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Three Tips for Organizing a Charity Gala

Mon, 22 May 2023 06:12:05 GMT

Organizing a Charity Gala?

Follow these three essential tips for a successful event:

With a track record of organizing nearly 100 Galas across three continents and nine cities, I've gained invaluable insights for successful and sustainable charity events. Here are three critical tips to ensure your event's success.

1. Sell tables, not tickets:

Instead of targeting individuals, focus on securing 30 people or companies to purchase and fill a table of ten . This strategy ensures better seat occupancy and overcomes the challenge of filling seats individually.

2. Prioritize your message:

While some organizers emphasize throwing a party with a theme to attract attendees, I recommend promoting the "mission" of the charity and purpose of the event above all else. Keep any party theme subservient to the message. This will help create a strong and lasting community that gathers annually to hear reports and celebrate successes.

3. Beware of consignment prizes:

Opt for fully donated prizes rather than consignment prizes, where the provider keeps the reserve price and the charity only receives the profit. Donors can be surprised when they learn that their contribution doesn't directly benefit the charity, leading to potential issues later on. I have worked with companies offering consignment prizes and auction systems to charities, and while they may provide visually appealing items for the auction table, it's crucial to ensure transparency and avoid any post-event dissatisfaction among winners who realize their funds are not fully supporting their desired nonprofit organization.

With these tips, your Charity Gala will be impactful and successful!

Get more help on fundraising for a cause »

The Problem with Selfies

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:40:30 GMT

Ok. I fully get selfies and how they can add value to your life, memories and for the enjoyment of people who love you. My Pacific Solo project is all about me and my ugly mug appears in almost every YouTube thumbnail and across my social media channels.

But for most of my professional life in the charity world, I have shunned selfies and the reason why is that inadvertently, through my own self-glorification, I could potentially exploit the needs of others and diminish their significance as the real heroes.

My introduction to the dangers of selfies was over 40 years ago, long before the word ' selfie ' became part of our lexicon.

I had just returned from South Asia where I had worked in refugee camps. It was my first volunteer stint with HOPE International Development Agency , and upon my return from Thailand, HOPE asked me to come on-staff and help raise attention, and money, for people displaced by war.

I gladly agreed. It was a critical time and I genuinely wanted to help the thousands waiting to find a good life in Canada who were not able to go back to their homeland. But also, I found it cool that, for the first time, I had a small office. I decided to decorate it with items from my time in the war zone and framed photos of me in the refugee camps. I brought my boxes from home, spent 2-3 hours hanging framed photos of me and displaying the various memorabilia, and then awaited my first visitor who would no doubt be impressed, right?

It was not long before the first visitor to the Lowell Sheppard Exhibition arrived. It happened to be David Mckenzie, the leader of HOPE. He paused at the entrance, glanced around the room, then sat across from me at the desk. I was wearing a smug smile.

I was shaken and forever changed by the words that he spoke. His words were few but came as an unexpected shot across the bow of my pride, forever putting me on alert to the dangers that lurk near the center of my ego and value system.

" Lowell, this is not what we are about. " He then rose and left.

At first I was angry but my reaction swiftly turned to shame, as I realized, that I had made a grave error. I had made myself the center of the story rather than putting forward those whose story it really was.

Aha!

A light went on, at that moment, that has shone brightly ever since but is occasionally dimmed by my ego.

Repentance means 'to turn'. I have been repenting ever since... turning from a human desire for self aggrandizement. It is no longer on the walls of an office on South Main Street, Vancouver, Canada but rather, on timelines and platforms.

Of course, motivations are mixed for all of us in all that we do. That is fine. Sometimes we ARE the story, our family and friends want us to be, or our business may require us to be. But when it comes to wanting to help those who are suffering, poor, or brutalized by war, famine, or natural disaster, it is incumbent upon us, who are in a position to help, to do so with the minimum of attention on ourselves and do all we can to keep others as the subject in the picture, and enhance their dignity and affirm their strength as they fight the odds.

After all, all I have to do is spend some money, get on an airplane, walk into the frame, and return to our safe place we call home while they remain, trapped and fighting.

Evil?

I was going to title this article Selfies Are Evil but decided against it.

If you have read this far, let me state that in fact selfies can be evil. The technical description for this type of evil is instrumental evil , which is an unintentional evil we perpetrate on others by our action or non-action.

