Pursue your passions

When I read the first section assigned for “Let My People Go Surfing” by Yvon Chouinard, I felt a sense of motivation that I have not felt in some time. The three takeaways I have from this first section are to follow your heart, find your place in the world and think about it often, and think for yourself. I wrote about dreams in my last leadership journal and relayed my sentiment that we should never give up on our dreams.

I am not entirely sure if Chouinard is even following his heart as much as he is just living his life the only way he knows how. The book follows Yvon through his early years and his passion for climbing and being outdoors serves as the foundation for the culture he eventually imparts upon Patagonia. It does not appear that Yvon was looking to create a nationally recognized brand of clothing and outdoor apparel, he was just doing what he loved and it led him to success. This is a great lesson for us graduate students as we look to positively effect the world around us. I fully believe that my greatest motivation is love. The love for the people around me and love for the things that fulfill me drives me to contribute to society. Yvon knew this and couldn’t be dissuaded because he felt so strongly about what drove him to wake up everyday. I think that many of us become disenchanted by the happenings of the world around us and give up on the things we love. No matter how hard things may become, true love for a person or lifestyle will grant us the power we need to overcome obstacles.

Yvon struggled to find his place in the world and was probably considered to be a menace to society at a number of points. Chouinard was challenged by the world he lived in and persisted because he believed in specific principles that would later outline his philosophy for the culture of Patagonia. Yvon consistently thought about his place in the world and reassured himself that he was on the path to a worthwhile lifestyle. I think that it is important for all of us to find our place in the world and think about it often. We may be challenged by others who disagree with our values, which is why we need to frequently think about our values and remind ourselves why they are important to us. What this also does is enable us to think for ourselves.

No matter how many people agreed or disagreed with Yvon seemed to always think for himself. The one example that stands out to me in the book is Yvon’s take on washing and drying clothes. Every other clothing manufacturer made clothing that would require repeated washing and drying. Yvon thought that the clothes he made must be of a certain quality that could stand up to the world. He notes that drying clothes often can’t be good because they deteriorate and notes that lint traps are the only example you need to see this truth. This one example illustrates Yvon’s ability to think for himself and not be easily persuaded by what “everyone else” is doing.

I think of all of these concepts as key components in the sport industry. Sport organizations require us to communicate and build relationships while finding solutions for problems that surface. We must really love what we do because we will be challenged in a number of ways. As a Youth Sport Director, I remember taking a lot of crap from parents and administrators. Had I not loved the nature of my job, I would have stopped doing it long before coming to graduate school. The reason I love sports is because it imparts lasting life lessons that all participants can use to better their lives in the grand scheme of the world. I fell in love with the idea that I could make a different in the lives of the children I worked with. I also thought that my effectiveness as a role model would inspire the youth to reach for more than just professional sports.

I often thought of my place in the world and often times had to remind myself why I spend my time working to teach kids and adults. I’ve had a number of experiences that challenged my values. Thinking for myself is the only thing that gives me a sense of ownership over my current situation. I always want to maintain a responsibility like Yvon felt so that I can truly embody integrity and see that my actions directly represent my values. As I look 5 years down the road, this is my goal regardless of what position I hold.

I’ve thought a lot about where I would like to be in 5 years and I believe that I’d like to go on and get my PHD. I can use some of the lessons I take from Chouinard’s book and pair them with an education to yield long lasting and meaningful results. My heart led me back to JMU after 5 years away. I think about my life here and often think about my place at JMU looking ahead. I think that I would be most fulfilled serving JMU in a professional capacity. Like Yvon, I kind of just stumbled my way through life up to this point. I’m not sure exactly how I got here but I am glad I did. The JMU culture aligns with my personal values and should yield a mutually beneficial relationship.

I will continue to try to build on the concept of authentic leadership after reading Yvon’s book. I think that his authenticity is what made him so effective when forming Patagonia. Not only did he create a great business, he also created a culture of preservation and outdoor activity. I am eager to read the coming sections, which outline his approach to business and how he used the culture he built to create great products.