The Salesforce Surfer Edition #3: Salesforce Safari – The Endless Summer

When Surfers Go On Safari, They Embark On A Journey To Find Surf And They Don’t Come Back Until They Have Succeeded !

The Surf Safari is the quintessential surf experience. In this three part series, we’ll explore some of the core tenets of the Surf Safari and how they can help us with our own Salesforce Safari!

Core Safari Tenet Number One: The Endless Summer

In 1966, a surf enthusiast and independent filmmaker by the name of Bruce Brown revolutionized the image of surfing around the world with his film The Endless Summer. Beautifully shot on a very low budget, Bruce Brown produced, directed, edited and narrated the documentary-style film.

Both soulful and humorous, the film followed two young surfers, Mike Hynson and Robert August, as they chased summer around the world, in pursuit of the perfect wave…..the ultimate Surf Safari continuing year round! It remains, to this day, the most iconic of surf films.

This movie wonderfully illustrates the extent to which surfers will go once they set out to find surf.  Never once did we come back from a surf trip in defeat, even if it meant hours on the road or walking miles carrying our boards to a secluded destination. Sometimes, the result of the trip wasn’t what we hoped for, but we got wet and enjoyed the journey. In fact, we had many rituals to enhance the experience, from surf tunes to favorite food locations, that made every trip exciting and fun.

The million dollar question now is, “Are you ready to embark upon your own Salesforce Safari and commit to finding the perfect Salesforce career for you, refusing to return until you succeed?”

Whoa…whoa…whoa, don’t you think it is a little early to be talking about making a commitment of that magnitude?  I mean…shouldn’t I just get my feet wet and then decide if I like the temperature of the water? 

Have you ever watched a seasoned surfer prepare to surf?  It starts in the parking lot with putting on your wetsuit up to your waist, checking the integrity of your board and leash, applying sunblock, and adding some wax to your board if needed. At the shoreline, as you zip up the top of your wetsuit and attach your leash, you are reading the ocean; Watching how and where the surf breaks, looking for channels, currents and undertows, and observing wind conditions. If there is a lifeguard station, you look for safety and instructional markers that the lifeguard has put out. Additionally, I always talk to the lifeguard. Having been one myself, I know that they are a wealth of information. It’s their job to know and prepare for the conditions. Plus, it never hurts to be on a first name basis with the guy who might be saving your life, if you know what I mean;)

There is always risk in any aquatic sport, but you make the determination that you are capable of handling the current conditions.  This is where it really gets interesting……Surfers don’t wade into the water letting themselves adjust to the temperature and see how things go.  They wait for the next wave to pass, and then run and/or jump into the water, attacking the surf with full force. If there is no channel(lane where the waves are not breaking) to paddle out through, you employ a number of techniques, including duck diving(pushing under an oncoming wave) and the turtle roll(rolling the board on top of you in front of an oncoming wave), to reduce the interruption in your forward progress. In between the waves, you are paddling with all your strength and conditioning, to make it to the outside(past where the waves are breaking). A surfer knows it is crucial to minimize the punishment he receives on the inside(where the waves have already broken), so as not to sap his strength. I’m not sure I ever remember thinking about the water temperature…….I was too intent on meeting the challenges in front of me head on. 

So far, you have prepared to enter the surf, spending time on Trailhead to get a feel for the material and exploring the different paths available. Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to speak with a lifeguard(a Salesforce professional) to be informed about the conditions that lay ahead. Now, it’s time to determine if you will embark upon your own Salesforce Safari and enter the water. But once you decide to get in, you must attack it with all your strength and determination.

This has nothing to do with your timeframe to completion or organization of other priorities in life. I am speaking here of your mental approach. If you wade in with the attitude that you are going to adjust to the water and see how things go, you are going to get hammered by the waves. You must be determined, squaring off against the oncoming waves, and you must be smart about how you meet them, so as not to waste your critical energy.  It’s more than just making a choice or being tenacious though. You have to decide that the only path for you lies forward.

Mindset Change: Everybody’s path to a Salesforce career is different(and that’s ok), but resolve that the only way this Salesforce Safari ends is with you finding the perfect Salesforce career for you. Make a decision to get in the water and meet the challenges head on.

Action Item #1: Now that you have made a firm decision that a career in Salesforce is the right one for you, I suggest starting with the new Prepare for Your Salesforce Certified Associate Credential. Afterwards, sit for your Salesforce Associate certification. 

Action Item #2: After getting your Associate certification, head to this trail: Prepare for Your Salesforce Administrator Credential.  I highly recommend additional materials to prepare for your administrator exam which is significantly more difficult than the Associate certification. I will have more on extra resources in subsequent installments that are coming soon. So stay tuned!

Extra Credit: Watch Bruce Brown’s landmark surf film, The Endless Summer.

Stay tuned for the second installment of this series….Salesforce Safari – Come On And Safari With Me!