28. October 2014 | Blog
I always wanted to share why and how I started Refuga and my thoughts about the future. It is an exciting time for Refuga and I am absolutely sure that we are on the right track to do something really great.
I am working everyday to grow the community around Refuga and I see that as a crucial thing for achieving the things I am hoping for. To all of you who are already following the project, I want to open the doors and invite you in.
Why I started a travel agency for entrepreneurs and what the future brings. CLICK TO TWEET
Why I started Refuga
In the summer 2012 I quit my last job as a Country Manager for a Swedish e-commerce company. My girlfriend just got accepted to a masters in Beijing and we had been dreaming about living abroad for years. This was our chance to break free, go on adventure and live in a (very) foreign country.
I started doing some freelance consulting (within online marketing), but I quickly realized that going from having an office and colleagues to being on my own and working from home, could be a difficult transition. It can be quite lonely working alone.
I got an idea. What about finding some other guys who could join me in Spain for a week to work and relax? I thought this was a good idea to grow my own network. I just wrote the idea on my private blog and hoped I could get 5 people together for an awesome week. Within 24 hours I had 20 (awesome) people who had signed up and paid for the trip. A big surprise, but I was in a hurry to arrange the camp.
The first trip to Barcelona was a great experience. I had a lot of fun, the feedback was very good and I saw an important thing; This was the most valuable networking I had ever experienced. After a few days, people who eat, live and work together just start to share and help each other a lot. I have never been at a place, where so much valuable knowledge was being shared. I saw that being a smaller group, together for a week was much, much more valuable than attending a conference.
The first event kickstarted something in me, so I kept on doing the events for Danish entrepreneurs the next two years.
Why I didn’t focus on Refuga right away
The last two years I have had some awesome experiences with Refuga, but I always thought to myself that it was just a hobby project, that I couldn’t turn this thing into a real business, that it couldn’t scale, etc.
It’s funny, because the it was the one thing I was most proud of, the project I had most fun doing and the project I had most success with (in small scale), I just didn’t focus on it. I always pictured myself starting a traditional startup with a lot of employees, funding and an office.
It took me about 8 years to realize that the traditional way is just not for me. I get burned out from working the same place every day. I need to travel, I need to go on adventure, I need to break free and do things my way.
Actually, I think this is a big problem for the startup environment. Being an entrepreneur is becoming so popular it has reached a hipster-level. Everybody wants to do something in “tech”, an app, a SaaS company or something with social media. So many entrepreneurs are just thinking about getting funding and selling their company. It took me 8 years to realize that entrepreneurship – for me – is a great chance to actually do something I really love and live the life I dream about. Workway has slowly transformed the way I see working and living and how to combine these things.
What the future brings
I have been focusing more and more on Refuga. The first international event (held here in October 2014) was the last test for me. If that was a success I wanted to focus 100%. Being together with 10 different nationalities in a beautiful house for a week for adventure and work, was one of the absolute best experiences of my life.
After the bus had taken the participants from the house to go to the airport, I was sitting outside the house with my girlfriend, Michelle, and talking about the week. I had a fantastic week, people was giving incredible feedback and when they left they gave me a hug. Sounds like the perfect life and business and I just realized that this might be a once in lifetime chance to work with something that is really, really amazing.
I am sure that the future will bring a lot of good things for the project. I will start doing more trips myself, but I am happy to tell, that I am working hard on making it possible for other entrepreneurs to easily host Refuga trips themselves.
I see more and more people trying to do events like these and I want to help kickstart that movement even more. I want to enable proactive people to host events, to access to my setups and the Refuga community. I really think that every entrepreneur out there should go on a trip like this. It’s difficult to find a better place to learn, go on adventure and have fun for entrepreneurs.
I will tell more about all the new things that are coming in the near future.
Thanks for following the project, I hope to see you somewhere out there!
The future plans for @refugacom, a travel agency for entrepreneurs. CLICK TO TWEET.
11. October 2014 | Blog
I have been obsessed with life hacks and working on becoming a better person for a handful of years. I think it started out when I started doing a lot of sports. Feeling better and improving each day motivated me to not only work and the physical side, but also the mind. I guess that’s a pretty big project 🙂
I’ve been experimenting with my self as the guinea pig, I have studied a lot of research, I have read books, watched documentaries and I have listened to podcasts. I also talked to a lot of people: CEOs, entrepreneurs, a management consultant, coaches in differents sports and even an expert in traditional chinese medicine and lifestyle.