I applaud those who seek to support others in need. And for those of us who have the privilege of doing so, we must strive to be altruistic and keep ourselves on the sideline and out of frame. Sure, if you feel it is appropriate to be in a picture or two as proof to others that you are an eyewitness and can vouch for the credibility of the project, and the need it is addressing, and by sharing it will result in more help for those in need, then do so knowing that it is a tradeoff. So be wise, discreet, and careful that you feature yourself rarely and only when there is good cause.

You see, it is their story that needs to be told, not mine.

That's the problems with selfies. Sure, if you are on the beach, having a nice meal, spending an anniversary with your beloved other... those make up an important part of your story. And, your story is valid so you have every right to tell it.

But when you are someplace or with someone, with the aim of making a difference and helping, then go invisible, stay in the background, and seek opportunities to convey to others through pics, blog and messages, that real story, the story that matters most, the story of others whose whose tenacity, bravery, endurance and ingenuity is silenced by crushing poverty and suffering.

Capture that? And your posts will be a compelling read and experience for your social network.

Are you a Never-Too-Later, like me?

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 07:15:13 GMT

I have been described in a number of ways:

The Dream Whisperer
a Sponsorship Ninja
Gilligan trying to become Popeye
a Grampa Daring to Dream

...and more.

But, this 67-year-old prefers to describe myself as a " never-too-later "!

One thing for sure, while I may be a rookie sailor and on a steep learning curve in preparing for my solo crossing of the North Pacific, if there is one thing I know a lot about, it's fundraising. I've been doing it for 55 years! Started when I was twelve!

And I have helped 100's of people raise funds (amounting to millions of dollars) in order to realize dreams.

Now, within the YouTube Creator world, I am causing a stir for not merely focusing on the thresholds to become monetized but instead focusing on the dream and the goal to procure sponsors!

Well before I hit the 1,000 subscriber mark, I had raised over $130,000 USD in cash and a further $25k in goods and services. And I did this by simply obeying and implementing the five rules of fundraising I have come to believe in, over five decades of doing this.

You too, can learn these skills

Now I am offering help to others through video courses and coaching at the Never Too Late Academy !

Do you have an audacious dream that is expensive?

Check out the resources at the academy which include:

Ten Tips to Change the course of your life
The Role of Fear in Realizing a High Stakes Dream
How To Build a Community Around Your Cause
Mitigating Risk when using your own Money
Five Rules for Recruiting Sponsors
Coaching

...and more

See you at the academy !

Never Too Late, more than just a pretty slogan!

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 07:50:24 GMT

Last night, a friend asked me a question. We were having dinner and he had one eye on the football game with the veteran quarterback, Tom Brady, of the NFL in the USA.

He turned to me and asked: " Do you know what people love about Tom Brady? "

I don't know much about American football, but I do know of Tom Brady. So I waited for him to tell me.

" They love him because he is 'the OLD GUY'! "

There is a good chance that you and I have never met, so I have no idea of your age. But I'm in my late 60s and I find that many people of my age feel the pressure to retire, slow down and surrender to the notion that we are ' over the hill '.

I don't buy that, and neither should you! Tom Brady certainly doesn't.

I'm a regular guy , with no technological background. But over the last couple of years, I've learned how to create a YouTube channel , create a brand on Instagram, run a campaign on Kickstarter, deliver an online webinar, and lots, lots more skills that I'll be sharing soon in Daring to Realize Your Dream .

And I learned all of that while also learning how to sail a 40-foot boat, solo !

You may be wondering, what's the energy that is fueling that learning journey?

...Dreams!

Dreams plus lots of thinking, talking with family and friends, planning, reaching out and getting support, and a fair amount of physical work. But I’m loving it!

I believe you have that kind of passion, too. Maybe it lacks a focus and you're looking for inspiration. Or maybe you know exactly what you want but need support and guidance. Either way, that’s exactly what the Never Too Late Academy is here for.

Remember this – you've got a team behind you now. A Dream Team!

So join me as a fellow never-too-later and sign up at the Never Too Late Academy . There is no obligation to buy anything and there is free stuff too. Most of all, let's help each other realize your dreams.

I am realizing mine. Are you yours?

Money! Don't let the lack of it stop you from chasing your dream.

