Podcasts about ordinary sherpa

Podcasting is a medium that has allowed me to 10x my network, have meaningful conversations with people I wouldn't otherwise have access to, elevate the stories rarely shared in the industry, and establish my voice and share my story.  It wasn't until working with a few podcast coaching clients that I realized that while there is more happening behind the scenes, it doesn't mean everything has to be official there for me to share this episode.   Show Notes: If you do have a podcast or are interested in starting one the link to schedule a podcast coaching call  or podcasting resources to help you take advance your podcast are available at my podcasting and business building resource page (link) Prior to discovering the financial independence/ early retirement movement, Jonathan Mendonsa followed the “normal path,” which ultimately led him to graduate pharmacy school at the age of 28 with $168,000 in student loans. He has since clawed his way out of debt and is aggressively pursuing financial independence.  He is passionate about the pursuit of financial independence and its power to change lives. He was the co-founder of Choose FI podcast, and the Founder of Talent Stacker, a dad of two young kids, techie, podcast guru, and inspiration behind Ordinary Sherpa taking action and bringing this podcast to life.   Resources Mention in this episode Choose FI podcast Podcast Coaching Call How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big (Affiliate Link)

Are you letting your dreams of financial freedom slip through your fingers, always putting them off until tomorrow? Join us for today's special roundtable discussion, where we explore the art of not postponing gratification while still pursuing your financial freedom. Our featured guest is none other than the "Ordinary Sherpa" herself, Heidi Dusek, who joins Doc G and Len Penzo in this insightful conversation. Discover the delicate balance between securing your future financial freedom and living in the present. Learn how to achieve financial independence without sacrificing the joys of today. Plus we delve into the potential impact of achieving financial freedom at a young age, including the challenges of leaving your old community and forming a new financial freedom community. In the second half of our episode, DepositAccounts.com, we examine the unforeseen changes that early retirement can bring into your life. And last but not least, our year-long trivia competition is reaching its climax! Who will come closer to being crowned the ultimate champion? Stay tuned for Doug's opera-themed trivia challenge! For comprehensive show notes, including additional resources and references, please visit: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/accelerate-financial-freedom-roundtable-heidi-dusek-1424. For even deeper insights, curated links, and in-depth discussions on the topics covered, be sure to explore our newsletter, "The 201," available at StackingBenjamins.com/201. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As you heard in the last episode we are 9m into our family gap year.  This recording comes days after meeting up with a previous Ordinary Sherpa guest from episode 109| Living your Childhood Dreams.   and continually grateful for the stories and connections that have helped us in taking steps and moving forward on this journey.  We love meeting up with friends and strangers and the best platform to do that is through Boondockers Welcome, a part of the Harvest Host family.  We've had over 20+ stays through this platform this year and are always intrigued by the connections and unique stories and generous people we meet.  If you are interested in RVing I highly encourage considering a membership or becoming a host.  If you use my link in the show notes: http://Ordinarysherpa.com/HarvestHosts to do so you'll not only receive a discount but support Ordinary Sherpa in the process.   Our guest and I met in a natural hot spring in Stanley Idaho.  We were experimenting with the idea of a gap year traveling in an RV with 3 kids on a 34 day sabbatical to test our current gap year potential.  Carissa (and her husband Chuck) were already traveling full-time in their 25' RV with their two kids and dog. They spent the past few years becoming debt free, minimizing their belongings, working hard, playing harder, and homeschooling their kids. In 2020 they sold their  house and hit the road to travel around America so they could focus on spending more time together, living a healthy lifestyle.   Meeting people ahead of you on the journey offers adventure sparks sometimes igniting new ideas or experiences.   From that interaction we began following each other on social media.  Our kids bonded over Harry Potter stories and through their daughter's suggestion my daughter has since begun the Percy Jackson series and her interest in Greek Mythology.  It was even one of their taco recipes that sparked us trying tajun seasoning which is now a must have for so many of our meals.  (If you aren't familiar, Tajun is a chili lime seasoning that is not spicy).  Through their examples of  prioritizing self-care, clean eating, and fitness to maximize this time in their lives, they inspire others to live a healthy lifestyle and embark on their own adventures.  Carissa from Feed Us Adventures, Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.   We'll have a conversation and share a bit of your backstory, what intrigued you to the RV lifestyle, what's important to you. How do you do this life with kids. I'd like to talk about your focus on health and well-being and stead the conversation towards any action you'd like the audience to take.  Worth noting, I have found that I really enjoy podcasting and having conversation without all the ads and interruptions many podcasters use.  If you enjoy the ideas, find joy or inspiration from my work, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks and support the show.  If you want to go deeper with the content and/or get more engaged you can find additional ways to support the show through the links below.   Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/126Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Join Harvest Hosts using our link to access our favorite type of travel, get a discount and support Ordinary Sherpa: http://Ordinarysherpa.com/HarvestHosts (Boondockers Welcome and CampScanner are our favorites)

When this drops we will be in the arctic circle exploring a part of Alaska you can't drive. If weather cooperates we'll be visiting 2 more National Parks.  This week also marks 6 months of travel on our family gap year.  I brought my husband back on the show to talk through how we got here.  He referred to this as a mid-life retirement and I loved that analogy.  Much of our family gap year is an experiment in doing life differently.  He shares more about his travel back story, how the gap year came about, how we are funding it and what he is learning through the process. If you want to know even more, I suggest picking up a copy of my book, Beyond Normal (linked in the show notes).   Our guest today rarely sits still, enjoys strong coffee and can fix just about anything.  He wasn't born wanderlust or with the same amount of spontaneity as his wife, but together they have crafted an adventurous life with three kids.  Brent Dusek is Mr. Ordinary Sherpa who takes more black diamond trails, my co-pilot, and most often seen in the driver seat of our RV while traversing North America.   Show Notes: Ordinarysherpa.com/123Subscribe to the Email: https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Read my Book: https://ordinarysherpa.com/book/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/

