This month I had the privilege to attend the Johnnie Walker Striding Man Awards as the guest and Fairy Godmother of one of the 9 extraordinary men who had been nominated for this award.    Thabang Skwambane came to a Dream Mapping and Goal Setting workshop in November 2006 and while at the workshop got inspired to set a BIG goal.  At that time he had started a business Kaelo, in HIV/ Aids consulting and through his work had been exposed to the plight of orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa.

During my workshops I generally do a lot of wand waving  and get the participants clear on a BIG, JUICY Goal that inspires the pants off them, a goal that is on the boundary of possibility and impossibility.   Thabang, after the workshop had his BIG Goal to raise R 10 million for orphans and vulnerable children and he decided to embark on a lonely adventure called “The Lonely Road Challenge” to raise the money and also raise awareness about the plight of orphans and vulnerable children.   This man got into serious ACTION around making his dream come true and the Lonely Road Challenge saw him cycle from Johannesburg to Mount Kilimanjaro alone and unsupported and the after peddling over 5000 km’s through Africa in September 2007 he then climbed the mountain.

Thabang raised huge media awareness and a lot of money (about R 1 million) which is now already being used to help orphans and vulnerable children.   As a result of his courage and determination to pursue a BIG dream and goal, his life has been completely transformed, he has inspired others and he is being acknowledged by his peers, the media and companies like Johnnie Walker for being a truly extraordinary man.

Extraordinary people are merely Ordinary people who have BIG Dreams and the courage and determination to pursue them.

Well Done Thabang on your BOLD strides in creating the life of your dreams!  It is a privilege to be your Fairy Godmother!