"Don't tell mom I'm kayaking around Ireland"
On training for a 21st century adventure with Charlie Daly
Is there anything more epic than taking on a goal with life-or-death stakes?
Even though I have zero interest in kayaking, I spent an alarming amount of last summer following
’s attempt to complete the Lap of Ireland, a 1,500 km (950 miles/800 nautical miles) journey through some of the roughest water and most rugged coastline in the North Atlantic. Fewer than 100 people have completed the trip—and only 30 have done it solo.Charlie regularly documents his preparations for this incredible ambition on
, including how his trip ended early because of an injury. I was fortunate to catch him on an off-training day to discuss:How an ADHD diagnosis prompted his mom to sign up for an after-school kayak class—inadvertently giving him the outlet he needed to focus in the classroom.
Why mental toughness matters more than physical fitness when taking on an ambitious goal.
Launching his ghostwriting business, and why he feels called to help would-be authors tell their stories of survival.
On Training for a 21st Century Adventure with Charlie Daly
WRITE 👻 (42:24)
Charlie considers himself a sea kayaker first, which he credits to helping him focus in the classroom. This eventually led to reading stories about adventure, exploration, and survival; a degree in English literature; crafting copy and content for B2B SaaS companies like Privy and Salesforce; and now as a ghostwriter helping would-be authors unf*ck their business and memoir book ideas.
I don’t see [ghostwriting] as an alternative to doing my own work…the process of immersing myself in story and helping somebody find that in their own life is the reward.
LIFE 🛟 (1:36, 22:08)
In addition to being a writer and sea kayaker, Charlie is a husband, cat parent, member of a maritime search and rescue crew, and owner of a pebbledash cottage in the southwest corner of Ireland—which also happens to be conveniently located on the route for The Lap.
Charlie credits strong relationships with his family and mentors for supporting his training schedule, pointing out that many people might consider pursuing a goal like this to be a selfish endeavor.
There’s a lot of risk in not taking risks in life. I’m not a parent, but I would want to show my kids what someone who has dreams and tries to act on them looks like.
BALANCE 🧘🏻 (24:22)
Charlie credits his Zen training and mentors for turning him into a risk management nerd, stemming from a series of tough conversations about how “the North Atlantic has a way of checking peoples’ ambitions.” However, he points out that your tolerance for risk can increase as you gain more experience through training.
PARTING ADVICE 💭 (51:46)
Before taking on an ambitious goal (like sea kayaking around Ireland or writing a memoir), Charlie recommends assigning yourself a start date—but not necessarily an end date. He also points out that there are tedious parts to any project and that an individual’s willingness to put up with those parts is what will determine if the goal is right for them.
I hate sitting still and homework, but for some reason, love writing enough to do something that’s basically homework forever.
READING 📚
The Man Who Hacked the World: A Ghostwriters Descent into Madness with John McAfee by Alex Cody Foster
STREAMING ⏯
Married at First Sight Australia
COOKING 👨🏼🍳
Scrambled eggs (occasionally)
To follow Charlie’s journey, you can:
Subscribe to
Read the trip report
Visit his website
Hope you enjoyed this episode,
Sophia :)
P.S. If you haven’t heard it, last month’s episode on uncertainty with
would be an excellent accompaniment to ’s ruminations on risk management.
This is wildly badass, all of it. Obsessed with this quote, of course: “There’s a lot of risk in not taking risks in life.” 🔥
I cannot wait to listen later! My FIL is a kayaker and was an explorer when he was young (kayaked through Alaska) and I am always engrossed in his stories. Like you, I have zero desire to kayak, but man the stories are cool!