Take risks. Take chances.

When I went on a travel article with the youngest person ever to summit Mount Everest, I was supposed to meet Jordan Romero and his dad & stepmom in Brazil.

The incredible editor-in-chief of Triathlete Magazine put me in touch with them, we hit it off right away, and they asked, "Can you come with us in a few days?"

"YES!" I responded.

I didn't have kids at the time.

I wasn't attached.

I was a single woman pursuing my dreams.

Then, Jordan's dad Paul, called me back.

"Wait," he said. "Do you have a visa?"

"What?" I asked.

No, I didn't.

So that would be a problem.

Because in order to get a visa, it'd take a few weeks.

I WANTED THIS TRIP.

I WANTED TO GO.

I WANTED TO MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE.

So, do you know what I did?

I searched the internet for a rapid turnaround visa. I called the embassy in L.A. Everything seemed to point to a dead-end, except for one opportunity...

There was one man in New York who said he could do it.

"How are you able to do this when no one else is?" I asked him.

"I can't tell you that," he said. "But, just know that I can."

Shady?

Yes.

Was I going to take him up on this offer?

Well, did I have another choice?

In order to make this work, I had to:

-Buy a one-way ticket to New York, in hopes that this random dude could turn my visa around in less than a day, then hop on a plane from New York to Brazil.

I did it.

I bought a one-way ticket.

My roommate at the time dropped me off at the airport.

I was pretty much convinced I'd pull up into the cab after the red-eye and discover that it was some abandoned building.

Much to my surprise, it was a normal office.

The guy worked for the Brazilian embassy in New York and did this side gig where he helped people expedite their visas in less than 6 hours.

I got there in the morning. Gave him passport.

Saw my friends in New York.

Then, by that afternoon, and after MUCH difficulty interpreting with the travel agent for my trip, I was on a plane to Brazil to meet Jordan, his dad Paul, and his step-mom Karen.

Paul was amazed.

"Wow," he said. "Take risks. Take chances." That was their family motto.

I made this happen, because I wanted it.

Did I know how things were going to turn out?

Oh hells no.

But, I did know that if I didn't try, I wouldn't ever know.

GO BIG.

Go after your dreams.

Don't wait.

There's no reason to.

Because no matter what, however it pans out, you'll have learned something.

And, you'll have a great story to tell.