Tamara Jacobi's Blog

Goodwave watermelon foamies

Watermelons…a favorite beach snack and a surfboard? Yup, we’ve finally discovered a board that my son Zephyr (2 years old) can carry…well at least sort of, ha! Little dude has been practicing his pop ups on the sand here in the Adirondacks (NY) with his baby sister and cousins cheering him on. We’ll be stoked for waves when we return to the jungle in October.

We’re also stoked to have connected with Brad Harris, watermelon foamie visionary and founder of GoodWave. Brad is a fellow free-spirited who has blazed his own trail through wild business. As he reflects on his journey creating Good Wave he says “I wish I had known there were so many others building businesses that weren’t predefined, or at least not in their community. When examples of what you’re trying to do aren’t around you, sometimes you have to go look for them. Stay consistent in defining and checking in with your goals and walk towards your north star.”

More inspiration from Brad in my interview with him below.

Check out Watermelon Foamies here

Hey Brad, what’s your perfect day as a Wildpreneur?

Wake up before the sun, ground, stretch, prepare a hot coffee. Grab the boards and bike, and come back dirty. End the day with a warm golden hour surf or lake paddle and cozy up with the people and dogs I love.

What was your inspiration to create Good Wave?

Good Wave was born from being turned off by the aggressive and sexualized surf industry.. particularly for kids.

We call a lot of rad surf families our customers or Good Wave family, so I thought it would be cool to ask the little ones which fruit, veggies, or anything friendly they’d want on a board. Watermelon was everyone’s favorite. Fruities Surfboards was born! Bananas, coconut and tacos were runner ups. Designed in collaboration with hundreds of Good Wave surf families, our 5'6" Fruities foam surfboard is short enough to double as a body board while kids and beginners gain comfort in the water.

You can purchase a Fruities here or please share with a friend!

Advice you would give?

It’s okay if your friends, colleagues and even family don’t understand what you do.

Discipline will separate your motivation from getting things done and talking about it. Surround yourself with optimistic and inspiring people.

Favorite motivational quote?

Yeah, something about how success is defined by how we respond to failure. I think about this everytime I fail, which is nearly every day. At this point, I try to own it and move on quickly.

Anything else you’d like to share about your journey?

Just that a lifestyle business is not all what you see on Instagram. Building a solopreneur business and then scaling it into a startup has produced the most humbling financial situation of my life but when I check in with my north star(s), I’m on the right path. I just know it. Through the highs and lows. Somehow, sometimes even more during the lows.

I hope that this inspires others to start their idea, project, or creative pursuit.. as another quote I love, it’s a powerful moment when you realize you fear regret more than failure.

What are you working on right now? 

Right now I’m focused on launching our new Fruities watermelon surfboard in our 5’6, 7’, 8’ and 9’ lengths, upgrading our packaging to upcycled and compostable materials, and developing our creative and content while sharing the stoke of adventurous families using our Fruities surfboards. I can’t believe this is work, it took 2 years of failing and 2 years of building to get to stage and it seems like it’s just starting.

I’m also looking into sustainable camping products, more on that to come.

Where can we follow you?

IG: @goodwave_co (tag Good Wave and use these hashtags to get featured! #goodwaveco #ipeeinmywetsuit #surfruities #parentinginthewild)

Website: www.goodwave.co

Most importantly, please tell a friend or two about our mission to make surfing more family friendly at Good Wave.. it means the world to us.

Wildpreneurs has a new look...en español! The culture and natural beauty of Mexico inspired and empowered me to become a Wildpreneur and to write my book. The free spirits of Nayarit set up wild business on beaches and street corners…all shapes and sizes. This is the land where if you have a wild idea, you go for it!

It makes my heart sing that today Wildpreneurs hits bookstores across the country. Viva Mexico y gracias amigos!!! Grab your copy of Empredadores Salvajes here. (if you're studying Spanish, this read will be great practice).

Gracias HarperCollins Mexico for bringing my book to life in Spanish. SO exciting!!

Get your copy here

One of my favorite parts of working with Thermal? Connecting with free-spirits globally! Thermal’s remarkable guides have followed their passion to create unique trips, lodges, and resorts at epic surf spots around the world. They’re not just surfers. They have designed their lives and blazed their own trails: personally and professionally. The experiences, friendships, and stories from the pursuit of their passions have made them who they are.