All of this give me a lot of different insights. Throughout the last couple of years I have been writing it all down in my note books. I thought I wanted to share some of the hacks, ideas and thought. These thoughts and ideas has been me a lot on becoming a happier person and to get more out of life. Hopefully you can use some of the ideas too.
Positive thoughts: How I became a happier person. CLICK TO TWEET
But why work on becoming more happy?
This is quite obvious and simple. What do you prefer, being negative or postive? Sad og happy? Answering these questions should be more than enough to start working on getting more positive and happy.
If that is not enough, here is some other reasons:
- Research show that positive people are more creative and willing to take chances. Those are pretty good things, if you are an entrepreneur. One study showed that people were more likely to have a creative breakthrough if they had been happy the day before.
- Positive people attracts other positive people. The same is happening if you are always negative. A simple example: Who would you prefer following on Twitter: the person who spread good vibes, gives kodus to others and in general are postive, og that guy (that we all know), that complains about the weather all the time? It’s simple.
- Research also show that there is a link between happiness and health. Positive people tend to do more sports and are more careful about bad habits (like fx smoking)
- When you communicate with someone, it is never neutral. When you communicate with someone you always leave people a little better or worse, a little more positive or a little more negative. This is true no matter who you and how you communicate. How do you wanna affect people?
You decide if you want to be happy
The first step to becoming more happy and positive starts with recognizing that it starts and ends with your self. You are the one responsible for your happiness and the one that can make things happen. If you think that happiness is something that just comes randomly, you are wrong.
If you are thinking “When I get a little more money (a better job, car, a partner etc.) then I will be happy, then you are doing it wrong.
Don’t tell your self that happiness is something out in the future. A lot of people are doing this, and it is often about money. The funny thing is, that there has been made a lot of studies and the link between money and research and the results surprise most people.
If you go from having noting to having enough (like a place to stay and food), then – of course – there will be a pretty big increase in your happiness. But if you go from having enough to having more (2 cars instead of one, a bigger house etc), then there is no increase in real happiness.
Most people will have a short spike in happiness if something great happens (if you win the Lotto), but you will get back to the level you had before quickly. We are working so hard and making so much sacrifices for something out there in the future, but when is the future here? When do we have enough to be happy? Most people thinking like this will always be chasing the happiness instead of seeing all the great things that are important and are already there.
Stop waiting for happiness. You’re the one person that can control it, so start working on it.
You decide if you want to be happy. CLICK TO TWEET.
A lesson I learned from a chinese doctor
When I lived in Beijing I had a session with a chinese doctor, who was specialized in traditional chinese medicine and lifestyle. It was interesting to see the things they did different. There was one thought in particular, that I took away from the session.
He told me that they have a simple philosophy of focusing more on the positive habbits than the negative. If you wanna lose weight, you should focus on finding some incredible delicious, healthy food instead of focusing on denying yourself a nice, big burger. See the difference?
It is interesting because many people wanting to do some personal change, is focusing on what they can’t do instead of focusing on the positive things.
This is just a small change of how you see things. A change that can make a big difference.
What I learned about happiness from a chinese doctor. CLICK TO TWEET
The 21-day challenge that everyone should do
Small challenges that you do for a short amount of time is great. The are realistic, but challenging and they can make a big difference.
My absolute favourite one is the “21 days without complaining”. This made a huge difference for me, and I can only recommend you to do it. I found this at Tim Ferris’s blog, where the post he wrote about this challenge, has been featured as one of his absolute favourite all-time posts. So don’t listen to me, but Tim Ferris 🙂
The challenge is actually pretty simple, but quite difficult. You have to find a bracelet or something like it (I used my girlfriends hair elastic) and put it on your arm. Everytime you complain, you have to take the bracelet from the arm to the other and you start from zero again.
The goal is to go 21 consecutive days without changing arm. I can tell you this much: It’s pretty difficult to stay positive when you complain after 17 days and have to start over again.
