Building a New Eden - Audacity at Work

Abstract

In March 2001, the world’s largest conservatories opened; The Eden Project was the culmination of an audacious vision that Tim Smit and his team refused to let die. It is a story of the effort and determination required to turn dreams into reality. But, more than that, it is about having the courage and vision to formulate a dream - to be audacious - in the first place. In the case of The Eden Project, this required life-changing decisions, an ability to see beyond the horizon and an unfailing belief in oneself. As Tim Smit himself says:

No one has a monopoly on dreams, but only a rare few discover the alchemist’s art of making them real. Making things real demands… a single-mindedness and determination to succeed that persuades others as much by the force of your conviction as by the idea itself.¹

Work like you don’t need the money

Love like you’ve never been hurt

Dance like nobody’s watching

Sing like nobody’s listening

Live like it’s heaven on earth.

A verse at the entrance to The Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, highlighting the nature of freedom and the essence of audacity