The "to-do" list

Thank goodness I am a “to-do” list kinda guy.  No, seriously if I wasn't then I'd be completely underwater right now.  After arriving back from my week in Italy on Monday after exploring and evaluating five towns in six days I was a little tired.  Fortunately during my trip I was super diligent about my photo curation each day otherwise I would have had around 2000 photos to sort through this week as well.

Clearly this is much to do in terms of getting the new Indelible Adventures Inc. business off the ground so keeping both a master and daily to do list is the way to go.  My counselor Lisa makes fun of me for being so anal and keeping lists, but in this particular case it’s helped me enormously.  J

The last couple of days I've been working on my website.  My objective was to get a working prototype up and running for early next week, so that I could get feedback from a few trusted advisors before launching it fully toward the end of next week.  The major benefit of developing the website yourself is that you not only have to plan it out meticulously you also need to understand the business model and the messaging around every aspect of it.

Welcome page prototype - what do you think?

I am a strong believer in clean, crisp and uncluttered, I’d like to call it “chic and minimalistic”, but hey that’s just me! 

Next on my list is to create a short teaser video that outlines my motivational speaking capabilities and topic areas, so this weekend I'll be scripting it and then working with Second City to borrow a small stage for a few hours next week so I can record it.  Surprisingly all of my Improv training is paying off in one way or another, not around the content per see, but certainly with access to the facilities and my confidence on stage.  Although for those that know me well, also know that I've never had a problem with being on stage and during my career at Accenture often presented to very large audiences, in fact upwards of 500 people at a time.

Meanwhile all of this will need to be completed by the time of the book and new business launch party on October 2^nd. 

If you haven't received your invitation yet and wish to attend please feel free to join us at Crush Wine Bar + Kitchen (455 King Street W) from 7:00 – 9:00 pm.  Follow the signs for the “Indelible Adventures – book and new business launch”.  Please RSVP me at terence@indelible-adventures.com

Definitely looking forward to the book & new business launch!

It’s amazing what a little passion and a solid dose of adrenaline does to get you out of bed each morning pretty excited about your future.  Some might say I'm verging on insomnia but I must admit I've been waking up at some rather ungodly hours with ideas, thoughts, concepts, follow up items and a few more things to add to my "to-do" list.   Its become a rather consistent pattern that most mornings I'll wake at around 3:30 am, and on good days actually fall back to sleep...  Yeah, not always!

There is certainly no shortage of thing to do or variety in what have going on, especially to ensure I cover off all four segments of my business.  There is such breadth, from writing my blog, or micro-stories, to having a photo shoot, or curating the post shoot photos, perhaps rehearsing or fine tuning my motivational speaking topics or creating itineraries and booking for upcoming trips there is always something to do.   My time management skills are being put to the test big time!

The other big emotion I'm experiencing is fear.  Fear of the unknown, fear that it won't be successful, fear that financially I won't be able to make ends meet and pay the bills…blah, blah, blah (I wish that guy in my head would shut the hell up!).   I also realize that the sum of these fears are irrational and that I’ve fallen on my feet many times over the course of my life, but I must say that I will definitely breath a big sigh of relief when I cash that first cheque to my business account. 

Still you wouldn't want it any other way, especially given the freedom that comes with having your own business.

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This weeks photo selection comes from a trip earlier this year to the Dominican Republic. 

Enjoy!

Coconut thatch on the hut roof 

Footprints on the beach after the the grounds people had raked it 

The most spectacular sunrise

Cabana curtains blowing in the morning breeze

Tide is coming in at first light 

Dawn on the beach - great light!

Shell curtains

Ripples in the pool

Flotsam washed up on the beach

Growing on the sand near the water line

Panoramic photo of the beach - gorgeous!

La Dolce Vita!

There’s just something about Italy that I can’t quite put my finger on, perhaps it’s the warm, friendly people that I meet whenever I venture to its beautiful shores or the tasty wines and excellent cuisine that seem to ooze from its very being.  For me, Italy has always been a magical place and is one of the focal points for my new business.

As you read last week I’m in Italy for a week of scouting as part of my new personalized travel concierge service.  I can hear you all now, saying “what exactly is a personalized travel concierge service?” anyway.  Well, I’m glad you asked!

The personalized travel concierge service that I have planned for Indelible Adventures is based on the premise that everyone wants a memorable travel experience where they are embedded in the local culture and that isn’t based necessarily on just seeing the touristy things that many people do, which although good can be a times both a little crowded and somewhat bland. 