This took me just around 4 months to complete. It was much harder than I thought, but absolutely worth it. For me, it did a few things. It made me aware that I could actually change me way of seeing things my self. The better I got at it, the less negative I got about small things I couldn’t change. I just let it slipped and focused on the things I could change.
This hole challenge didn’t make me perfect. Nobody will ever be 100% positive and that is good, but me level changed. This small challenge simply made me happier.
The story of the guy who got this idea, is quite good too. Check out more links in the bottom.
The 21-day challenge that everyone should do to become happier. CLICK TO TWEET
Fake a smile
This a really simple hack. Some years ago one of the busiest bus lines of Copenhagen, Denmark, got some really bad ratings and the passenger numbers were falling. Instead of changing prices, route or something like that, they gave all the drivers on that route a special course, where they learned to be proactively happy, “faking a smile”. A survey told the company that the passengers thought the service and attitude of the drivers were super bad.
Being a busdriver at Copenhagen’s busiest bus line is stressful. Being proactive and welcoming the passengers with a big hello and smile, did a lot of things for the bus line. The passenger numbers started rising again, because now it was just more nice to ride the bus. But something else also happened. The drivers dropped in days were they were sick. It turned out, that the drivers themselves were getting happier and enjoying their job more, because they kickstarted something by “faking a smile”.
You can do this too!
Fake a smile to become happier. CLICK TO TWEET
Working on the small things
As mentioned earlier happiness is not something out in future with a finish line. It is something that you can get know. Most of us have everything we need right now to be happy.
Often it is the small things that makes us happy. These things are often taken for granted. Being aware of the nice, small situations in everyday life can be enough to change our happiness.
Here are some small and simple ideas to get more out of the small things.
Take a picture each day for 30 days
Take a picture of a situation each day. It can be a moment when you feel happy, relaxed or if you see something interesting. After the 30 days you will be able to look back at the 30 photos and remember the exact atmosphere, feeling and probably also things like how it smelled. This is a great way to be more aware of the small things.
The 365-day note challenge
This challenge is almost the same as the photo idea. Instead of taking a photo this challenge is about writing a note each day. What was the best thing about the day? Doing this for a whole year (a shorter period can also work) will make you reflect on the small things, that are actually making you happy, by yourself.
As we already talked about, these things are there already. You just need to be aware of them and appreciate them more.
Plan a trip
Planning a trip a long time before you are going is also something that can help change our mood. A big part of travelling is just looking forward to it. It will be something that you think about each day with a smile on your face. I know, it’s pretty simple, but in the future book your flight tickets well ahead.
Don’t spend too much time with the news
It is well known that media chose to air things that are pretty negative. They mostly give air time to wars, diseases being spread and nature catastrophes. These things are, sadly, a part of life, but that doesn’t mean we should think about them all the time. Watching the news each day will get you exposed to incredible negative thoughts again and again.
Don’t avoid news totally, but choose carefully what you read, listen to or watch.
The small things can actually make you happier. CLICK TO TWEET
So, what did we learn?
- Working with being more positive and happy will bring you other good things (better health and relations to other positive people).
- Nobody should ever be 100% happy. That is not what we are talking about. But we are talking about improving and just getting better. You change your level. Don’t expect to be perfect, because it will not happen.
- You decide if you want to be happy or not. You should not expect a future event or something else to make you happy. Take control and make things happen.
- There is a lot of simple things you can try out really easily, so there is no excuse. There is one or more hacks / ideas that will work for you.
Want to read more?
If you are interested in learning more about the things outlined in this posts, check out some of these links:
1. October 2014 | Blog
“The richest people in the world build networks; everyone else is trained to look for work.”
– Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad (CLICK TO TWEET)
Everybody knows that great relations can be the most valuable thing for you personally, your career and for your company. There is no reason to discuss why you should work on growing and improving your network, so this article will give you some other methods for networking and some hands-on tips on how to go out and actually do it.
First of all, it is important to be clear about two parts of networking: growing and improving. Growing is getting more people in your network. Improving is bettering relations with those people you already are connected to.
Many only focus on one of these things. We all know the guy who introduces himself to everyone at a conference and shares more business cards than asking questions about the other persons. These kind of people normally have a lot of connections on LinkedIn, but few real, valuable connections.