Using tools like checklists or tracking forms can help us be aware of important details that might drift by in life - like everyday moments of joy.  If you are interested in a tool to help you test what to get rid of in your life and what to invest your time and energy in, the Joy Audit tracking Form is a helpful awareness builder and data visualization tool during the design or testing phase of lifestyle design. The Joy Audit tracking tool can help bring your feelings to light and quantify simple adventures for a more meaningful life.  Download the Joy Audit Tracking Form:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/120 Worth noting, I have found that I really enjoy podcasting and having conversation without all the ads and interruptions many podcasters use.  If you enjoy the ideas, find joy or inspiration from my work, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks and support the show.  If you want to go deeper with the content and/or get more engaged you can find additional ways to support the show through the links below.   Our guest today made her first appearance on Ordinary Sherpa at episode 031 | Slowing Down and Being Aware.  Dr. Dawn Baker is the physician, writer, speaker, and lifestyle design coach behind Practice Balance. She helps physicians and other professionals step off the treadmill of achievement, rediscover their true selves, and cultivate a practice of balance that's right for them. She is the author of the book Lean Out: A Professional Woman's Guide to Finding Authentic Work-Life Balance. Dawn is also a certified yoga and meditation instructor who is passionate about off-grid living, homeschooling, fitness, and travel. To Connect with or Follow Dawn Baker Podcast: Lean Out PodcastBook: Lean OutWebsite: Practice BalanceInstagram: @practicebalance

We are home for a week between phase 2  and phase 3 of our gap year. Last Wednesday was a big and yet very ordinary day. I woke up in my own bed at home that morning after traveling continuously for 4 months. It was also the 1 year birthday of my (Link) book Beyond Normal: a field guide to embrace adventure, explore the wilderness and design an extraordinary life. I am also celebrating crossing the 100,000 downloads milestone on the Ordinary Sherpa podcast. Is this success? In this episode, we explore the concept of summit experiences, delve into their transformative power, and discuss the importance of recognizing and embracing these moments of joy and accomplishment. Joy Audit Tracking Form (Digital Download): https://ordinarysherpa.podia.com/joy-audit-tracking-form Show Notes for Episode 117: https://ordinarysherpa.com/117 Read Heidi's Book: Beyond Normal a field guide to embrace adventuree, explore the wilderness and design an extraordinary life with kids.  https://ordinarysherpa.com/book/

Get ready to unleash your inner life designer and make every day a vacation! Join the inspirational Heidi Dusek from the Ordinary Sherpa podcast as she takes you on a journey to craft the life of your dreams. Plus, we've got the retirement guru himself, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, engineering his way to an epic retirement from his secret bunker. And let's not forget about OG, the mastermind behind designing other people's retirements. But wait, there's more! We'll spice up the show with Doug's mind-blowing Trivia, where he'll dazzle you with fascinating facts about the iconic Model T cars. And for all our USA Stackers out there, buckle up and get ready to have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend like never before! FULL SHOW NOTES: www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-1361-design-your-life-with-heidi-dusek Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe to our Apres Ski Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882919/supportIn this episode Nicole and Sarah host ski mom Heidi Dusek. Heidi is a mother of 3, an author and a podcast host - among many other things. Heidi's work is focused on inspiring families to connect through simple adventures. Heidi always had an adventurous side and wanted to to continue her adventures when she started a family. Heidi started her podcast Ordinary Sherpa during covid in November of 2020. Heidi saw the need for parents to find a place to connect with other parents - that allowed us to enjoy the often overlooked positives of the world shutting down.  Heidi saw the opportunity to spend more time with her kids and wanted parents to have a place to connect and share.Heidi started with simple afternoon family field trips, walks in the woods, climbing trees. She realized that she felt great after these outings and that they didn't have to be overplanned or elaborate.In the winter Heidi's family gets outside in Wisconsin - snowshoeing, cross country skiing and alpine skiing at a small local mountain. Heidi shares great budget friendly tips to outfit your family for outdoor adventures. Heidi tells us about how her approach to untourism - a different type of family travel experience.  Untourism supports the local flavors and activities that benefit the local people, small businesses and communities as opposed to commercial tourism.We are excited to follow along with Heidi and her family on their “family gap year” adventure through 2023! To follow along go to ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe and choose Family Gap Year Adventures.Keep up with the Latest from HeidiWebsite: https://ordinarysherpa.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/ordinarysherpaFacebook Podcast: The Ordinary SherpaResources:Heidi's Book Beyond NormalPowder Mountain (Utah)IndyPassCheck out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2023 for 20% off your orderJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

