By Sanjeev Kotnala
The recent submersible visit to the Titanic wreckage was an adventure that went wrong. It is safe to presume that such exploration with high-paying passengers engaging in a risky adventure would have been carefully planned and adhered to every safety guideline. Everyone was aware of the risks involved, yet took the journey knowing the possibilities. Initially, the potential for enjoyment and successful completion would have been far higher than the possible misadventure. Otherwise, why would they get into the act? And that raises the question of why people undertake such adventures. Or was it just a case of ‘the vanity of the bored and extremely wealthy’ looking for stimulation that no one else can, as suggested by a person in my alumni group?
The Adventurer
The Real Adventurer in life is willing to sacrifice the ultimate, the loss of identity, name, position, and power in pursuit of the objective. These adventures may be nameless travel, get into discussions without revealing their identity or travel with the masses when they can easily afford the better options.
The High-Risk Adventurer. They are people who climb Mount Everest, get down deep in the ocean to explore, go river rafting, explore the dense Amazon forest exploration or deep dive from the skies. The Red-bull stuntman like Felix Baumgartner, who jumped from space or Dario Costa flying a plane through a tunnel, the Formula-1 drivers, or the Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet wingsuit divers who dared to dive to enter a plane. It is part of their life.
The Tourist Adventurer who are not that trained in adventure but participate for the fun and excrement, people doing a tandem skydives, Bunge jumps, and river water rafting. As and when they have opportunities, they tend to ensure the experience, even if it is holding a Python or sitting next to a sedated tiger.
The Fantasy Day Dreamer Adventurer. The person thinks and visualises more instead of doing it. Those who watch ads like Mountain Dew and feel charged by consuming the product. The people who made ‘Angry Young Man’ a booming phenomenon. Who sees things on screen and mentally becomes part of the reel-life drama? The ones who play adventure games rather than patriciate in adventure. And this is the insight many brands use.
Social Media Adventurer
Social media adventurers are not a new breed of adventurers, but they have a new tool- social media to explore and exploit. Their main and only reason for any adventure is for others to know what they have done and achieved, be it travel, eating new food, staying at places, sports, or thrill events. Their tribe may be the largest of all adventurers and is increasing daily.
No denying the fact that the converse is also true. People who have travelled extensively- have done what would be adventure sports and events but don’t regularly share that on social media. To them doing it and the accomplishment is the biggest joy. They are not guided or influenced by what others think. Hence, they never try to influence the experience, net impression, or perceptions by sharing their act.
Pick Your Adventure.
Adventures come in different types, and people engage in them depending on their interests, preferences, thrill quotient, safety concerns, available funds and time, including the training or briefing required. Be it an outdoor adventure like hiking, camping, rock climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, skiing, snowboarding, and biking. Extreme Sports involve a high level of risk and require specialised skills, like skydiving, bungee jumping, base jumping, paragliding, wingsuit flying, cave diving, and free solo climbing. Exploration and Expeditions venturing into uncharted territories or embarking on challenging journeys. These include exploring remote wilderness, diving into the ocean’s depths, or scaling unclimbed peaks. Cultural Adventures immerse in different cultures, traditions, and lifestyles. Endurance Challenges are long-duration physical challenges testing an individual’s mental and physical stamina, like ultramarathons, long-distance cycling, multi-day trekking expeditions, and triathlons.
Why Push Beyond Comfort and Take on Adventure?
Everyone has an overt and covert reason for trying or not trying the adventure. People seek the intense adrenaline rush, the challenge of conquering nature’s obstacles, pushing one’s limits, overcoming fear, thirst for discovery, the pursuit of knowledge, and the desire to test one’s abilities in unfamiliar environments, providing a sense of enrichment, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives, build resilience, and achieve personal goals.
The feeling of accomplishment can be addictive and give a sense of aliveness and vitality. It pushes people beyond their comfort zone, allowing them opportunities for personal growth by taking on challenges and overcoming obstacles. It does help people develop resilience, self-confidence, and a stronger sense of identity.
For many, it is a way to escape routine and monotony, offering a chance to experience something new and exciting. For some, these risky adventures are part of achievement and Self-Discovery, a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment.
Additionally, adventure experiences can help individuals to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and inner resilience.
It is not always the idea of ‘Living on the edge’ that guide and motivates people to participate or undertake an adventure. For some, the sheer possibilities are enough.
George Mallory said three decades before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed the Everest. When asked in 1924, on his third attempt to climb Everest- why do you try climbing it? He answered with a simple truth – “Because it is there”. And that is a decently good reason for many adventurers to do what they do- including taking a big roller coaster ride.
Net-Net
Everyone has a different appetite for adventure and passion. However, adventure seekers should undertake the activity only after being clear about the possibilities, things that can go wrong, and their physical condition.
I stood at the MACAU tower to Bunge jump and decided against it. However, I have religiously Skydived at Pattaya for 6-7 years, jumped into level 3 river rafting, tried snookering, and fantasised about scuba diving and Formula car driving. But the biggest adventure has been singing in a college competition while creating the lyrics as I went along.
Don’t myopically define adventure. It has a wide spectrum, and the definition differs for every individual, as does the motivation and the reason to indulge in it. Whatever it may be, one is sure that it adds to the person’s experience and personality. What is life if not an adventure in the true sense?
It’s an answer that must be read by all marketers and planners. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the June 27 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…
The Prime Minister of India, on his state visit to the United States of America, had to face the press. Something he does not do in India and initially refused to be part of. The acceptance by the Indian government reportedly came after much backing and forthing. The White House apparently insisted because a joint press conference is the way they roll in the strange US version of democracy where politicians take questions from a group of journalists. Do you remember this phenomenon?