It was minus two degrees. Still dark. Steve Misa showed up in a cotton t-shirt like he was heading to a family BBQ in Tonga.
No gloves. No thermals. Just a paddle and a simple “why not?”
He had no experience. No training plan. But when he got the call to take part in a 100km charity paddle, he didn’t hesitate. He said yes.
That kind of response says a lot. It speaks to a deeper sense of integrity. The kind that doesn’t wait for ideal conditions or recognition. The kind that turns up when something matters and figures the rest out along the way.
Steve’s decision wasn’t about being the most prepared. It was about backing the kaupapa and committing to the challenge. That commitment carried him through freezing temperatures, mental fatigue, and one of the toughest physical efforts he had ever faced.
His mate became the unofficial support crew. Packed hot food. Brought the spare lifejacket. Loaded the Backstreet Boys playlist. Showed up in the background, steady and reliable. No need to be asked. No need to be thanked. That is reliability in action.
What happened that day wasn’t really about paddling. It was about saying yes to something bigger. That mindset, the willingness to lead from the front and back your people, is exactly what Oyonnx works to build in every business and every leader.
Because professionalism is not about perfection. It is about how you show up when things are uncertain. It is about backing your word with action. About staying grounded under pressure and following through when it counts.
Innovation is not always about tools or strategies. Sometimes it looks like grit. It looks like jumping into something with no plan, no map, and trusting that growth happens in the middle of the unknown. That kind of thinking shifts culture and creates movement.
At Oyonnx, this is what leadership looks like. Stepping into discomfort. Trusting your people. Choosing action over hesitation.
Because when we improve leadership, we grow businesses. And when we grow businesses, we lift communities.
It starts with one person. One choice. One yes.