Today we met with a young journalist; Jesse Amorratanasuchad, and the stories just flowed. At one point, amidst all of the excitement, we began to talk about what is in my opinion the antithesis of sustainability: exploitation.  We all know that exploitation in terms of the environment isn’t sustainable… it’s a no brainer.  And yet rarely are we taught in the many MBA classrooms around the world or in Wall Street Journal like publications that exploitation in business isn’t sustainable.  I think that common mindset of business is that you should always get as much out of one person as you can.  The paradigm is that the pie is a set size and you always want to get the biggest slice.  In reality, the story is not as it is typically written.  Exploitation in business isn’t sustainable (exploitation of customers, users, partners, and co-workers will eventually inevitably lead to a failed company).  And this is the beauty of SWAE.  We set a challenge to ourselves 4 years ago at the inception of the idea; “Can we create a company in which all parties and all stake holders do better when we do better?”  Four years later our answer is realized with a resounding “Yes.”  The excitement around the purity of this model is for me, humbling.

And the company came to fruition today when we met with two outfitters and officially signed our first partner of the trip!  Check out http://gonediving.org if you want to see one of the highest quality Scuba Diving Shops in the area.  It was great to meet with Charlynn (the raddest scuba diver in town) and I’m enthused to be working with a like minded and like valued local outfitter… Going to be glorious

Adventure. Old Friends. New Friends. Entrepreneurship. Local Business. Biking. The Pacific Coast. Beauty. Clean Air. Warm Sun. Cool Rains. Carrying all food, water, and shelter on our backs. Struggle.  Accomplishment. A True Exploration.  In short, it is going to be a rad trip.