01.10 at 2:00 pm }: READ THIS RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. Tim Smit in tweets. http://is.gd/i0cys
36 Geri Stengel { 12.01.10 at 2:15 pm }: Interesting, creative storytelling for “no ordinary #entrepreneur”~ http://bit.ly/fLigfE
37 Lingani Tshuma { 12.01.10 at 3:25 pm }: RT @TopsyRT: Tim Smit. In tweets. http://bit.ly/eMePvI
38 DomPotter { 12.01.10 at 4:09 pm }: RT @SkollCentre: Love this. RT @kiwanja: 13 lessons from an unconventional entrepreneur. "Tim Smit. In tweets". http://is.gd/i0cys #emer …
39 socialedge { 12.01.10 at 8:46 pm }: Great for #socent: 13 lessons from unconventional entrepreneur "Tim Smit. In tweets" http://is.gd/i0cys via @kiwanja #emerge10 #innovation
40 Jimmy Stice { 12.01.10 at 8:48 pm }: RT @socialedge: Great for #socent: 13 lessons from unconventional entrepreneur "Tim Smit. In tweets" http://is.gd/i0cys via @kiwanja #em …
41 YSEC { 12.01.10 at 8:59 pm }: RT @socialedge: Great for #socent: 13 lessons from unconventional entrepreneur "Tim Smit. In tweets" http://is.gd/i0cys via @kiwanja #em …
42 Hugh Davidson { 12.01.10 at 9:21 pm }: RT @socialedge: Great for #socent: 13 lessons from unconventional entrepreneur "Tim Smit. In tweets" http://is.gd/i0cys via @kiwanja #em …
43 Thankyou Payroll { 12.01.10 at 9:21 pm }: RT @socialedge: Great for #socent: 13 lessons from unconventional entrepreneur "Tim Smit. In tweets" http://is.gd/i0cys via @kiwanja #em …
44 Houeida Anouar { 12.02.10 at 11:04 am }: Tim Smit. In tweets. http://bit.ly/f4bZob #timsmit
45 Geoff Bannister { 12.02.10 at 12:59 pm }: Tim Smit: great ideas come out of garden sheds, not "centres of learning": http://is.gd/i0cys
46 Green Frontier { 12.04.10 at 4:12 pm }: RT @socialedge: Great for #socent: 13 lessons from unconventional entrepreneur "Tim Smit. In tweets" http://is.gd/i0cys via @kiwanja #em …
47 Emerging ideas… « This is Pasha { 12.06.10 at 12:50 am }: [...] out part two here, and also a great post by Ken Banks (who also spoke at the conference on the power of technology) summarising some of Tim’s [...]
48 Ilse Treurnicht { 12.06.10 at 3:06 am }: Reminder of amazing dinner with UK's Eden Project founder Tim Smit in Oxford – http://www.kiwanja.net/blog/2010/11/tim-smit-in-tweets/
49 Beyond mobile community | Build it Kenny, and they will come... { 01.17.11 at 11:11 am }: [...] gave an inspiring talk at the Emerge Conference in Oxford (which I blogged about, in Tweets, here). One of the many takeaways from his talk was [...]
50 From Jersey to Riyadh: A tribute to a friend | Build it Kenny, and they will come... { 01.23.11 at 4:15 pm }: [...] My career has been blessed by meeting wonderful people who’ve given me opportunities I could never have dreamed of. Freddie Cooper set the ball rolling – and set the tone – over thirty years ago. And it’s because of this that I believe so strongly that we need to help everyone along on their own journey whenever and wherever we can. As Tim Smit reminded me recently: [...]
51 The Aspen Environment Forum. In tweets. | Build it Kenny, and they will come... { 06.06.11 at 9:59 am }: [...] in the spirit of my “Tim Smit. In tweets” post last year, here’s a few highlights of the Forum in 140 character [...]
52 Mobile Convention Amsterdam. In tweets. | Build it Kenny, and they will come... { 05.22.12 at 10:49 am }: [...] Previous “In tweets” posts include: The Networked Society Forum. In tweets. The Aspen Environment Forum. In tweets. Tim Smit. In tweets. [...]