Confidence is often misunderstood.
I’ve had people mistake mine for arrogance — even people who know me well. But this confidence didn’t come after my injury, and it didn’t come from it.
It’s just who I am.
Arrogance, I’ve found, can sometimes be nothing more than bluster — trying a bit too hard when you’re out of your depth.
That’s probably when my “confidence” gets misunderstood the most.
Most of the time, I just smile and think…
"yeah, that was one of those days I was pushing a bit harder than usual — just trying not to show the fear."
As a kid, I argued with referees, challenged teachers, and spoke up when something didn’t feel right.
Then I broke my neck at C4/5.
And confidence became something else entirely.
When Confidence Becomes Necessary
What changed wasn’t my confidence — it was the stakes.
When you live with tetraplegia, confidence isn’t personality.
It becomes practical. Necessary. Protective.
I don’t speak with certainty because I feel nothing.
I do it because I feel everything — and I’ve learned that hesitation invites doubt, pity, or limitation from others.
Confidence isn’t about ego.
It’s about staying in control.
Travel Isn’t About Distance — It’s About Transfers
Travel is where that confidence gets tested most.
For most people, travel is about distance.
For me, it’s about transfers.
Beds. Chairs. Hotel rooms. Tight spaces. Unfamiliar environments.
The real question is never:
“Can I go?”
It’s:
“Can I transfer safely when I get there?”
For years, travel was possible — but fragile.
It meant extra people, bulky equipment, and constant backup plans.
One missing piece could unravel everything.
And fragility kills confidence.
From Fragile to Reliable
That’s where Kera Travel changes things.
Not by changing who I am — but by removing what used to get in the way.
Kera Travel is a sit-to-sit hoist that folds down small, travels easily, and allows safe transfers with one caregiver — even for someone like me with no standing or arm function.
What matters most isn’t just portability.
It’s reliability.
No improvising.
No lifting.
No guessing.
Just a system that works — wherever you are.
Independence That Travels With You
Before Kera Travel, every trip involved compromise.
You either relied more on others, carried bulky gear, or accepted less dignity just to make it work.
That’s not freedom.
That’s managed risk.
Now the question is different:
“Where do I want to go?”
Because independence doesn’t stay at home anymore.
It comes with you.
The Best Technology Disappears
The best assistive technology doesn’t stand out.
It fades into the background.
When it’s right:
- planning gets easier
- anxiety drops
- routines stay consistent
Kera Travel doesn’t try to impress.
It just works.
From “Can I Get There?” to “What Will I Wear?”
When a friend messaged me that Rocky Horror Picture Show was coming to Wellington, my first thought wasn’t about access.
It wasn’t:
How will I transfer?
Is the venue accessible?
Will this be too hard?
That used to be the conversation in my head.
But this time, I didn’t even hesitate.
Because I knew I had my Kera Travel Hoist.
So my confidence wasn’t spent on logistics — it was free for something better.
What am I going to wear?
How far out there do I want to go?
How much of myself do I want to put on show?
That’s the shift.
When the barriers are removed, your thinking changes.
You stop planning around limitations…
and start planning around life.
And honestly — that’s where confidence really lives.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a success.
We got dressed up — as you do — and people were really receptive. They went out of their way to come over, have a chat, and compliment us. That part never gets old.
My ego got a bit of a boost too when a few people from Napier recognised me as the Christmas lights guy… even in that outfit. I’m still not quite sure how they picked me.
People are funny like that. Some even said I made their night. I think sometimes they don’t see many wheelchair users out and about, so they go the extra mile to make you feel good about it. It’s a bit of a strange feeling — but hey, you take the compliment and move on. No point overthinking it.
In my head, I looked like Frankenfurter…but looking back at the photos — it was just me. I like dress up, its takes me out of my comfort zone
The confidence pool was full. My mind was at ease, knowing I had a safe transfer waiting back at the room.
To be honest, I don’t even think about transfers anymore. It just feels… normal.
So when people mistake my confidence for arrogance, I let them.
Confidence isn’t about ego.
It’s about showing up without hesitation.
It’s knowing your independence doesn’t stay at home — it comes with you.
Kera Travel doesn’t create confidence.
It makes it possible to hold onto it.
Mark Williams is a Kera Travel user, Investor and National Sales Manager at HT Systems.
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