Erika Jacobson, Faraway Business and BOLA

What is it that makes so many people yearn for a closer connection to nature?

Why is adventure such a powerful way to find meaning, self-determination and transformation?

Can we have transformative experiences in our own back yard?

These were some of the fascinating matters explored by Dr Erika Jacobson, CEO of Edgewalkers, based in Fremantle.

Erika led a conversation for Band of Leaders Australia (BOLA) members and guests entitled The Faraway Business, at the group’s monthly meeting on Friday 24 November at Casa Nostra Caffe in Osborne Park.

BOLA is a peer membership group for business owners and chief executives.? We seek to take our members beyond achievement to success—the essence of leadership.? Inviting Guest Conversations is a key activity in our group meeting.

In general terms, an Edgewalker is an unconventional someone who walks between two worlds—bringing insights and practices from one into the other.

Edgewalkers’ mission is to bring people closer to nature and their most creative potential through walking adventures and creativity retreats that provide opportunities for people to stop, reset, and retune; for people to feel the power of nature and experience its rugged and pristine beauty. For people to spend time reflecting and reconnecting with their self-expression and creativity.

With a 95% female client base—many from interstate, and overseas—participants tend to be professional, high-achieving women 45-65 years old who have spent a lot of their lives working, taking care of and giving to others.

Many retreat attendees found themselves at crossroads and were searching for something more, something more meaningful and more aligned with their values and purpose, wondering what they could put their creativity and energy into now?

Or during the walking adventures, they wanted a sense of achievement that comes from physical challenge and stepping out of our comfort zone.

“Women, more than men, value the experience and the learning—and most of our clients are at a time in lives when they have the time and can afford it,” she said.

Over time she hoped that there would be a bigger proportion of men joining the more physically demanding activities, and she saw great potential for teams wishing for additional shared experiences and team building.

The current offerings include multi-day walking adventures along the Cape to Cape track near Margaret River, the Murchison Gorge in the Mid-West of WA and a sell-out walking with wildflowers experience in the biodiverse Fitzgerald Biosphere and Stirling Ranges. Erika said this year Edgewalkers was adding extra dates to their Mongolian Walking Adventure, as well as a new tour around the Peaks of the Balkans (crossing Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania) and the first international retreat in Korcula Island, Croatia.

She said that the business was set in tourism but was primarily about education and wellness.

Many of the activities and settings were challenging, causing participants to confront their own vulnerability.? On these occasions, she saw people making great strides in their learning—especially their personal development and environmental knowledge.

Erika said she was often surprised to find that many people were living lives that they didn’t enjoy.? She promoted the ideas that:

“We have one life that will end and there is nothing we can take with us.

"We are promoting a legacy.? We can all live lives that we love.? And we also come to see that nature is neutral, where everyone in a group is at the same level.? We realise that this is just us, not about what we may have or the position we may hold.”

In the activities, people were often required to be problem solvers, which meant that they were tapping into the essence of their own creativity.

BOLA members will meet next on Friday 15 December at Casa Nostra.? Our Guest Conversation will be with Anthony Hasluck, Managing Director of Clarity Communication in Subiaco.

Besides the Guest Conversation, our agenda includes processing of strategic opportunities raised within the group and leadership development tools, activities and discussions.

Prospective members are invited on request as Paul Manning is building his BOLA Growth group.

In the meantime, each member will have a monthly coaching session with Jeff or Paul.

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Next week:? The Flying Café

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About the Author

Jeff Bell?is Principal of executive consultancy ResultsWise in Perth, Western Australia.?To boost your leadership, ask Jeff about consulting, coaching, strategy facilitation, Band of Leaders Australia (BOLA) [email protected] or Advanced Leadership Course [email protected]. Mobile (61) 439 988 662.