A great network is a combination of growing (meeting new people) and improving (getting to know those in your network better).
Improving your network and how you get to the magic zone
I made this funnel to describe how I see the different steps and types of relations. Most people are connected to a lot of people and a few great friends. I look at networking like an ecommerce site. You get a lot of people in to the site and then work on getting as many of them as possible to buy something. You do this by improving every step in the funnel.
The same thing applies when talking about networking. It is easy to get connected and just meeting a lot of people. That is the top of the funnel. Now you have to improve every step, to get most people as close to the bottom as you can.
This is a really simple model, but it can help you see networking in a new light. Be aware of the fine line between friendship and networking. That is really the magic zone. When your relation to a person is in this zone, they are more likely to help you, advice you, recommend you and share their knowledge.
I would actually say, that they would be willing to help you more regarding work related issues, than if they were down in the 100% friends category. Why is that? It’s because many people try to seperate things and don’t want to mix business with pleasure. Which is too bad, because that is where the action is.
This model can also help you be aware that network is not just meeting people. Real networking is knowing people, talking with them, helping them etc. All the things that friends do.
Stop throwing business cards around at one day events and start getting to know people.
Some alternative ways to meet new people
We have all been to a lot of one day event, where we want to “network”. The reality being that it’s damn difficult. So many people, so little time. I’ve tried different things to meet new people. In general people really appreciate if you do something that isn’t traditional so that they feel special. You will stand out and be remembered, because 99% network like it’s 1999.
These ideas are not breaking news, but simple and hands on. All of these things you would be able to start today.
Do something for free
The method of doing something for free, is used widely. Mostly known from startups and companies doing software with a premium model. Free is good, and can be used to gain a lot of things, also your network. Doing something for free can give you respect.
A couple of years ago I did a free online marketing course for 15 people. I rented a conference room and invited people via social media. Actually, I just wanted to see if speaking/teaching was something I should do more of, but it turned out to be a great network thing.
I have had contact with these people the last few years; they follow me on social media sites. In total I have sold five spots for Refuga Barcelona and one spot for Refuga Kilimanjaro to these people. So it has been good business, but what I have noticed is that these people are really helpful – more helpful than the average person in my network.
I think this worked well because it’s not normal for one consultant to just book a conference room and invite people to a one time, exclusive seminar about online marketing. You normally only see this done by bigger agencies, where hundreds of people join.
Invite people out for dinner
My friend and I did this once and it was great. We both invited three people that we didn’t know, but wanted in our network. We wrote something like “I am having this casual, networking dinner and would like to invite you. I have been following you on social media and would like to meet you”.
People were really happy to receive the invite and we were 8 people at the dinner. Everybody was working with online marketing / entrepreneurship in some way. An investor, a developer, a communications guy and some entrepreneurs. It was a great evening where we got to meet some great people and it seemed like people were flattered that they got invited.
Compared to a conference, where you get to talk with a person for five minutes, this was a great first meeting with these people. I am sure that these people will remember me better than some random dude, they talked to shortly at a conference.
Again, it really helps to stand out and just show some sincere interest. The dinner wasn’t fancy or anything, so the expenses are small compared to the great network you get.
In the perfect world, this is something you would do each month.
Pay for the big shots time
Busy and important people, get a lot of offers and emails, so it can be difficult to get to know those kind of people. Most entrepreneurs are fighting to become a big shot and getting advice from one who is already there can be game changing.
All of the big profiles I have talked with, tell me that they receive a lot of “offers” for a coffee meetings or for a 10 minute call. Many of these offers don’t have anything for the profile. People are asking for the profiles time and advice, without giving anything back.
When you want to stand out and get the attention of a person that is high profile, just simply email them with an offer to pay for their advice for 30-60 minutes via Skype. These kind of people loves talking and giving advice, but they hate being used and trust me, they know what they are worth.
I have done this several times with specific challenges, where I wanted to learn something. Every time I have done this, it has been received very nicely. Everyone has accepted the offer and several told me, that they would do it for free. People don’t mind helping if you just appreciate them and you do that, when you are willing to pay for their time.
This is a great way to meet someone that is not normally realistic for you to network with. Of course you can get some valuable advice, but this is also just a great way to let the person know about your project.
