The Lesson of Pillow Rock

March 2022 • By Jeff

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 — considered one of the top ten Class V rapids anywhere in the world.

There’s a tradition for rafters successfully navigating Pillow Rock: touching the rock with their paddles. My last Upper Gauley trip was no exception. But when I looked at the photos afterward, 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 it, paddles were reaching like a child going for the brass ring.

In that photo I discovered something about myself — and an important life lesson: the importance of looking downriver at the next obstacle.

Pillow Rock is not the end of the rapid. The frothy, sometimes frightening chaos continues through what’s called “the toilet bowl” until you pass Volkswagen Rock. Those who don’t shift their attention downriver risk paddling without a boat … i.e., 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.