What to do when sh*t hits the fan.
Every race has an inflection point, a moment where you either accept your fate or create it.
Failure or success is on a knife's edge. This image captures that moment.
We are on top of a mountain, thousands of miles from home. Not even halfway through the race. In these moments, you either accept your fate or create it.
The end of the year is usually a time to slow down and reflect. I’m squeezing the life out of this year, right to the very end. Yes, the finish line is mere moments away, (with a big recovery session planned) — however, the second half of this year has been project after project, many learnings, many failures, and a spectrum of emotions.
I am super proud to showcase my last project of the year, ‘To the Streets’ — An international documentary, following endurance athlete Ben Seymour competing in one of the world’s toughest ultra trail races at UTMB, the pinnacle of trail running.
Projects like this light me up. But they take a lot of time and energy to build - 10 months and counting. It's an ultra-marathon in itself. You need the hunger to create a team around you to deliver a project of this magnitude. If I boil it down, there is a formula to getting these ideas off the ground and making them into reality.
Here’s a very simplified version of how this project came to life;
You have to believe in the idea - Above ALL else you have to see the vision, have it align with your values, and believe you can pull it off. If not, don’t waste your time.
Refine the concept - Clear and simple.
Identify a partner or brand that aligns with your vision. Questions to ask yourself - Is it solving a business problem? or engaging people the partner wants to attract? (thank you lululemon)
Pitch, pitch, and pitch again. Gather feedback, refine (Step 2), and pitch again.
If the timing and vision align, the opportunity will present itself, don’t stop (step 4) until it does.
If you’d had asked me 12 months ago, if would I see myself heading to a documentary premiere of a film I produced, I would have laughed. I was feeling sorry for myself, with a fractured sacrum from not fueling correctly and overtraining. (more about that in a future Substack).
Fast forward, 8 months, I was now chasing around Benny through the French Alps with a film crew making this documentary. It is amazing what a strong vision, simple formula, and supportive people around you can amount to.
This is a personal best — I’ve pushed myself beyond my limits in multiple aspects of this project. That in itself is a win. Anything beyond that is an unexpected bonus.
With that, here’s the trailer for the documentary below;
‘To the Streets’ will premiere on Tuesday, 17th December in Sydney as a private viewing. It’ll also be going live on YouTube at 6:30 pm. I will provide a link.
A final note: if you want more information on how to understand your personal values, approach brands, refine concepts, or take the next step — My paid subscription offers exercises and detailed articles on how to do this.
My ultimate goal is to share my learnings from these adventures, I want more creative people to prioritise their well-being in unique ways. This project is one way to do that.
Until my next Substack, move with curiosity.
Willocks x