Captain’s Blog

Dear Mom, I dreamed about you last night. You were dressed in your favorite color, purple. Your hair had just been done and you looked bright, cheery, and radiated the same high energy that has always kept me going strong. We were walking through the grocery store aisles shopping for dinner and you were pointing out which fruits and vegetables were best for a healthy body. “The darker berries are higher in anti-oxidants. The greener leaves in vegetables have more chlorophyll. Don’t buy that sliced turkey, it has too much sodium and contains nitrates. If you want turkey, get a whole one and I’ll bake it for you.” “I know, I […]

While sailing around the world, there were many elements that challenged the completion of our journey. There were mechanical breakdowns, weather setbacks, and the emotional highs and lows of being at sea for a long time. ​ And there were the ocean currents. They’re not something you think about initially, but when your boat speed is cut by 25%, or increased by the same amount because of currents, you begin to notice their effect. While sometimes we had no choice but to buck them and fight our way to more favorable conditions, we tried as often as possible to “go with the flow.” I wish we had the attached “world currents” […]

I’m laughing because of last week’s blog about how wonderful springtime is. With the sun shining and the flowers blooming, everything was coming back to life… including me. Then it hit. The biggest storm we’ve had all winter and it lasted for a week. The rain came down in buckets and sheets, the wind howled, and the temperature dropped. Winter had arrived at last. What was I to do? Go back into hibernation? Open a pack of chocolate chip cookies? Put a beef stew in the crockpot? No way! I’ve already started my spring diet, my daily walks invigorate me, and besides, what’s a little water? Granted, it’s not exactly like […]

Every year about this time, I’m reminded of the seasons of life. During the winter months, I go into a sort of hibernation, sleeping longer hours, eating hot soups, potatoes, cookies, chocolate, and other warm and cozy comfort foods. It’s the natural thing to do when it’s cold and dark, and when I’m sad or depressed. Even though we haven’t really experienced much cold weather in California this year, the winter months and the loss of my mother have taken me to a darker place. I wear my “writer’s sweater,” (the one that zips up in front and makes me feel ever so scholarly), turn on the heater in the office, […]

To live an unstoppable life, we must take risks and face our fears. When we do, we’ll experience some of the greatest moments of our lives! What “fearless activity” have you done today, this week, this month, this year? What will you do tomorrow? ​ Be Unstoppable! Larry Larry Jacobson is a Certified Dream Coach, Retirement, and Leadership Coach. He understands from his own experience what it takes to make your dreams come true. His self-guided video programs and personal coaching are available to you – Sample three FREE Modules of his “Lifestyle Planning Program” at www.BuoyTraining.com .   Larry is an avid sailor with over 50,000 blue water miles under his keel. […]

Are you happy? I mean genuinely happy on a regular basis. Do you smile when you walk down the street? Do you greet your fellow workers with a smile? If not, when will you be happy? Many of us tell ourselves, “I’ll be happy when… ​ The new year starts My health improves My relationship improves The economy improves I get a new car I get my career on track I move to a better location I get a raise I lose 10 pounds I exercise more often After my vacation The truth is that none of these things will make you happy. Happiness is something we seek as if it […]

It was a cold and crisp morning. Storms were stacked up across the pacific and had been pummeling California for weeks. While the low pressure weather sustained, the pressure on me continued to rise. If we didn’t leave soon, the stormy weather threatened to keep us in the dock for too long, and my emotional readiness could give way to the fear that was burning inside of me. It was December 7, 2001, ten years ago today that I untied my lines, and said goodbye to my secure life: my friends, family, home, career, and income. I didn’t know when, or even if I would return. I was petrified but couldn’t […]

This week, while recording my book for audible.com, I have been locked in a recording studio reading my book out loud. As I revisited my journey around the world, I was taken aback by the many experiences that reminded me to appreciate my life. From nearly running out of air while tangled in an anchor line at the bottom of the red sea, to surviving brutal storms, I have been a lucky guy. I have learned to value the life I have while always striving to improve my life and the lives of others. Probably the most significant near miss was, on a whim, escaping the wrath of the tsunami in […]

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 […]