What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear “adventure”?
Did you think of Indiana Jones? I don’t know why, but for the longest time ever, adventure for me meant a mission to exotic places, a hat and a whip.
But of course, adventure is hardly the journey, it’s more of a mindset. An attitude of “let’s give it a try”.
And more importantly, I did not know that it was possible for a regular guy like me to be an adventurer.
Why You Need to be an Adventurer
Adventure means doing something you either haven’t done before, or doing something that challenges you.
Essentially, adventure = risk. As we have seen before, to improve my quality of life, I need to take educated risks.
So, let’s say it like we mean it: to improve my quality of life, I need to be an adventurer.
How to Start Being an Adventurer?
1. Always Experiment.
All experiments are an adventure.
If you want, wear a lab coat at all times to remind yourself that you’re the scientist here, and everything is a test.
2. Start Calling Yourself an Adventurer
Stop calling yourself an entrepreneur (or stop wanting to be an entrepreneur), and start calling yourself an adventurer.
An adventure only happens if you are an adventurer, not the other way around.
Special note for entrepreneurs: The primary reason of being self-employed is to attain financial freedom. To also attain mobility. This gives you time to explore and to experiment, either with or without a hat.
3. Have an Overarching Vision
This may sound confusing but to give you an example, my overarching vision is to earn a healthy income and have fun while helping people. This simple line basically controls me. This line has a lot of power over me. Everything must pass this filter.
This is my way of finding congruency between my desires and my duties.
4. Leverage Everything You Do
Indiana Jones leveraged his knowledge of archeology to teach, so he can earn, so he can go on exotic expeditions, the expeditions that in turn increased his knowledge of archeology. That’s some serious leveraging right there.
Be interested in your surrounding and your environment. If you’re not, pretend that you are. You will quickly realize that there are very interesting things happening all around you. Start by leveraging your curiosity into an adventure.
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Make a list of projects you can start based on your “overarching vision” (planning is very much part of an adventure – use a chewed pencil and yellowed paper for effect if you have to).
Pick the project that is the most fun. Don’t worry when some naysayers object: how can you have fun while doing “work”!? Tell them you are a “professional adventurer”.
My Biggest Adventure Yet
OK, so I’ve done some adventurous stuff. Like bungee jumping off the Zambezi River bridge. But this is my biggest adventure yet. On many levels.
I have registered for the London Triathlon, to be held in September of this year.
Let’s consider the many facets of adventure that this “master experiment” represents:
- Triathlon is notoriously difficult and requires a certain level of physical fitness. So to train for a triathlon, I have set myself a significant physical challenge.
- I am based in Lahore, Pakistan. NO ONE does triathlon here. There is no club, no activity of any sort related to the sport of triathlon. So I have set myself a challenge of self-education.
- The triathlon is in London. Getting to London, staying there, and getting back, is a significant cost. I have set myself a earnings/financial challenge to earn from online means to be able to afford the whole adventure. As experienced lifers would know, I successfully managed a round-trip ticket to Thailand via affiliate marketing. So I have done this before, but not on this scale.
- I have never been to London. So that is an adventure in itself. I already know that I will see all the art galleries and everywhere where Sherlock went! God willing.
- Experiment in community building: I have started a website and started writing content for triathlon training. Although I will be updating you on this blog, my physical training for triathlon will be cataloged on that website. Just like I have been lucky enough to serve the dairy farming community, I am trying to start a small triathlon community too.
- I have entered the London Triathlon via a charity (The RightToPlay charity), and I have to raise a minimum of 500 pounds for them. This is another challenge for social welfare and awareness. I selected this charity because they are using sports as a tool for building communities (that’s something I totally believe in) and they also operate in Pakistan. Double win! So far, they’ve been very helpful (the point of contact, Lucinda, is keen on helping me which is awesome!). To know more about their work, see their website, and to donate to my charity fund, please click here. Thanks. 🙂
- My Muslim readers will notice that Ramzaan is coming in July this year. My training will go down due to the one month of fasting. This too is a challenge.
If you will notice, point 1 to 4 are all experiments. And point 5 and 6 are attempts at leveraging my experience. And point 7 is part and parcel of the overall strategy.
One can say I am travelling to London, but an adventurer doesn’t just travel, now does he?
There is another point. A very, very personal one.
The moment I hear the word “London”, I think “Richard Branson”.
I am trying to somehow have a 15 minute chat with my biggest inspiration, Sir Richard Branson. I know that he also runs the London Triathlon (Virgin sponsors the event), and am wondering that maybe he will grace me with his company over a quick cup of tea. I want to meet him, ask him a few questions and personally thank him for continuing to inspire me for almost a decade!
These 15 minutes will be more valuable to me than the triathlon experience, I kid you not. I still have no clue as to how to meet him, but hey, that’s an adventure in itself!
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All of this – and this is a lot for me – ties in with that awkwardly-worded “overaching vision”. If I am able to complete this adventure – God willing – I will hopefully inspire others to think differently and derive more out of their own experiences. If not, then I do plan to have a lot of fun.
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Question: Do you want to start an adventure of your own? What are your biggest hurdles? And if you are on an adventure, care to share your experiences? Click here to voice your thoughts. Thanks in advance.
assalamo alaikum,
Sounds fun. Enjoy and keep us posted!
