Two Friends Who Had Never Met

Somewhere on opposite ends of Mongolia, two people were watching the same TED talks and thinking the same thought: we should do this here.

They found each other through the TED.com community — a Mongolian entrepreneur and an American Peace Corps volunteer. They had never spoken, never met, but they already trusted each other the way you trust someone who loves the same things you love.

That collaboration became TEDxUlaanbaatar — the first TEDx event in Mongolian history. It was held in 2011, in the capital city, featuring speakers from all walks of life bringing together ancient Mongolian wisdom and modern ideas on the same stage.

Mend-Orshikh Amartaivan went on to build The New Media Group, the first Certified B Corporation in Asia. Travis went on to write books and start the Optimist Center.

They both just kept going — which is what people do when they're actually building something they believe in.

The lesson isn't about Mongolia or TED talks. It's that proximity isn't required for partnership. Shared vision is.