Resilient!

Want to join me for an Indelible Adventure somewhere in the world - let me be your tour guide.   Summer is just around the corner and so a perfect time to get away. 

You can reach me at either terence@indelible-adventures.com or at www.indelible-adventures.com

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I've always thought of myself as a guy who “goes with the flow” and can pretty much figure a way through almost anything in life.  However, the term itself seems so passive in nature that I think it’s a disservice to categorize ones ability to adapt as merely that.  Actually as I reflect on my life so far, I have to say that my life has been centered around a constantly changing and evolving landscape from day one. 

Clearly there's a distinct difference between adaptation and resiliency, in my mind anyone can adapt to any situation given enough time whereas I think being resilient is all about taking advantage of the situation and making it your springboard to whatever’s next.  The ability to bounce back and not be defeated by the moment.

Where and when do you learn resiliency?  Is it something inherent in your DNA or is it something forged in a lifetime of experience?  It’s the age old question isn't it – environment or evolution?

I think self-awareness is a critical component of this, whether it relates to your surroundings, your personal abilities, your resourcefulness in any situation and then couple this with your ability to think beyond the moment you’re currently immersed in.  I guess I've always had the ability to think in the third person (crazy huh?), but actually it’s been a pretty useful tool and tactic over the course of my life.  If there was one thing that I'd love to pass onto Zach and Sami it would be this single trait. 

Since I started my business in September I've had to really slow down and accept a different set of expectations from what I had originally envisioned, mostly around the speed of meeting my personal milestones and goals.  For an “A type” personality this has been the most challenging aspect of going it alone…  That being said, the ability to step back emotionally and see things for what they are and indeed where you are at any given time has been a huge benefit. 

I have to say starting my own business has been a humbling experience to say the least, as you can imagine I have pretty grandiose plans for Indelible Adventures Inc, and it’s not to say I still don't have those same expectations but I think  my experiences over the last five months have tempered my approach and by taking a slightly more pragmatic approach to the hurdles that inevitably arise it has been extremely useful and a whole lot less stressful. You know us "A" types...we wanted it all to happen yesterday!

The other big thing I've found is that those who you thought you could depend on for encouragement and support haven't always been there when needed most.  It’s a fact of life I suppose, and I'm sure we can explain away each and every situation and the extenuating circumstances but a tad disappointing nonetheless. What’s been more surprising are the people who actually have been there to help me, unafraid to wade into the messiness of a startup to provide support, encouragement and motivation to keep going.  Seems as though I’ve been living in a veritable test lab of human behavior. 

Over the past week I've had to totally rethink my travel concierge services offerings.  Dealing with a regulatory body that is extremely stringent and inflexible has been a challenging to say the least. I found out that I can satisfy 95% of the guidelines for registration except for the last two points. 

As part of the registration process I needed a letter from the municipality giving me approval to operate a business from my home residence.  This was a complete no-go as I'm zoned residential and not commercial – which I already knew.  Although I assumed that in some cases there could be some flexibility…nope!  It’s a one-size fits law with no room for any form of interpretation.  

Now apparently this applies to all web based businesses….who knew??? Its just not visible as the vast majority of businesses who run without having to meet any regulatory rules and therefore fly under the radar.  Irrespective that the technology (web server) is located in Phoenix, AZ and I would only do business via phone or over the Internet and not actually have any clients come to my house to transact business.  I suppose encouraging any form of entrepreneurship is foreign to local government. 

Okay, I'll pull in my claws…but seriously!  

The other final kicker was that the regulatory body also wanted me now go and work for a travel agent for a minimum of a year, before they would entertain me applying for registration.  I didn't have enough experience in their eyes and therefore had to now work for an agency where I could be monitored and supervised.  

I guess I felt rather frustrated given that I had studied for the 3 hour exam and passed my certification both at the agent and manager/supervisor levels.  And let’s be honest who would you rather have creating, booking and taking you on a personal tour than someone who's actually been there, explored the locations, stayed at the hotels and knows the "off the beaten track" places to go so that you connect with the local culture.  A travel agent of course who's never been out of their office!

Down but not out (this is where the resilience comes in J) re-reading the 250 page act and regulations governing licensing I realized that I can still be a personal tour guide, as long as that is all I do.  I’m not able to sell any other aspect of the travel experience – airline travel (wasn't planning on this anyway), hotels (I guess now I can strongly recommend hotels but can't book them and pay for them in advance, nor any other part of the travel), but I can be remunerated for my tour guide skills.

As you can tell by now I've been thinking about this topic all week…  I hope you don't think its a rant, but more of an impassioned example of my resilience and how I've adapted and changed track but still with the goal in mind of providing "Indelible Adventures" to others.   

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This weeks photo expose is from my photoshoot last saturday down along Harbourfront here in Toronto.  I hope you enjoy them!

Snow gathering on a car window

New condos down by the lake just in time for the Pan Am games in July

The old hunk that was Captain John's Seafood - now disused on the harbour

Afternoon ice is a little softer 

The sculpture down on Harbourfront

Toronto skyline looking up Yonge street from the Harbour

Contrast of colors

Ice on the footpath

Afternoon sun on the harbour ice

Swirling patterns and sun reflected in the ice

Graffiti on the moorings

A "Laker" in port

Life for a seagull on the ice shelf

Crazy patterns formed on the stalactites of ice 

Snow on the thrushes

Skate time down at Harbourfront 

Feeding the ducks in the winter

Art comes in many forms at Harbourfront

Salt 

Harbourfront Center (note the reflections in the windows)

Loved the angle of the chimney

Gorgeous fire red flowers

Snow on the ropes

Contrast of colors - winter leaves

Icicles 

All about the curve...

Red dogs at the marina

Frozen in for the duration

Fine Foods neon light

Photoshoot with TW