Every fall after Labor Day the Gauley River in West Virginia is Mecca for Rafters, Kayakers and other whitewater thrill seekers. During Gauley Season the “Beast of the East” is one of the top rivers in North America with many Class V rapids.
The second rapid of the Upper Gauley is Class V Pillow Rock, it is considered to be a top ten Class V rapids anywhere in the world.
There’s a tradition for rafters successfully navigating Pillow touching the rock with their paddles. My last Upper Gauley was no exception. In viewing trip photos I noticed something unusual. Our boat had eight paddlers plus a guide. Everyone except me was intently focused on the rock. On the side closest to the rock, the paddles were all reaching for it like a child reaching for the brass ring. In that photo I discovered both something about myself and an important life lesson. The
importance of looking down river at the next obstacle.
The Pillow Rock is not the end of the rapid. The frothy, sometimes frightening, frolicking continues through what is called “the toilet bowl” until you pass Volkswagen Rock. Those who don’t shift attention down river risk paddling without a boat … ie. Swimming.
When I closed Royal Music people asked me “What’s next?”
My reply, “I spent a lot of time trying to make money, now I’d like to make a difference.”
In the spirit of the rapids, I teach companies and executives to look down the river. If your business could benefit from working together reach me at: jeff@poopfloats.com and let’s see if we are a fit.
Jeff