Yes, I’m a contributor and maybe you think I don’t need to make a donation to our own project, but the real question is “Why wouldn’t I?’  How can I ask all of my family and friends and all the people out in cyber space who I only know through Facebook and LinkedIn to donate if I don’t believe enough in the project enough to donate my own money?

I have been “watching” our Kickstarter campaign by logging in many times a day to see where we are with the fundraising.  I’ve been getting excited, nervous, worried, giddy and more over these past few days!  The array of emotions is overwhelming.  Have you ever wanted to do something so badly that you are almost sick over it?  Surely you have!   That’s how I felt about this…and I can only begin to imagine how Hilary feels, as this was her brainchild.  This has been a true labor of love on her part (and hopefully all the contributors as well).

To say that I’m excited that one day I will have something I’ve written in a published book is an understatement.  But, I would be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous too.  What if people don’t like what I wrote?  On my blog I don’t worry about it – I mean, it’s free content and if you like it “fine” and if you don’t “fine.”  It’s not like somewhere on Amazon people are critiquing my blog posts.  We are selling a book here, people!  There will be reviews!  I honestly don’t know what to think now.

I am beyond proud of what everyone has done.  Take a moment some time and sit down and try to write about what you’ve learned during your lifetime.  It’s not easy.  I feel like there is even so much more I could have said, but the words were not coming to me.  Maybe if I just wrote a bulleted list I could come up with some more things, but to flawlessly write it in paragraph form – it just wasn’t coming.  I do hope I’ve written enough to give some younger people a feeling for what they can accomplish in their life and how to overcome obstacles to get there.

I am honored to be a part of this, and I am humbled to know that some of the young people from Makomborero who this book will be supporting took money, that they couldn’t afford to spend, and donated to this campaign because they believe in what we are doing.  Being able to give back to them for their selfless act is an amazing feeling.

Please help us to continue raising funds…we have just under 5 days left.  Anything additional will be put to good use and will continue to help us give back to Makomborero!

~heather

Today....  we are almost fully funded!!!!  I am so excited I can't even believe it!!!   Although with this I have a practical ask - Please keep this momentum until the end of the Kickstarter!  The more money we raise - the bigger the donation to Makomborero in December and hopefully that will mean some pretty happy kids! 

Another feel good happening today occurred late in the afternoon when I was contacted by a friend.  She needed a film done for a client through a referral and I was able to refer Pull Focus Film School to them.  I am hoping that they get some work through this! 

How awesome is it when you are able to do something for someone else?!   Have a wonderful day!

H

Psssst...

Guess what?  We are planning The20Project book launch parties for November 2014!!!   Today in Vancouver we are going to meet with our potential venue to finalize the event.  Other events will be held in Australia, the UK, and the US!  More details to come as we get closer to getting this project FUNDED!!!   (Kickstarter) 

As we go through the process of raising money for our Kickstarter I have come to the conclusion that people just don't see what I see.   I have read all of the contributors stories, each are different, each have a point and I personally know someone that would benefit or learn from one of these stories. 

One of our contributors, Stephanie, grew up in the 'projects'; she struggled with even finding the resources to get her homework done, yet today she is a successful businesswomen with an MBA.  Her story in The20Project is her journey.  After reading her story I realize how lucky I was growing up in a middle-class household where I didn't have to worry about basic resources. She is an inspiration to me, and I am not even close to 20 or in the same situation!!! 

This is what The20Project is about - sharing journeys so that the reader can reflect on their own life and maybe apply some of that learning to their own situation!!! 

Today I received a piece of feedback from one of my contributors ….  “What’s the rush?”
To give you some context for the email, there are a bunch of things underway …  Kickstarter Campaign, Final Edits and Planning for Launch Events.  All of these also are supported with a million emails out from me :)  and yes, I am somewhat grumpy right now and super busy so I understand where this feedback is coming from. 

The short answer to her question is - >
There isn’t a rush; however, when is a good time?  (hint – there isn’t one)

The explanation behind my answer comes from a few places:

• Change Management Theory – you need to create a burning platform sometimes order to get people to change or start moving in the right direction!  We all need deadlines to start performing - I created one.   If I didn't put a stake in the ground now, we would still be in the same position in 3 months.   
  
