World Traveler

Live from my LIVING ROOM 🎉—-If you’re looking for laughter, Insane stories, & great travel ideas (for the future) we have a good one. Get out of bed before NOON tomorrow, because you’re not gonna want to miss this episode of “TRAVEL - in the time of Corona” 12:00 EST • IG Live.I’m joining @wanderreds - One of the few people on 🌎 to visit every country, a top 50 global photographer, and the Greatest Spanish explorer since Christopher Columbus. We survived Libya and Yemen together and he’s writing his 1st book..You ask, we answer, and together we will get through this! Bring a coffee...or an Aperol Spritz.

Sometimes a Bold outfit is the only cure for a boring Monday. And if no one sees you, wear it again🕺

Hats off to another Birthday! 🎉—Instead of writing a long leadership post, I just had a short thought to hang our hats on: “Amateurs built the Ark. Experts built the Titanic.” 💯•I’ve had a good run but I’ve always been an Amateur. Never really knowing how things work, but also never waiting for permission to start. Fear that you’re not good enough?? Join the Club. Now get over it and get out there. The world is waiting for what you have, even in your amateur hour. 🌎💯•So on this birthday, I hope you keep going... and Not knowing. It’s my wish for myself and for everyone I meet. And certainly, during these uncertain times, it’s become even more clear. Take those 10 Seconds of Insane courage 🎉, wear a Tuxedo🕴, dance... horribly🕺, start things, stop things, change directions, write a book, sell 10 copies in all of Africa🙄, but keep going! Always keep going. Cheers to the AMATEURS out there building the ARKS!

Today marks 8 weeks of Quarantine. I’ve been running 2.5 miles 🏃‍♂️and drinking a gallon of water every single day. I feel fantastic. ZERO alcohol, a healthy diet, gluten free, caffeine free, sugar free, and i haven’t missed a workout yet.•I have no idea who’s post this is, but I’m extremely proud of them so I decided to copy and paste this as my caption 🍾😎. #Cheers #CincodeMayoClever cred: @madison._victoria 💯

“It only takes One Spark to start a Fire.” 🔥—The closing line in Michael Jordan’s documentary. We may not have his talent but we can all be a spark - for someone, or some team, or some idea that needs to happen. That’s the good stuff and that’s one incredible reminder. Thanks MJ 🏀

STORIES from Every Country??—-I’ve met 1 person who has been to every country in the 🌎. It’s @wanderreds and tomorrow he launches his book STORIES about all of them. We traveled to 15 countries together where we survived as Oil execs in Libya, Outlaws in Haiti, and Cultural ambassadors in Cuba. 🙌💯•He’s one of the top 50 photographers in the world (scroll ➡️) and doing a full behind the scenes of his first book the next 48 hours. If it’s anything like mine, it will be a total disaster 😎. Give him a follow and buy a copy - it’s well worth it! Congrats Alvaro 💯

THE DASH (—)—5 years later. Still love this favorite Harvard memory that just showed up on Timehop. Launching the Dash Project at Business School and all my classmates answering the ultimate question: On a tombstone you have 2 Dates and a Dash. What will you do with your Dash? #HBS #PLD #DashProject

SHORT GUIDE TO A GOOD LIFE 💫

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Attract what you expect

Reflect what you desire

Become what you respect

Mirror what you admire

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Read, Learn, Get inspired, and Share your Wow ideas w the world 🌎 We need it now more than ever 💯.🎬 cred: @treygoesglobal

“For fast acting relief, try slowing down.” —Lily Tomlin

10 seconds of insane courage 🙌🏼 After traveling all the way to a Cenote in Mexico, it’s closed because of Coronavirus 😱But @austindistel, @elle_petrillo, and I didn’t come all the way to turn around and go home.Maybe there’s another way in...What’s the worst that could happen?Scratch that — let’s think with an abundance mindset!What’s the best thing that could happen?🎬 @austindistel

7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD—Last week I made it to the last of the 7 Wonders - Chichen Itza. Well almost 😂. It was closed. But found this sweet replica and was clearly excited. Thanks 2020🕺. One day.•Here’s a flashback to the rest, I often forget which are the official New 7 Wonders, so listed below. Please forgive Haircuts, Reebok Pumps, and the G-chain. 🌎 💇‍♂️⛓•Chichen Itza (Mexico) 2020*Colosseum (Italy) 2017Taj Mahal (India) 2008Christ the Redeemer (Brazil) 2016Machu Picchu (Peru) 2010Great Wall (China) 2015Petra (Jordan) 2014•Honorable mentionsReebok Pumps at the Pyramids (Egypt) 2014The 1st Tuxedo pic (Antarctica) 2010

10 STEPS TO ENJOY THE JOURNEY 🎉—Apples, bananas, and beautiful views - just NO Hot Air Balloons!! 😂 🎈 In times when things just don’t work, I’ve found these things tend to help most - in travel, business, life and the alone times figuring it all out. Hopefully one of these resonates wherever you are. 🌎—1) Take Small Steps and Ignore Big Drama2) Cultivate patience and plan ahead for problems3) Expect and embrace self doubt4) Remember when things were a mess5) Realize how far you’ve come6) Be proud of the person you’re becoming7) Focus your energy where you feel most alive8) Ask what’s the next right move9) Have the Insane Courage to do it10) Always remember: Amateurs built the Ark, Experts built the Titanic. Keep going 🙌 🌎

SAY YES MORE OFTEN—And good things happen. 6 friends, 799 countries 🌎, and 1 little training balloon (first time around). Find a group that inspires, pushes, and never lets you settle!•Even if you have to come back and hope for a Christmas Miracle to fulfill a life long dream 🎈🎉. Say YES more often..📸 @wanderreds along w @ggworldwide @traveltomtom @alexsegu88 @snakeagram @christravel100

186 countries by plane. 0 by foot 😂. 1 by Hot Air Balloon 🎈🎉.