Thermal guides are Wildpreneurs! Many of them have a story similar to my own. They had a dream and followed their wild ideas to create a lodge in paradise.

A few of my favorite stories from Thermal guides:

These are just a few of my favorite inspiring stories from Thermal Wildpreneurs. It’s been exciting to watch this community grow and thrive.

And surfing is only the beginning!!!! Next up…fishing and cycling. Stay tuned!

Explore your passion on Thermal

A word of mouth recommendation from a Norwegian guest who stayed at the Tailwind Jungle Lodge several years ago lead me to connect with the Raw Ocean Lodge. This place was clearly created by wild ideas and passion. The surfing here is chilly but sweet and definitely unique! Whether you’re a surfer or not, put this on your list of destinations as a place to disconnect, unwind and just be.

This remarkable lodge has come life in the last few years as a multi-facted project and they’re just getting started. “Our primary motivation is to get people outside into the elements and connect with nature.” says co-founder JT Rantaniitty. “This is a place to log off, and just be. We want to make an impact on people. For many of our guests, their visit has been a turning point. A reminder of what life can be. Life out by the North Sea is raw and fueled by the energy from the elements. We see this project as a catalyst for our local community, with close collaboration with other local small businesses. With focus on sustainability, quality and craftmanship. Besides getting people out to nature, we arrange concerts, art exhibitions and have our own café/restaurant on site.”

Skaarnesheimen Raw Ocean Lodge is located on the south west part of Karmøy, only a few meters away from the harsh North Sea. Perched on a peninsula, this wild place offers all the moods of the ocean, from roaring storms to glassy mornings.

Here’s more wild inspiration from JT:

Do you have a favorite quote or mantra?
The future is now.

Describe your perfect day surfing at the Raw Ocean Lodge. Do you have a favorite break?
Clean, cold, winter morning, 6 feet swell, no wind, and just a few friends out in the lineup to share the stoke. We have six beaches with good surfing conditions on the island. There is also a few point breaks and some reef slabs for the adventurous. My “ground zero” is Sandvesanden. A punchy beach break that picks up most swell in the area.

Where are you originally from? How did you arrive at Raw Ocean Lodge?
I live with my family, 5 minutes away from the lodge. We are four friends who founded Raw Ocean Lodge, and I’m the one who lives furthest away J After living 12 years in the city, I came home to my childhood island, and saw its calmness and beauty with fresh eyes.

Any favorite notes that surfers have left in your guestbook? 
I will be back!

Visit Raw Ocean Lodge on Thermal

I’ve recently started working with a dream team that is creating a new travel site called Thermal. This project is about following your passions, wherever they may lead. Does this resonate with you? It may also sound familiar…this approach to life clearly aligns with the Wildpreneur way!

As the Thermal community grows, I’m inspired by Wildpreneurs globally. Jason Marcil, founder of Wild Cat Surf Charters, is one of these remarkable Wildpreneurs. “The biggest silver lining of Covid has been the opportunity to surf less crowded waves and buy my own boat to offer surf charters in Indo,” says Jason. “I expect to be one of the only boat in the Ments during my upcoming May 1 through May 12 trip.”

If a surfing charter in Indonesia is on your bucket list, you won’t want to miss this. Check out Jason’s wild inspiration below.

Where are you originally from? How did you arrive at Wild Cat?

I was raised in southern California, right now I live in Oahu (Hawaii). I have been traveling to Indonesia for 6 years doing surf trips every summer. I have always wanted to own one of the charter boats out there, and the global issue/covid 19 gave me the opportunity to buy one of the existing businesses at a discount.

“Why climb the highest mountain? We don’t do these things because they are easy. We do them because they are hard.”

— Jason Marcil

Surfing with Wild Cat Charters

What’s your perfect day surfing on Wild Cat?

After getting one of the longest barrels of my life, I pulled out to the hoots and cheers of my best friends. My arms were so tired I had already promised myself this would be my last wave, but as I started waving for a ride back to the boat, I noticed fresh set of glassy bombs looming on the horizon. As I watched my boys getting another round of perfect waves, I found the strength I didn’t know I had, to extend the session one more hour. Another hour turned into 4 more hours, and as the sun started to set…I realized I had spent more time in the tube that day than the rest of my life combined. Crazy thing is, I still had 7 days left in my trip…

 What is your role at Wild Cat? Did you create it? If not, how did you join the team?