Ancient water trough at the Hotel La Badia which overlooked Orvieto

So given this as a backdrop I have two distinctly different options.  The first is to join a small group of 6 – 8 people for a week long adventure to Italy, Australia, Vietnam, Spain or Canada (for those international folks wanting to see my current home country) .  Second is to hire me to arrange and accompany you and/or a small group to one of these countries where I would take care of every aspect of your trip from start to finish.  This second option is perfect for those with incredibly hectic lifestyles, family groups or even corporate groups that want to pamper and provide a unique experience to their top achievers within their organization.  I can hear you all thinking....how can I get on one of these trips.

The objective is to immerse you in the local culture through understanding your interests and passions, thus providing you with a personalized itinerary that teases your senses and provides with some incredible memories.  One thing I've learned over the years (yes, some personal experience here as well), is not all couples like to do the same thing, well at least not everyday and so there is always some level of compromise required on a traditional trip or tour.  As part of your personalized itinerary this would also be taken into consideration to ensure you had the best of both worlds.    

As well, I also think it’s also very important to include relaxation and “downtime” so that it’s both restful and invigorating rather than a rush to see everything. 

Potentially blending in a mix of activities like hiking or cycling with photography, wine tasting, cooking classes, architectural wonders just to name a few.  One thing is certain, if you are on an adventure with me we’re going to explore and have some unique adventures along the way. 

The balcony in Assisi that I found on my way to the Brasilicia San Francesco

Hence I think “la dolce vita” is the perfect way to describe my travel concierge service as it means enjoying the good things in life and indulging in the things you love. J

So far this week I’ve been exploring specifically targeted hill towns in Umbria and Tuscany, starting in Orvieto where I stayed in a 6th century Abbey that's been converted to a hotel just outside the city walls, followed by a stay in Assisi (home to the famous Brasilicia of San Francesco) at a renovated nunnery before coming to Cortona earlier today.  Each town has a unique vibe which is important when putting together trips like these, its all about the chemistry and how they compliment each experience. 

Upon arriving into Cortona I spoke the hotel concierge and was recommended to have lunch at a place a little off the beaten path in the old medieval part of the city – Trattoria Toscana. This meal may go down as the best meal I’ve ever had!  No really...

When I arrived at the restaurant I introduced myself to Enzo and Sarah who own the establishment and was completely blown away by their generosity and the overall experience.  

The Trattoria Toscana in Cortona with its gracious and
wonderful hosts - Enzo and Sarah

For starters Enzo brought me local Pecorino cheese with homemade some green tomato marmalade that Sarah’s father makes just to try it.  Simply delicious!   Then when we discussed the menu for lunch he suggested that he makes three small dishes for me to taste that are unique to the area.  A homemade lemon ravioli that is surprisingly tangy and delicious, then a Chianti risotto, which was purely sinful, and finally a wild boar ragu with fettuccini. All three dishes were distinctly different yet total heaven!

Sarah brought me a half bottle of Chianti Classico (Castellare di Castellina 2012), which is local to the Chianti region and which complimented the meal perfectly. Then to top this all off Enzo brought some of his homemade Bay Leaf aperitif, which was a perfect way to finish off the meal.    

This is exactly why I love Italy so much – the generosity and warmth of the local people is unparalleled!

Each day I’ve taken in excess of 300 photographs and after curating them finally whittling it down to a more manageable 100 or so.  Today is the exception as its pouring rain and has been since I woke at 7:30 am so only a small handful of photos today but tomorrow is market day in Cortona so I will definitely head over the Piazza Della Repubblica first thing in the morning to see if I can make up for my photo shortcoming today.  J

Then onto Siena tomorrow morning...truly "la dolce vita" my friends!

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Here are a small selection of my photos from this week in Italy - enjoy!

 

The remnants of the Abbey with its 12 sided tower that was
built in 1103 AD, you can see Orvieto on the ridge across the valley

The grounds of the hotel are steeped in history and so very beautiful

Orvieto was built on the top of a natural fortress that overlooks the surrounding countryside

TW with camera in Orvieto taking a shot

Every Italian photo album needs to have a scooter and a
three wheeled truck to compliment the collection

The Corsican Quarter of the medieval city of Orvieto

Sculpture in a window with street-scape reflection

The Duomo in Orvieto - breathtaking!

The hitching post and link to a bygone era

The yellow carnations at the fountain in Assisi

The stone balcony in Assisi

Another beautiful day in Assisi with its flowing fountains and Azure colored sky

Although not religious I found the artifacts to be stunning in Assisi

Curing hams in a shop in Assisi

This house alone was built in 1461 - Assisi

The Temple of Minerva - Roman era with a significant underground
labyrinth of walls, aqueducts and markets below the square I was standing

Sunspot at the Brasilicia San Francesco - Assisi

Fields of sunflowers everywhere I drove in Umbria and Tuscany

The old and ornate door handles in the medieval part of Cortona 

The glass chandelier in my room in Cortona

Delicate rose garden at the hotel in Cortona

Cortona has an active Opera which is located at the Teatro Signorelli