THE LAST WORD
JOURNEYS Reflecting on journeys of distance and depth.
A
s a young man, I spent countless hours
famously sought out by business leaders for his
sitting at my desk in philosophical pursuits.
council. This was the time to pass on that experience
Reading, researching and writing maxims,
to a young man beginning his journey.
this place was my sanctuary. Striking back at
Walking down a broken sidewalk in a remote
John le Carré’s, “A desk is a dangerous place from which to
town on the rugged Atlantic coast, Peter described
view the world,” I put fountain pen to paper,
that within us we carry the seeds of our
writing, “I have made a journey, not of distance, but of depth.”
accomplishments, the person we will be in our future.
However, sitting at dinner one evening with
He summed this up with, “You are what you are before you
the former Confidential Secretary to the Philippine
do what you do.”
Minister of Defense, and friend of Imelda Marcos, I
I would spend the following years making the
was given an insight into the world of diplomacy that
most difficult passages of my life – not realizing that I
would change the course of my life, forever. With
had already found my answer. It was long before I had
impeccable manners, this elegant woman told stories
ever left my sanctuary, that I was drawn to publishing,
of flying around the world in the private planes of her
advertising and the world of luxury brands. From high
childhood friends, and described how she met world
artistry creations, to the inner world of boutiques, this
leaders while travelling abroad: “You have to go to another
was a landscape I had spent my youth traversing.
country, and there you meet these people.”
In those days, collecting was a private act of
It was years later that I would find myself on
reflection, adding pieces to a legacy of carefully
an expedition that would lead me from Vancouver to
curated taste. Today, in a world where ‘luxury is
the Southernmost point of the Americas. Joining
choice’, and the choices offered are always changing,
success guru, Peter Lowe, to explore Argentina’s
these private paths have become mainstream. The
Patagonia, we made our way down the Beagle Channel
pinnacle of luxury, however, remains those brands
to the natural habitat of wild penguins. It was a trip
distinguished by their sense of permanence. And we,
that took three planes, a van and what may have been
who have made long journeys, still retreat to our
a badly unrestored Chevrolet, to talk in person
sanctuaries to find the greatest truth of all: An
with a man who had been friends with Presidents,
unyieldingly familiar authenticity, which guides us
Prime Ministers and captains of industry. Having
through all ages.
gleaned the experience and advice of greats like
JD Banck
Presidents from Reagan to Clinton, Peter was
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