I founded the company. I purchased the boat from an existing surf charter company which was going out of business, and re-branded it as Wild Cat. Original boat name was Nusantara.

Please share your top four favorite images of surfing on your boat.

The best part of surfing on my boat is we can travel quickly and comfortably. Allowing for easy access to the best waves on offer. The catamaran is faster than most boats, allowing us to jet over to a different spot before the conditions change, also the haul design keeps the boat steady in rough seas, giving guests a much more comfortable experience.

Anything else that you'd like to share about your personal story and experience with Wild Cat.

I bought this boat so I could help re-create the magic I have personally experienced in the Mentawai Islands for others.

Visit Wild Cat on Thermal

What farflung and exotic locales have you dreamed of exploring? "Life is short, the world is big, and the value of travel is too great to wait..." say National Geographic authors Mike and Anne Howard. Though COVID restrictions may have kept many of us at home for the past year, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Now is the ideal time to consider your next adventure.

WARNING: The following experience and advice may spark your free spirit to travel far and wide (on any budget!).

“We were deciding where to go on our honeymoon and the list of destinations was running off the page…so we thought, why choose? If we want to have all these experiences in our lives, we should prioritize them and get moving. We set out on an honeymoon around the world in January 2012 and nine years later, we’re still on it. HoneyTrek started as a blog to share our travel experiences with family and friends. Though when Condé Nast Traveler, Los Angeles Times, and more media outlets took notice of our journey, we realized it could become something bigger." — Mike & Anne Howard

Whether you're honeymooners, or not, are you ready to get comfortably wild? Take a step towards turning your travel adventure dreams into reality by diving into this interview with Mike and Anne Howard, founders of HoneyTrek and authors of Comfortably Wild: The Best Glamping Destinations in North America.

Interview with HoneyTrek Founders:

Describe your perfect day as Wildpreneurs.

We draw the curtains surrounding the bed of our vintage camper and watch sunrise over our backyard du jour—be it a mountain lake, red rock canyon, or sand-dune beach. We start our day stretching in the morning sun, hike in any direction that begs exploring, then find a viewpoint to enjoy a picnic breakfast. During the heat of the day, we work on HoneyTrek—writing a blog, editing photos, or pitching new projects. An hour before sunset, we take down the kayak for a paddle and happy hour on the water. On shore we make a campfire, cook over the flames, and stay up until we’ve seen a dozen shooting stars.

Tell us about your wild business! What was your inspiration to create HoneyTrek?

HoneyTrek started as a blog to share our travel experiences with family and friends. Though when Condé Nast Traveler, Los Angeles Times, and more media outlets took notice of our journey, we realized it could become something bigger. We’ve used HoneyTrek as a vehicle to inspire arm-chair travelers, help people plan their own RTW trips, consult for glamping camps, promote underrated destinations, and author two travel books. Helping people follow their dreams is what keeps us (and HoneyTrek) ticking.

What do you wish you’d known prior to getting started as Wildpreneurs? 

The importance of SEO. If you don’t create content with an SEO strategy in mind, it might as well be a hidden diary entry. So much of our early content, no matter how sensational, barely got any traction because we didn’t think about what people were searching for and what keywords could bring that article to the first page of Google. This is not to say write for robots; having your own voice and creating a compelling story is still paramount. Learn the basics of SEO and give your work a better chance to find its audience.  

What advice would you give to someone who is considering turning their passion into a business?

Start paring down your life immediately. Learn to live simply and find happiness with less. When you lower your expenses, financial success will be that much closer. And when you do start making more money from your business, you won’t be as tempted to spend it on frivolous things and have funds for even greater endeavors.

Do you have a favorite motivational quote?

“Then there is the most dangerous risk of all—the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet that you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.”― Randy Komisar

Anything else you’d like to share about your journey?

As horrendous as 2020 was, HoneyTrek was able to celebrate a few milestones...Our 3,000th day as digital nomads, 3 years RVing North America, road tripping to our our 50th-state, receiving a Lowell Thomas journalism award for our glamping book Comfortably Wild, and more. We had plenty of curve balls come our way—like getting stuck in Poland for 7 weeks at the start of the pandemic and nearly blowing up our camper driving with a leaking gas tank—but hey, we're stronger for it and excited for 2021!

