Sometimes the best business and life lessons come from the most unexpected places. Today’s story isn’t about mortgages or real estate – it’s about something that matters just as much: actually living the life you want instead of just planning for it.
Meet Jillian Lynch. At 25 years old, she’s cycling across Canada to raise money for SickKids Hospital. But here’s what makes her story different: this wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment decision. She’s been planning this since she was 12 years old.
The Power of Long-Term Vision
Think about what you wanted to do when you were 12. Now think about actually doing it 13 years later. That’s exactly what Jillian did.
The dream started during one of many hospital visits with her younger brother, who was born with cystic fibrosis. At the hospital, she met a woman who was biking across Canada. Right then, young Jillian decided: “The first big purchase of my life is going to be a bike, and I’m going to bike across Canada.”
She even used that same childhood bike to start her journey (though it broke on day three, forcing her to buy a new one). The point is – she held onto that dream and made it happen.
What This Means for You
How many dreams are you sitting on right now? How many times have you said “someday” or “when the time is right”?
Jillian’s story proves that the best time to start is now. Not when you have more money. Not when you have more time. Not when conditions are perfect. Now.
Book Your Strategy CallHer Brother’s Incredible Story
Jillian’s motivation goes deeper than a childhood dream. Her younger brother, now 23, has had three double lung transplants. He’s both the youngest person in the world and the first Canadian to have three such procedures.
His first transplant happened in 2014. After that surgery, the family created a bucket list. They lived differently. Whenever he wanted to eat something specific, they made it happen. Whenever he wanted to experience something, they did it. They lived like every day mattered – because it did.
After complications from his second and third transplants, he’s now facing the possibility of a fourth. Despite this, he has an incredible mindset. He treats every day as if it’s one of his last. And because of that approach, he’s lived more fully than most healthy people ever will.
The Real Cost of Medical Challenges
Here’s something most people don’t think about: when a child gets seriously ill, the whole family pays a price.
Jillian’s parents are small-town folks who suddenly found themselves thrust into Toronto’s urban chaos when their son was airlifted there in 2014. They had to learn complex medical terminology overnight. They had to figure out a new healthcare system. Both lost their jobs at various points.
Jillian herself chose caregiving over employment. She said it “felt like the more important thing to do at that time.” These are impossible choices that families shouldn’t have to make, but they do – every single day.
What the Journey Actually Looks Like
Jillian covers about 120 kilometers on a typical day. That’s roughly 75 miles. Sometimes she pushes it to 200 kilometers when needed.
She carries everything in about 50 liters of gear total. That includes water bottles, food, a tent, and all her clothing for the entire trip. She calls it “almost liberating to live off of so little.”
The Dangerous Moments
On one extremely hot day – 32 degrees Celsius – Jillian nearly ran out of water with 40 kilometers still to go. She got so dehydrated that she started eating anything with moisture in it, not for food but for the liquid.
When she finally reached the next village, she found one convenience store still open. The staff gave her about a liter of orange juice and four liters of water. She drank it all immediately.
This is real. This isn’t some Instagram-perfect adventure. It’s hard, dangerous work.
The People She Met
One of the most interesting people Jillian encountered was a young man from Japan who got stuck in Quebec when the pandemic started. Instead of being miserable about it, he decided to spend his time cycling across Canada.
His grandparents witnessed the Hiroshima atomic bomb. His family farm sits 70 kilometers from where it detonated. He carried these incredible stories with him across Canada.
She also met a couple who put a sign in their yard: “free camping for any cyclist.” They told her about someone who cycled across all of Canada in just 18 days with only a hammock and a water bottle. It took Jillian 14 days just to get from Toronto to New Brunswick.
The Lesson That Matters Most
Here’s what Jillian’s brother taught her: do what you want to do with your life while you’re living it. Life can be short. You have one opportunity.
This connects directly to something we talk about often in the investment world. People wait for the perfect moment to buy their first property. They wait until they have more money, more knowledge, better market conditions.
But perfect never comes. The people who succeed are the ones who start – even when conditions aren’t ideal.
Stop Waiting
You don’t need everything figured out. Jillian’s bike broke on day three. She figured it out. Her brother has faced setback after setback. He keeps going.
Whatever you’re planning – whether it’s buying your first investment property, starting a business, or changing careers – stop waiting for perfect. Start now. Figure it out as you go.
The Bigger Picture
Jillian’s fundraising for SickKids isn’t abstract. She knows the families who will benefit. She’s experienced the programs herself as a sibling of a patient.
She described arriving at SickKids as “the most life-changing experience.” The nurses and staff are “heavily ingrained into my mind,” she says. She thinks about them constantly during difficult moments of her journey.
Small acts make huge differences. What seems like a minor effort on your part can be life-changing for someone else.
What You Can Do
You probably won’t bike across Canada. That’s okay. But you can do something.
Maybe it’s finally buying that investment property you’ve been researching for two years. Maybe it’s reaching out to that mentor you’ve been too scared to contact. Maybe it’s just making one small move toward a goal you’ve been putting off.
The point is to start. To take action. To stop planning and start doing.
Jillian held a dream for 13 years, then made it happen. Her brother faces impossible medical odds but chooses to live fully anyway. Their parents sacrificed careers to care for their son.
These are regular people doing extraordinary things. Not because they’re special or lucky or privileged. Because they decided to act.
What are you waiting for?
Book Your Strategy CallFrequently Asked Questions
Both require taking action instead of waiting for perfect conditions. Many people delay investing because they’re waiting for more money, better market timing, or more knowledge. Jillian’s story shows the power of starting now and figuring things out along the way – the same mindset successful investors use.
It varies widely. Some people complete it in two months, others take four months or more. Jillian covers about 120 kilometers per day typically, though she can push to 200 kilometers when needed. The timeline depends on daily distance, weather, terrain, and personal goals.
Physical dangers like dehydration are serious concerns. Jillian nearly ran out of water on a hot day with 40 kilometers still to go. She had to eat anything with moisture just for the liquid content. Mental challenges are also huge – maintaining motivation day after day requires serious determination.
Start now with what you have. Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Jillian held her dream for 13 years, then began with a childhood bike that broke on day three. She figured it out. Take the first step, even if it’s small, and solve problems as they come up.
Medical crises require constant attention and caregiving. Parents must choose between employment and caring for their child. Hospital visits, medical appointments, and emergency situations make regular work schedules impossible. Both of Jillian’s parents lost jobs at various points during her brother’s treatment.
Jillian travels with about 50 liters of gear total – water bottles, food, a tent, and all clothing for the trip. Everything fits in one backpack or two panniers on the bike. She learned through experience that less is more, and describes it as liberating to live with so little.
He’s had three double lung transplants, making him the youngest person in the world and first Canadian to have three. He’s currently experiencing chronic rejection and may need a fourth transplant. Despite this, he maintains an incredible mindset and treats every day like it could be his last.
Do what you want with your life while you’re living it. Life is short and you have one opportunity. Stop waiting for perfect conditions, more money, or better timing. Start now, take action, and figure things out as you go. This applies to everything from personal goals to investment decisions.
