The completion of the AT is an important goal, but not the most important goal. As they say, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. While finishing is certainly high on my list of goals, I felt if I was going to successfully achieve other personal goals on the Trail, it would be critical to first accomplish a number of goals before I left. With these issues addressed, a true escape would be possible.

First, I felt I had to release control of everything in my day-to-day life. Second, I had to put faith and trust in the people in my personal life, my business partner and my colleagues at Firefly. Finally, and most importantly, I had to have faith in God, to put my fate in his hands and accept that whatever happened while I was gone would be His will.

This has certainly been the most difficult part of the expedition. When you leave your life for five months, no matter how well you order everything, many things can happen to change the course of things left behind.

This is especially true in the case of leaving the business. Through the seven years Firefly has operated, we’ve grown into a very successful business, starting with one employee (me), to currently employing 15 people. We crafted a unique process that crosses the advertising agency and software development shop processes. We’ve also developed end-to-end information systems that integrate the entire operation, including management reports designed to establish individual and project accountability, profitability and to analyze productivity at the project and individual levels. These systems make management easy and effective, and require a modest amount of my time.

Getting to this point makes it easier for me to let go of a business that has been stable, profitable and efficiently operated. I do plan to maintain contact on a weekly basis, and act as a silent manager, observing reports and supporting the team with advice and answers to their questions on a weekly basis.

As I re-supply each week, I’ll log into our systems, review weekly reports and communicate as needed via email and phone. Sure, it’s not exactly the perfect escape, the absolute isolation some seek. But for me, it’s the way I want it, at least in the beginning. I expect my involvement to decrease as the team grows more comfortable in my absence.

In many ways, I look forward to the growth and maturity my absence will bring. Each individual at Firefly was hired because they are special and unique people. Not that I have a flawless record for hiring, but I do have a knack for seeing people's potential. Hiring them and cultivating exceptional professionals requires that insight and vision. It’s this potential I cultivate as a leader. I’ve also developed a business culture that stimulates collaboration, where people share their skills, knowledge and talents in a collaborative work space. Put great people together, in the right environment, who thrive in a collaborative culture and you’ll see remarkable results.

The people working at Firefly are remarkable people. They each exhibit the three traits most important in great professionals; strength of character, a strong will to succeed and good base skills. In the right environment, with good leadership, these people will find success and excel beyond their expectations. I know it works, because I see it working every day.

I have faith in the Firefly team. I have faith in the business structure we’ve built. I have faith in God. And I trust each will sustain a positive course in the months I am gone. And if they don’t, and something unexpected happens, I have prepared myself to accept the outcome, and deal with it when I return.

In many ways it’s comforting to relinquish control, to set down the weight of the world for a few months and not worry about what waits for me at the end of the trail. I started with nothing and achieved a great deal with what’s in my head and heart. I can do the same once again if needed.

And like Donald Trump said in the boardroom of The Apprentice television show, “There’s nothing like a great comeback!”