What are you working on right now? 

This is in the early stages, but we’re working on a second edition of our National Geographic book, Ultimate Journeys for Two: Extraordinary Destinations on Every Continent. Our initial proposal has been met with great enthusiasm from the Nat Geo editors and we have an outline due at the end of the month! This would allow us to add dozens more of our favorite destinations to the book, visit some far-flung regions we’ve always dreamed of exploring, feature new inspiring “power couples,” and release the book as a hardcover edition.

Where can we follow you? Please share your website, Instagram, Facebook, etc.

www.honeytrek.com

Instagram.com/HoneyTrek

Facebook.com/HoneyTrek

Twitter.com/HoneyTrek

YouTube.com/TheHoneyTrek

https://bookshop.org/shop/HoneyTrek

Keep the wild inspiration flowing!

Order Wildpreneurs Book

Happy holidays from the jungle! As 2020 draws to a close (phew, what a bizarre year) we're focusing on gratitude and natural living. Simple things we're grateful for right now? Healing tropical air, nourishing fresh food, family, siestas and fiestas (socially distanced!) with amigos.

We understand that travel is risky right now for many of you. We're sending jungle health your way from afar.  If you're feeling stuck at home, check out these fun tips to live the jungle life wherever you are!

Are you ready to start living the jungle life? Wherever you are jungle bliss is within reach! Or at least close to it…

Here at the Tailwind Jungle Lodge our motto is “love life.”  Whether we’re working or playing, we do our best to be in the moment enjoying life. We want to share this philosophy with you! We’re eager to share our jungle lifestyle with you.

Top 10 Tips for Living the Jungle Life:

1) Hang a hammock. Wherever you are, this is essential. Find a hammock style you like. Next, pick your spot. Two trees or two walls in your house are great options. Don’t have a place that will work?  Look into getting a chair hammock that you can easily hang from a beam in your ceiling or from an overhanging tree branch. Here in the jungle we prioritize hammock daily. Wherever you are, we recommend that you do the same. Head to the hammock and read your favorite magazine, take a siesta or just gaze up at the sky.

2) Nourish your body with whole foods. The jungle family loves to eat :). The majority of our plates are filled with fresh fruits and veggies from the local farmer’s market, seafood caught daily, and coconut water straight from the coconut. Food here doesn’t come in a package, nor has it been processed. We fill our fridge and tummies with fresh whole foods. Wherever you are, quality nutrition is important. Check out your farmer’s market for the best fresh, local, organic foods.

3) Create a “no stresspassing zone”. Feeling stressed? You’ve probably heard of the value of adding a regular meditation into your life. Meditation can be a great way to clear and calm the mind. But have you actually done this? Who has the time to sit for an extended meditation? For most of us, meditation falls to the bottom of the priority list. Here in the jungle, the natural jungle setting is a perfect place for meditation. However, if the wild jungle isn’t available to you, we recommend creating a “no stresspassing zone” where you can intentionally leave your stresses at the door. Your no stresspassing zone could be a hammock, a comfy chair, a mountain top, or even a bench at your local park. Pick a spot and declare it your no stresspassing zone. Visit this place regularly!

4) Make time for playtime & fitness. At the Tailwind Jungle Lodge we’re playtime professionals. We love to frolic in the waves and challenge our bodies with a range of motion. Though we’re passionate about stand up paddle boarding, we also love to kayak, hike, do yoga and more. The body thrives on diversity! How can you get outside, move your body and play? Wherever you are be sure to make playtime and balanced fitness a priority.

5) Everything in moderation. Including moderation. Yes, occasionally we have fiestas in the jungle and yes, the margaritas are definitely flowing! As Jungle Judi likes to say,  “sacredness in revelry”. In order to live a healthy jungle life, we embrace a philosophy of moderation in all things. BUT we also believe that you absolutely must treat yourself occasionally.  Go ahead, treat yourself, you deserve it.

