I’ve had the privilege of working with people from all walks of life. Engineers, stewards, chefs, cleaners, skippers, captains, creative artists, athletes and entrepreneurs —I've been on the front lines of human behaviour, observing how people act and react under pressure for 20 years.
I’ve worked in outdoor education in Australia, America and the UK; in Hospitality here, in Europe and America; I have worked alongside the rich and famous in the superyacht industry in Europe and the Caribbean. I have worked in education with children in schools and adults in universities as an outdoor education leader and entrepreneurial educator. I coach Olympic athletes in their business ventures and build public profiles for high-profile business identities. I have started six companies and understand the journey more than most because I do the work alongside clients. These experiences gave me a clear perspective on how leadership, self-awareness, and navigation apply to these roles, life, and business.
The most impactful lessons come from observing the Skipper, Leader, Captain— or, as I like to think of it, your role in life.
The Captain & The Craft
When you’re the captain of a boat, you are responsible for maintaining your vessel. This isn’t just the physical upkeep; it’s also about learning to navigate, direction-setting, and knowing your coordinates—just like in life.
In real life, your boat is your body.
Are you maintaining it?
Are you taking care of it?
You can’t navigate toward your goals if your vessel is falling apart.
Learning to Navigate
A captain doesn’t just set sail without a plan. They learn to navigate, understand the tools at their disposal, and use them to chart their course. In life, these tools are your goals, plans, and direction. Without a clear destination, you’re just cruising without purpose.
When you’ve spent time learning to navigate, something incredible happens: autopilot kicks in. Your skills, honed through years of practice, become muscle memory. You learn to operate on little sleep, backing your abilities even when things get tough.
Post-Action Report: What Can We Do Better?
Captains and high-performing athletes are constantly evaluating their journeys/performances. After every sail or event, they reflect on what went wrong and what can be improved. Self-reflection is crucial to growth. After every challenge in life, you have to ask yourself, “What can I do better next time?” You can't afford to keep repeating the same mistakes—because, just like a captain, when something is wrong with your boat, you can’t keep going. Operating a sub-optimal vessel puts yourself and others in danger. As an athlete, a below-standard performance lets the team down, especially those on the journey with you.
The Focus of Leadership
When you’re at the helm, there’s no room for distraction. You have to be 100% focused until you drop anchor. In life, we are often pulled in a thousand different directions. But in moments of change, transition or high performance, you must dial in, focus, and give everything you’ve got. Good captains and leaders don’t jump ship when things get hard. They dial in, sharpen focus, lead, and keep going.
Drop Anchor: The Importance of Rest & Recovery
When the work is done, and you’ve reached a safe spot, drop anchor. This is the time to relax, rest, and recover. A well-trained sailor knows how to balance hard work with recovery. They can step away, rest, and come back fully charged for the next challenge.
But here’s the thing: not everyone can truly drop anchor.
Take the pirate, for example. Pirates never fully relax. They may drop anchor, but their bodies are in fight-or-flight mode 24/7. They continue their unhealthy habits—bad diets, high anxiety, and racing minds. They never really stop, trust, or let go. They are always ready for the next attack. In the long term, this drains the battery as it's like leaving the lights on in the car all night; it won't drain it immediately, but over time, it will get dimmer and dimmer.
Contrast this with the captain—a trained sailor who knows when it’s time to navigate and when it’s time to rest.
Navigating & Cruising
Are you constantly in navigation mode, or are you cruising? There’s a difference. Sometimes, life demands that we navigate through change and transition. We must be fully present, engaged, and focused during these times.
But there are also times when we can cruise—enjoy the ride and allow ourselves the freedom to flow without the constant pressure of decision-making. It’s crucial to recognise when you need to dial in and when you can ease off.
Running a business and being a high-profile person can be demanding regarding time and resources. It's only through good planning, helpful structures, routines, and habits with healthy bumper bars and boundaries in place that you truly allow yourself to cruise in between navigating. Without then, you are navigating 24/7.
Captain vs. Pirate: Who Are You?
At the end of the day, you have a choice. Are you the well-trained sailor who can balance work and rest, effort and recovery? Or are you the pirate, always on guard, never fully present, never truly letting go?
Life, like the sea, is constantly changing. There are calm days, and there are storms. It’s how you navigate through them that defines you.
So, here’s my question: Are you sailing or just surviving?
The captain can sail any boat in any sea. They can ride through storms, navigate in the middle of the night without sleep, and keep the ship moving forward. But recreational boaters only show up for the highlights—they cruise in calm waters and stay docked when it rains.
To succeed in life, business, or leadership, you need to embody the captain's mindset. You need to know when to push through the rough seas and when to drop anchor and rest.
Are you ready to take control of your ship?
Drop anchor, assess your situation, and navigate with clarity, focus, and purpose.
Peta Ellis
Profile Coach & Human Behavior Expert
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