Do a warm-up event before a big event in your market
This is a fun little “trick” that has worked really well for me. Back home in Denmark there is an annual conference about online marketing. It’s the biggest event on the topic in Denmark and most people are there.
One year I noticed that there was no warm-up event the day before. I know that conferences are hectic and that you normally don’t get time to talk with all the people you hoped so. So the idea was just to arrange a very casual “dinner and drinks” the night before. Many were already in town just sitting at their hotels, so why not meet up and talk business.
I asked the manager of the event if it was okay and he was happy that I wanted to do it. I booked some tables at a café and did a blogpost on my private blog. The manager and lots of the profiles that were at the event to talk shared it, so a big percentage of the people going for to conference had been to my blog before the event, they knew my name and face.
I have done this a couple of times, each time it has been a great night with around 30-35 people. Each time it has been a good opportunity to meet new people and get to know people I only knew from social media.
Again, it was an initiative that stood out, where I didn’t ask for anything but just offered something.
It is really difficult to say what these things have meant for my network, but these things are so extremely simple, don’t cost that much (or are free) and the value is great.
Improve your network: Alternative ways to meet new people. CLICK TO TWEET
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What is your best networking advice?
How do you meet new people?
How do you improve the network you already have?
13. September 2014 | Blog
I love the term microadventure. For me microadventure is small a adventure, that is easily accessible, but where you try something new and maybe even something that makes you a bit nervous. A small step out of your comfort zone. A microadventure can be defined as:
- Be easy to get started with (Fx It shouldn’t take a lot of training before you can do it)
- Be for a pretty short period. Time is something most people is missing. You shouldn’t take a vacation from your project / company to do a microadventure.
- Be cheap. Even new entrepreneurs with a very small bank account can do a microadventure.
So, microadventure is something most can do, have the time for and can afford. As an entrepreneur I feel that microadventures are perfect for me. I don’t want to take a vacation from my project, because it is also my hobby and I want it to grow and succeed. However everybody needs to get away from the computer, get out in nature, get new inspiration and think about something different for a day or two.
At the same time in my experience the greatest experiences are often the small ones. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to be something you will remember for years.
Get more out of life: 25 microadventures you can start today. CLICK TO TWEET
25 microadventures you can start today
I have found 25 microadventures, which are a combination of things I have tried and things I want to try. To spice it up a bit, I asked my friend and fellow entrepreneur, Jens Jakob Andersen, about five of the best microadventures he has done. Jens Jakob have a more jackass-like approach to adventures that me, so I thought it would be a good combination. He works with the online project called RunRepeat. Check it out!
The 25 microadventures varies in price, time and how easy they are to get started with. Many you can do (start and finish) today, others you will be able to start (book, plan or begin). These are not big projects!
#1 Swim as long as you can in the sea
It is really underestimated to swim in the sea. You are really in a different world, where you don’t belong. A perfect place for a microadventure. At one point I did a lot of swimming and then I decided to swim 10 kilometers in the sea between Denmark and Sweden.
It was a fantastic experience and a special kind of fatigue. Spending so long time with your head looking down in the sea, you are guaranteed to see a lot of stuff. For most people, swimming in open water will be a challenge. Combine that with swimming longer than you have ever done before, and you will get out of your comfort zone for sure.
It can be dangerous to swim in the sea, so bring a friend in a canoe or kayak. He or she can also help you with navigation and have something for you to drink (and of course take some pictures, so you can prove it to your friends).
#2 Run at night
Running at night is special. Your body and your head have been working all day and are set to rest, so it can be tough to run at night. To see the city you live in from a couple of running shoes during the night, will make you see places that you already know in a new way. It can be a mental challenge to get out the door at night, but you will get a fun and different experience.
Running in the night is a perfect thing to do with a friend. Last year I did a long night run with a good friend. The atmosphere was special and it was a perfect setting for great conversations about life and everything. I still remember what we talked about and the atmosphere today.
#3 Stand on the top of a mountain
If you don’t live close to some mountains, this will be difficult today. Most people travel to places where there are mountains nearby every now and then. There are a lot of mountains that are easily accessible and where there is trails all the way up to the top. You should target mountains where you don’t need gear, guides and so on. Mountains between 2-3.000 meters are fantastic, because they are tough, it takes some time to get to the top, the difference in temperature is seldom very big and the views are fantastic!