6) Embrace the “mañana” mantra.  We’ve had to learn this over and over again. The Mexican culture seems to embrace the theme of “no hurries and no worries.” When a local tells you that they’ll get to it “mañana” this could mean later, it could mean tomorrow, it could also mean next year!  Our first reaction to this was extreme irritation. Things weren’t getting done as quickly as we wanted. After beating our heads against the wall for a few years we eventually decided to go with the flow and embrace this slower, more laid-back approach to life. We know that things will get done eventually.  In the Mexican culture family, playtime and enjoying life are much higher on the priority list than work. Read more about my journey in the Mexican culture in Wildpreneurs Chapter 6—Simplification & Adaptation: Is It Mañana Yet?

Wherever you are, test out the mañana theory. Don’t be afraid to hit the big PAUSE button on life occasionally and slow things down. Focus on family, friends and playtime. No hurries and no worries! The work will get done . . . eventually :).

7) Practice yoga. We believe in the healing powers of yoga for both mind and body. We do our best to hit the mat daily, either with a class or on our own. Even just a few sun salutations or a child’s pose can reset your day and/or mindset. Wherever you are, incorporating yoga into your life on a regular basis is a must.

8) Be nice to the natural world. The Tailwind Jungle Lodge does its best to minimize impact and respect the natural world. We love our jungle home! We conserve water and energy, use local, renewable materials and try to live in harmony with the natural cycles of the jungle. What can you do to take care of the natural world where you live?

9) Remember that money isn’t everything. We’ve decided that happiness shouldn’t be determined by the state of a bank account. We’re not making millions here in the jungle and that’s okay! Life is good and we’re not going to starve anytime soon. Wherever you are, don’t let money control your life or your happiness.   Life can be so simple if you let it be.

10) Breathe. Last but not least, don’t forget to breathe! In this crazy world, it’s easy to become so busy that we forget to breathe. When life starts to spiral out of control we remind ourselves to stop and do a quick “60 second meditation”. It’s simple! Sit down, close your eyes and take 3 long, deep breaths. This is a chance to clear your mind and reconnect with your body.  Take this 60 second meditation with you wherever you go and do it regularly. 

Follow these simple steps and you’ll be on your on your way to living the jungle life. When you’re up for a visit to the real jungle we’ll be waiting for you at the Tailwind Jungle Lodge.

Curious to know how we created the Tailwind Jungle Lodge?

Read our family business story in Wildpreneurs.

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Wildpreneurs often make sacrifices and compromises in order to chase our dreams and wild ideas. Yet, many free-spirits have learned the hard way that regardless of circumstances, self care should always be a priority. Investing in ourselves is crucial, not only for health, but for the longevity of our Wildpreneur pursuits. Here’s an excerpt from Wildpreneurs Chapter 3: Financial Rollercoaster:

“Gallery owner Cori Jacobs recalls that in order to get her business started in Sayulita, Mexico, she moved out of her apartment and into the studio where she worked. For months, she didn’t have a kitchen and showered at friends’ homes in order to trim extra expenses. Though this was a necessary measure in the beginning, she has since learned the importance of having a living space that is separate from the gallery—that division between her workplace and personal space—is essential. She says: “Self-care is the best care. Investing in yourself is the best way for you to have the energy and enthusiasm to keep your business alive.” Today, the Cori Jacobs Gallery is a colorful cacophony of paintings, pottery, and clothing. As her business thrives, Cori is happy in her casita several blocks from the gallery.”

Despite the challenges of 2020, Cori has continued to make self care a priority. Cori used quarantine time to tune into her inspiration. She shares, “When everything slowed down, alone with time to wonder, I fell in love with botanical colors. I began learning about natural dyes and plant pigments during quarantine and experimenting with trees close to Sayulita. I've found the most amazing magic in a simple leaf collected along a morning walk.”

The result? Her new line of elegant silk scarves. These naturally-dyed silk scarves are made from freshly foraged leaves. Each scarf is a unique expression of a collaboration with nature and the alchemy of the plants—eucalyptus, teak, marigolds, iron and rust, roses, time, and rainwater.

Holiday Gift Idea: Silk Scarves

Love this creative inspiration! Cruise on over to the Cori Jacobs Gallery here to do some holiday shopping. You’ll also find more wild wisdom and reflection from Cori here:

How long did you think about starting your business before you actually did it? What was the tipping point?

