New Year, New Chapter

The holiday season gifted us with precious family moments - from immersing ourselves in cultural activities to attending sporting events. Our evening Monopoly game revealed a side of my daughters I hadn't fully appreciated before; watching them strategize, negotiate, and scheme like budding entrepreneurs reminded me how children often mirror back the very qualities we don't always see in ourselves.

What a journey this has been - stepping away from the corporate world into the unknown territory of authorhood. On a recent podcast, the host asked if I saw myself as an entrepreneur. After years of marketing other people's visions and organizations, it feels surreal to be building my own brand. The transition from promoting senior management to promoting myself has been... well, let's just say interesting!

This week marked a personal milestone: posting my first video on social media. No fancy production, no perfect lighting - just me, sharing my thoughts. While part of me cringed at the rawness compared to the polished content I usually see, I'm proudest of simply taking that first step. Perfect is the enemy of progress, right?

The writing process has been both therapeutic and terrifying, yet surprisingly enjoyable - something I wouldn't have imagined before our world trip gave me a new lease on life. In the past, I might have fixated on the outcomes: the published book, potential royalties, accolades. While those things are nice (and yes, I'm grateful for them), I've found unexpected joy in the actual grind of putting this story together.

I've spent countless hours (to my publisher's eternal patience) finessing the manuscript, ensuring every word stays true to our family's story. Writing has become my daily meditation - a way to relive our adventures while discovering new layers of meaning in moments I thought I understood. It has helped me make sense of our journey, rekindling stories that made me laugh, reflect, or just be still.

There's an eerie vulnerability in putting your experiences out into the world, wondering if you've captured the magic of those small, precious moments that changed us. I've come to realize that each moment was unique, never to happen again in the same way. Sure, we could revisit these places, but it wouldn't be the same - we'd be older, the kids more mature, our perspectives shifted. That's the beauty of it - this book isn't just about the places we visited; it's about how taking a pause from our carefully constructed life helped us see ourselves, and each other, in a completely new light.

The impact on our daughters has been remarkable. Their curiosity about the world has blossomed, whether it's from our trip or the habit of having news quietly playing in the background as we scramble in the mornings to get out the door or enjoy dinner at the end of the day.

Just the other day, while running errands, a car with an unfamiliar flag drove past. I asked aloud, "I wonder what flag that is?" "You mean Daddy, you don't know? It's the Welsh flag! How did you not know that?" Kasia's response left me dumbfounded. (I mean, seriously, who just casually identifies the Welsh flag?) Janice just raised her eyebrows and shook her head, silently communicating what we were both thinking: "That's your daughter for you."

While one trip around the world doesn't change everything, it has profoundly affected our children at this crucial age. Their lives, regardless of what path they choose, will never be quite the same - and for that, I am deeply grateful. It's this transformation—these precious moments of growth and discovery—that I've worked to capture in our family's story. Bringing these experiences to life through writing has been a deeply rewarding challenge, and I’m thrilled to finally share them with the world.

This journey has also opened up unexpected opportunities to share our experiences in a different way. As I've reflected on our adventures and the lessons learned, I've begun crafting talks that resonate with the transformative power of stepping away from our routines. Two topics I'm particularly excited to share are "The Unexpected Power of Pausing" and "Beyond the Sting: Building Your Failure Immunity" - both born from our family's experiences and the insights gained along the way. If you're interested in learning more about these speaking topics, you can find details here: https://www.charlesachampong.com/speaking.

Finally, on January 28th, 2025, my book, Around the World in Family Days will officially launch! You'll be able to purchase the book through Amazon, or you can order it directly from my website, which will redirect you to Amazon's secure checkout. I will provide more information closer to the date.

This book has been an absolute labour of love, and while it feels surreal to type these words, I'm learning to embrace this 'new chapter'. Who knows? Maybe watching their Dad take this leap will show my girls that there's more than one way to write your life story.

Here's to new adventures in 2025!