E96: Interview with Elliot Connor, Founder and CEO of Human Nature Projects

Age is really just a number! Our guest today is a 17-year-old Changemaker and Conservationist, Elliot Connor. Elliot is also the founder of an international environmental NGO called Human Nature Projects.

In this episode of the Fire In The Belly Podcast, he shares his visions, his journey as a young leader, some of his obscure animal encounters, and how he balances his school, his advocacies, and some leisurely time.

One of Elliot’s life goals is to bring awareness to how nature should be treated fairly by humans. We act like everything around us exists to be expended and nothing more. Humans aren’t superior creatures. There aren’t any superior creatures.

Let’s listen to know more about this now!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Are humans opportunists? Are we like rats that exploit what other living creatures have and produce?

Nature can only be preserved if humans know how to coexist with other living things. Every action we make matter, so let’s aim to generate positive ripple effects. We must live purposefully and do our job to ensure mutual give and take.

Develop an unshakeable self-belief. Self-belief can be boosted when you look deep internally and find out what you’re truly fighting for. We can never move forward when we doubt ourselves and be fearful of others' opinions. Let your body move according to how your heart thumps. So, what is your life’s purpose?

No one would ever think a 16-year-old would start a global environmental NGO (non-government organization). The society wasn’t ready for a teen to bring environmental issues to the forefront. But look at where he and his organisation are right now. They’ve done massive influence and are now operating in 104 countries.
Among other speaking engagements that Elliot has hosted, his TEDx Talk on ‘Evolution and how to save the world’ is probably the most iconic one. He confidently discussed developing a sustainable society, a human’s role in the environment, and Darwin’s 5 Theories of Evolution in front of hundreds of people.

Preventive and reactive environmental practices. As much as possible, we want to eliminate, not just reduce harm to our environment and the living creatures. For companies, organisations, and even as individuals, we must assess how much we contribute to the degradation of our environment. Assess, strategize, and implement. We must think long-term and consider preventive approaches more.
Unleash the power of storytelling. This is the most powerful tool to utilise when you want to effectively make a change. People lend their ears to your advocacy campaigns when they see that there’s an interesting narrative to follow. Make your stories compelling, so you can attract more donors and more environmental warriors.

BEST MOMENTS

“The system’s not set up for a minor to start an international environmental NGO.”
“The idea is if we can all have that connection to nature... I’d be incredibly lucky of my few works in the space.”
“All you can do is try. And that’s what I’m doing.”
“We have to learn from other creatures how to embrace our instinctive habitual characteristics.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Know more about Human Nature Projects. Visit their official website now: https://humannatureprojects.org/
Watch Elliot Connor’s TED Talk ‘Evolution and how to save the world’ on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDf4_jxC-oM
Subscribe to Fire In The Belly Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fire-in-the-belly/id1499375061)!

ABOUT THE GUEST

Elliot is the founder and CEO of Human Nature Projects, an international environmental charity supporting volunteers across 105 countries. He is also a TEDx speaker, author, podcast host and filmmaker with the goal of reframing our human relationship with nature.

Elliot is the RHS Young Photographer of the Year 2020 and has been awarded Samsung’s 2020 Eco-Hero Award, Young Citizen of the Year and Young Landcare Leader accolades.

His mission is to develop a model for mass individualism: empowering future leaders to find their potential, connecting the connectors and generating grassroots impact globally. From Quito, Ecuador to Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa to quiet Sydney suburbs he applies his leadership acumen and systems thinking to solve the most pressing issues of our 21st century.

Source: Elliot Connor’s LinkedIn

Follow Elliot Connor – EcoLife on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecolife.evolving/
Connect with Elliot Connor on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/elliot-connor
Follow Elliot on Twitter: https://twitter.com/eco_elliot

ABOUT THE HOST

The ‘Mighty Pete Lonton’ from the ‘Mighty 247’ company is your main host of ‘Fire In The Belly’. 

Pete is an Entrepreneur, Mentor, Coach, Property Investor, and father of 3 beautiful girls. Pete’s background is in Project Management and Property, but his true passion is the ‘Fire in The Belly’ project itself. His mission is to help others find their potential and become the mightiest version of themselves. Pete openly talks about losing both of his parents, suffering periods of depression, business downturn and burn-out, and ultimately his years spent not stoking ‘Fire In the Belly’. In 2017, at 37 years of age that changed, and he is now on a journey of learning, growing, accepting, and inspiring others.

Pete can connect with people and intuitively asks questions to reveal a person’s passion and discover how to live their mightiest life. The true power of ‘Fire In The Belly’ is the Q&A’s - Questions and Actions!

The ‘Fire In The Belly’ brand and the programme is rapidly expanding into podcasts, seminars, talks, business workshops, development course, and rapid results mentoring.

CONTACT METHOD

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