Chapter Thirty. Fuel the Fire
Growing up, Neil was one of the craziest friends I had. He skateboarded the fastest, surfed the biggest waves, and jumped off the highest rocks on his skis. Neil played fast and hard, whether pounding on drums, jamming on an electric guitar, or screeching around a corner in his little green car. Plus, his smile was contagious and he could make anyone laugh.
Everyone loved Neil—he made life more worth living. And Neil lived life to the hilt, whether working out with the track team or studying for a final exam. He always told us that he had big dreams and that he would retire young. We balked at the idea, but Neil just smiled and hopped on his skateboard and launched a 180 boneless of the curb. But what looked like goofing around wasn’t so—Neil was smart and he worked hard. He just made work look like play.
Living the Dream
If you asked Neil why he attended one of the top universities in the country, he would respond, with a mischievous grin, “Because it’s located near really good surf!” After college, it was no surprise when Neil told us he was moving to Costa Rica to start a surf guide company, or later when he mentioned nonchalantly that he was joining an expedition to circumnavigate the globe. If there is one thing that Neil knows, it is how to live. Whether going to college or pursuing his dreams, the key to Neil’s success was to combine ordinary things in unexpected ways, like painting on rocks or strapping a camera to his arm.
When Neil’s college buddy Nick decided to start a company, Neil jumped right in. The idea for the company came from surfing sessions with friends. While in the water they wished they had some way to capture and document the fun. So Nick came up with a plastic case for a cheap film camera that you could strap to your wrist. That way, on the way back out after catching a wave you could take photographs of your friends. Neil was employee number one, and he began to drive from surf shop to surf shop to make a few sales. At first the idea wasn’t exactly a huge hit. Nick slept in his VW bus, and Neil lived in a converted garage. But they were having a good time and it was that sense of play that kept the dream alive.
When they made the leap to digital, things started to take off. Soon their small startup became the fastest-growing camera company in the world. Nick’s invention, the GoPro camera, started to dominate the scene. But they didn’t let that go to their head. They kept having fun with it, and the contagion began. Soon everyone seemed to have a GoPro strapped to their helmets, skateboards, or bikes.
A Match Made in Heaven
From their early days, their company took on an adventurous, playful, and imaginative approach. The idea was to create a company that would be a mashup of sorts. They were inventing something new but wanted it to be anchored in what was already around. First, it was a combination of cameras and sports. Second, they imagined Apple computers and Red Bull getting hitched. If those two companies were to have a baby, GoPro would be the result.
Years later, it’s a fitting description for the best-selling camera in the world. At first it was a bit more Red Bull than Apple, but they worked on that. Now, it’s a legitimate device that has significantly changed the world. And just in case you’re wondering, Neil could retire young just like he said, but more important is that his zeal for life and others has in no way changed. He’s just more generous, and his adventurous spirit continues to grow.
Like any good idea, the GoPro now seems obvious and inevitable. “Of course!” we think to ourselves. It’s the same with any great invention, whether smartphones, amazon.com, or electric cars. Once the invention has gone global, it’s proven true. All great ideas start small as a spark in the recesses of someone’s brain. As William Blake said, “What is now proved was once imagined.” The biggest and most obvious ideas weren’t always so. What made the GoPro spark succeed was the willingness of its founders to imagine, play, and dream. They passed this spark on with their cameras, and a global movement began.
Neil’s story reminds us that the pursuit of one’s passions fuels the fire of unexpected growth. And as even the most amateur GoPro user knows, passion and a sense of adventure mixed with a touch of insanity can be a great recipe for living a more abundant life. Yet living the life you imagine won’t happen by itself. Nor will it happen if you just watch someone else. The way to make life come alive is to strap on the camera and jump off the cliff.
THIS IS THE REAL SECRET OF LIFE—TO BE COMPLETELY ENGAGED WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THE HERE AND NOW. AND INSTEAD OF CALLING IT WORK, REALIZE IT IS PLAY.
— ALAN W. WATTS
Exercise
STEP 1
Owning a GoPro camera isn’t enough—after making the purchase you need to get out there and put it to use. Make a list of your passions and dreams. Think about the mountains you would like the climb, and do so without criticizing your own ideas. Let your imagination run free. After making an initial list, circle your top five passions or dreams.
STEP 2
Passion without a plan is like gasoline spilled on the ground. Select one of your passions from the list above and come up with a plan to pursue it with more focus, fun, and resolve.
STEP 3
Originality comes from mashing up old ideas. In order to come up with some great ideas, follow GoPro’s lead and think about the marriage of two things and what the offspring might be. And don’t just limit your imagination to one category; consider multiple topics, like music, commerce, and art.