I have gone to the top of a bunch of mountains in the French Alp, and there are a lot of tops, where it is just you, the mountain and the clouds.
It is a very simple adventure that is amazing. You will find a lot of websites out there with info about the mountains near you, routes, difficulty, heights etc.
#4 Walk, run or bike from A to B
No matter where you are there is a lot of great places to see. Even in your home country and home city, you will find places where you have never been before. I love going on trips that take about 2-5 hours either running, walking or biking. Normally I go from home and end up at a train station, where I will take the train back home.
Spending a few hours on your bike and it will be possible to see different kinds of nature and environments. This is really a microadventure that is easy accessible for everybody. A trip like this is good, because you learn that the adventure is really just waiting outside your front door. There is a lot of things to see, even close to where you live.
#5 Fly in a hot air balloon
This adventure cost a bit of money and it is not something you can do today. On the positive side, you can book the trip today and it will be worth your hard earned money. Many will probably think it is too much money to spend, but I really thought it was amazing. As many of the other microadventures, this one also gives you another perspective on the country you live in and the area you normally take for granted.
To see earth from above, how fields form, animals running around and seeing the sun go down in the horisont is just truly amazing. In a hot air balloon you really have the time to see things, because it doesn’t go that fast (depending on the weather of course).
Even though this is not something you can do today, but just book I can only recommend it.
#6 Invite a stranger to dinner
This is a nice experience, where most would probably be a bit out of their comfort zone, but it is also a pretty good networking trick. If there is someone you just know by name, that you would like to have in your network, then invite him or her out for dinner.
I did this with a friend. We both invited three persons for dinner, so in total we were 8 people, where only my friend and I knew each other before. It is a super fun experience and a great way to really get to know some persons, that you maybe only know from social media.
#7 Close your eyes, point at a map and go
This is a simple microadventure, which is perfect for a Sunday, where you just want to get out of the house. Find a map, close your eyes and point. Then go out the door and explore.
It doesn’t get much more simple than this. I recommend using Google Maps, then you can zoom in or out depending on how much time you have.
Again, this is a microadventure where you see something that is practically in your back garden. There is a lot to explore. Personally I sometimes find myself spending way too much time on Yelp and TripAdvisor. The feeling of just going without a lot of research is the feeling of freedom.
#8 Try alternative therapy
Alternative therapy / treatment is really something that is growing, but it is something that a lot (myself included) can have some prejudices about. Feeling that way, only makes it even more interesting. There is something to learn most places in the world, so why shouldn’t there be here?
When I was in China I thought I would try to get a look inside the world of TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), that goes back many more years, than the practices we know from the West. I got a session with a specialist in this, which was a combined conversation about lifestyle and then acupuncture and cups. After seeing a lot of Chinese with these marks on their backs in swimming pool of my gym, I thought I had to try it.
Even though there is a lot of things about TCM that I find a bit fluffy, there is so much to learn. For example, they are much more proactive, compared to here in the West, where most people don’t see a doctor before they are sick.
There is a lot of different forms of alternative therapy, so do a little searching and book one session to start with. I really like the combination of conversation and then trying something physically on your own body.
#9 Pick up a hitchhiker
One of the easiest and cheapest way to learn something new is to pick up a hitchhiker. It is a very simple experience, but it can give you great insights to a strangers world.
I have only tried this one time, driving down a mountain. We picked up an older couple who had walked to the top, but now wanted to go down to their camping area. It was only a short drive, but they were great to talk with. In the 15 minutes we drove, we talked about our respective countries and differences. They were extremely grateful for the short ride and their smiles were well worth the trip.
This is definitely something I would like to do again, but on longer drives and with different kind of people.
If you want a bit more adventure than this, then you should hitchhike 🙂
#10 Try a 30 day challenge
To try something new for 30 days is both challenging and something you can learn a lot from. There is a lot of small projects you can try for 30 days: Write a diary, take one picture each day that ??, don’t complain, don’t eat meat. You can also use one hour each day for 30 days to do something you always wanted to do, like writing a book, starting a blog or something else.