Sat, 17 Oct 2020 17:49:57 GMT

I wrote a book some years back called Boys Becoming Men , in which I advocated organizing adventures to serve as a puberty rite of passage for boys.

After its release, several men wrote me saying "It's alright for you - you can afford it."

I was dismayed for three reasons:

First because our children are worth the investment;
Secondly, I, in fact, am not wealthy so it was a matter of deciding priorities;
and thirdly, it is a false assumption that adventures and goal setting need be expensive.

Money is important . . . . it makes the world go around.

But, it does not matter as much as many people think. This is why...

1. Your will is more powerful than your wallet

No, I am not talking about inheritance but rather the amazing, even mysterious way in which, humans can, by the power of choice, will something to be! I was born into a family that loves to travel. My father had an inclination to suddenly announce, a year in advance, that the following year we would be in such-and-such a place doing a particular activity. It always came to pass, even though at the time of the declaration no plans had been made or money saved. I often thought he was crackers when he made what seemed preposterous pronouncements.

His philosophy was: "What you say is what you get", and I have found since that my dad was not far off! When I think of an idea and then decide in my head, I am going to do it followed by an announcement then set a course to achieving the goal! Perhaps that is the secret to accomplishing the impossible: be decisive, make a plan, exert your will, and go for it.

" I'm a big believer in will and its power ", said Francis Mayes who saw her dream come true of owning a home in Tuscany. " You have to trust your will! I believe in wrenching what you want out of whatever circumstance there is in front of you. "

I have met folks, time and time again, who have done just that: they make a decision and then mysteriously the opportunity presents itself.

2. Going first class is second rate

Twenty years ago, I went on the biggest adventure and challenge of my life to date. I rode the length of Japan by bicycle. Not only did I revel in the delights of rural and mountainous Japan, but I was surprised by the pleasure derived from living simply and cheaply for 6 months. My entire belongings fit into two small panniers (saddle bags). There is nothing like feeling the weight of your stuff on a bicycle to help you reduce your baggage .

Arthur Frommer wrote, " When you live lavishly you're really living a kind of life which only a small fraction of the world enjoys and which is enjoyed primarily for social emulation ."

I agree. Yes, of course money does perhaps buy extra convenience at times, BUT my most enriching times traveling have been when I have traveled low budget and enjoyed the interaction with other travelers in pension breakfast rooms or the common areas of a hostel.

Now, all that being said, we must not ignore the relevance of money, and how to spend it and how to make it. And, to guard against greed.

Let me end with a story told me years ago by a successful entrepreneur. It is about a boy that everyone at his school thought was stupid. One day during recess, to prove their point, offered the boy a dime (ten cents) and a quarter (25 cents). They told him he could choose one coin only. The boy chose the dime and the boys guffawed their way all the way back to the classroom. The next day the repeated the exercise this time drawing a larger crowd of children. Again, the boy chose the dime. The next day the same thing happened, and this went on for weeks as the other kids ridiculed the boy for being stupid. Eventually the headmaster learned of the daily scorning and asked the boy why he allowed the kids to make fun of him. Did he not know the quarter was worth more than a dime?

" Yes, I do ", the boy replied.

" But if I took the quarter the first time, they would never have offered me money again. "

Never Too Late - Excerpt #2

Sat, 05 Sep 2020 11:43:59 GMT

Never Too Late: Ten Tips to Change the Course of Your Life

This is the second of several abridged excerpts from my book Never Too Late: Ten Tips to Change the Course of Your Life .

First Published in English in 2005 in the UK and subsequently in French, Portuguese and Russian.

Love

" The great tragedy of life is not that men perish but that they cease to love. "

- Somerset Maugham, British Playwright and novelist

" If I have faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing. "

- Paul in a letter to church members in Corinth

The term, Principle of Least Interest , has been bandied around in academic and business circles for decades. It suggest that the person who has the least interest in a relationship or outcome has the most power. It seems to make sense. Business negotiations would be a primary example, as would a marriage where one party has a greater interest in the relationship being successful than the other.

But, does not this principle violate a basic premise of being human? That we were born to care!

In the early 90's, I traveled often to Bosnia Herzegovina, supporting work among children who were caught in the swirling chaos of social and institutional breakdown brought on by war. Neighborhoods were being torn apart, ethnic cleansing was an intentional policy and practice, and evidence of genocide. I asked some of the UN Peacekeepers how they cope and one officer quickly replied: "You have to turn down the volume of your emotions. You cannot afford to care."

