Ultra-athlete Simon Donato shares secrets of success with incoming students

What’s the secret to success?

According to Simon Donato the answer is simple: get out of your comfort zone.

Donato, ultra-athlete and creator/co-star of TV’s Boundless, offered this advice to more than 500 students during a Welcome Week event organized by the McMaster Students Union.

Donato, who earned a PhD in Geology from McMaster, talked to students about how he went from working as a petroleum geologist in Alberta’s oil sands to becoming an elite athlete and TV producer, competing in the world’s toughest endurance races.

“A lot of people would consider my path to be one of risk and uncertainly because I left the comfort of the corporate world,” says Donato.  “I’m living proof of what you can accomplish when you take a chance and let passion guide you. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Donato is also an entrepreneur who, in addition to working on Boundless, runs two successful businesses. He says the skills he learned in university have been integral to his success.

“I didn’t learn how to run a business with my geology degree. I didn’t learn how to race in my geology program, but I learned how to think and how to research. This ability to learn outside of textbooks is a powerful tool in your arsenal as you move forward and make decisions.”

Equally important, according to Donato, are the experiences students have outside the classroom.

“There are so many resources on campus to help you accomplish your learning goals, it would be shame not to take advantage of them,” says Donato. “Take classes you enjoy, join clubs and teams, learn about yourself, live an adventure. Document your experiences and reflect often – it will make for a richer experience.”

 Set a path for success

Donato encourages students to set their own goals and to document their McMaster experience. Students can do this using the Learning Portfolio, an online tool accessible through Avenue to Learn.