Thanks. I have added a Triathlon category to the blog 🙂
But I will be updating the other website for my triathlon training itself.
Dear Mr. Khan,
A very nice article about adventures in life , I also want to be adventurous by starting some business in Lahore but as usual no clear idea where to start with. I want to meet you in person, kindly reply if its possible to fix a meeting with you. I already have some communication with you through emails.
Let’s meet tomorrow (Friday), at 3 PM at Ze Grill (map). See you there God willing, Ishtiaq.
Awesome adventure wish you best of luck May ALLAH gives you success in it.
Thanks man! 🙂
Love these tips. There are adventures to be had all around us, even in the seemingly most mundane of places. Get out and explore!
Having an overarching vision is great advice, too. It helps you to stay so much more focused, and feel a lot more fulfilled as you go on the path towards achieving your goal. Mine is to have a successful blog and travel the world, and both are leading me to some pretty adventurous places!
Thanks for sharing this post – hopefully someone will link it to a certain Mr Branson 😉
Thanks man! The thing is that without something to tie it together, one ends up becoming an opportunist who jumps from one project to the other. The art of saying ‘no’ is applicable here (although in many cases, a solid “yes” attitude really helps!)
Hope to read about your adventures too!
And yes, a certain Mr Branson’s attention is desired indeed 😉
The Tips are awesome. Nice post. You gave a new definition to entrepreneurs. I wish I cud join your London adventure but studies, they keep me adventurous even when I dont want to 🙂
Thanks Aamir! I know you would. 🙂
I need all the prayers and help I can get.
Momekh, this is an Epic article and I’ve been blessed a lot today. I’ve read 3 epic articles online and yours also complement it – while I understand your point here, it should also be noted that without having the right GUT to make it in life, the little challenges might come and you will let everything die out – so keep working friend. It is well.
Richard Branson and Nick Denton are my two favorite guys and I love them a ton. Richard is such a weird man and I am also going to meet him soonest in UK at his mansion and have dinner with his family.
Sheyi
Thank you Sheyi, inspiring thoughts.
Nice Ideas Nice post as always. Yesterday I also got an idea of adventure (bit religious but still) that I go to HAJJ Walking all the way just like the old times. I love walking and Camping and I think Mekkah is not that far.
What would you suggest on How I should move on?
Best Regards
Ali R. Khan
That’s a great adventure no doubt!! And so what if it’s a bit religious!? It can be all religious!
And this is just my personal opinion but I think you should bring in the adventure bit for Umrah instead of Hajj. Hajj is a different ball game, I think. But that’s my opinion. 🙂
And it’s definitely something worth working on. Like you said, till hardly a few decades ago, everyone went to Hajj or Umra like that, so it’s something that is definitely doable. I wish you all the best, Ali.
I just Checked on Google maps that Mekkah is 5000 KM by Road from Islamabad. If I walk 25 KM per day, It’s take me 200 days to reach there. hmmmmmmmmmm.
Lets See.
I love this! I think that sometimes we get a preconceived notion about what makes an interesting life and completely gloss over what’s so amazing about the adventures we choose for ourselves. Great post.
Thanks Susan. Rock on!
Success = ambition + risk. Most of the successful entrepreneurs are actually risk takers. Even if you ask Zafar (Sofizar CEO, the most successful entrepreneur of Pakistan so far) he’ll tell that it all started accidently. He didn’t hesitate to start an adventure and ultimately that adventure earned him a name.
Best of luck for the London tour 😉
Exactly Nabeel!
Thanks for the input, man.
The first thing we control is our fear. Because adventure (or risk) is, by definition, scary.
Taking a risk is no guarantee of success, that’s why it’s a risk. But the other option (not doing anything) is definitely much more boring 🙂
Good luck Momekh, I wish for your success in Triathlon….
Thanks Salman. 🙂
Mohammad Bro, WOW!! and Mashallah!! and All the best 🙂
Actually, we need to meet up SOON!! if you have time.. Fancy a trip to Pindi and be my guest?
Best Regards,
Aftab
Thanks Aftab. Sure, we can have a meetup in ISB. I will be there next week, God willing.
I truly enjoy your posts brother and i think they are starting to inspire me :).. wish you all the luck and hopefully i’ll be able to pull this kind of adventure soon 🙂
Thanks Saad for the appreciation. The intention is to inspire 🙂 Glad I could. And I wish you all the best in your adventures.
Thank you for giving such a great explanation of living life as an adventurer. I often tell my kids we are off on another adventure and they’ve come to learn that it will be a challenge but we are there for each other and who knows what will happen along the way. We come out closer and stronger on the other side.
In my job as a nurse, I meet many people who have have regrets about what they didn’t get to do when they are at the end of their life. I see this as motivation to live my life to the fullest by pushing beyond my comfort zone.
Congratulations on you decision to compete in the London Triathlon! I wish you the best of luck in your training and travels. I hope you get to meet Mr. Branson
Fear is a motivator indeed. I too find it scary to let life pass me by without at least TRYING to live it fully. And may God Guide us all. 🙂
Thanks for the wishes, Cynthia. Rock on…