I get it. They were professionals and had to do a job and could not afford to be debilitated by tears and rage. But yet, it is in our DNA to care. History illustrates that the people we admire most are people who cared and took risks. Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jesus Christ . . . all examples that we were created to care.

Steve Covey added an eighth habit to his Seven Habits of Highly Successful People . . . his addition is " Love: seeing and delighting in the potential of others. "

My brother, who for many years worked as an actor, told me that once he was on the set of a TV Series he was appearing on, and there was a famous actress of an older generation. She was the star, in fact, of a hit comedy series. During a scene change, my brother summoned the courage to strike up a conversation. The actress's words and body language made him feels safe in her presence. She was not the primadonna he expected. Towards the end of the conversation, he asked her for an acting tip. Her reply stuck with him through the rest of his career and preparing for parts. She said, " In every scene and every script, ask the question; 'where is the love?' "

Mulling her words, he increasingly learned that when you find the love, you find authenticity and authority as an actor.

Is there a price to pay? Of course.
Love does make you vulnerable. But, when one lets go and accepts vulnerability, a power and freedom is unleashed.

So here are four manifestations of love that I have come to believe in and practice

Curiosity: an irrepressible urge to discover things
Celebration: despite hardship that may surround us, love compels us to find light amidst the darkness.
Community: Love values connection. I like the quote from the Hopi tribe: Joy is a raindrop landing in a river.
Compassion: love enables us to weep with those who weep and laugh with those who laugh.

Bonsai Boys and the Big Impossible

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 12:56:19 GMT

Do you remember the film Dances with Wolves ?

It not only introduced Kevin Costner to the masses, but it also gave us a glimpse into the fascinating world of the indigenous peoples of North America, particularly the Lakota tribe from the central plains. The Lakota tribe have a descriptive term for adolescence: " The Big Impossible ". It is an apt name as the goal of manhood can be seen out of reach when in a boy is embroiled in the midst of adolescence.

Often, boys in the modern age are tossed about in the deep turbulent waters of adolescence, vulnerable to the powerful crosscurrents of media pressure and cultural upheaval. Frequently, a boy's only companions on this journey are his peers who are as frightened and inexperienced has he is.

We can learn from the Lakota tribe. Becoming a man is a great challenge and deserves the engagement of caring adults.

That is why I researched and wrote about Puberty Rites of Passage (PROPs) and the role they play in helping a boy become a man, in my book Boys Becomong Men: Creating Rites of Passage .

Even though the concept is an ancient one, the term " puberty rite of passage " was introduced by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep in 1908. In his book published that year called Rites of Passage he described three stages of a puberty rite of passage

Separation (old status)
Liminality (no clear cut status: " betwixt and between ")
Incorporation (new status)

This got me thinking many years ago as I was raising two boys of my own. Could it be that rather than "propping" up our boys during the intense years of adolescence, I could potentially be guilty of restraining their development and tying them down?

This question came to me following an afternoon bike ride with a friend who was interested in bonsai trees.

He explained how the bonsai tree is prevented from maturing naturally. By using high tension wires and string, the gardener forces the tree to submit, retarding its growth, with the end result being a small, odd-looking tree. The tree is beautiful, but its attractiveness is partly because of the freakishness of its size.

B onsai is an art form, where the artist/gardener has full control over a living organism. He/she seeks to produce a tree that will arouse curiosity and interest.

Later, I wondered if the practice of growing bonsai trees is a metaphor of adolescence in the 21st century. Every day a boy imbibes a toxic cocktail made up of media-inspired notions of independence mixed with a huge amount of a powerful substance called testosterone. Now of course, an increasing measure of the male hormone is natural and to be expected, but in a myriad of ways the media potentially can subjugate the boy's value system and, instead of becoming independent and free, he becomes increasingly captured by notions of "cool". The result: boys going full-speed ahead physically while simultaneously experiencing the emotional jolts of the media pulling them this way and that, and this not-so-subtle combination works against gradual and healthy development.

I believe, more than ever, that boys need a defining moment when they are not only welcomed into manhood but cross over knowing that there are now increased expectations of them.

