July 5, 1998.
"Write check for $11,500, meet with newspaper editor to discuss column, return phone call to Forbes Magazine in London, meet with professional photographer to shoot transparency of lithograph…" Sound glamorous?
These were things do be done on my work list last week, along with the demands on my vessel. They sound great, and by themselves, they are. But it has been hard work. Trying to juggle a full-time sailing career, run a company and impact the lives of youth are my daily challenges, leaving little energy left at the end of the 16-hour day. We sail three times a week right now, taking this week a newspaper editor sailing, along with a potential sponsor and joined by a representative of Passport International. While out, we wave at the local boats in a race in the harbor, getting not one wave returned. Sad!
In a normal business, one has a tangible product or service to sell, and a market that has a need. In our business, I am the product and the service I offer is my ability to generate exposure. My sponsors are not backing me because I am a nice guy doing something for our community. Prudential Insurance, Phillips Industrial Services, SC Ports, Passport International and News Printing Company are investing in my ability to generate the exposure they need to keep selling their products and services. I am a vehicle, a part of their marketing plan.
The visibility that we are offering our sponsors cannot be easily measured just in column inches and media impressions. My job is more involved. Keep the web hits up, send out 945 faxes and 1540 e-mails weekly to our loyal followers, mail out 450 newsletters bi-monthly, address between 500,000 to 800,000 people a year at keynote presentations, promotions in stores, attend functions…
Sometimes Gwen and I would love to just send everybody away and not answer his or her dumb questions. But this is a part of our job, with a smile. We dreamt of sailing the world, something any one can dream of doing. We act on our dreams with huge sacrifices.
If you want something in life badly, just do it. You will leave your comfort zone in you leap of faith. Be prepared to make sacrifices, and expect scary days. There will be the glamorous appearances, and it involves ten times more hard, grunt work. Eventually comes success. Words cannot do justice to the feelings of accomplishment. I know. I have sailed the oceans and helped others…my dreams!
