A big part of me would like to keep my plans pretty quiet. That’s significantly motivated by the fear that this ridiculously audacious and impossible endeavour might just not get off the ground.
But I have quickly recognised that while a small plan might have a good chance of staying confidential to a small circle, a plan of this magnitude will have a way of getting talked about beyond my control or even influence. Keeping my diary in this blog format is an acknowledgement of that reality. I might as well lean in, since I can’t feasibly kick back against it.
There is, however, the very significant additional benefit that most of the conversations I’ve had so far have contributed to improving the plans.
My initial plan was to ride around India. John provided a catalyst that expanded that to what then became a Melbourne-London ride. Another conversation sparked the idea of soliciting sponsorship in kind for the bike, insurance, photography equipment, camping equipment etc. I’ve got a coffee planned this coming week with a potential lead for connecting to BMW to explore their sponsorship of the bike – this again a product of one of these conversations. Most recently there’s been an additional idea to use the trip as a fund-raiser for a charity. The trip is ridiculously audacious already, so why not roll that theme over into the fundraising – and we’ve discussed a $1m target.
With all that, I have to acknowledge that the conversations have been really valuable, and am glad I’m “leaning in” to the spread of this news (even though I’d still probably prefer to do it on the quiet if I could).
So I had breakkie yesterday with a friend at which we kicked around these sponsorship ideas for the charity* he runs. There are a whole host of benefits for this, including:
- Obvious first-order benefit to the charity with a hope of significant financial benefit to the amazing work this team does in building hope in difficult contexts, hopefully also with opportunity to encourage the workers along the route
- I’ve already given thought to a risk that this trip could breed a kind of selfishness and introspection, with a public charity providing an excellent counterpoint and mitigation to that
- I will explore “coming under” the charity’s leadership in some ways, including for cover, protection and even some accountability
- There will be many geographies through which I’ll travel where the charity can be a great connection point to locals along route, enriching the experience and no doubt contributing to the overall goals
- The sponsorship for trip costs (bike etc) is a more compelling ask with the trip done in the name of a charity – and it sits better even in my own soul to ask for such help for the charity’s benefit rather than only for the notoriety of the adventure
- There will be a first port of call with a team who will be invested in my safety and success, should something go badly wrong enroute
Yesterday’s breakkie was the product of a chance connection with a long-term friend just Wednesday this week at which he raised the prospect of using the trip as a fundraiser. I’d actually previously had the thought to go in the name of a charity, and landed on the small-minded assumption that it wouldn’t be feasible. To then have that proactively suggested back at me has been a gentle, lovely reprimand. It has called me back to my own dictum not to ask “Is it possible” but to assert “It will be done” and ask simply “What Needs To Be True for that to happen?”
I’m going to need some stubborn “WNTBT?” approach to even enter countries such as Myanmar. So just as well to practice that determination in the month or so leading up to the trip. Thank you, friend, for calling me back to that very necessary approach! (You know who you are.)
* I’ll keep the charity name under wraps for a bit until it’s all agreed.