During my six-year sailing odyssey, it didn’t take long to discover that going to sea meant taking some real risks. For example, you cannot cross an ocean if you’re not willing to lose sight of the shore. However, I learned that once you lose sight of the shore, you become immersed in the task at hand. This is often a key element in being able to face any risk — simply facing the task at hand makes you forget that you’re risking anything. From my sailing journey, I’ve become used to risk-taking. Now I am forced to draw on that ability again as I embrace a new chapter in my life. […]

Recently, a friend asked me how I had lived such an Unstoppable Life. He remarked that I seem to achieve all I set out to accomplish. While flattered, I still have goals on my list that are yet unachieved and I’m working on them. But the conversation got me thinking. How have I achieved my Unstoppable Life to this point? How have I made my dreams come true? I believe that turning my dreams into goals has helped propel me to where I am today and where I’m going. Yes, goals. Remember those? Remember goal-setting exercises? Who hasn’t heard that writing down your goals is a key to their achievement? I […]

The following article, by Larry Jacobson, originally appeared in Forbes on August 29, 2011. ​ How many people do you know who have actually made their dream come true—their dream based on passion and desire, not practicality or career advancement. It could be a dream of anything from travel to weight loss, from a new career to a new relationship. It starts with, “I’ve always wanted to . . .” and often ends with, “It’s just not practical,” or “Maybe someday.” At what point do we say, “Someday is here!”? Reaching a new goal often means letting go of something, but would you give up a secure business career for your […]

Many people have asked if I ever felt fear during the journey around the world. The answer is a resounding yes! You would have to lack any respect for the sea not to be afraid in some of the situations experienced during six years. Losing the anchor in Thailand was scary. Being chased by a “fishing boat” in the Malacca Straits didn’t exactly put me at ease because in my heart, I knew they weren’t fishermen. Sailing through Pirate Alley, the 300-mile stretch between Somalia and Yemen, was terrifying. It was unnerving sailing the Red Sea day after day and not seeing anybody but a few Saudi fishing boats. During a […]

I’ve been told I live an Unstoppable Life. It seems that many people see success in many things I do.I succeeded in business, made my dream of sailing around the world come true, and wrote a best-selling book about my journey. So what’s next?It’s time to give back. It’s time to share the knowledge I have about how to live an Unstoppable Life. So I’m starting a new career of professional speaking and will soon develop new products to share my ideas with you and others. ​ What a challenge this is though! There’s writing, editing, proofing, design, print, recordings, speech writing, booking events and speeches, learning the speaking industry, marketing, […]

Six years sailing around the world. Three years writing about it. Sometimes I wonder which was more difficult. About a third of the way into my trip, I decided to write a book. Fortunately for me, I had been and continued keeping my ship’s logs and personal logs. I also had hundreds of emails back and forth with friends and family. All of this documentation left with me nearly 2,000 pages to work from, and I was truly overwhelmed. Like leaving the dock not knowing the destination, you still have to untie the lines and go. So I started writing my book. It was an enormous task that frustrated me, nearly […]

Every day is significant in some way. I find great satisfaction in my life looking for and finding the importance and substance of a moment, a day, or even a journey. It’s important to mark those special moments. Today, December 7th, is significant to the world because of what happened in 1941. However, on a more personal note, it’s significant because nine years ago today, on December 7, 2001, JULIA and her crew sailed out the Golden Gate headed for a life of the unknown. It was a cold and crisp day just like today, and we were scrambling to get south between storm fronts. I remember the flood of emotions […]

In my upcoming book, you will be privy to many of my personal journal entries that have never been published or seen by anybody except me. This is from eight years ago today when Julia sailed out under the Golden Gate for points unknown. While I may have put on airs about how confident I was, and how I knew that what I was doing was the right thing, my private journals in the book clearly show the other side… but I was determined — so I went. ​ Because I knew then as I know now: That life is to be lived, not dreamed about. Excerpt from Chapter 5: TEARS, […]

Today marks the two year anniversary of Julia sailing under the Golden Gate. After six years of sailing over 40,000 miles, I am still asked how I’m doing with re-entry. As I continue to search for ways to fit a square peg into a round hole, this may help you understand how I feel. And you get a sneak peek at one of the upcoming book’s preface pages. Enjoy. – – — – – I have stood at the edge Of the oceans. I have stared in awe At the power before me, That pulled and tugged Until there was only the sea. I left my life behind To become a […]