From Zero to One-From Curiosity to Experience-Onto New Beginnings.
By: Phil Plumley
Tags: Oceans, Environmental Impact, Personal Development, Awareness, Podcast

In the beginning…

In the beginning I was curious, so I started by simply nurturing my curiosity.

The curiosity turned into an interest and then into a bit of an obsession before shaping itself into a passion.

My knowledge was very limited. Besides enjoying the sea for a swim, sailing or the beach, I knew little more of what one could know by just being exposed to a documentary by Cousteau or Attenborough.

I started by asking myself the basic questions randomly, trying to identify what the problems were or could be. An exercise which quickly drove me to the topic of plastics, the heating of the oceans, acidification increase and deoxygenation of the oceans.

All very drastic issues which affect the planet and of which I knew little to nothing about.

At this point I started studying every bit of information on those topics I could get my hands on. The more I researched, the greater the amount of topics to research. Eventually I was lucky to get an email exchange with an expert called Chelsea Rochman, who generously and patiently answered my basic questions and provided some guidance and subsequentially some structure to my curiosity.

Largely due to this exchange with an expert, I decided to get involved.

Starting right where I was. Full of passion and with little to no knowledge. Commitment was the only thing.

I thought of some plastic solutions and I realised that raising awareness was necessary as to ensure that the causes of the issues would be addressed.

I did some primitive sketches and started a podcast called ocean matters where I shared information that I came across during my research. In my mind I was walking in the steps of explorers or inventors such as Leonardo Da Vinci or Charles Darwin, and the raising of awareness was a perfect excuse to try the guerilla and alternative tactics to spread the message online. I realised I could use social media to gain more traction. I then also started to look for more audiences by writing on Medium.

The more I indulged into the exercise, the more I learned and the more I realised how much could be done.

Ironically, only then did I realise that I could start using my actual skills or experience and put them to use. It sounds obvious looking back but it did not actually come to mind initially.

As my interests grew and I kept learning, mainly through offering support to various NGOs, I was also discovering new opportunities and seeing where I could be of use and support. The exercise itself allowed for me to meet and learn about different NGOs and startups around the world.

This even eventually allowed me to be a mentor for a challenge in ocean protection as well as to help with the production of an environmental movie.

Every experience offered access to more experiences,

Today, I am looking to find more ways to serve in these fields.

The plan includes more ocean cleaning and more ways to raise awareness, but also to look at reoxygenation solutions.

There were many times where I found myself wondering what I was doing along the way.

There were many times where I thought the exercise was futile, sometimes struggling and even feeling lost, however this is also when I suddenly would get a tap on the shoulder asking for direction or advice, reminding me of the knowledge I picked up on the way.