I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it.
My husband proposed that we spend a week on a catamaran in the British Virgin Islands.
After all, what’s not to like about sunshine, beautiful landscapes, and getting away from a harsh winter?
It was being on a boat for a long time that bothered me. I wasn’t sure about sharing tight spaces with seven other people, and I tend to get seasick, so why would I torture myself this way?
But this trip was life-changing and provided valuable lessons for our professional lives.
- Don’t let your fears get in the way of new experiences. Instead of worrying about all that could go wrong, I reframed to focus on the trip as a new adventure and an opportunity to join my husband in something he really loves. In business, it may mean reframing a fear of public speaking as a new opportunity to show your colleagues who you are and what you can contribute or a new project as a chance to expand your knowledge.
- Plan and Prioritize. Being on a boat is a bit like camping on the water. You have to think carefully about provisions and what you will bring. Cabins on a catamaran are really small, so you have to make choices about what you really need. It’s easy to throw stuff into a suitcase; harder to pare down to what is essential. (Essential for me was the 8 boxes of Dramaine in various strengths.) In our professional lives, our days are cluttered with all kinds of tasks. Better to think about what is most important and leads to impact.
- Stay calm when things get rough. The BVIs are known for being windy, which is why sailors love them. One day, winds were between 25 and 30 knots with 8 to 10-foot swells, a seasick prone person’s worst nightmare. Instead of panicking, I adhered to my medicine regime, sucked on hard candy and leaned into the rough ride that felt like I was galloping across the sea.
In business, we experience emergencies and unexpected events that are frightening and demoralizing. At these times, it’s important to keep emotions in check so that you can think about solutions. In sailing, you can’t make the waves and wind stop, but you can figure out how to navigate through them. In business, you can’t control external economic trends or your mercurial boss, but you can develop strategies to adapt to and work through these challenges.
- Don’t Just Think About Yourself. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the trip was getting to know the three couples and our fearless captain. We were all there for the same thing–learning more about sailing and having a good time. That meant we all pitched in to clean, conserve water, cook, and give each other space. In business, if we are aligned about a shared vision and work together towards achieving it, our work and our lives are more fulfilling.
Our personal and professional lives are a journey through uncharted and sometimes rough waters. But how we approach the journey, the strengths we develop, and the things we learn along the way make it so worthwhile.
And guess what? I’ve signed up for sailing lessons.