Even as a kid I was always selling stuff. I built towards becoming a Wildpreneur for a long time. I had the skills, worked in a gallery, dealt with customers, etc. When I finally rented a space taking the leap was quick.

When you decided to open your gallery, how did you find funding early on? 

I took earnings from a previous season and threw it all towards that project. I went for the “all in” approach. It was an exciting launch but also scary, and risky.

I’d just had a big commission piece (got paid well) and had more cash than usual. That was definitely a confidence boosting project.

What has kept you going with your business in the long run? What keeps you motivated and focused? 

The lifestyle. My work and life here gives me a chance to connect directly with people—it’s a bridge between me and the world. Sometimes this is uncomfortably personal. But I like that transparency. I’m really happy with it.

Have you had to adapt your business over the years? Have your original business plan/goals evolved with time? 

Yes, in a way. I didn’t really have a business plan when I first opened, my work has grown organically. For example, my ceramics used to be made in Portland, driven down to Mexico. I eventually moved that production to Mexico. My experience has been gradual steps that take money and time to figure out. I’ve found the flow through repetition and practice.

What is the best piece of advice you'd give to someone looking to start their own business in a foreign country? What do you wish you’d known prior to getting started? 

Be ready to work hard. It’s also important to build in supportive practices and networks. I started the gallery business after I’d already been living in Mexico for 8 years, had a lot of connections and spoke the language fluently. I knew exactly what I was getting into. Running my business hasn’t shocked and surprised me. But it has actually been more successful than I thought it would be!

Any advice for potential Wildpreneurs?

Work really hard, but allow ease for yourself. Have some kind of date night with your friends, a morning practice, do something to balance out the work. And don't be afraid to rest and recharge. Learning to trust my own intuition and allow myself to make radical decisions about what is right for my small business has taken years of practice to get comfortable with (still practicing daily). The pandemic really pushed me to give myself the permission to do exactly what i needed to do to care for my creativity and my business and that has meant digging deep into new territory and not rushing to reopen.

Start an emergency fund. Build one little by little and always have some savings set aside. I wish I'd started doing this sooner.

Self care is the best care. Investing some time in yourself is the best way for you to have the energy and enthusiasm to keep your business.

Learn the language of the country you are moving to. Maybe not perfectly, but at least make the effort to achieve conversational fluency. It will take time but the rewards of being able to communicate effectively with the people around you is priceless and will long term help in every aspect of your life and business.

Would I do it all over again?

Absolutely.

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Find What Moves You

Shanti has inspired me to try things I didn’t think I was capable of. Her beach workouts have repeatedly empowered me to move my body in new ways, to step outside my comfort zone, to practice self care, to feel strong and chase what makes me come alive.

A powerful combo, right? Shanti is truly a beautiful force.

Shanti is the founder of SweatPlayLive: personal training, fitness, wellness and surf retreats. She is one of the most inspirational, motivational, supportive and strong people I know (her life story is remarkable, read her inspiration below). Shanti was the first wildpreneur I interviewed for Wildpreneurs several years ago. Gracias Shanti for your inspiration and tremendous support—you’ve made all the difference!

Workout with Shanti on Zoom

One of the silver linings of COVID19…Shanti has been offering her awesome workouts online. We can all tune into Shanti’s workouts weekly on ZOOM! Check out her fusion sculpt class or strength/cardio/core. Follow Shanti at @SweatPlayLive for the weekly schedule and zoom login info. Also be sure to check out her upcoming surf/fitness retreats.

Discover Shanti’s wisdom in Wildpreneurs Chapter 7 - Invest In Yourself. Here’s a glimpse of her free-spirited inspiration:

Q: What was your inspiration to get SweatPlayLive going? Where/when did this take place?

When I was in college I visited my boyfriend's friend Lisa. She was the program director for Skylonda, a fitness/hiking retreat in Redwood City (Bay Area), CA. Her work day involved a 2-4 hour morning hike, teaching 2 fitness classes and then afternoon stretch class. Dream job!.. at least I thought it was, and envisioned myself doing something like that some day. Fast forward to 2010. I had been personal training and teaching fitness classes for 13 years and was on a Surf, Mountain Bike, Yoga retreat in Nayarit, Mexico. The 2nd day, I crashed on my bike and opened up my arm to the bone. Because of the stitches I received, I was unable to surf, ride or practice yoga. Instead, I spent the week (happily) laying in a hammock on a beautiful beach writing up a business plan to lead my first retreat. I returned home from that trip and mentioned it to my clients and students - and I had my first trip set for a couple months later.

