You may be a leader in one environment, but when the environment is different, it’s important to respect the authority you are under. I learnt this lesson first hand on my fishing adventure. Understanding that I was a factory hand and not a facilitator (my normal role) was a great lesson for me…

“People follow leaders not bosses.” It’s not always the person appointed that we follow. It’s the person who demonstrates leadership from within the team. It’s the leader who thanks their staff, who acknowledges their crew, who speaks to the team from a position of respect, not of authority…

I was ten days into the 34-day commercial fishing trip and, if I’m honest, I was feeling rather sorry for myself. I felt like I was staring down a long dark tunnel and I couldn’t see the end in sight. I knew I was facing a choice. I decided to take my mind off myself and make it about encouraging others…

There were unwritten cultural norms on board the vessel where crew would size up the ‘newbies’ and see if they would last or would they break on their first trip. This wasn’t a negative aspect it was more about sizing up the new recruits to see if they would become part of the team for more than just one trip. I suspect there were a few conversations about the newbies as the rest of the crew observed how we were coping in our new work environment…

One week in to the fishing trip and four weeks to go. There was a moment of feeling like was I going to make it? Who did I think I was that I thought I could do this? I remember a seasoned fisher telling me “You’re too soft to go fishing!” This just spurred me on…

Living outside our comfort zone is not easy. It’s tough, challenging, and might make you uneasy, but is so necessary for growth! If we stay in our comfort zone we get a little complacent and can become bored and restless too…

When you swap your normal environment for an unfamiliar one, all the markers of your normal boundaries drop away and you have to start again at the bottom of the rung. From Gold status on our national carrier to no status as the newbie on board the ship. Not only was my status radar under attack so was my normal certainty and autonomy measures as well!

There’s a gap between Decision and Action. Between deciding and actually taking action the time gap can cause you to delay or change your mind entirely. You can start to doubt yourself and question why you made the decision in the first place…

During New Zealand's lockdown I made a decision that led me to the Southern Ocean for 34 days. A client was short staffed for their deepwater fleet so I made a gut decision to join the crew. My normal client delivery was on hold for at least 2 months, so my options were to be at home with my lovely wife and three teenage daughters or to go on an adventure. What would you have done?