Facing challenges head-on

If you love challenging yourself, try sailing – or even more extreme – try owning a boat. Boat owning is probably the fastest route to abject poverty that I can think of, which is why it’s often described as standing on a quayside throwing £50 notes into the sea. While the sailing can be of itself extremely taxing, owning a boat can raise the anxiety stakes to an almost intolerable level, because there is always something that needs fixing on a boat, even a brand new one. And it could be something important – like your engine.

Generally speaking, if you want to be the best you can possibly be and shine your light far and wide, sometimes you have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to reach your goal, and never give up. This, of course, assumes that your goal is absolutely in line with your true path in life, or at least one of your true paths if you have more than one, and that you want the achievement with a burning passion. Moreover, you have to maintain your absolute belief that you will get the outcome you want, and sometimes that’s easier said than done!

As a life coach I like to try to walk the walk as well as talk the talk, so I’m sharing my recent experiences here as an example of finding ways to achieve what many people find impossible. In the words of the notorious Henry Ford, “whether you believe you can or whether you believe you can’t, you’re right.”

During the Covid-19 period I was unable to visit my boat for almost three years because I keep her in France, and we were not allowed to travel. But a boat needs regular maintenance and I have paid dearly for my enforced neglect. In fact, getting her back up to a proper standard of seaworthiness has been one of the biggest challenges of my life, financially, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually.

So, what is the upshot of all this and has it all been worth it?

Well, I don’t mean to sound big headed, but these are the facts: The first thing is that my belief in my ability to achieve really difficult results has grown immensely and that has given me a kind if inner serenity and confidence to feel that I am justified in believing in myself wholeheartedly. Of course, like everyone I have moments of self-doubt, but I never give up unless it’s to try a different tactic or strategy because the old one clearly wasn’t working.

Secondly, my trust in my boat to look after me in the Atlantic Ocean, indeed in the Bay of Biscay, is growing by the day. It’s a relationship that needs nurturing. Now I have a great boat, and that’s what I always wanted above almost all else, and I’m so glad I believed in her potential.

Thirdly, after a lot of backbreaking hard work by me and my wife, as well as a great team of engineers, electronics specialists, marine plumbers, sailmakers and the like, I am now enjoying some wonderful sailing.

Fourth, after a lifetime of non-believing, I now realise I’m quite good at money management. Or rather, how to make my limited financial resources stretch further like elastic, for cashflow has been one of my biggest problems.

Whatever your passion, instead of just a wishin’, don’t be afraid to pick up the gauntlet and face your challenges head on. You’ll be so glad you did.