Grateful for Technology

Fri, 01 May 2020 14:09:03 GMT

It's May 1st and we're entering the fifth month of 2020 with COVID-19 embedding itself in our global consciousness. I, for one, am grateful for technology that enables humans to connect. Even the simple telephone is vital at times like this.

Here are notes of two telephone conversations I have had with my 91 year old mother. One just a few minutes ago.

☎ April 2nd:

I try to phone my 91-year -old mother every day. She is in a 'retirement village' in Canada. She is currently in lock down, the result of one of the health workers being diagnosed with COVID-19. My recent conversation with her went like this.

☎ May 1st:

It’s May 1st in Japan and I just finished my daily call with my 91-year-old mother in Canada who had been confined to her room for six weeks, and now allowed to walk around the inside of her building, but not allowed outside or to receive visitors.

Our conversation finished this way...

And, you can quote me on that!

-Lowell's Mom

Fear and Frugality vs Compassion and Generosity

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 05:45:33 GMT

Have you noticed that one of the peculiarities of the COVID-19 crisis is the absence of fundraising by the non-profit sector?

No doubt it is happening at various levels in some places, but if they are, it is not making headline news. Nor, are we given a plethora of ways to give.

Typically, in the immediate moments, days, weeks, or even months following a disaster, there is a surge of ' charitable giving ' in order to to enable the non-profit sector to respond. In some cases, the flow of cash is unstoppable, even when the donations are not needed or solicited.

For example, after the triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami, nuclear) of 3/11, the world responded without being asked.

But, this is different.

Rather than seeing a response of compassion and generosity, the world is enveloped by fear and frugality.

It is understandable. We give when we see others in need. Their suffering and uncertainty trigger those of us who feel secure and stable, to help. Perhaps out of guilt, perhaps out of gratefulness, but humans help humans.

But, for the first time, in a very long time, the whole world is in the disaster zone. The COVID-19 crisis respects no borders or peoples. The human race is in crisis. We are all at risk. We all feel fearful and are uncertain of how this will play out

Yet, we want and need to do something.

When we see others suffer, there is an innate human response to do something . In normal times , we donate money or our time. It makes us feel better that we are doing something.

This is different. Donating our money and time has been replaced by washing our hands, practicing social distancing and encouraging others to do the same. It gives us the sense that we are helping ourselves and others.

These are unusual and unprecedented times for the Human Race. We all agree.

Not the Great Equalizer

Let us remember though that COVID-19 is not the great equalizer. It is the poor and vulnerable that suffer the most . Their path to recovery and their return to self-reliance may take longer than others.

And then, there are those who were self reliant before by running their own small business - self proprietary entrepreneurs who literally live hand-to-mouth and did not have cash reserves to go weeks, let alone months, without revenue.

They will need our help and while government is stepping in to a degree, there will be a role and a need for the non-profit sector, as well as civil society, to respond and make a difference in more cost effective ways than the government.

PonderTheMoment - Navigating the Present to Ensure a Future

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 04:58:53 GMT

#PonderTheMoment

Nemo North is a ' place ' where I want to go to ponder profound themes . . . the meaning of life, the future of our planet, and the role of the human species.

Quite unexpectedly, and in a way that was not welcome, I am experiencing a Nemo-North moment now. And despite the social distancing, it is not a SOLO moment. It is a moment we all share.

Let me explain

I have devoted a large chunk of my life to working with people struggling to, not only survive but, become self-reliant and self-determining. I have forged friendships with many individuals and families over decades and I have been impressed by two things.

The first is the absolute importance of water in our daily lives. Water to drink and water to wash . In fact, WASH is an acronym used in our projects: ' Wa ter, S anitation, H ygiene'. When water is available and used, it transforms the physical and economic health of families and communities.

The second is the enormous will to not only survive, but for people to thrive and become self-reliant. It is inspiring, to say the least. The power of the human spirit.

Since the turn of the this century the world has moments that have captured and frightened us:

on 9/11 ( 2001), we saw 2,996 human beings die, and democracy and freedom under attack and threat
on Dec 26th, 2004, South Asia Tsunami . . we shuddered at the power of the planet to unleash fury and we mourned the loss of 227,898 lives
in 2008, the Lehman Shock threatened the global economy
on 3/11 (2011), 18,428 lives lost or missing as the earth moved under Japan and the entire archipelago shifted; hundreds of kilometer of coastline were devastated.

And then there were the health crisis:

SARS in 2004 with 774 deaths
H1N1 in 2009 with 284,000 deaths
Ebola 2014-2016 with 11,325 deaths
and others

The Present

But, nothing compares to the global impact of the current COVID-19 crisis.

Around the world, we are seeing unprecedented actions by governments and societies as we realize it is the human species that is at stake.

Yesterday, WHO (World Health Organization) announced that the spread of COVID-19 is accelerating. The number of cases reached the first 100,000 in 67 days. The second 100,000 was reached just 11 days later, with us exceeding the third 100,000 in just four days.

This is a moment to ponder how precious human life is, and how powerful is the human spirit.

So, take a moment to ponder these profound themes, wash up, and take care of each other.

For me at least, this is a Nemo-North moment . We did not welcome it, but let's embrace the silver lining and renew our resolve to overcome.

Strengthening the Perseverance Muscle

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 05:46:38 GMT

" Gambatte Kudasai "

- Words of encouragement spoken by Japanese Pilgrims, coming down Mt Fuji, to those going up.

" Yeah yeah yeah ”" . . you may be thinking. " We all know that perseverance is important. Nothing new here. "

But wait! Read on and hear me out. A lot is being written related to the Corona virus. From the science behind the cause and the cure to the impact on the office. But, perhaps there is also a nugget of truth to be found about the importance of enduring. Whether it is a self imposed challenge or a crisis that has been inflicted on us, there is power to be found in perseverance. So read on. There are some lessons to be learned from Winston and Homer.

Over a half a century ago, so the story goes, on a stage at Oxford University, a plump man who had a liking for cigars and whiskey shuffled to the podium to give an address at the august institution. The speaker had achieved a lot. From mastering English as a failing student to fighting to showing courage through the Second World War, this man had demonstrated grit and determination. The students that gathered to hear him speak, were in awe. The invited speaker leaned his cane against the podium, placed his top hat on a small table and took the cigar from his mouth, as he slowly rose onto his toes and leaned forward. Looking out over the great hall, he uttered three words, three times, each with different emphasis.

“ NEVER give up

Never give UP

NEVER GIVE UP ”

His heels returned to the ground, and after returning his cigar to his mouth, he picked up his top hat, and with the aid of the cane, shuffled off the stage. The audience was left in a stunned silence, not only by the brevity of the speech, but of it profundity. Winston Churchill need not say any more. His life and achievements filled his words with authority.

Of course, his message is nothing new. We have been told, often, that the ' tortoise won the race '. It is the consistent, boring repetition of a task that achieves the desired goal. But, it is not merely the achievement of the goal that is the reward of ' enduring '. There is something more. Something spiritual , something magical that happens when we press on. There is the potential of inner transformation, enlightenment and even epiphany. There is the potential of fog giving way to clarity. It may only be subtle, but incrementally ,each time we take a step, and action of perseverance, moving beyond our comfort zone and what we believe to be our personal limitation, we have the prospect of being rewarded by bluer skies, greener grass and clearer vision of what can be.

In Japanese, the word for crisis is comprised of two Japanese characters: one means " danger", while the meaning of the other is a blend of the two English words " opportunity " and " promise ". You see, any feat of endurance, whether physical, emotional, intellectual or even vocational often involves a moment of crisis where you do not feel you can go on, and your body or mind says, " NO more; that’s enough! " Our ' being ' is simply responding to its known limits based on past experience. Our inner self, our body, our mind is saying . .. any further is the unknown, are you sure you want to keep going.

Homer Simpson has his own take on this concept and invented a word to describe it: " crisi-tinunity ". Every crisis carries both a danger and the promise of an opportunity. Like an eagle rising on a thermal there is the prospect of discovering a ' lift ' that raises you to a new perspective of your self and the possible paths forward.

Even when pain and crisis is inflicted on us by others, or external forces, we still have a choice to move on, to survive and see a brighter day.

Chasing the Cherry Blossom

Twenty years ago this week, I set out to ride my bicycle the length of Japan from Kyushu to Hokkaido, intent on following the annual migration of the Cherry Blossom front and experience the celebrations and parties along the way that accompany this seasonal and societal happening. The 3000 km trek was not easy. More than once, I felt like giving up. Homesickness, tendinitis, severe weather, news of family members involved in accidents, all made the going tough at times. Then there were the mountains, the winds, and the tunnels that made for particularly challenging days. Once I was even detained by the police for several hours.

I was elated when I finished in Hokkaido. My final ' pedal ' was back to the coast on a forest road to board a ferry home. As I descended to the coast through the quiet of the forest, with only the sound of rain gently tapping my helmet, I felt an inner glow. I was at one with my bike and my surroundings and it was then that I felt an answer come to the question that was underlying my quest. Here is how I describe it my book Chasing the Cherry Blossom :

The Forest was quiet around me, and my spirit and mind became one and I wandered into my thoughts. It was the last day of traveling alone and I felt the inner glow of knowing I had achieved my goal. Then it came, as clear as a whisper in a quiet room. It was a moment, spiritual in content and texture, but unaccompanied by anything dramatic or supernatural. There was no booming voice from the sky yet the words that came brought extraordinary clarity unlocking residual self-doubt. They came as a caboose at the end of a train of thought. As fleeting as the moment was, like the cherry blossoms, the words could not have come with such power and healing without the six weeks of pedaling and pain that had gone before. It was a deeply private moment, but I knew I had cycled the length of Japan for those words.

That bike ride changed my life

I might add one more thing about perseverance. It is a muscle that needs to be strengthened. The more we endure, the more we can endure. So, press on folks. There will come an end to our current crisis. Seek the promise and the opportunity,

Here are some action points you may consider:

Be inspired! Read a book or watch a documentary about a person or a community who survived and thrived after a calamity or challenge.
Reflect on your own life and remember the times when you felt an afterglow following a crisis or challenge. What did you learn from that.
Set short-term goals that will stretch and exercise the mental muscle needed to persevere. Use those accomplishments to pursue longer term stretch goals.

Remember is its Never Too Late !

Internships Offered

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 16:20:53 GMT

Looking for a new challenge?

We are looking for two people to join us as interns in Pacific Solo and Navigate22. One role is to coordinate the social media and sponsor relations for Pacific Solo . The other role is to coordinate the Great Pacific Learning Project .

These are unpaid positions, but you can work from home. You need to be a self-starter and feel genuinely enthused by the prospect of being involved in this epic voyage, and engaging others in learning more about our oceans. You will work closely with, and along side, Lowell to create content for social media, and liaise with current and future sponsors, patrons and partners.

Qualified Candidates

Candidates should possess the following skill-set:

superb English writing skills and enjoy writing
adept with Social Media and related tools
able to commit a minimum of 8-10 hours a week
Excel, Word, and PowerPoint proficiency a plus.

Interested?

Contact Lowell at lowell@navigate22.com

2020: A Year of Calamity?

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 08:49:38 GMT

" If you find a path with no obstacles it probably does not lead anywhere "

- Harriet Beecher Stowe, 19th Century Novelist

In a few weeks' time, not far from my home, thousands of naked men will parade through the streets to celebrate in spectacular fashion, their manliness. It is an annual gathering for men who have recently turned 40 years old. Fittingly, it takes place near a shrine erected in honor of the penis.

Aimed to take place just before Japanese companies offer promotions to their workers, the festival serves as a pep rally for aged 40-plus men, who fear that this could be their Yakudoshi or " year of calamity ". ( Yaku means "calamity" and doshi means "year"). It is a year men dread as their straight-line lives may be disturbed and that they will not rise in rank as each year there are fewer promotions to go around. Any deviation from the hoped for trajectory is feared.

The year 2020 (interesting that 20+20 = 40) has not started well with the Corona Virus, or as it is now officially called Co-vid19. I do not need to articulate here the economic and social consequences of the virus, and the fear the virus has already caused, not to mention the sadness for families, communities and entire cities who are coming to grips with the illness and loss of life that has overtaken them.