• Timing to publish before Christmas – this would be the ideal time as parents may buy this for their kids...  or otherwise.
  
• My ENTJ Personality – I need to set out and stick to a project plan and also get on with other projects starting in 2015.  I am basically giving this my all until the end of the year and hopefully it takes off!  Yes, I acknowledge that I am creating some of this stress.    
  

Thinking things through a bit more about consequences. 
Firstly, I could close everything down tomorrow and walk away from the project and the world wouldn't come to an end.  Would people be VERY annoyed?  Yes.  But nothing dire or life changing - no one is hanging their entire future on this project. 

Secondly, what if we don't get funded through Kickstarter?   Then we are in a bit of a bind because even if we aren't going to do a run of book printing - we still need to pay our editor and publishing fees which amounts to around $2000. 

I leave you with a few thoughts on this: 

I BELIEVE that we can get funded by the end of the month
I BELIEVE that all of the contributors can help make this a reality
I BELIEVE that we can make all of this happen in the next few weeks
I BELIEVE that positive stuff is just around the corner


Because without such a fabulous group of people - we wouldn't have gotten this far!!! 

Growing up I was known both as the school athlete but also as the science kid. This meant when it was time to go to university I naturally gravitated towards the Life Sciences but also became a varsity athlete (chose a school based on the science program over its athletic prowess though!). I thrived in both but very quickly came to realize that being a life long academic was not in the stars for me. My whole life I’ve only truly felt alive when I was in the outdoors. There’s just something about nature and being immersed in it that makes me feel complete. I half grew up on the west coast of Canada either in the forest or on the water and spent the other half playing every sport that was available to me in Hong Kong.  Life as an expatriate in Hong Kong is definitely not a life most would bemoan but as an “outdoorsophile” it was easy to feel out of place rather often. Not due to the lack of nature (most people are not aware that over 75% of Hong Kong is actually the equivalent of a national park) but more due to the people one comes in contact with, how they determine “success” and how they are quick to judge people based on their career. 

Growing up I often heard people point at people who, in their eyes, had “less successful jobs” and tell me to “stay in school or that’s what you’ll end up doing”. Little did a lot of people know - those were the very jobs I’d always found inspiring and fulfilling. The kayak instructors, the tour guides, the adventure tourism folk, the people that get to live and work outdoors. However, when you’re raised and implanted with the notion that success is entirely determined based on how much wealth/material one acquires it was tough to try and fight back against that. 

When it came time to get a summer job between my 3rd and 4th year at university I opted out of the usual job in a hospital and went back to what I love - the outdoors. I was a kayak instructor and tour guide for a summer and a lot of people looked down at that. They may have not said it out loud but it’s not difficult to read body language.

I graduated from the University of Toronto this past June and when people hear I graduated with an Honours BSc but have opted to go do something I love (adventure tourism) versus make use the of the degree I have I get a lot of looks. I get a lot of “why would you do that, there’s no money in that!” or “you do know you will have to live paycheque to paycheque right?” or “so you went to one of the best universities in the world and aren’t going to do anything with the degree?”

Hearing things like that used to make me agitated, I’ve never understood why what someone else does with their life should matter to others. I’ve also never understood why everyone should have the same definition of “success”. To me, living my life and loving every part of it is success enough. Wealth isn’t just monetary gain, it’s also emotional gain and it’s how much of the world I’ve seen. In fact, I’ve opted to postpone the real world for 13 months to travel the world. I caught the travel bug when I was 5 and haven’t been able to shake it since

I feel like in the past year I’ve gone through something a lot of people have to go through, that “life determining” choice of what to do after graduation . I know people who pursued careers not because they want to but because their parents have told them to and it really does break my heart. 

I cannot wait for the release of The20Project and see what people have to say about this. I think this affirmation that a degree doesn’t have to determine a life is something more people need to be made aware of. I’ve chosen my love for life over a paycheque and I’ve been told by many I’ll regret it, I don't think that my degree should determine my life. I love what I studied and always will, I just know it’s not a typical career path for me. I’ve heard fantastic things about The20Project already and can’t wait to read more!

- Caitlin, 22