Getting Ready for the Next Set of Adventures!

As the new year begins, I find myself gearing up for an exciting journey – a sailing expedition with Clipper Ventures. The challenge is real, as are the doubts: Can I really do this?
 
Training and Preparation
 
In 2025, I will be sailing from the south of England to compete with a diverse team of experienced and non-experienced sailors, aiming to reach Uruguay. Four one-week training sessions between May 2024 and September 2025 will help prepare me for this epic adventure. Learn more about Clipper Ventures:  https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com 
https://youtu.be/9SaXgyn1aDQ?list=TLGGgg2AH8Hjj4ExMTEyMjAyMw
 
To ensure my readiness, I’m learning everything I can before my first training, including reading the book Victoire en solitaire, Eric Tabarly’s account of his triumphant solo crossing of the Atlantic in 1964. On the physical front, I’m researching swims I can do while I’m in France this year, such as:

•  Monte Christo swim of 2.5 miles near Marseille https://www.defimonte-cristo.com/e
• Anglet swim of 3.7 miles https://www.a-events-paysbasque.com/swim4kanglet in southwest France 
• Brissago swim of 2.5 miles between Italy and Switzerland https://www.ascona-locarno.com/en/events/details/Lake-crossing-Dirinella-Brissago/44178

Regular training sessions four times a week at Anette K., my new favorite pool and gym, supplement my preparation. https://www.annettek.fr/#sport and Rob and Stephanie, my coaches continue to prepare my sport training calendar. https://colburnbodyconcepts.com
 
In anticipation of my upcoming adventure, I’ve also been watching closely the experiences of participants in the Clipper Race 2023-2024. https://youtu.be/9SaXgyn1aDQ?list=TLGGgg2AH8Hjj4ExMTEyMjAyMw The excitement builds, but so does the reality check of what lies ahead. 
 
Navigating Career Challenges
 
Some of my clients experience a similar mix of excitement and worry during career transitions.  Whether it’s promotions, transitions to new companies, mergers, or stretch assignments, we explore their reactions, working through the process to find stability and grounding for stepping up. 
 
Setting new goals is exciting for some clients, as it is for me. From envisioning career changes to planning for bigger challenges or building new competencies, the process involves thorough visioning, research, and scenario planning. I’ve had the privilege of guiding a client through a successful transition from a Senior Vice President role to assuming board positions and eventually attaining the position of CEO. Collaboratively, we created a comprehensive plan with a timeline, enabling her to promptly initiate the steps to transform her envisioned scenarios into reality. Over the next few years, she not only executed but also excelled in implementing all these scenarios. 
 
Leaders seeking their next challenge often need a partner in the imagining and mapping phases. Visioning, research, analysis, and planning pave the way for adventures and challenges. 
 
Personal Commitment
 
As I prepare for my first training in May, I am hard at work eating a healthy diet, swimming at the pool, and working out at the gym. This training will require getting the right gear, learning about safety protocols, and mastering ropework and the use of deck equipment. 

Ultimately, my Clipper Race journey is not just about sailing across ocean, it's about equipping myself  to be a more effective coach and partner for clients navigating their own unique career adventures. By investing in my own growth, I invest in the success of my clients and the value I bring to their professional journeys. 
 
As you gear up for your next adventures, projects, and stretch assignments, I wish you a fantastic new year filled with exciting journeys and accomplishments. Stay ready for what lies ahead!