Defying Impossible one step at a time.

August 26, 2019

As an entrepreneur, you often begin your adventure with your head in the clouds mesmerized with the infinite possibility of what could be. If you are lucky, that passionate honey moon like compulsion is met with a sobering deep dive into the required nitty-gritty details of both operations and execution; much like parenthood. Fortunately, I have the luxury to live at the intersection of both. I get to dream about my business and I get to dream about the future of my three, simply incredible children.

That being said, in spite of the social media highlight reel world we live in these days, comparing ourselves to perfectly curated people, experiences and lives that have a way of adding a heaping serving of not-enoughness to our plate; it is easy to be so caught up in the details of our life’s “to do” list that we fail to witness the miraculous moments embedded in our often ordinary days.

While my wife and I try to stay present to these tiny miracles unfolding like in the first day of our youngest attending kindergarten this week and us, after thirteen years, getting to have brunch and go to—wait for it—a movie in the middle of the day; the truth is like most parents and most hope filled small business owners; it is easy to lose the forest for the trees. And every now and again, there is a flash of lightening, life sounds its alarm, and out of nowhere there arrives a Happy Day Present aka when someone surprises you with something awesome even though it’s not your birthday.

Trevor and Mandy were and remain my Happy Day Present. Trevor reached out a few months back with the most inspiring story I have heard in years. Mandy and Trevor had a plan and had found a way to use each other’s super powers to be more than who they are individually, together. They personify both figuratively and literally, the manifestation of the sum being greater than the parts as they refuse to allow their perceived limitations to prevent them from chasing down their Everest. And in the midst of their awe inspiring story, here’s where my family has the privilege of playing a tiny part; in order to manifest their dream of chasing adventurers and hiking around the world, with the help of my company, they use a Freeloader as the vehicle for Mandy to ride on the back of Trevor; she is his eyes and he her legs. Was there ever a more legitimate, more poetic story than two people who have found a way to enhance one another’s strengths and to diminish one another’s weaknesses in order to accomplish a shared dream?

This video was sent to me and it was an inspirational earthquake in my world if ever there could be such a thing. Words in the English language like “honored” fail to do these moments justice. A company I had selfishly created to offer my wife and myself, along with other active couples the opportunity to continue chasing adventurers along with their small legged children was now selflessly offering me an opportunity to be overwhelmed with pride and gratitude. Again, in the sleepless nights of owning a family business while raising young children, my wife and I can easily focus on what absolutely has to get done each day; this gave us permission to pick up our ostrich sunken in the dirt heads to be reminded that all the hard work, faith, grit, commitment and resilience required for this dream has been worth it. And equally, if not at moments more important than getting up each time you are knocked down, are the unexpected shots of inspiration and validation to the heart like a scene in Pulp Fiction that sustain small business owners like us. Let’s be honest, entrepreneurism is the ultimate endurance sport and we have been given a huge second wind as we wake up to the marathon after marathon that is our business and our life.

As if it could be possible, Mandy and Trevor have set their sights on an even bigger summit and hiked a mountain at Arapaho Basin in Colorado in efforts to continue to overcome barriers as well as help other conquer theirs. On behalf of The Freeloader, my family has proudly contributed to making this dream of theirs come true and we would like you to consider joining us to supporting the foundation that has helped make this possible for these two battle tested warriors. Please donate here to their cause Team Trendy.

Here at Freeloader HQ, we believe in the power of dreams because both our business and our family started as one. We believe in the power of courageously chasing down the adventurers placed in each of our own heartbeats and we believe in people like Mandy and Trevor who through humble example alone, remind all of us to dream even bigger and to defy impossible one step at a time.

Again, here is the donation link where miracles are being realized:

https://give.nobarriersusa.org/team/234101

Check them out on the social medias. Search:

"Hiking with Sight"

There are a ton of great videos and stories!

Sincerely,

Nathan

Owner- The Freeloader Co.