Today's episode is a little different from a typical interview.  Our guest today is a member of our Family Travel Hackers (Link) membership where we help families travel more for less.  The Family Travel Hackers Membership is a way to support families who want to explore travel rewards but are overwhelmed.  As one of my guests described travel rewards “the learning curve is steep but once you get that first free trip you're hooked.”  The Family Travel Hackers membership also dives deeper into how to travel authentic travel experiences.  While I don't think you HAVE to travel to experience the benefits of adventure, it is a huge value in many family's values so I wanted to create a space to support that desire.  This episode offers insight into the membership and how we source and curate topics and guests to support what the members' needs are. In this session, we elevated a member of the group to share her planning and travel rewards strategy.  What makes this episode extra special for me is that Rachel is a long-time listener to Ordinary Sherpa and one of the biggest supporters of the show.  From the beginning I wanted this podcast to feature the best of everyday ordinary families.  While I certainly can feature experts, I wanted it to be extremely relevant to everyday working families.  Rachel doesn't have a platform or a personal brand.  She is just a traveling family guru with a passion for travel rewards and willing to help others, a prime example of the sherpa philosophy of this community.   I invite you to join Rachel, I and the other families interested in traveling more for less.  As a bonus, yesterday was my 43rd birthday and I have decided for the remainder of 2023 I am going to offer a $43 discount on the annual membership.  If you head to the link in the show notes and at checkout use the code:HAPPY43 If you join before next week Tuesday (3/22/23) you will get to participate in “Tips for Cruising” with my friend Josh Overmyer.  We've had topics on Rewarding Experiences, and have upcoming sessions to deep dive into Travel Tech, Working while Traveling, and Hacking Hawaii. The one thing that makes this community unique is that I am not an affiliate for any of the credit cards.  We encourage sharing and using referral links within the community so you can earn more miles and support others in the community.   Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/047Join Family Travel Hackers Membership to help families travel more for less.  https://ordinarysherpa.com/FTH Use Coupon Code: HAPPY43 for $43 off your annual membership at checkout.  Thanks to her parents, Rachel caught the travel bug when she was 14, and she's never recovered. Despite assumptions to the contrary, having kids didn't slow her down. Now she, her husband, and two boys travel as much and as often as possible. Some of their favorite points redemptions for their family include trips to England, Portugal, and Spain, and this year points are helping them travel to Whitefish, Montana; Curaçao; and Hawaii. Rachel West, a fellow member of Family Travel Hackers Membership is here today to share her tips and strategies for family travel hacking with kids.  Resources referenced in the episodeGoogle Flights SkyScanner Flightconnections.com Family Travel Hackers Membership: https://ordinarysherpa.com/FTH Connect with Rachel West: Member of Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa

Heidi is a returning guest on the RVE podcast and although this episode focuses on traveling families, if you haven't come across the concept of “travel hacking” you're going to want to listen-in regardless - its a very cool way to play within the rules and reap some awesome travel rewards!

Heidi helps families connect through simple and authentic adventures on her podcast, Ordinary Sherpa, Instagram feed, website, book and through speaking and community-building events. The Dusek's are an adventure loving family, with 3 kids under 12 who leverage their skills and assets to design an adventurous life. They specialize in connecting families by creating meaningful experiences with adventures big and small and are currently on a family “gap year” traveling the US in their motorhome! Family Travel Hackers: https://ordinarysherpa.com/join/ 
 
Listen to Heidi's first RVE interview here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/XD6RdQN65wb
 Get in touch with Heidi:
 Website: https://ordinarysherpa.com/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-sherpa-family-adventure-coaching-and-design/id1539255067 
 Book: Beyond Normal: A field guide to embrace adventure, explore the wilderness and design an extraordinary life with kids. https://ordinarysherpa.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/ 
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Be sure to join the RVE community on Facebook: therventrepreneur.com/facebookgroup 

Connect with RVE on your favorite socials: therventrepreneur.com/connect Want to be a guest on the show? Fill out this guest form: https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The RV Entrepreneur: www.therventrepreneur.com The RV Entrepreneur is presented by RV LIFE - Tools that Make Camping Simple www.rvlife.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rve/message

This week I have a conversation with Heidi Dusek of Ordinary Shepard about how she came to developing her Family Joy Audits and Metrics For Thriving.   I hope this gives you some things to think about in your own life! Heidi Dusek has earned the title of adventurous mom after over a decade of packing up kids and setting off on adventures near and far. She proudly wears the titles of Foundation Executive, Mom of 3, and wife to a DIY kind of guy and continues to live an intentional life challenging herself to not get too comfortable or align with the status quo. Some describe her as a disruptor and unshakeable optimist. Her work is featured as the podcast host and founder of Ordinary Sherpa, an online community designed to inspire families to connect through simple and authentic adventure experiences. As an “ordinary” mom, she creates content to guide and support other families on their quest to live a more adventurous life. Let me know what you think by sharing the podcast and tagging us! @claimitpodcast @_triciahuffman For more from Heidi find her https://ordinarysherpa.com/ Check out this game changing Truly Authentic Green Beauty brand and get 20% off all moisturizers with code “claimit20” at https://blissoma.com/ Shop my products before they are gone at shop.yourjoyologist.com   Join my new magical space for heart/mind/pep talks From The Heart https://triciahuffman.substack.com   Get my book at  ftheshouldsdothewants.com and claim access to the bonuses! If you have it - PLEASE leave a review on Amazon + Goodreads! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Screenshot it and send it to podcast@yourjoyologist.com and I will send you a gift from my shop.yourjoyologist.com   Go get + gift my daily inspiration app OWN YOUR AWESOME in the App store! Interested in working with me? Send me a DM or email your joyologist at your joyologist dot com  

"How do your kids feel about the gap year?" Let's have them tell you how they feel with a series of interviews with my kids.  While the family behind Ordinary Sherpa is taking a gap year, Ordinary Sherpa is still focused on the human element of living a life adventure and all the ordinrary things we did to get here. Our gap year will also be filled with ordinary everyday adventures accessible to everyone.  I hope this series exemplifies you don't need to take a gap year to experience adventures with your kids.   Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/105 Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ *To follow our family gap year choose __ Family Gap Year Adventure to get insider stories from our gap year experiences.   Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa

If you are new here, Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa. A brand designed to support families connecting through adventure based on the pillars of simplicity, authenticity, and connection. If you have been here for the last 100 episodes, thank you! The 101 episode is going to take us back to the basic of this brand and practice different ways we can support family connection through simple and authentic adventure experiences.   My intention is to create content to support leading a lifestyle of family adventure fostering lifelong memories. In doing so we hope you will adopt the sherpa philosophy, to help others reach their summit through generous curiosity.  Simple: Adventure is the act of getting outside your comfort zone.  It's an invitation to try something new.  To support this brand pillar we offer the Everyday Adventure Challenge - a 60 day approach to practicing simple adventures with your family.   When we stop viewing adventure as an epic summit, we begin to look differently at your own neighborhood.  We notice things such as Brown Signs which are local attractions that have been designated as points of interest.  On Episode 041 | The adventure Potential of Brown Signs we dove deep into what is available at Brown Signs that can reveal new opportunities for adventure without large admission fees.  While they are not always free, brown signs are like hidden gems.  Simple also suggests we focus on the little things.  When we make family adventures less stressful they often become more meaningfulStacking simple adventures to building blocks of an adventurous family lifestyle or big adventure experience.   How can I make this easier for other families?   Celebrate Adventure Wins in the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group:  Tracey: We saw a performance by the Ho Chunk nation and learned all about their regalia. Then we up to the observation tower of the Wisconsin State Capital for a whole new view of our city! Kimberly: Snuck away for a solo ride — and got lost on the trails in a good way (there's really no way to get truly lost in the network I was in so it just added 2 miles of some gnarly, rocky hills). Kel: We had a busy day with friends at the zoo, then had a campfire and enjoyed some glow light fun on the trampoline. Jenna: Took the toddler on his first ferry ride. A small adventure, but a fun one! Hillary: We did some painting in the pouring rain with food dye! Elizabeth: We let the dinosaurs out � Dinovember is like an elf on the shelf. It makes this month so magical for our kids. The first week the Dino's take away the tv remotes and tablets!!! More outside play, play in general and family storytime/game nights. Becca: When fall turns to true winter, it takes some motivation to get two littles dressed to go outside (especially if we don't have much time), but we've been working hard to make it happen and we all feel better and refreshed afterwards. How many of these required something specific in order to have an adventure experience?  Maybe a bike, glowsticks, some winter gear to be comfortable.  If we focus on the experience there are actually very few THINGS we need to adventure.  I don't know about you, but I am now on a mission to find some dinosaurs.  How cool is dinovember?  The power of this brand is in the collective experiences from the community help make adventure easier and more enticing for families.   Authentic: Do what aligns with you and your interests. By building a foundation of simple adventure experiences, we no longer felt compelled to check the boxes on a bucket list.  Instead we encourage doing what is meaningful and memorable for your family.  The intention is less about external indicators and more internal indicators of what family thriving looks like for you.  We have turned our Love of travel into an intention we call Untourism: A way to travel differently Each child has established a travel intention that fits their personality and interests.  My little monster's travel goal is to taste the best ice cream in all 50 states.  While I am still a sucker for a quick google search for “free things for families in ___.” Knowing what I am looking for in each location is helpful.  Is it a park, or a bike trail?  For us we constantly search for locals recommendations for the best ice cream.  It's a great conversion and in the worst case scenario we come across someone who doesn't like ice cream (I didn't realize that was a thing).  Untourism is a regular practice in empathy: Seeing things from others perspective.   We joined Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome because we knew what it was like to have a conversation while hanging out around a campfire or around the tailgate of a truck.  (By the way if you use my link and Promo Code FRIENDS30, you get $ off before January 2, 2023) Connecting with locals who appreciate travel and RVing was a way to create community while traveling.  Even for our quick weekenders now we try to find a boondocker host just because we know the experience will be unique (and much cheaper).   We receive many different messages in both direct and subtle ways to inform our beliefs.  Being authentic and deciding what makes sense for your family takes intention.  One intentional act for me this year was to completely ignore the Black Friday - Cyber Monday noise.  I am a sucker for a good deal, but our intentions are different this year.  We want less things in our life.  My small win was that I did not make one purchase during the “Biggest Shopping day of the season” which is a shift from my 30 year old self.   Connection:Support family connection: Holidays with extended family - screens and what is stealing our attention.  Vacation was for a long time my way of having uninterrupted family time when my husband and I could break away from the daily distractions and just enjoy life as a family.  LifestyleThe lifestyle we have designed supports traveling often, spending time outdoors, and be intentional with waht we choose to spend our time and money on.  Our approach to Less Stuff, More Experiences experiences:1. Keep it simple - more about what will happen after the gift than during 2. Purpose not price  3. Can we reuse or repurpose if nonconsumable  Less Stuff, More Travel Experiences Road Trip: Harvest Hosts/ Boondockers Welcome Less Stuff, More Outdoor Experiences Less Stuff, More Backyard Adventures But what about the gift opening experience?  There is something magical about the awe and surprise factor when kids open a gift.  I think every parent hopes for the gasp and smile reaction.   It's the magic element that makes giving so much fun.  When we give experiences it can seem like we lose all of that.  But it doesn't have to be that way.   When I was in high school my mom discovered the pickle ornament.  The pickle ornament is literally an ornament that looks like a pickle, a dark green color to match the color of the tree.  The story we were told was that the child who finds the pickle ornament would receive an extra gift.  As a young adult it became THE THING my brothers and I looked forward to.  After the last gift was unwrapped we would charge the tree in search of the pickle ornament.  Sometimes it would take over 30 minutes for someone to reign as the winner.  What was funny, is we rarely cared about or remembered the prize.  We remembered the experience.  Stories are what is often retained in memories, not things.   As I implied, turning the gift giving action into an experience can also be part of the process.  Without overthinking it, here are some of the ways we have given an experience without losing the magic of their reactions.   Turn the gift into an adventure.  Scavenger hunts are one way - clues to have them find their gift.  Most of the time this is my lazy way to present a gift.  With my son's bike there was no way I was going to wrap that gift.  Even if I did wrap it, the magic would all be experienced right away when he saw all of the gifts.  By hiding the bike and prolonging the experience we simply added to the anticipation.   When we gift travel we have wrapped smaller items to craft the story and they have to guess where we are going.  Sometimes a gift includes a piece to a bigger family puzzle, like a literal puzzle that we put together that aligns with our destination.   Reverse Advent Calendar.  Create a paper chain as part of the gift with a count-down to our vacation.  I actually recommend doing this as part of the gifting experience.  We all shared something fun we could do each day leading up to the vacation that would be fun.  We also might buy a small thing that can be used during the experience that they will need.  The year we gifted Hawaii, the kids all got full-face snorkel masks.  They were so excited about the masks we had to go swimming at our local pool to give them a try, and we had one ridiculous family picture to remember that experience gift! I try to think of unconventional items that they need over the novelty to give them a clue.   Not all experiences pan out the way you imagine.   One summer we were visiting my aunt and uncle in Alaska.  They had a treehouse in their yard and the younger two played in it for HOURS.  When we got home they wanted a treehouse and my husband and I connected that idea to our experience in Alaska.  Being that my husband is hand we built a treehouse for their Christmas gift.  We had attached so many memories and emotions to the tree house that when we finally had one here, it just wasn't as fun! It became comfortable and less exciting.  Spending large amounts of money and time to recreate an experience is a caution I would advise you to reconsider.  Not everyone attaches the same emotions to an experience.  While it's fun to remember those experiences, that is different than trying to recreate it.   I hope as you head into this holiday season you use this episode to help you think about using simplicity, authenticity, and connection in your gift giving and consider how might we offer less things, and more experiences to help foster connection through family adventures? Have an idea to share about turning gifts into experiences and mini adventures, come join us in the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook group to share and steal different ideas to make your family holiday into a meaningful family experience.  