AROUND THE 🌎  IN 80 DAYS—Fun fact: I first saw this book in high school (never read all of it) 🤫 but bought it (had to) and remembered the hot air balloon cover 🎈(clearly). That insane idea became a “maybe one day” thing. That became a “must do thing.”•I think that’s the trick w Insane Courage: It’s never easy, never practical, and never the right time. But it’s always possible w enough persistence. It’s always about Turning a Maybe into a Must 💯

7 years today. Still miss you every single moment Old Man G ❤️ Here’s 7 things I've learned. Hope this helps someone.—-1) Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone's life heal.2) Movement is good for the body. Stillness is good for the mind.3) Amateurs built the Ark. Experts built the Titanic. Go for it.4) Action spawns Courage, not the other way around.5) Ask: What would the BOLD version of you do today?6) Give: Yourself permission to focus your energy where you feel most alive.7) Remember: 10 Seconds of Insane Courage: it doesn't promise a life free from pain, just one free from regret.

RABBIT. RABBIT. RABBIT. 🐰—Did you know, according to British tradition, repeating “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” on the first day of the month ensures good luck for the rest of the month. 💯 It’s December 1st, I'm not British, and that is a camel. 🐫•But it’s 2020, I had on Reebok Pumps, 😎 and it was the Pyramids. Good luck out there however we make it happen. Thanks 2020 😬 Rabbit. Rabbit. Rabbit.•Idea cred: @ilene.rosh & Rabbits

THE OSCAR GOES TO...—-I love underdogs. My favorite people, moments, and movies all involve this element. I seek out these stories and befriend these souls - to me it’s the best stuff in life!•In Afghanistan I met this guy. As a street kid in Kabul he sold maps to foreigners to make money, taught himself English, and even offered tours to strangers for extra bucks (as an 8 year old). My kind of guy!•And when a Hollywood film crew came to shoot a movie, guess who sold them their first map and tour - my underdog! 😎 And after a search for who should be the main character - guess who offered up his services to the film crew. The underdog street kid selling maps. He got the role! 💪•The film “Bukashi Boys” became the 1st Oscar Nominated Afghan film ever. 🏆 He was invited to the White House and film festivals. There was a ceremony w @jlo and Iron Man @robertdowneyjr - and the best part, he didn't even know who they were. 😇 The underdog!•We had a great talk and I asked him his dream. It was to study in the States one day. And just like an underdog who deserves the best but needs a little luck - He just found out he got a full scholarship to Oberlin College in Ohio. He starts next Spring 🎉🇺🇸. Congrats @fawadoscar . You are a true inspiration.

ONE FINAL THOUGHT...—I really wish I had met Anthony Bourdain. He was a real pioneer. Refreshingly honest. Oozed cool. He always had the right words. This was one of them. He would have loved Afghanistan 💯•"Travel isn't always pretty. It isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that's OK. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind."•Afghanistan - you certainly did. What an incredible journey 🙏💯

BEAUTY & STRANGENESS 🔥—Oh Afghanistan! My friend @wanderreds just posted our behind the scenes photos. They exude the legendary words from Karl Lagerfeld 😎 I couldn't agree more!•“I don't like standard beauty, there is no beauty without strangeness.” 💯•In the strangest year ever, perhaps it’s the beauty in the strangeness that 2020 has taught us to appreciate the most. In the words of Matthew McConaughey: GREENLIGHT🚦

Next trip: Galactic Federation!! I'm ready for you 👽. PS be kind to us Earthlings, it’s been a rough year.

WHAT IS A GREENLIGHT?——I had 10 countries left to finish all 197. One was Afghanistan, the 1st country in alphabetical order. Every list started there and stared back at me. Afghanistan. Red Light🚦•And Hollywood: 12 Strong, Homeland, Whisky Tango Foxtrot, even Iron Man was taken here. Is there another side? Of course. Always is. But the Taliban, bombings, and kidnappings are real. Red Light🚦•But a close friend said he was putting together a select group to go. I would be the only American. Top notch safety and security. Nothing guaranteed. But it was the chance I needed. With great people. Greenlight 🚦•The rest comes from Matthew McConaughey and his book “Greenlights.” It’s a must read..“Greenlights mean go—advance, carry on, continue..In our lives, they are an affirmation of our way. They’re approvals, support, praise, gifts, gas on our fire, attaboys, and appetites. They're cash money, birth, springtime, health, success, joy, sustainability, innocence, and fresh starts. We love greenlights..I believe everything we do in life is part of a plan. Sometimes the plan goes as intended, and sometimes it doesn't. That’s part of the plan. Realizing this is a greenlight in itself..It’s a matter of how we see the challenge in front of us and how we engage with it. Persist, pivot, or concede. It’s up to us, our choice every time.”.Persist indeed. I'm here. May our lives be filled with Greenlights🚦💯

100 COUNTRIES LATER 🌍—I wrote a book at country #89. It was a tribute to my Dad, affectionately known as Old Man G. It was also a wake up call to myself and anyone who may pick it up, to say Yes more often. To Keep going. And to acknowledge 2 things: The Illusion of time & the Illusion of safety. Neither is promised. I know it far too well.•The book started with a simple question: “Is Playing it Safe Holding You Back?” Of course it is for almost all of us. I didn't know where to start, so I just started. Sold a few books, bought a few plane tickets and as one happened, so did the other. You don't always have to know how it all goes. You do have to start.•At #189 it’s been a real joy - mainly all those people I've met along the way. You never know whose life you may impact, or who may impact yours. But one thing I do know is this, it’s from Arthur Ashe, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” That’s something we can all do. The world is waiting 💯