Travelling against the prevailing winds and currents, far away from CES, Macworld, Technorati, business and traffic jam... birds eye view on the ocean... and one human being.
(the sign says : “I’m fine, Mom!”)
I have always been fascinated by people (men and women) challenging nature and themselves at the same time. They boldly go where no man or woman has gone before, delivering a message of hope and courage to the eyes of millions. They make us rediscover our planet under an extraordinary "human light".
I just wanted to attract your attention to someone who is doing it right now. Maud Fontenoy, 27 years old french woman, is sailing her passion to the extreme and making one of her dreams come true. Here is an extract of the press release and a (must see) link to her site covering the event.
“After rowing across the North Atlantic in 2003 and the Pacific in 2005, Maud Fontenoy set off from Reunion Island on 15th October 2006. She will sail single-handed around the world, against the winds and the current, via the three capes.
Five months alone, on a course that many have called “Everest via the North face”; around Cape Hope, Cape Horn, the Southern ocean, the Roaring Forties, the howling Fifties…”
Now, if you'd like to follow Maud's adventure, check the videos on her site and the hourly updated map on this link (the little red pointer is her boat). If you have Google Earth, you can also download a KMZ file with her current position and path around the globe. Breathe deep, close your eyes and just... imagine.
“Make your life a dream
and make the dream reality”
- Antoine de St Exupery.
We need adverturers on this planet. They keep us looking forward and energize us with their escapades. Curses to anyone who discards them as freaks of nature (which they may be).
Posted by: Lewis Green | January 16, 2007 at 05:36 PM
Lewis, I agree with you they inspire us and energize us at the same time. Above all, it's all about "looking forward" and... being "HUMAN".
Posted by: mindblob | January 16, 2007 at 06:04 PM
Oh, I love stories like this where man/woman goes face to face with nature. I have recently been hooked on this show (perhaps it was shown outside the States) called "Everest: Beyond the Limit". (You probably guessed--it's about climbing Mt. Everest :-).) Even though I'm too much of a wimp to ever put myself in an extreme situation like that or like the one Maud is putting herself in, it's inspiring to see others who are brave enough. It reminds all of us that we're capable of much more than we think.
Posted by: Sharon Sarmiento | January 17, 2007 at 02:24 AM
Professor Mike Useem at Wharton takes his MBS students to Mt. Everest and Antarctica for expeditions that are journeys inside as much or more than outside. And I think this is also part of your commentary...
Useem aims at imparting living teachings on leadership decisions under duress. Last year at the Wharton Leadership Forum, which has resilience as the tagline, we met David Breashears.
Breashears is a world-class filmmaker, adventurer, and mountaineer who shared his first-person account of the making of the IMAX film Everest, the most highly acclaimed large-format film of all times. David's account included the 1996 Mount Everest tragedy where some of his friends lost their lives.
Resilience, said David, is about resolve and humility at the same time. Having a good plan makes you nimble, it provides the opportunity to test 'what if' scenarios and time to think and provide input. The trust and respect built with your team comes into play when the leader has to make highly nuanced decisions and people need to put the team’s interest before their individual ones.
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | January 17, 2007 at 05:20 PM
Hello Valeria and welcome to mindblob.
Very interesting and constructive comment. Yes, I was considering the "inside journey" as well. My post is focusing on individuals challenging themselves into unknown territories (and "territories" is also pointing our own limits as human beings). Your input over leadership decisions under duress adds a lot to this post. Discovering our own limits as individuals is important in order to be able to take any kind of leadership. Resilience is indeed the golden shadow of leaders. Even if it is invisible to the eyes of the team it helps build trust and respect needed for the leader... to lead.
Posted by: mindblob | January 18, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Her sign is so touching.
I love the Exupery quote. I read Dr. Seuss's "Oh the places you'll go to my children last night" and it meant so much to me.
Posted by: Maryam in Marrakech | February 09, 2007 at 07:13 PM