To The Bottom of The Ocean

Some people may be a little confused about what's going on and wondering if I'm losing it. I don't blame you because I would too if a person began writing transparent blog posts about hugs and funks, started giving stuff away and launched an Idiegogo campaign all in the same week. It looks like a storm to the outside world, but in reality there's no storm where I'm at. What you're seeing, with a purpose, is my ride to the bottom of the ocean in search of treasure.

Six months ago, I left the comforts of a salaried position to build my own business in spite of the odds being against its success. From the very beginning, I was only interested in building an industry changing business, not a life style business. Building an industry changing business is a treasure that requires a ride to the bottom of the ocean and an individual who's willing to sit in the captain's chair.

A lot of the most valuable treasure is at the bottom of the ocean and few possess the will or desire to find it, which is completely okay. But if you decide to take on ocean floor treasure hunting, you have to be willing to ride into a pretty dangerous, dark, lonely and cold place. And once you submerge, there's no turning back, so you better have the right ship, crew and supplies or things could turn disastrous fast. If your ship starts to leak at 10,000 feet, you better fix it. If your crew gets out of order, you better correct it. If food gets tight, everybody better start eating less. If oxygen gets low, everyone needs to start breathing shallow. Any hesitation or failure in taking action during the decent is like a signing your death warrant. So, if you're the captain of a ocean treasure hunting ship, you need to come to grips with one fact: whether you come back up or not, you're going down either way.

My ship took off months ago to the bottom of the ocean, so what you're seeing this week is me at 10,000 feet. In an earlier post this week, I said taking this journey requires 1/3 Art, 1/3 Science and 1/3 personal delusion. After thinking about that statement more, I realized it didn't accurately reflect my journey. My journey is 1/4 Art, 1/4 Science and 1/2 Faith.

My journey is art. I had to convince my crew to get on the ship with me. Convincing them looked like this: I walked into the room, looked everyone in the eye and told them I'm willing to sacrifice my life to bring them back to the surface. Then they watched me walk out and give up anything materially, emotionally, financially, and physically that would inhibit a successful journey. Once completed, I walked onto the ship, sat in the captains chair and in a loud voice said to my crew, "let's go!"

My journey is science. We get leaks but my crew and I are going through the drills and damage control just like we trained. There is zero hesitation in what needs to be done because on this ship, late and scared decisions are bad decisions.

My journey is faith. Before I walked into the room where my crew sat, I knelled before the Almighty because I knew I wasn't capable of taking the journey without him. Through my meditation, this is what I received:

"You must commend yourself as servant of mine in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in hard work, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power I have; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by bad report and good report; regarded as a deceiver and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, you will live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing EVERYTHING.

I am your Father who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. So go, and know I go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron for you."

I submitted and immediately walked into that room.

Overall, the journey to the bottom of the ocean is treacherous and I believe it would be selfish not to share it openly. Surely I tell you, there are people sitting at a job and wondering should they take this journey. If they're reading this post, I hope my transparency will accomplish several things: Keep them on the shore or if they decide to take the journey to the bottom of the ocean, show them what to expect and exactly what or what not to do to make it back to the surface.

Kyle Christian Steele