E12 Tom Cornish

I interviewed Tom because it was immediately clear that he was a brother in arms when it came to travel styles and desires. Tom is a big Aussie who is actually now my boss and colleague on various tuktuk and travel related ventures. Tom was one of the cofounders of tuktukrental.com and spent a lot of time working for a social venture in the slums of India. He has a fascinating perspective on life and travel and I was excited to pick his brain on these topics and learn about his experience starting a business in Sri Lanka. 

Notes:

Why are you in Sri Lanka?

Creating documentary in India about traveling environmentally responsibly, riding bikes and had an accident that caused injury to film-making partner, rented 16-year-old Tuk Tuk, and fell in love with Tuk Tuks. Visited Sri Lanka after India and thought it was a better place to start a business.

Importance of social business

Tuk Tuk mafia

Struggles setting up a foreign business in Sri Lanka

Language barrier (biggest barrier), understanding the system, getting the right information

Perception around Tuk Tuks being a vehicle for the lower class

52:45 Tom’s experience in the slums of India

1:07 India has magic

1:11 Eco-friendly traveling

Using reusable water bottles, changing culture - plastic, eating meat

1:17 Specific goal in India

Zero carbon, sustainable tourist, opportunities to make change

1:19 Eco-friendly traveling tips

Don’t go to the big hotel chains, large restaurant chains; transport: bus, train, boat instead of planes; support locals; consider your impact on local economy: drugs, alcohol

1:23 Vegetarianism

Eats on basis of carbon emissions, not wasting food

Mentioned

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey

Pollinate Energy - social business Tom worked for in India

TED Talk - The Way We Think About Charity is Dead Wrong specific to nonprofit sector, overhead ratio

Vipassana Meditation

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