Sometimes you’ve just got to jump in and swim with the sharks: Lessons learned from Sharkfest

Sometimes you’ve just got to jump in and swim with the sharks: Lessons learned from Alcatraz Sharkfest and how it applies to Emerging Media

This past weekend I had the thrilling experience of swimming from Alcatraz Island across the bay to San Francisco with my husband and father in an event that sells out 6 months in advance and attracts swimmers from as far as South Africa.  It was an incredible event but the build up and buy in took me quite a long time.

While I was bobbing out there in the shark-infested waters, gazing up at the Alcatraz prison, (once home to Al Capone),  I recognized a work-life parallel.  Jumping off the ferry boat into the icy waters was very similar to jumping into the emerging media world.  You can prepare, research and evaluate but at some point you’ve just got to take a leap of faith and commit. 

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, California

So, if you’re still standing there on the edge, I’d highly recommend taking the plunge.  The rewards from the other side are well worth the risks.

View of Alcatraz:  We swam from the island to the beach just past the big ship.