Q: Is this work your passion? If so, when did your passion begin or originate?  

I am very, very fortunate to have known what I wanted to do from an early age. I could never see myself working in an office. Even training indoors, in gyms, is challenging for me. I like to be free. To feel free to move. I played lots of sports growing up, and also danced for many years, but it wasn't until I started teaching kickboxing aerobics (Taebo) right out of college that I KNEW I wanted to do this forever. "Find what moves you" is the Sweat Play Live tag line. My passion is moving and my purpose is absolutely to teach and inspire others, through fitness, to find what moves them.

Q: Do you strive to grow and expand your business down the road? Or are you satisfied with where your business is at now?

I know my retreats can truly change people's perception of what their bodies can do, and what their life can be. With that, I want to host more retreats!

Q: What do you wish you’d known prior to getting started as an entrepreneur?

I am definitely a jump in head-first kind of person. I learn by doing. Looking back, and looking at my business right now, I know taking some marketing courses would have been helpful :)

Q: What do you find is the most challenging part about running your own business?

Wearing all the hats! There are so many little details that need to be done, whether it be keeping up the the daily social media or little touches for each retreat guest. I am the queen of the post-it notes. I could not live without them :)

Q: Some days are easier than others, how do you keep yourself motivated on the toughest days?

Many years ago when I was just starting out as a trainer, I was discussing business with a client (a successful businessman) and I said, "but that is going to take forever!" He laughed and said, "Yes, it might. But if you are lucky you will have forever. What else are you going to do, quit?"  I think about what he said often. I know there is NOTHING ELSE in the world that I would rather be doing.  Just like I tell my fitness clients- it takes consistency. Do a little something everyday. There are some days I am super pumped and grind through 8+ hours of blog/newsletter/email writing and some days I do the bare minimum. It's all a balance, but if you are truly following your passion... you will find a way.

Q: What’s your favorite aspect of being a wild entrepreneur?
I LOVE getting to create my days. I love exercising, I love teaching, I love personal training and I get to do what I LOVE every day!  

Q: What’s your biggest piece of advice to someone considering becoming a wild entrepreneur?  

You have to just follow your heart and go for it! There are going to be plenty of people around you that cannot see outside of their box or cubicle. You might hear advice or get resistance from people living with a fear-based mindset. Do not let them squash your dream.

HIIT the Beach in Sayulita Mexico

Also be sure to check out Shanti’s online library of SweatPlayLive videos! GRACIAS Shanti! Thanks for sharing your wild inspiration!

Yup, that's me, nursing my little dude while launching my book on CBC TV last February. My journey as an author has been a wild ride! A challenging and rewarding adventure that has pushed me to learn and grow in many surprising ways. I'm grateful for every step of the journey.

Are you considering writing a book? YOU have a unique story to tell (non-fiction or fiction!). Why not share…what are you waiting for?





































Give Wildpreneurs As A Gift

For me, the decision to write a book struck like a lightning bolt. Pen hit paper while in the hammock between surf sessions—the words began tumbling out and didn’t stop. The writing process was a gift: cathartic and desperately needed for that time in my life. Clicking into the “writing zone” sparked waves of inspiration; new ideas would pop into my head unexpectedly— while sipping coffee (or tequila!), running, watching the sunset, even in the middle of the night—I felt so ALIVE.

At some point, most of us have daydreamed of writing a book. Has your pen hit paper yet? Have you tasted writer’s bliss? Perhaps your writing process has been a gradual/mindful journey over the years, or maybe you thrive on ah-ha moments and all-nighters…

Regardless of your approach, breaking down the massive project of writing a book into bite sized chunks makes all the difference. I certainly wish I’d had some guidance before getting started—I was completely clueless!  Below is a reflection on my experience and 12 practical steps: from original book idea to finding a publisher.

1) Outline. You have a great idea. Now what? Remember in high-school when you had to write an outline before writing an essay. Same concept. Writing an outline for your book is an invaluable tool—a road map to guide your thoughts along. My outline began as 10 bullet points. These evolved into my chapters. Keep adding to your outline as ideas pop up.

