The 50 Strangers Who Taught Me About Awesomeness on a Plane

How a Purple Top Hat Turned My Flight into an Unforgettable Social Experiment

I was on my way to Awesomeness Fest in Thailand, a transformational event for entrepreneurs and leaders, and little did I know, my journey there would turn into an epic adventure of its own.

The Hat That Started It All

It all started with a problem—one that with a little creativity, became an opportunity.

For one of the event’s themed parties, we needed to wear cabaret-style outfits. So, I went to a fancy dress shop and found the perfect addition to my look: a beautiful purple top hat. The problem? It didn’t fit in my rucksack. And even if I forced it in, it wouldn’t survive the journey to Thailand in one piece.

As I puzzled over what to do, my housemate threw out a challenge:

“If you’re going to carry the hat on the plane, why don’t you do something with it?”

I was intrigued. Go on…

“Since you’re heading to Awesomeness Fest, why not get a photo of someone on the plane wearing the hat, holding a sign that says ‘I am awesome’?”

My excitement skyrocketed. Suddenly, my 13-hour flight had the potential to be a social experiment, an adventure, and a way to arrive at Awesomeness Fest with a bang!

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The First Leap of Courage

The next morning, I sat in the airport departure lounge, pen in hand, writing “I am awesome” on a page from my notebook. I tore it out, placed the hat on my lap, and braced myself for action.

Here’s the thing: as confident, outgoing, and adventurous as I might seem, I suddenly felt incredibly nervous.

I walked past at least 8 potential candidates, smiling in a way that I hoped would make them curious enough to approach me first. But no one did. I hesitated. What if people thought it was weird? What if no one wanted to do it?

Just as I was about to talk myself out of it, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

“Are you awesome?”

A woman had spotted my sign and decided to challenge me.

“Yes, I am indeed! How about you? You look awesome!”

She laughed and explained why she was, in fact, awesome—she and her husband were flying all the way from London to Australia just to babysit for their daughter for three nights! That was more than enough to earn them spots as Awesome People #1 and #2 in my challenge.

Before we parted ways, she gave me a golden piece of advice:

“If you’re going to get 50 people to do this,
you’re going to have to be a lot more assertive!”

She was right. It was time to push past my comfort zone.

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Taking the Challenge to the Sky

As I boarded the plane, I made an effort to draw attention to my purple hat and my ‘I am awesome’ sign. It worked.

A flight attendant grinned and said, “Yes, you are!”

That was my in. I explained my challenge to the cabin crew, hoping they’d not only participate but also allow me to roam the plane and chat with passengers.

Awesome Person #3 was a woman from Australia named Pat Harvey. She wasn’t one for theatrics but was happy to own her awesomeness and take a photo.

But the real magic happened with my seat neighbor—a woman from East Timor with an extraordinary story.

She shared how she fled her country in 1999, escaping the brutal conflict that claimed so many lives. She and her husband worked three jobs each to build a new life for their children in England. And now, she was flying home with her sister, who didn’t speak English and had never traveled before.

Her resilience moved me deeply. My challenge, which had started as a fun collection of photos, was evolving into something far greater—a way to uncover incredible stories of strength, kindness, and human connection.

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Momentum and the Mid-Flight Struggle

With my confidence growing, I strategically stationed myself near the bathrooms, knowing passengers would have time to chat while waiting. I started asking different questions to get people thinking about their awesomeness:

• What awesome things do you want to do in the future?
• What’s the most awesome thing you’ve ever done?
• What does being ‘awesome’ mean to you?
• What makes you awesome?

Soon, the photos and conversations were flowing.

By the time turbulence hit, I had 15 photos and a collection of inspiring stories. I sat back in my seat, feeling accomplished.

But then, a sneaky little voice crept in.

“15 is great. You don’t really need 50. 15 is good enough.”

For a moment, I considered stopping. But then I thought about the story I wanted to tell when I arrived at Awesomeness Fest. Did I want to show up with a half-finished challenge? Or did I want to go all in, push past my fears, and arrive with a truly inspiring story?

I knew the answer.

I asked my seatmate to let me out, took a deep breath, and went all in.

The Final Sprint to 50

With one hour left in the flight, I had 34 photos. At this point, the challenge had taken on a life of its own. I stood at the front of the plane, and people were now coming to me, asking to be part of it!The cabin crew got involved. Passengers encouraged each other. The energy was electric.

With minutes to spare, I snapped the final photos, hitting 50 just before we landed!

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Lessons From 50 Strangers and a Purple Hat

As I stepped off the plane, I realized this challenge had taught me far more than I expected. Here are 10 key takeaways:

1. Turn problems into opportunities. (My hat won’t fit? Let’s make it a challenge!)
   
2. Set big, exciting goals. (One photo wasn’t enough. 50 made it an adventure!)
   
3. Share what you’re doing—people will come to you. (Curiosity is a powerful magnet!)
   
4. Act on advice. (“Be more assertive.” Thanks, Lynn!)
   
5. Momentum will come—just start. (The first ‘yes’ is the hardest. After that, it gets easier!)
   
6. Ignore excuses. (“15 is fine…” No. Push through!)
   
7. Be interesting. (The purple hat did half the work!)
   
8. Find accountability. (Telling my housemate made me commit!)
   
9. Use time creatively. (A long-haul flight became a social experiment!)
   
10. Do more awesome things. (Every action inspires someone—even a small project like this!)