What would it look like to take a gap year and travel with your family? Find out in this episode as I chat with Heidi Dusek. Heidi is known as the “Adventurous Mom” and the podcast host and founder of Ordinary Sherpa, an online community designed to inspire families to connect through simple and authentic adventure experiences. You will hear her story of family adventure, how they prepared financially and mentally, and how she faces winding down her career in order to have a gap year. “I decided to, instead of having these external goals as metrics on what success looks like, I decided to say, what would it look like if joy was the metric.” - Heidi Dusek “The sooner and easier you make it to get out the door and do the thing, the more likely you are to start. And that's, I think, if you can focus on starting something as opposed to finishing, you have a step in the right direction.” - Heidi Dusek What You Will Learn From This Episode What inspired Heidi to take a gap year and travel with her family Heidi's and her family's whereabouts and how they face the challenge of getting out of their comfort zone The nuts and bolts of preparing financially and mentally for the gap year Heidi's advice for parents who want to have more adventures with their kids outside of what may be viewed as traditional How to take care of your mental and financial health while being on the road and traveling as a family Making the most out of the unexpected things that happen The fears that Heidi faced while winding down her career in order to have a gap year and how she overcame them How to get started on this journey even when you feel bogged down with job and family obligations About Heidi Dusek: Heidi Dusek has earned the title of adventurous mom after over a decade of packing up kids and setting off on adventures near and far. She is currently winding down her career in the public sector as a Foundation Executive to take a gap year with her family to live an intentional life challenging herself to not get too comfortable or align with the status quo. Some describe her as a disruptor and an unshakeable optimist. Her work is featured as the podcast host and founder of Ordinary Sherpa, an online community designed to inspire families to connect through simple and authentic adventure experiences.  As an “ordinary” mom, she creates content to guide and support other families on their quest to live a more adventurous life. Her book, Beyond Normal, a field guide to embracing adventure, exploring the wilderness, and designing an extraordinary life with kids shares research, tools, and novel tips to integrate adventure into your daily life. Heidi and her husband Brent, live in northeast Wisconsin with their three kids and Weimaraner dog. They spend their time skiing, building igloos, making maple syrup, and filling the gaps with hiking, mountain biking, and aim to spend as much time outdoors as possible.  While they crave travel they also recognize the privilege and comforts of coming home.  Resources: Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Paying Off Debt, Reaching FI, and Dealing with Online Hate: An Interview with Jillian Johnsrud Beyond Normal, A Field Guide to Embrace Adventure, explore the Wilderness and Design an Extraordinary Life with Kids by Heidi Dusek Heidi's freebie with 50+ everyday adventure digital cards filled with ideas for unique adventures Connect with Heidi: Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Website Ordinary Sherpa Podcast Connect with Melanie mentalhealthandwealth.com melanielockert.com Instagram Support the podcast through Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/melanielockert Buy Melanie's book “Dear Debt” Contact: mentalhealthandwealthshow@gmail.com    Want more content and support? Sign up for the Mental Hump Newsletter and get our free Mental Health and Money inventory worksheet. You can sign up at MentalHealthandWealth.com. Also, we host a Mental Health and Wealth Hangout every other Thursday over Zoom at 5 pm PT to chat about all things money and mental health. Join here! Follow us on Apple Podcast or Libsyn! Love the podcast? Leave a review on iTunes!

