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Ben Keene
Ben Keene
United Kingdom
3 SUPPORTING
11 SUPPORTERS
0 ASPIRATIONS
Escape Profile
Escape Profile

Creating a sustainable community in Fiji

Ben is the co-founder of http://www.tribewanted.com/" rel="nofollow">TribeWanted, an exciting sustainable community on a Fijian island. The project harnesses the power of the internet to create a local 'global' community. Check it out!

ESCAPED FROM

  • N/A

ESCAPED TO

  • N/A

ESCAPE ROUTE

  • Start a business

Currently...

Running a Fijian island sustainable http://www.tribewanted.com/" rel="nofollow">tribe from kitchen tables and coffee shops in East London. And planning my next ventures!

Before I escaped...

Worked for travel start-up http://www.madventurer.com/" rel="nofollow">Madventurer. I also studied politics at university. 

My moment of truth...

I was debating whether to book a flight to Fiji to try and negotiate a lease on an island on my almost full credit card, and I realised my Young Persons Railcard was about to expire. So I got on the plane.

Planning for it...

I didn't do much practical planning, I just had to get the mindset right: "I’m going to chase this dream. It’s going to be bloody hard and will require lots of compromises, but I am up for it. Let’s go."

Island time / online membership (planned) + media sales (uplanned). Future funding to come from a more innovative online crowd funding model and partnerships.

The worst and best bits...

Worst thing: It changes. But over the last four years the hardest thing has been the funding. The lack of sustainable cash flow is a constant headache.

Best things: But the impact we make and the people I meet make this headache worthwhile. I’m confident it won’t last forever. Oh yeah, the military coup in Fiji was a bit of a nightmare as well.

Another amazing part is freeeeeeeeeeeeedom! And giving. Giving people new opportunities, experiences, perspectives - I know it's clichéd, but it's completely rewarding.

Best advice...

The future of business is social. The more talented and well-educated people that get into social enterprise, the better for all.

Get ahead of the curve today, and don’t think too much about the eventual destination.

Enjoy the ride and do the right things along the way and it will come back to you and more.

Useful resources and information...

This year I’ve found Twitter used in the right way is the fastest and most relevant source of everything I want to know. Amazing.

Outside of social media I stay connected by making sure I go to talks as often as possible.  

In London:

Projects I follow:

Recent books: