On 19 June, I set out on the adventure of a lifetime, riding across the Simpson Desert on a mountain bike. I didn’t make a song and dance about it. Somewhere in the back of my mind I probably experienced niggles of self-doubt. Cycling across a remote desert is probably the riskiest thing I’ve ever attempted. But I knew better than to give in to any negativity. I pushed through, and thanks to two exceptional men, I achieved my dream.
My friend and personal trainer Adam Burton, from The Active Body Project, set the training benchmarks for me to achieve, then joined me on the ride. John Stafford, the owner of Alice Springs Expeditions, provided all the logistical support. Without these two men, I could never have completed the trip.
As a business owner, I’ve built a skilled and supportive team. Without each team member, I couldn’t offer my suite of Financial Concierge services. It doesn’t matter if it’s work or play. You need the right people around you.
Originally, Adam and I had allowed six or seven days to cross the Simpson. But recent rains compacted the sand, making the dunes much less daunting. We completed the ride in four days. I won’t lie, the second and third days were hard. By the time I reached our camp, I felt completely wrung out. But the experience more than compensated for the exhaustion.
Sitting around the campfire each night with two wonderful human beings, sharing stories of the day. Rising before dawn and standing under a brilliant dome of stars, in the desert there’s no ambient light to dim the power of the Milky Way. It’s awe-inspiring. I felt more alive and connected than I’ve ever felt before.
On the last day, Adam persuaded me to ride the final kilometre to the Queensland border. He gave me some time alone on the last dune, just to savour the moment. I wanted to ring Dad and tell him what I’d accomplished. I knew he’d be proud of me. And I sensed him standing beside me as the sun dipped below the horizon.
We then had a two-day drive back to Alice. John’s a brilliant off-road driver. He knew how to navigate the washouts and rutted tracks. Then we’d hit a section of well-graded road and make good time. On one such stretch something extraordinary happened. John suddenly brought his 79 Series Land Cruiser to a stop, leapt from the driver’s seat, and dashed down the road. (Early in the trip I learned, much to my chagrin, that ‘79’ is a designated a long-wheelbase version, not the year of manufacture!) John returned with a horned devil, a spikey lizard endemic to Australia’s desert regions. Adam and I held the creature, marvelling at its camouflage. How did John spot that critter while he was barrelling along at 80 kilometres per hour?
Because we arrived home three days early, I fronted up on Saturday to play Port Noarlunga FC. We were short on numbers, so some of the Cockledivers swapped jerseys, making up two teams of sixteen.
One of our younger players is a skilled footballer. Noddy’s maybe 38 or 39, and he reads the game like a heavily earmarked book. I can see what’s happening 25 metres away. Noddy spots an opportunity 150 metres downfield, and he’s already moving, running and kicking and passing the ball to take advantage of the moment. Because if he hesitates, even for a couple of seconds, the opportunity will be lost.
John and Noddy are at the top of their respective games. They remind me of my clients, who know their markets intimately. They spot opportunities with the same clarity as John noticing a horned devil basking in the sun, or as Noddy moving the ball rapidly towards an unmarked player in the forward pocket.
Even without me on the team, my clients would do well. But by working with me, they exceed expectations. Adam and I needed John’s logistical support. The members of Woodville South’s Over 35s need Noddy to feed them the ball when they have a scoring opportunity. And my clients rely on our 24-month rolling forecasts, our watertight compliance program, and our strategic insights to maximise their business success.
I may not be able to sight a horned devil as I motor down a dirt road, or visualise the crisp set of passes needed to carry the ball to an unmarked goalkicker, but with Strategy to Cash and our rich data sets, I can put your business right in the goal square. Curious to learn more? Get in touch! I want you to be your absolute best as an entrepreneur.