2) Writing coach. If you’re serious about making progress, a writing coach will make it happen. Think accountability, edits and guidance wherever you need it. Find someone you have good chemistry with. I contacted a family friend (a publisher author and experienced writing coach). We reviewed my outline, chatted about my vision for the book and she happily took me on a client. The simple act of paying her made me take my writing much more seriously. I sent her my chapters/progress monthly, she reviewed/edited, then we scheduled a phone session. I couldn’t have accomplished all that I did without her support. You can check out my awesome writing coach, Herta Feely at www.chrysaliseditorial.com

3) Goals. Why are you writing this book? Is it for personal therapy, friends/family or are you aiming for the best seller list? Having clarity around your personal goals will bring your one step closer to achieving them. Where your intention goes your energy flows.

4) Writing time priority. When will you write? I’m a morning writer. My ideal routine: wake up, write for an hour, go for a run, write for two more hours. If I can get those morning hours I make a ton of progress. What’s your ideal writing regime? Make it a priority! If you don’t write, you’re never going to have a book to share :).

5) Swallow your ego. The first time I submitted a chapter to my writing coach she basically told me “nice try, try again.” I felt like I’d been slapped. I’d spent weeks working on that first attempt. BUT, though my ego and confidence were bruised, I tried again, and again, and again. I think I re-wrote that chapter 5 different times. Be ready: you won’t get it right on the first try and there will be plenty of criticism coming your way. It comes with the territory as a writer (and as Wildpreneur!) so you might as well get used it. Plus, if your mind is open your writing surely will benefit.

6) Style. By the time I’d written my 8th chapter I finally found my style and flow. Sure took a while! BUT it was well worth the effort and the wait. Be patient, keep writing, tweaking, and infusing your personality into your writing. Your unique style will emerge and you’ll be grateful you didn’t settle early on.

7) Manuscript, now what? At some point you’ll have made enough progress on your manuscript (it doesn’t have to be complete) to think about the next step. Do you want to use an agent? You’ll need an agent to submit to big/traditional publisher. Or do you prefer small independent publishers that you can submit to directly? Or maybe the self-publishing route is a better fit for you and your audience? All are great options with pros and cons worth considering (I’ll save that for another blog post).

8) Proposal. If you’re self publishing no need to read this part (skip to #10). If you’re going a more traditional route DO NOT rush this step. I made the mistake of thinking I could write my proposal in a few weeks. Wrong! Polishing and making my proposal worthy of submission took nearly a year. To get started, check out this book: A Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Book Proposals & Query Letters. Take note, the most important part of your proposal: the first few pages! If your overview isn’t clear, concise and attention grabbing you’ll miss your chance.

9) Submissions to traditional publishers. Pay close attention to the submission guidelines on publishers websites. Don’t waste your time submitting to everyone and everyone. Seek out the publishers that are the best fit for your genre and your personal values. For example, for Wildpreneurs, I submitted to publishers that were calling for business, entrepreneurship, and adventure. I also searched for publishers with holistic, environmental, sustainable and family based approaches that aligned with my book and personality. If you’re submitting directly to small publishers (without an agent), I recommend getting on this newsletter: https://writingtipsoasis.com/. They send out a newsletter regularly with very specific calls for submissions from diverse publishers/imprints. This is how I eventually found my awesome publisher, HarperCollins Leadership.

Considering Self-Publishing? Make it happen here.

10) Self publishing. If you’re self motivated and eager to get your book out into the world, self publishing is a great option. Check out Pufferprint (read founder/Wildpreneur Jeremey Epstein’s interview here). Mention you're a Wildpreneur when you submit a quote and get an extra 10% MORE books printed FREE when you print with PufferPrint.

10) PATIENCE & Perseverance. As you wait, keep tweaking your manuscript, proposal, marketing platform, audience, blog, website etc. There is plenty to do (you will likely wish you had done more while you were waiting!). As with life as a Wildpreneur, you MUST persevere. Keep on submitting and moving forward—don’t give up!

11) Success! There is no right way. Enjoy the journey and you’ll find success. Eventually, if you believe in yourself, you will hold your book in your hands.

Free Audio Sample of My Book: Wildpreneurs