I have done a bunch of 30 day challenges, and I think it is great. It is a great combination of a challenge and to learn something new. And for most cases it is totally free.
I can really recommend this TED classic from Matt Cuts about 30 days challenges. The picture is from a 30 day challenge I made, where I tried not to complain. To remind me, I had this band on and I changed it to the other arm every time I complained.
#11 Participate in a race
There are a lot of races you can participate in. All distances and types, for example triathlon and adventure races. The feeling just before the gun goes off and satisfaction of reaching goal is great. Choose a type of race or distance you haven’t tried before. Make it simple, do a short triathlon where you don’t need all kind of gear.
It is a great way to challenge yourself and it is easily accessible for most. You can decide how big you want the project to be.
Should it be a microadventure, then it has to be something a bit more crazy than you are capable of now, but not that crazy, that it will cost you a lot of money, training and time.
#12 Participate in a Meetup
I really like the platform Meetup. All sort of different kinds of groups meet up around different topics. There are groups in most areas, and of course a lot of them are hobby and fun related. You can find local groups that climb, hike, run, do yoga, crossfit, bike and much more. You can easily see online who is going to participate.
When I moved to Barcelona I participated in this group about trail running. A great way to meet new people if you are in a new place.
This is a great combination of trying new things and also to meet new people, which are the perfect things for a microadventure.
#13 Spend the night outdoors
There is a huge back to basic trend, where people want to keep things simple, get out in nature and away from crowded cities, computers and long hours. We are tired of working so hard and always being online. For us entrepreneurs we NEED to be online to run our businesses, but sometimes it is great to break free and go back to basics.
One of the most simple ways to do this, is to grab a backpack and a sleeping back and then just walk out in nature and sleep. I must admit I have never done this myself actually, which is a bit embarrassing but it is one of those things I really need to try soon.
No planning, no camping area, no tent. Just out in the nature on an adventure.
This picture is from one of my favourite areas back home in Denmark.
#14 Catch your own food
This follows the back to basic trend that we talked about in #13. This is one of those microadventures I really want to try. A lot of us take food for granted, I know I do. I’m sure that catching your own food will give you another perspective and respect.
It must a great feeling to catch and cooking your own food out in nature.
#15 Walk a route you normally drive
At Refuga Barcelona we had a cook named Thomas at one event. When he’s not cooking he is an adventurer, who travels around, mostly with his bike. Right now he is cooking in Greenland, but he got a one way ticket for him and his bike to the Middle East, where he will start a trip around the world.
When he lived in Denmark, he did a microadventure which was really cool. He walked a route he normally drove, from his house to his parents. Instead of taking the normal transport, he found an alternative route through a forest and via the beach. He planned on arriving for breakfast, and then he took off in the evening before. He slept at the beach.
As many of the other microadventures, this one can give you another perspective on areas you take for granted. Try this with your transport from home to the office.
#16 Buy a flight ticket and go today
A spontanous trip has always been on my list of things I want to try. It must be great feeling of freedom to go to the airport, buy a ticket and then just go. Within your budget, you just pick the one that sounds like the most fun.
This is a microadventures that costs a bit of money and takes a few days, but it is one of those, where you should just switch off your brain and do it.
The picture is from a short trip to Riga. I didn’t order the tickets the same day but I definitely want to try this some day.
#17 Try couchsurfing
I have only used Airbnb, which has been really awesome. To visit a foreign country like this, makes you meet some locals, who will give you some insights to their life, country and city.
I have this idea that Couchsurfing is even more valuable than Airbnb, considering this. If you let strangers borrow your couch, you must be interested in meeting new people and some everyday-adventures.
To stay via Couchsurfing is a real microadventure and it is definitely on my list.
#18 Follow a homeless person for 24 hours
In most places of the world, homeless people, are a part of the picture in the cities. But most people really don’t see them, because it so normal. I think that is horrible.
I am sure this could be a very valuable experience, where you will learn a lot about yourself and really start to appreciate the small things in life. This must be an awesome challenge.
I can really recommend this blogpost from Wil Reynolds, who lived on the street as a part of a charity project.
