I think I’d mentioned in a prior post that I’m planning to launch a social enterprise after this tour. Starting a business is both scary and exciting. I’ve been thinking a lot about it while cycling, and the more the tour progresses, the more I’m looking forward to finally getting started.

Seeing (or rather experiencing firsthand) that I can cycle through Africa has increased my confidence that I can also accomplish other, even bigger challenges—such as becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Yesterday, I listened to She Means Business by Carrie Green, founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association.

Afterwards, I had this crazy idea: Why not keep blogging after TDA to document my start-up journey and what I’ll learn every day, along the lines of Alex Means Business.

I know it’s crazy and scary. At least I don’t know of anyone who has done that real-time while starting a business. You might ask: Why would I want to share all my mistakes that surely I’ll make along my entrepreneurial journey? Why would I want to share my competitive secrets? Why would I want to waste precious time writing a blog?

Well, I’m thinking that vulnerability is powerful. There’s no need to hide my mistakes. Perhaps, some readers (if anyone at all chooses to follow my journey) will catch them and help me see them before I would otherwise?

As for giving away competitive secrets, I shouldn’t really care because I’m driven by a purpose I want to achieve. Perhaps, by opening up, I’ll find partners to cooperate with who are driven by the same purpose. Or, if someone else can leverage on my ideas to find a better way to meet that purpose, then helping them had been my purpose all along. I will simply move on to something else.

And finally, as for wasting time, I think the benefit of reflection required when writing as well as the public pressure from sharing my journey should outweigh the opportunity costs of my time spent. Even if no one follows my blog, I would learn a lot myself from writing it.

OK, enough rambling for now on something that’s just a crazy idea at this stage. However, what I hope you to take away from this post is that setting and achieving athletic/physical goals has direct benefits for other areas of your life. It boosts your confidence that YOU CAN DO IT, no matter what, and might lead to a journey far bigger than what you might ever have believed possible. What’s your next goal?

Stage 58: Luangwa Bridge – Jehovah School Camp (Zambia), 124km

Road & traffic condition:

Similar to yesterday. Tar getting a bit rougher, including some potholes, but still good overall.

Weather:

Pleasant.

Culinary highlights:

Help-yourself chicken fajita station including guacamole, cheese, cream cheese, beans, tomato sauce etc.—our new dinner favorite.

Group highlights:

We’ve been camping at a school again. For the first time on this entire trip, the locals simply ignored us. The students kept playing their ball games, completely disinterested in our camp activities. No staring, no shouting, no “give me money” requests—what a blessing!

Personal highlights:

Still itchy all over and swollen eye. Other than that, however, I seem to be faring much better than average on this section. Many people ended up taking the truck at least once. To me, these last few days have been some of my most enjoyable and strongest riding days.