Overcoming Obstacles Key To Success

Media Release- 21 May 2011

Delegates at First National Real Estate’s Annual Convention, being held in Coolum this week, heard first hand the experiences of James Castrission and Justin Jones in the importance of overcoming obstacles in realising dreams.

James and Justin were the first adventurers to successfully navigate, by kayak, the Tasman Sea, from Australia to New Zealand, months after someone had died attempting the same journey.

“We hope our story of battling 100km an hour winds, ten metre waves and food and sleep deprivation will provide the First National delegates with some valuable insights that they will be able to take away with them and adopt in their every day personal and business lives,” James and Justin said.

“The most important lessons we learnt, the hard way, were that teamwork, planning and preparation including risk management strategies and a well executed plan are paramount in everything we do.

“To achieve your goals, always keep the big picture in sight.  A valuable piece of advice after what the property industry has had to face recently, especially in the light of the unsettling economic conditions and climactic turbulence.”

Justin and James, highly motivating and inspiring speakers, said the real estate industry had many parallels with due diligence and teamwork planning a hugely important role in finding the right product for the right person.

“It is so easy to lose track of the bigger picture when you’re swirling around in current whirlpools in the middle of the Tasman, battling 10 metre waves and 4m long sharks,” Justin and James said.

“Although not a matter of life and death,  it is the same with the real estate industry, where they also have to be vigilant against their own kinds of risks and threats.”

First National Real Estate Chief Executive Officer, Ray Ellis, said the network’s members were privileged to be hearing the secrets of James and Justin’s survival.

“Their inspirational journey provides great insight to the subjects of leadership, taking control of your life, challenging yourself mentally and physically, facing adversity and the strategic contingency planning required by such a mammoth task,” Mr Ellis said.

“When pushed to our limits, it is important to understand which boundaries we can push even further, what heights we can reach and what our personal parameters really are.  Very few are able to do this, and, as a network, we are honoured that two people who have done it are willing to share their experiences and learnings with us.

“We should all take a page from their book and who knows where we might end up – perhaps helping the government make decisions about the future of this great industry!”

James, at 29 years of age, has a Bachelor of Commerce and has worked as a consultant and analyst for a major international accounting firm.  He decided to make mountaineering, rock climbing, bushwalking and kayaking a focus of his life and has climbed some of the most challenging peaks in Australia and New Zealand, and walked some of the most breathtaking tracks in the world.

Justin, at 27 years of age, completed an advanced science degree with Honours in Physiology at the University of New South Wales, before deciding against a life of academia and opting for one of adventure! Jonesy can also add documentary producer to his repertoire; having co-produced the Crossing the Ditch documentary which has recently won international acclaim.

James and Justin also shared a glimpse of their upcoming world first expedition down in Antarctica at the end of this year. “We are planning the first ever unsupported sled haul from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back. No one has achieved this goal and we feel that we are the team to take this on.” Details on their next expedition can be found on our website; www.casandjonesy.com.au.

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Issued by: First National Real Estate

For further information contact Stewart Bunn, National Communications Manager, First National on 0413 624 317

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