Tom Scott x The Nantucket Project
“The premium on smart is overrated… The premium on passion… that’s where the miracles happen”
For Tom Scott, CEO of the Nantucket Project, the power of storytelling and embracing a spirit of learning lies at the heart of what he does. Built out of his frustration with modern media, Scott has sought to create anti-platitude platforms of connectivity and meaning for people across the country.
The Nantucket Project
The original Nantucket Project gathering (tnp10) is a four-day annual event in the fall where major topics and compelling stories are shared through live conversations and original films involving visionaries, change-makers, artists, and more. Rather than presenting a live version of the recurring topics discussed by modern media platforms, the Nantucket Project seeks to foster a spirit of learning and truth-seeking. Themes focus on topics of humanity including forgiveness, relationships, acceptance, family-life, spirituality, etc… As Scott put it himself, “Our job is pursuing those places of meaning and sharing such that people can interact and flourish together. I’m far less interested in the things and topics that divide us than the things that we share in common… In person, common ground is established all the time. On twitter, common ground is sprinted away from...” While this cannot be scientifically proven, it is observed in high volume. Alongside the original Nantucket Project Gathering, the “neighborhood project” also includes the tnp academy, tnp ideafilms, and both live and virtual events held throughout the country.
“There is this impression of expertise, and I think that it is a fallacy….We are all in a constant state of learning. It’s available to all of us and you can explore it and discover it at any given time”
Scott highlights the importance of truth-seeking, dreaming big, and remaining passionate and open to change. The world is constantly evolving. Entrepreneurs must be willing to embrace this pace of change, and operate in the now. It is essential to approach every opportunity with the belief that you are capable of having impact and achieving your goals. In discussing his experience at Brown University as an undergrad, Scott highlights, “There is an entrepreneurial spirit of thinking… of filmmaking, of acting, of painting, of business, of everything… I remember in... in the 1990’s and early 2000’s there were a lot of articles about Brown as this entrepreneurship factory and really I just think it was a spirit factory and that ultimately is what sits at the heart of entrepreneurship.”
“Entrepreneurship is all about enthusiasm. You just have to do what you love. It’s just that simple. Often people focus on ways to get rich or sectors that are hot. I would suggest focusing on things you love. There is a better way of doing just about everything and if you are focused on areas that you truly love you will know instinctively what those things are and you would fight harder for those things… So I would just hope that when people are building these business plans that they tap into themselves and display themselves… show yourself in those presentations. Because for me that’s where I always make every bet”