Website for this episode: ordinarysherpa.com/098 Register for the FREE Travel Rewards for Families Live Q & A: Ordinarysherpa.com/LIVE At one time, our guest worked in healthcare, but was (not so secretly) addicted to travel. He's been to over 100 countries and seven continents. What sets him apart from many of the travelers I know is his approach; his uncanny way to make you laugh and be completely envious of him experiencing incredible locations with his kids.  While many parents like taking breaks from their kids and heading overseas without them. Their family is not like that. Starting at age four, each of his kids got to pick any destination in the world every year for a one-on-one trip, and his kids weren't shy about picking crazy destinations – trips have included Australia (ages 4 and 6), Hong Kong (5), Belize (4), Easter Island (6), Iguazu Falls (6), Bali (9 and 10), Japan (7 and 8), the Maldives (9), and Antarctica (8) and that was just when they were ages 4-8.  In 2012 he was lucky enough to win Conde Nast Traveler Magazine's Photo of the Year contest out of 21,000+ entrants. The magazine planned an amazing two weeks in Florence for them. The first two days there three different people called him Babbo – Italian for Dad or Daddy. The kids started using it and it stuck – they haven't called him Dad since they returned from that trip. The funny thing is that Babbo only means Dad in certain parts of Italy. In other areas it means Idiot. Today I am excited to have a conversation with the Family Travel influencer who literally has the registered trademark to Take Your Kids Everywhere, Eric Stoen of Travel Babbo, Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.   Follow or Connect with Eric at: Website: https://travelbabbo.com/ Instagram: @travelbabbo  Key Takeaways Eric will go wherever the kids want to go or return to.  There are many things that make a location returnable, it's whatever speaks to our hearts.  For us we visit Italy specifically Florence and Tuscany or the Greek Isle of Naxos.  So much so that locals know our names in several of the locations.  Let the kids have a stake in planning.  Look for kid-friendly tours.  They are simplified and the content is perfect for parents too.   Parent first, then traveler, then a photographer and travel writer.  He didn't want travel to become not fun for the kids ot getting paid to do things that weren't kid-friendly. I'm not afraid to show my kids faces, but seeing those accounts didn't inspire me.  Most times I shared photos of my kids often walking away because that's naturally where I was and they weren't interested in posing. Even if a place looks cool online doesn't mean it's a great kid-friendly place. Capture what's authentic and find the details that speak to you.  Eric is not willing to disrupt their vacation for work.  his followers deserve better and he wanted to maintain an organic nature of photography - not sponsored, posed photos.  He set a boundary that he didn't accept free travel.  He wasn't going to travel without his family unless he was getting paid. Networking is everything and meeting people in person is a game changer.  Travel writers and adventure brands are fun to be around.  Go to events and meet people face-to-face.  For Eric, while he was new and uncomfortable at ITB Berlin, Geeking out with new destinations was a trip and he often meets people that he'd like to hang out and travel with.  What's your intro? Have 20 seconds that describes why are you unique? Why would someone work with you? What is your attitude on travel? What is your perspective on ___? Your intro is what makes you memorable.  Travel is cumulative.  Explore with your kids as early as you can because good things will come of it.   Resources referenced during this episode:Start Here: https://travelbabbo.com/start-here/ Month by Month Guide to the Best Vacations with Kids: https://travelbabbo.com/best-vacations-for-kids/

