Accountants and Other Daredevils

Unlocking Your Inner Superhero? What It Takes Ever wondered what goes through a superhero’s mind when she makes that first leap off a tall building? “Whoa! That’s a long way down!” “Hope those flying lessons pay off!” “Why did I ever start this?” “No going back now!” “Do these tights make my butt look big?” I know because I took that leap. I walked away from a successful career as an accounting executive in the oil and gas industry to follow my dreams. I wanted a way to combine my love of animals and adventure travel with a lifestyle that didn’t include recycling bottles to pay the rent. So I considered my options and my dreams, ignored the doubts of others and I leaped off the building. And survived. Survived? No, I thrived. Plus I’ve seen others do it. Some on their own and some because their friends and family encouraged them. Because I made that leap and I’ve seen and helped others do it, I know you can as well. I want to tell you how I did it and how others have successfully planned and executed their leaps. Perhaps you can find some inspiration in the stories to help you start preparing for your own leap. Luckily for me, when I made my leap I landed on a plane. I had been volunteering at the Calgary Zoo as a docent, so I leveraged that into what I called the Flying Zoo program. I took whatever animals would fit into a Cessna 172 to visit children in rural communities. Sort of an exotic petting zoo that comes to your town. The lessons I learned as the Zoo’s first pilot eventually led to my role as Chairman of the Zoo’s Board of Directors and, from there, a new career as an ecotourism consultant, author, teacher and public speaker. Today, I am still flying. Now you’ll find me flying economy class to emerging tourism destinations. As president of Kalahari Management Inc., a strategic planning firm, I help people identify what they can offer tourists and the steps needed before welcoming the world. I have been chased by elephants, waded ankle deep in cockroaches in Borneo, hobbled across Bhutan on a broken ankle, and nearly froze to death on a llama safari; but I have found a way to do what I really want to do in life. The lessons didn’t stop with the Flying Zoo program. In my adventures, I have met many other people, daredevils if you will, who have overcome tremendous obstacles to live the kind of lives that have people saying, “I wish I could do that!” I have noticed some things that these emerging superheroes have in common. In general, these daredevils are connected to their community, embracing change in their businesses, and inspiring their children. If they are business people, they are not just balancing debits and credits; they are enhancing the social fabric where they live. They are treading lightly on the planet. They are the superheroes balancing a triple bottom line, even with a run in their tights or a cape that doesn't quite fit. And the best news? You can be a daredevil too! Learn how to combine your professional training or experience with your special interests to live your best life. You don’t need to quit your job or move to Mongolia. You can break from the crowd and create unique opportunities for yourself and others while living your everyday life. Things may look the same on the outside but you will feel different inside. In this book I want to share the humorous and inspiring stories of people who are making tracks and making a difference. The lessons they share will awaken the daredevil in each of us. Can I Carry Your Luggage? “Can I carry your luggage?” How I love to hear that question. My suitcase is usually heavy and full of books and cameras; it would be great to have my own Sherpa lugging my bags. My reality is that the budget barely covers the essentials like food and shelter; there is nothing in it for servants or travel companions. But if I had a dime for every time someone has offered to come along on one of my trips or told me they want to do what I do, I could retire from consulting! “You have it made in the shade,” one of my clients tells me. “Yes, I'm very fortunate,” I agree, “but anyone can have a life like mine.” I wasn't born to great wealth and I didn't marry into money, so my unconventional life style was crafted by balancing my need to eat and my need to create and explore. If I can lead a fuller life, you can too! I have learned much from leaping into the unknown and becoming a daredevil. Watching other trailblazers and the people setting the bar in complex organizations has taught me a lot about superheroes. They aren’t just in comic books; they are as likely to be a mother of three as a young buff guy in spandex tights. Times of crisis often bring out the unexpected heroes. Just read the newspaper after a natural disaster and you’ll learn of ordinary people doing extraordinary things because they needed to be done. We don’t have to wait for times of crisis to find superheroes and daredevils. Opportunities are all around us if you look. There is one inside of you. You just need some help in finding a phone booth (tough in this age of cell phones), sizing your costume, and discovering a reason to leap tall buildings. I’m going to share the lessons I’ve learned from the daredevils I’ve met, and I bet you’ll see yourself in one of them. You don’t need to run away from home to be a superhero or keep a batmobile in the basement. You can start by looking up at what is possible, not down at the things holding you earthbound. You can move beyond feeling “is this all there is?” to “what a wonderful life!” You will know that your efforts matter, that your children admire you, and that you have made a difference. Time for our first leap!