Open Minds, a two-day seminar dedicated to celebrating unique achievements, began informally on Tuesday in the Omani capital with two of the 10 celebrity speakers holding a press conference and sharing their experiences.

More than 700 guests are expected at the formal opening on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media, mountaineer Tom Whittaker, who shocked the world when, as an amputee, he became the first disabled person to climb Mount Everest, made light of the courage and fortitude it takes to do what people say cannot be done. Having failed twice, he recalled with raw emotion the day he backed off the final assault because he knew he was slowing the team down.

“It was a hard decision. You can’t make light of it,” he said. However, Whittaker’s teammate, who made the ascent, brought a stone from the summit and handed it to Tom. “I got this from the peak, mate,” said his Australian colleague. “And what I want you to do is put it back for me.”

On the third try, the man without a foot got there and put the stone back on the summit. “You have to want to do something so much that you keep trying until you do it,” he said.

Also at the forum is Tony Wheeler, the man behind the incredible success of “The Lonely Planet” series with more than 500 million copies sold.

“You need the passion and the skill and the will and you do what someone hasn’t done before.” That is Wheeler’s mantra, and he adds a little spice to it by saying, “Don’t let anyone stop you; don’t worry about the money because the money will come so long as you hang in there and work at the idea.”

The two-day forum is aimed at inspiring young Omanis. It has been conceptualized in line with Oman’s priorities of knowledge transfer and entrepreneur motivation.

Mohamed Issa Al-Zadjali, chairman, Black & White magazine, said: “The objective of Open Minds is to synergize, motivate and educate young Omani entrepreneurs and the corporate sector.”

Black & White magazine is organizing the forum.

Among the other speakers at the forum are entrepreneur Richard Branson, award-winning author Jeffrey Archer, entrepreneurs Princess Basmah bint Saud Al-Saud and Sahar Hashemi, speed painter Brad Blaze and scholar and success coach Sheikh Khalfan Al-Esry. All of them will share their success stories with the delegates.

According to Mohammed Mubarak Al-Shikely of Oman Air, the involvement of 10 icons from the world of business, sports and literature, along with the arts and academia has given the event a global profile. “This will raise awareness of Oman not just as an outstanding holiday destination, but also as a center of excellence and innovation,” he said.

The format of Open Minds takes its inspiration from the traditional Majlis, one of the cornerstones of Arab civilization, which provides a place for social gathering and knowledge transfer.