37. Keep Moving, Keep Wandering
I had a preview of my documentary to be aired at my birthday celebration. My apologies to the curators for the spoiler. A recurring theme was that I have always been a very chaotic person. I am not an over-planner. You will likely catch me running things in a spontaneous way or hammering that we need to go now. My advice to folks trying to build startups or anything is that they must be an emotional investment as well as relentless energy to deliver impact or returns. This chaotic planning is also how I mostly land in London and I start asking myself, where exactly am I going to stay tonight.
Years ago, I was invited for Skoll World Forum, an exclusive opportunity I seriously coveted. I had booked my travels and same last minute issue- I didn’t plan for accommodation. Event holds in Oxford and there’s no luxury of empty beds and exuberant options. I finally found an Airbnb. When I arrived at the place in a very cold and rainy night, I had no internet to find the entry instructions. I knocked and knocked. No one answered. I flipped the mats and checked the door frames, no key in sight. Then the rain went crazy and me and my bags were drenched in the rain. The streets were so lonely as I could even hear the slightest pin drop. No taxis in sight, no Internet on my phone and the rains jus kept going on and on.
Something whispered in my ear after 15 minutes of doing nothing and finding no shade to stay. How long would you remain here? Why not just take a walk and see if anything can happen. So I started walking to the main road and after few minutes, I found a poorly lit shop by the roadside. I was first grateful for the warmth and the shade. Then, I started my long conversation that I had come to an Airbnb & had no access. The shopkeeper asked for the address and I responded. Then he mentioned that he was waiting for me and the instruction was that I was meant to get the access from the shop. Wow. I was stunned.
This simple story has stayed with over the years as part of my abiding truths. It’s better to be lost; there’s a potential that we will be found. What’s more dangerous is to be stagnant, doing nothing. I am always the person first for the effort and not the perfection. I am looking for seekers, the curious folks who are willing to search even if it ends being fruitless. Life packs meaning and lessons in those journey. Losing your way, failing in certain issues, losing money or even reputation is part of the journey and all we need ‘is responsibility and the audacity to do better.
I remember starting Green Acts, which didn’t work out, or spending three years at First Bank without a promotion before leaving as an Executive Trainee to found BudgIT. I recall unsubmitted proposals, missed deadlines, even impact we didn’t deliver as planned. Yet each “loss” was a wandering step toward the main path.
I got into the Airbnb, understated than I had planned. You know how tiny European rooms could be but I was with a roof on my head, all because I kept walking. Be that Johnny Walker man. Never lose your sense of wonder — a new book, new destination, new learning, rabbit holes that might amount to nothing — keep walking.
