GSEA Cape Town, South Africa

I’m flying home from Cape Town to Sydney feeling tired and inspired after a whirlwind week of hair, makeup, scripts, lights, cameras and action. As well as a lot of fun and fear with some game changing entrepreneurs and celebrities.?

I am addicted now to filmmaking. A little part of me has always wanted to be an actress - now I’m addicted. POSITION WANTED: documentary host.?

I’m impressed this week by:

1. The host who can memorise a script and consistently perform for 10 hours straight, 4 days in a row. Wow - Nikki Banz - you’re a rockstar.
2. The studio team - Melite Vivier you're such an inspiring entrepreneur - for anyone wanting to make a film or documentary please check out Meria Productions. Lee the director? was a whole heap of fun, he reminds me of a famous photographer who is totally in control of the team around him and still manages to put on the performance and get everyone to smile. What a pro. ?
3. The team behind the scenes organising everything. I can’t imagine what it would be like having 2 of 9 judges not able to fly to the location last minute.?Tamarin Morrell, you are a superstar! It was so wonderful to see your vision for this series come to life and to be able to play a small part.

• Everything was organised with grace. I was one of the ‘ring ins’ last minute and was so blessed to have received the call. It’s not always easy travelling by yourself especially to Africa, they had a driver ready for me at the airport (who is also private security and a lovely human) which made me feel safe the moment I arrived.?
• Every meal was on set and incredible thanks to the catering. When we weren’t on set we were at the most fabulous restaurants in Cape Town.
• The scheduling was seamless.
• My hotel room had the most wonderful view of Table Mountain, Lions Head, the waterfront and big wheel with the best African Sunset every evening. The rooftop bar was pretty special with 360 degree views, pool, lounges and music.?

4. The other judges (Tyler Olsen, Baraka Mtunga, Kishore Mordani, Nicola Nel, Safa Sharif, DJ Tira, Michael Ross, Roberta Elizondo). They say EO is famous for it’s Once in a Lifetime Experiences. This trip was no different. So many laughs on set, singing, dancing, great conversations, inspiration and of course there had to be adventure.?Michael Ross, thank you for inviting me and being a constant inspiration for the impact that we can all have in the world.

Abseiling from the TOP of Table Mountain!?

When someone asks you if you want to go abseiling, what would be your response? Mine of course is always yes. I love being able to experience new things and go on adventures.?

It wasn’t until I was at the top of the mountain and they were explaining the equipment and showing us the cliff that I remembered that I’m really scared of heights and that abseiling was a sport where you go over the edge of the cliff backwards to walk horizontally hanging by just a rope 1 kilometre high. I guess I thought of the abseiling photos I’d seen of people on nice small slopes and forgot that Table Mountain is very high and has vertical drops on all sides. It was definitely vertical where we were to climb over the edge.?

We waited on the edge of the cliff for what felt like a lifetime. Looking down and then trying not to look down (my family will laugh as I struggle to stand near the edge of my apartment balcony which is only 5 stories high).?

When it got a little bit too much I decided to meditate to ground me and be close to nature. I’d given my usual distraction - my phone to the organisers, so I had no choice but to sit with my thoughts. It was the most freeing and grounding experience.?

The lovely Roberta Elizondo and others shared stories about asking the mountain for permission, really feeling what comes up for you and to be present and have fun. It reminded me of the connections I’ve built with others when being in situations out of your comfort zone and the team building and strength of friendship that it creates.

The fears that come up for me where around heights and superficial things but also:

• The fear of inaction. How many of us procrastinate when we have a big leap to take. Metaphorically over a cliff where you can’t see what’s ahead and have to trust that everything will work out.?
• The fear of physical capability. I feel uncoordinated when I haven’t spent enough time in nature. We were talking about Mountain Tattoos - the kind you don’t want if you slip and put a foot wrong. I wasn’t wearing the right shoes and was shaking with fear - so much that the video of me first leaning back over the cliff shows my entire legs shaking. I fear hurting myself and ending up back in hospital where I’ve spent so much time. I love saying yes to adventures like this so that I am out there living my life to the fullest.?

One of the judges on the trip shared that she has an 80+ year old mentor who hikes up Table Mountain weekly, her advice was that as you get older fear kicks in and you start being too cautious. Her secret was to have a flexible brain. Never be paralysed by fear. I hope to still be having adventures like this for a long time into the future.

What is GSEA?

GSEA is an initiative by EO (Entrepreneurs Organisation) to find the worlds best student entrepreneurs. The rules are simple, be under 30, studying and have started your own business.?

Contestants compete to win the grand prize of $40k USD. The intangible benefits are also the experience and connections to world class mentors and business leaders.?

We hope with the competition that the students will get to qualify for our Accelerator Program and then become members of EO to experience the full power of the network.?

You can see the trailer for the TV Series here: GSEA

Certainly for me, being part of EO has opened doors and led me on great adventures. Not to mention the most amazing benefit of the friendships and relationships built that will last a lifetime. The kind of people that will encourage you to walk over a cliff backwards, who will encourage you to think and act bigger and support you along the way.

Thanks EO GSEA for inviting me to be a part of the program, for looking after me and for creating memorable moments that will last a lifetime.

#somuchfun

#studiolife

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