How I became an adventure capitalist

After a lifetime of experiences that ranged from organizing US presidential visits to decluttering a dilapidated camping ground, Elaine McGough, 49, believes the best lives and careers take side steps, back steps – sometimes even missteps.

“I studied commerce at university – a great background no matter what path you choose. For a long time I thought you had to have back-to-back jobs, all nine to five, all showing some kind of progression. When I realized this wasn’t necessary, I chose to do many things, but always one at a time. I believe a person has only so much band width and can’t commit wholly to two different pursuits simultaneously.

“During the last three years, my husband Grant and I have redeveloped a rundown Whangarei Heads holiday park into a profitable business. When I found the Blue Heron on the internet with its riparian rights, moorings, boat ramp, buildings and a business, I thought it was a misprint – it seemed too good to be true. The property was covered in weeds and littered with rusty caravans but I just saw this stunning piece of land and a business that made sense. It was only when we actually moved in that it occurred to me that, apart from redesigning the business and refurbishing the accommodation, someone actually had to do the cleaning.

We spent the first three months scrubbing and sweeping, weeding and painting. We threw out 30 stained, torn mattresses or, as Grant called them, DNA samples. Once I’d washed mountains of cutlery and crockery, I realized nothing matched. Even the stock in the shop was old – there were contest entries on ice blocks in the freezer that had been won four years previously! 

“Today, however, the park is something of which we can be really proud. We have accommodation for 150 in camp-sites, cabins and fully equipped homes – all with clean, matching crockery. Our private point has 250 metres of waterfront from where our guests fish and watch dolphins and orca. Our favourite activity is floating in the water with a glass of wine and looking back at the park. The place glows at sunset. We can smell the barbecues cooking and the sounds of people talking and laughing drift across the water. We have to pinch ourselves and say, ‘We actually own that place!’ We’ve designed a process, set up a procedure and applied some common sense. It’s a formula that has really worked for us and we now have a very profitable business that is fun to work in.

“In the past I have managed many events and projects, including stints as logistics director on two of President Clinton’s visits and as accommodation director for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While living in the islands I volunteered with the Animal Protection Society, helping Samoa’s abused and neglected animals. There is still so much more that needs to be done there. Two years ago I had my first book published: former rugby player and speaker Jason Barrell’s biography. It’s called Try, Try Again – the inspirational story of one New Zealander’s fight to win back his life. I love getting really close to someone and understanding them to the extent that they trust me to tell their story.
 
“Every experience – good or bad, happy or not – helps me in subsequent situations. The trick is to allow the good ones to be precedents and the bad ones not to be part of a pattern. I want to do more, be more, see more and it is time to move on to pursue these aims. We are selling our peninsula tourist park to allow ourselves the flexibility to travel more. We consider ourselves “adventure capitalists”. Life is an adventure, but you need the resources to be able to take those risks.

“I believe in grabbing opportunities when you can – not to overthink them or, worse, think they might be there for you to pursue tomorrow, next week or next year. Opportunities can branch out in any direction. The exciting part is not knowing which one.”

Interview by Rosalind Le Bas Walker