Interview with Oscar Kneppers (Serial entrepreneur with great experience in publishing and new technology. Founder of magazines and websites such as Bright and Emerce). Taken from the book “Breakthrough”, special edition for TEDxAmsterdam 2009.
TED is a circle of inspiration and genuine energy for me. It is a micro-bomb of energy and inspiration, a place where you can learn a lot in a short amount of time and that you can endlessly relish. The subtitle ‘Ideas worth spreading’ is most appealing to me, it is all about the ideas. We live in an era, where ideas can thrive. And that is great, because ideas only have value if they are shared. I’m inspired by the way TEDxAmsterdam shares intellectual capital. That is the reason I happily joined the advisory board of TEDxAmsterdam. I entered a circle that has always fascinated me and it is an ideal platform to get in touch with people who find inspiration through sharing.
Another source of inspiration for me, is waking up early. It reminds me of puberty, when I had a newspaper route. Starting the day by getting up early and not getting caught up by the day, gives me a sense of much strength, Focus and perseverance. I get up at six am, do my yoga, sometimes take a run and then I am ready for the rest of the day. Getting up early is a universal activity, it can be done everywhere. In the city, in the country, alone or with many, it is an autonomous act. It is a moment for myself, I am in my own world. I do not set my alarm anymore, I seize the day. These are the optimal circumstances for inspiration.
Tip: Let’s try it, do not be afraid to make mistakes
This “TED box” offers an outlook on a new paradigm, TED people do not have the desire to score at all costs. TED-people want to tell a great story and they want their story to touch others, make them think and make them act. This gives me a good feeling, because these are people who are made up from a completely different mold.