As nature prepares for winter, the leaves fall, the damp chill has us grabbing for blankets or cozy clothes, the drive to adventure can sometimes dissipate.  The darkness lingers longer in the morning and comes sooner at night.  While I am not an expert in moon cycles, I have even learned that we are in a low energy cycle currently.  I think it's perfectly okay to listen to rest and embrace the low energy season, we might feel the undertows and external current of productivity suggesting otherwise.  For some of us who see goals and achievement as key drivers it also can feel like we are off the wagon.   I've been in this awkward phase.  I've been less motivated or inspired to create the last few weeks.  I shared the rut I was feeling with a few content creator groups and crowdsourced their suggestions. I  thought I would dedicate this episode to share what I have learned and some things I have tried this week.   Pay attention to the Moon Cycles“I don't know how long you have been feeling this. But I can say that we have just entered the waning moon phase. This phase lasts two weeks after the full moon. We had a full moon on Sunday. This is a lower energy time. This is a time for maintenance, and more rest, this is a time to be extra aware of your energy. A time to do more of what you love, and less work. This is your time to hibernate and declutter a bit so that you are ready for the next moon cycle. So instead of feeling guilty that I'm not as energized or “making progress” or inspired, I embrace the slower pace. Let yourself nap more, remind yourself  this slowing down, and not always “doing” is natural and necessary.”  I am putting a link to Beth Suter who was the person who offered this insight if anyone wants to learn more about this.   Listen to your body - I have been feeling heavy and frumpy and wanted to wake things up a bit.  Confessions from a true podcaster, when I need to amp up the energy to get on the mic or be “on” for whatever reason I usually cranks some empowering music.  Usually it's something like Rachel Platten, Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift - these wouldn't typically be the music I listen to but there is a touch of authenticity mixed with brash that invigorates my systems.  I have noticed the last few weeks I'll break out into dance or yoga or some combination of the two - what would that be called doga?!?  Feeling strong and moving my body is kind of freeing which leads me to my next one.   Draw, Paint or color out emotions - This suggestion actually made sense to me from my teaching and adult learning style days.  Our brains actually need to be stimulated to cross the right and left brain hemisphere.  Like we need to loosen the reigns of logic.  Or on the flip side we might have all the pieces and need to get out of our creative brain and into logic so doing something like playing with legos, sudoku, or a word puzzle sometimes can give your brain directionality.   Putting myself in unfamiliar circumstances that interrupt my routine.  Listen or look for content to distract, reflect and inspire. Breaking out of your typical places, go for a long drive, head to a different coffee shop…you can't change who you are, but you can change where you are. Just hit record for 5 minutes.  Usually I make it all the way through and it turns out better than expected.  Like the pringles saying - once you pop, you can't stop!  Take an Untourist walk - new place, look to learn, fresh air similar to putting yourself in an unfamiliar circumstance combined with the mantra that motion creates emotion.  Sounds like you might be overwhelmed.  What are you NOT going to dof? Funny story, this was one of the key message of my presentation and RV Entrepreneur Roundtable and like a darn boomerang the organizer brought it right back to me LOL.  Sounds like great advice.  Well you want to know what I decided.  I'm going to simply enjoy Q4. - To feel good about leaving the organization I work for in the best place possible.- To host family Christmas and then pack the RV and launch on our gap year - To make an offer - one that excites me! Again my own advice from RVE that my friend Josh so eloquently tossed back at me.  Pretend it's Chinese New Year - they only focus on one thing: the year of the blog, the year of the book.  what is one thing you are really excited about to focus on and get good at? My dear friend Tony suggested these words “Listen to this episode. It's inspiring, the host is infectious and you really get a sense of her purpose and sense of joy while listening. Feel free to pause no less than 12 times and make a note in your journal, all while sitting on a bench somewhere.” He includes the link to Episode 001 of Ordinary Sherpa.  I took his advice.  I listened to that episode, in the raw nature that only your first episode can unveil.   I was reminded of why I started this podcast and fell back in love with it. Less pressure more fun. Thanks Tony. I wouldn't have gotten here without your suggestion this week.   Ask for Help?  As I alluded to at the start of this episode.  All of these suggestions came from fellow creators in various Content creator Groups. I also asked my mom to make us supper the day my daughter had her pre-op and I was out of town. Coming home to a home cooked meal, rolls and even dessert was such a great symbolism that we are loved.  Earlier this week, I asked my colleague to take the lead on a communication that I have been struggling to get done.  I don't know why I get stuck feeling like I have to do it all.  People genuinely want to help, we just have to be brave enough to ask.   I have really been putting pressure on myself to be on my A game.  As I exit my job, my daughter goes through minor surgery on her elbow, we wrap up doctor visits while still on our existing health plan and coordinate some school things, and then figure out all the things yet to do with the house, it's no wonder things feel heavy.  Not to mention 2 years of covid disruptions.  I ask for your grace as I continue on.  I am still here and eager to support family adventures with everyday simple adventures, with untouristy and authentic travel experiences and a lessons in designing an adventurous lifestyle with kids.  I have some really great things in store, and they will be available when they are meant to be available.   I look forward to seeing you in the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook group this week and seeing how we could do to help you? We'll be in touch!

A fun win of the week is that Ordinary Sherpa crossed 100 written reviews.  This is a huge benchmark for the Podcast.  If your name is NOT one of the 100 Written reviews, there is still time - we will continue to need those as we reach more people and brands with our work.  Apple DOES not make it easy so feel free to check out this tutorial to walk you through the process.   Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/094 Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Bio: Grab notes from: https://thestokefam.com/about-us-2/ Our guest today firmly believes what lights you up AKA your Stoke, shouldn't stop when you have kids.  With the goal of helping families adventure more and stress less she and her husband created The Stoke Fam.  Through their practical advice, actionable tips, and stories that resonate they empower families to get out and explore together while building stronger relationships with their children & teens. I have chuckled at the mishaps and appreciated her humility as she keeps adventure real with kids.  Tiffany, welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.  Key Takeaways Adventurous Mom is a title that you can grow into and evolve with your family.  While Tiffany had adventure experiences as a kid, much of her adventure spirit has been nurtured since having kids.  Investing in ski lessons from someone other than your significant other is usually cheaper than therapy in the long run.  Your relationship might thank you for this insight.    While you can and should adventure with whatever you have, investing in a few key pieces of gear was a game changer for Tiffany.  Learning how to layer and find some key items to keep her warm and dry while adventuring made the experience much more desirable.   Find your Stoke is to find that thing that lights you up.  What is the spark or what brings you joy.   As kids age their attitudes, opinions and personality shine through.  Recognizing each individual has wants and needs and making sure to consider everyone's desires in the process is critical for teens and tweens overall engagement.   Allow your kids to have an opinion both in the planning and timeline for family adventures.  We want to empower kids to speak up and share their limitations and have a voice in the decision making.  If we do this well they become invested in the overall experience.  Opting out might be a choice to consider.   “Be a welcome mat to family adventure”  Most of the adventures we see others doing, didn't start at the epic summit.  We work up to those.  Be careful not to compare your start to someone else's summit.   The Outdoor Resource Guide and Start Here sections of the Stoke Family blog are great starting points to consider things that trip us up in adventure.  The goal is to make it easy so you can spend less time researching and more time adventuring.     To Connect with or Follow Website: thestokefam.com Email: hello@thestokefam.com  IG: https://instagram.com/thestokefam FB/Twitter/Pinterest/TikTok: Also all @thestokefam, but spend the most time on Instagram A few resources referenced during the episode: Outdoor Resource Guide: https://thestokefam.ck.page/25b1efeea6 Start-Here section of the Blog: https://thestokefam.com/start-here/

