Board Meetings

Why $100 Million??

Five Surfers • Three Countries • One Dream

*Based on a True Story
(written by Jim Sheils)

This story was taken from a collection of short stories about a group of five entrepreneurs from three different countries (USA, Australia and New Zealand). After a chance meeting, they formed a friendship that now takes them surfing all over the world on adventures they affectionately refer to as “Board Meetings.”  These surf trips quickly grew into a source of unshakeable support for each member of the group and the lessons they’ve been able to teach one another are priceless. Together, this little surf tribe has discovered that the most important education in life cannot be taught in the classroom, it has to be experienced in the most unlikely places with the best of people.

Come along with Brendon, Craig, Frank, Steve and Jimmy and find out how their “Board Meetings” have become an unexpected guide towards true wealth and will show you the unique power of relationships.

Byron Bay, Australia

After spending the night in Byron Bay, we grabbed an early morning surf at a great little surf break called “The Pass.”  It looked like something out of a travel magazine and the crowds were unusually light that morning.  As we loaded the surfboards back onto the truck, we joked around and swapped stories about our best waves of the session.

We headed south where the highway became beautiful and desolate.  It’s an amazing place, Australia, so much coastal area and only 30 million people in the entire country. There were more people than that in New Jersey and New York alone, which was where Frank and I grew up.

About two hours into the drive, we pulled onto some back roads and toured around before coming upon Arawarra, a fantastic point break set within a beautiful bay.  With hardly any development, the setting was pristine.  Unfortunately, though, the surf conditions were nearly flat with no waves in sight.

We got out and stretched our legs and walked lazily around the beach as we caught up with one another.  We hadn’t seen each other for over six months and talking in person is always better than conversing by phone or email.  It had been a big couple of years for all of us.  We had all committed ourselves to our ambitions, persevered through many challenges, and increased our wealth substantially.  Frank and I, who had come from nothing just a few years prior, were now millionaires and living the life which most people only dreamed of.  However, we were far from boastful and still in awe of what we had been able to accomplish.  And, it wasn’t the money we cared about, but the freedoms that came with it.

As we stood around and chatted, other surfers drove up periodically to check the waves and would talk with us for a few minutes before continuing down the coast in search of a surf break that was working.

Being in no rush, we decided to stick around and at least paddle out for a little while.
In disbelief, as we began to unload the truck and change into our board shorts, a swell began to pick up and by the time we had paddled out, there were “shoulder high” waves peeling off the point.  None of us to this day have ever seen waves come up as quickly as they did that afternoon and it remains one of the most memorable surf sessions I’ve ever experienced.  There were cheers and “high-fives” all around as we picked off any wave we desired.

After catching a good 30 plus waves each, we got out of the water with “rubber arms” and smiles on our faces.

“Unbelievable,” Brendon beamed.  “Where did those waves come from?”

“Not a clue, Mate,” Steve replied, “but even more unbelievable than that, how did we get those conditions to ourselves?”

We changed into dry clothes and sat at the edge of the point watching the waves continue to roll in.  Craig took the truck to a little market we had seen down the road and returned shortly with a late lunch of prawns and avocado salad.

Now, if this sounds like a perfect day, believe me, it was.  And the conversation that was about to take place would become one of the greatest lessons of my entire life.

To continue you reading you can download the full story here: Why 100 Million? (162)

*I’d love to hear your feedback/comments below as I read and appreciate them all. ~Jim

**Please feel free to pass this story along to anyone you feel it may help and/or inspire.

board meetings, brian scrone, craig chandler, goals, jim sheils, life lessons, mastermind group, surf trip