If you want to learn from adventurers first you've got to go find them and the Royal Geographical Society London is a good place to start. That's where I met 2010 Robin Hanbury-Tenison who was signing copies of his book The Great Explorers. A fascinating read which shares how explorers, such as Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, David Livingstone and Fridtjof Nansen
are inquisitive and want to explore the limits of the worlds known to them and beyond. Through their courageous adventures we can see what drives them into unknown and unforgiving lands, facing almost unimaginable challenges and risking death.
One of the great explorers of our time, Sir Ranulph Fiennes wrote this email of support and encouragement to Ed Stafford, the English explorer whilst Ed was on his mission to become the first man to walk the entire length of the Amazon.
Dear Ed,
Congratulations on your progress to date.
I think things will get increasingly difficult for you. Over forty years I must have been involved with over thirty big journeys, at least half of which have failed. It is always a matter for the traveler to decide in his/her own head when to turn back and when to continue.
Sometimes to continue is plain daft and irresponsible, at other times there is a chance that pushing on over a particular obstacle or series of obstacles may make things look a whole lot better in which case it's well worth fighting off the 'weak thoughts' which occur when morale is down. Only you can be your own final arbiter.
Whatever you may decide over the weeks/months ahead, know that you have already done fantastically well and we at the Transglobe Expedition Trust are proud of you.
Very best wishes,
Ran
The desire, drive, and determination to explore is the same for entrepreneurs, as are the challenges. Failure, risk taking, decision making, intuition, and experiencing lows and highs are the very elements of entrepreneurship; correlating with findings of contemporary research on Business Mavericks. Sir Ranulph identifies:
Ed Stafford chronicles his day to day journey. The excitement of the initial idea, the extreme challenges in gaining funding, disbanded partnerships, finding the right person to go on the journey with him. And then the actual task of putting one foot in front of the other, even when soaked through tired and hungry, not knowing if you have it in you to complete the challenge you perhaps in a moment of madness have decided to take on. Is Ed not describing the entrepreneur's journey? Are these connects incidental? One would think not:
If the spirit of business adventure is dulled,
this country will cease to hold the foremost position in the world. Andrew Mellon
Hardly surprising then that Bill Gates' favourite business book is Business Adventures, sharing the drama and adventures of Wall Street and that Sir Richard Branson has just launched a mission to uncover how America's brightest business leaders make their business adventure one that makes a difference to people's lives.
It was over. Nine million odd steps; over 200,000 mosquito and ant bites each; over 8,000 kilometres walked over 860 days, 733 if them with Cho, about 600 wasp stings; a dozen scorpion stings; 10 HD video cameras; 6 pairs of walking boots; 3 GPSs and One Guinness World Record. My chest swelled with pride and satisfaction. It was a day I will never forget for the rest of my life. No one would ever take that away from us. Ed Stafford, Walking the Amazon 860 Days. One step at a time.
Entrepreneurs are the curious ones who explore the limits and innovate their industries and beyond. They too are the brave ones who follow their own definition of life and business who believe that:
[Business] Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all. Helen Keller
So let's make it epic!!!