This week I have returned from a three-country tour of Asia and it has been interesting to see how different governments and peoples have reacted to the crisis. And upon coming home yesterday to Japan, some people are reticent to meet me for fear that I am now a carrier. The fear is acute and our excitement for a new year and decade is dissipating rapidly as we face an uncertain few months. As we inch ourselves forward into the mist of tomorrow it has helped me reflect on life`s essentials and renew my resolve to embrace the following:

Accept it: Curves and Calamities

Life is not a straight line. While we may plan for hoped for trajectories, life throws us curve balls and we must not be surprised when the road ahead is no longer straight. I once read a quote by a Japanese theologian Kosuke Koyama, who spent the final years of his life teaching at Columbia University and with whom I corresponded in the last two years of his life. He said, " The womb is not a CUBE. "

The image is helpful, as a womb, where life begins, is both fluid and flexible, as is life itself. Therefore, we need to be alert to changes that come, and embrace the momentum in new directions that these changes bring. The womb is not a static shape: it is flexible. Adapting to the changes of the emerging life within it. Life's surprises remind us that we are alive. Straight-line lives are rigid and unnatural and become humdrum. It often takes a shock to liberate us from such a life. Life is really a series of twists and turns, beginnings and endings, entering and leaving. Each exit points us to a new entrance.

Believe it: Bedrock and Ballast

True values and sense of mission are durable. It is at times like these that we return to the basics of who we are and what we believe about ourselves and our world.

During crisis, we discover the importance of what we really believe and whether the words we use to craft our values and mission are authentic and real or just words we felt looked good on our CV or Corporate Mission Statement page. Deeply held values are weighty and provide the ballast needed to navigate troubled times and the bedrock to give firmness of foot.

Seek it: Inspiration and insight

At times like these we need to lift our eyes and see the distant horizon and perhaps discover new ones. Sight of these distant goals can have a profound effect on our ability to cope with the now, as we know we are on a journey to a better place. So embrace stories and narratives of hope and allow them to beckon you forward.

You may consider this exercise during moments of reflection:

List the parts of your life that you would describe as a straight-line. How could you bring variety and diversity into your life just now?
Is your social network simply an extension of your personal tastes and experience? If so, look for opportunities to add to your social repertoire.
How do you view failure and hard times? Make a list of what good has come because of them.
Review and reevaluate your values and mission. What is the bedrock of your life’s mission and values
Jot down a story of HOPE or the name of someone who inspires you and meditate on these things

Never Too Late - Excerpt #1

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 13:39:00 GMT

Never Too Late: Ten Tips to Change the Course of Your Life

This is the first of several abridged excerpts from my book Never Too Late: Ten Tips to Change the Course of Your Life .

First Published in English in 2005 in the UK and subsequently in French, Portuguese and Russian.

Awakening

" The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up "

- Paul Valery, French Poet

I was opposed to goal setting. Once, when riding on a bus in northern Thailand, I debated the merits of setting goals with a man twice my age. I have not seen him since, but I owe him big time. The conversation stayed with me like a pebble in a shoe: always aware of it, often irritated by it, and always feeling I had to do something about it

Perhaps under the influence of some misguided fatalism I felt I had no power to control my future therefore the 'to be' rather than 'to do' was a convenient way of coping with a lack of power over my own life. " What is meant to be will be " had infected me.

But as I pondered his uncomfortable question I realized that I did have goals. In fact, they were dreams. Images of myself as a man had filled my imagination as a child. They were so strong and vivid, at times I could hardly cope with being a child as I wanted to grow up and experience life and fulfill my aspirations. Images of myself traveling, completing feats of endurance (my first was at age 12 walking 50 kms in one day to raise money for charity), flying airplanes, starting organizations, writing books, getting married, being a father, crossing oceans by sailboat ... changing the world!

But somehow, growing up, the credibility of those dreams had become undermined by a flawed notion that they were self-centered and that I was powerless to make them a reality. I was being governed by the false notion that our lives are determined by forces outside our control.

“Whatever will be will be, the future is not ours to see, que sara que sara…” had become my life's theme song.

Dreams, I concluded, were to be ignored.

After my shameless pronouncement, with no doubt an air that I was putting this older man, a symbol of the establishment, in his place, the broadcaster looked at me for a moment and, without responding, turned and looked out the window. I was left to wonder, re-evaluate and change my thinking. So glad I did.

His question opened the way for me embrace my dreams again and shed the debilitating shackles of fatalism that erodes the soul and thwarts positive action.

I have come to believe that life is full of options and we shape our future by the choices we make. We are either pulled forward by our dreams or we drift. We all have the power to choose whether to take charge of our life or succumb to external forces.

The older man's questions awakened me. No longer were my goals relegated to my dream life. I learned it is never too late to set your compass on a new course, explore new worlds and delight in fresh discoveries.