#19 5 jobs in 5 days
I often thought of doing this project and documenting it. I am sure that trying five different jobs in 5 days will be very valuable. My own thought was to try five pretty different jobs, like flipping burgers one day and follow a politician another day.
I got this idea when I did some work for a charity organisation in Denmark called Svalerne. Everyday I worked with people that were +60 years old. To hear their stories and learn about their lives, was really interesting. It gave me some insights into some people lives, that I learned a lot from and some advice that I still use today.
#20 Try freediving
Last year I tried a freediving session. It was just a session for beginners, so everybody can do it. We started with a talk about the body and freediving, which gave some insights into how the loungs work and some techniques that could be used for staying under the water for as long as possible.
Water is something that most people can be a bit afraid of, so trying to stay under the water for as long as possible can be scary. I just tried what they call static, where you try to relax as much as possible and just focus on staying under for as long as possible.
It took three hours, i learned a bunch and I was a bit scared before going in to it. A perfect microadventure.
The following five are microadventures that Jens Jakob Andersen of Runrepeat has tried, which he recommend people to try.
#21 Sail between two countries in a kayak
This adventure is demanding, free and makes you think about life.
After having sailed in kayak only ten times, I took a 25 km trip between Denmark and Sweden. The people we met in small boats out there said “It’s freaking dangerous”. That was why it was so great. When you are so far out at sea, there is nothing to see. It was a special thing to try. And it was free. I had food for five days and we also did some fishing also. This adventure was really good, because it was away from our normal setting and everyday life. We met very few people and had no devices or other smart gear with us. It gets extra interesting when your paddle break in two.
#22 Learn to skateboard
I have never tried skateboarding before. I accidently found a skateboard in the water. It was rusty and broken, but free and I was really motivated to use it. For four months I only used the skateboard as transportation in the streets of Barcelona. It was without a doubt the worst skateboard in the city, but I’m sure I was the guy who had most fun.
It was a small thing, that I will never forget. It was spontaneous and straight forward. Nothing fancy. Simple. I learned a lot.
#23 Jump from a bridge
In Red Bull Cliff Diving they jump into the water from 26-28 meters. The highest I could find was a highway bridge that was 24 meters over the water. It’s pretty dangerous if you land badly.
This was a nerve wrecking experience. To hit the water with 100 km/h really hurts and is physical not healthy. I am convinced that the feeling this gave me was well worth it. Was it dangerous? Yes. Do I regret it? No.
#24 Just get out in nature
This adventure was free and a combination of the worst and best I have ever tried. It’s about getting out in nature whatever weather it is and coping with it.
My friend and I biked 100 km to a place where there were cliffs by the sea, so we could jump from them. It was a very, very wet experience, because the weather went crazy, so we were freezing before we arrived. I was wet for 26 hours straight and slept 10 minutes in total. I slept in a wet t-shirt and shorts. From 9 p.m., to 3 a.m., I just watched my phone for the time. I fell asleep and woke up again. Everytime I fell asleep I dreamt that I was in a big, comfy bed and got a big bucket of ice thrown at me. This happened ten times.
This experience was good, because today I really appreciate a bed. Even just having a dry place to sleep can make me happy. At least once per week I think about this episode. It shows how cold I actually was. It was one of the most demanding challenges I have ever tried, and I now appreciate being dry and warm, like I never did before. It is not always best, that everything is perfect all the time.
#25 Build a wall for a stranger
This experience is primitive, free and fantastic at the same time.
One morning I decided that I wanted to help someone, without getting anything in return. I was at Bali at the time, and I saw some locals, who were building a wall for their house. In Bali white people are normally considered very rich and someone the locals look really up to. I tried to talk to them, but nobody understood anything, so I just started carrying bricks for the wall, while they protested.
I ended up helping the family for four hours, until the wall was done. There was now ten indonesian people, that just watched the whole thing.
When we were finished I just said thanks to the family and went off. A really great microadventure, because I made a difference for the family. Not because I build the wall, but because I entertained them and hopefully gave them a memory. They were speech less. A white doing slave work?
You can do the same thing no matter where you are in the world.
Get more out of life: 25 microadventures you can start today. CLICK TO TWEET
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Read more about microadventures here.
Which microadventures do you want to try?
Which microadventures can you recommend to others?
Tell us in the comments.
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