Here is my recap of the 2022 RV Entrepreneur Roundtable event! The event was an absolute blast and the attendee responses showed that it was one of the most valuable events they've ever attended. Listen in as I recap the five days and let you in on what worked, what didn't and what we learned from putting on this in person event.
 A HUGE shoutout to our parent company & sponsors for making this event possible!
 RV LIFE: https://rvlife.com/ 
 Champion Power Equipment: https://www.championpowerequipment.com/ Presenters: Alyssa Padgett: https://heathandalyssa.com/ Demian Ross: https://rvtoday.com/ & https://rootlessliving.com/ Nikki Kirk: https://yoursellingguide.com/ , https://rvtoday.com/ & https://rootlessliving.com/ Kimberly Crossland: https://roadpreneur.com/ & https://cruisinandcampfires.com/ Todd & Sheila Konitzer: https://goswitchitup.com/ Heidi Dusek: https://ordinarysherpa.com/ Jason Epperson: https://rvmiles.com/ Andy Robinowitz: https://rvlife.com/ Dave & Jacqueline Hudson: https://theborderhookups.com/ 
Attendee Led Meetup Hosts: Austin Galloway, 5th Wheel Fitness: https://www.instagram.com/5th.wheel.fitness/ Andy Webb, HiProp Management, LLC: http://highlandpropertiesdfw.com/
Jackie Cote, Jackie Cote Coaching LLC: https://jackiecotecoaching.com/ Rachael Lyons, Next Destination Marketing: https://www.nextdestinationmarketing.com/ Jim & Sarah Sylvester Griffith, RV Road Fellows: https://www.rvroadfellows.com/ Attendee Voicemails: Jim Sylvester Griffith, RV Road Fellows: https://www.rvroadfellows.com/ 
Tony & Peggy Barthel, Stressless Camping Podcast: https://www.stresslesscamping.com/podcast Kimberly Crossland, Roadpreneur & Cruisin' n Campfires: https://roadpreneur.com/& https://cruisinandcampfires.com/ Industry Partners that donated items for our door prize giveways:
 RV LIFE https://rvlife.com/ 
 Champion Power Equipment: https://www.championpowerequipment.com/ Jackery Solar Generator: https://www.jackery.com/ Battleborn Batteries: https://battlebornbatteries.com/ Beech Lane: https://www.beech-lane.com/ Hughes Autoformers: https://hughesautoformers.com/ 
TST Truck: https://tsttruck.com/ Airxcel - MaxxAir: https://www.maxxair.com Airxcel - Suburban: https://suburbanrv.com 
Latch.It: https://www.latchit.org/ MORryde: https://www.morryde.com/ Nomad Nation: https://www.nomadnationgear.com/ Roadpreneur: https://roadpreneur.com/ Cruisin' N Campfires: https://cruisinandcampfires.com/
Heath & Alyssa: https://heathandalyssa.com/ Ordinary Sherpa: https://ordinarysherpa.com/ The Border Hookups: https://theborderhookups.com/ Content shared with us about the event from attendees: From The Campers Hub:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiiAEC_g6dR Roadpreneur Podcast: 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZTzIA6bUCjA5dTHpfpxPr?si=ghlcmzsBRU6BO3HcUap4sg&fbclid=IwAR0TZM2rEW3mqKIGASr-JPoQqz3pzVajeBJl4FNpByjqvGp8MZGPjofE-x8&nd=1 
Ordinary Sherpa Podcast: 
https://ordinarysherpa.com/091_finding_community/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Be sure to join the RVE community on Facebook: therventrepreneur.com/facebookgroup The RV Entrepreneur is presented by RV LIFE - Tools that Make Camping Simple www.rvlife.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rve/message

Learn to build your adventure habit and be an untourist with Ordinary Sherpa founder Heidi Dusek. She has literally written the book on family adventures and Heidi talks about ways you can have an adventure near or far. You can also plan your adventures around favorite things like ice cream. Notes, comments, links and more can be found on our home on the web at StressLessCamping.com This is episode 170. The StressLess Camping RV podcast is a great resource for anyone wanting to make the most of the RV adventure and RV lifestyle.

My Adventure Win of the Week (btw a weekly feature in the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group) is that I am coming off my first Ordinary Sherpa meet up locally and a mini book launch party.  After publishing my book in May I needed a break from it.  We spent the summer adventuring and enjoying life. I am ready to get back into a routine.  Entrepre.  - what am I going to focus on?  One of the options was to release the audiobook format of my book.  People are sharing their feedback and how the book helped them.  In light of that I thought I'd dedicate an episode to a chapter in the book titled “I'm not Adventurous”  I wrote this book specifically for parents who crave adventure.   My Adventure Win of the Week (btw a weekly feature in the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group) is that I am coming off my first Ordinary Sherpa meet up locally and a mini book launch party.  After publishing my book in May I needed a break from it.  We spent the summer adventuring and enjoying life. I am ready to get back into a routine.  Entrepreneurship challenge has been what am I going to focus on?  One of the options was to release the audiobook format of my book.  People are sharing their feedback and how the book helped them.  In light of that I thought I'd dedicate an episode to a chapter in the book titled “I'm not Adventurous”  I wrote this book specifically for parents who crave adventure.     Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/093 To find and support the book: https://ordinarysherpa.com/book Join the Free Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa

When you learn tricks to optimize your time, money, and travel it sometimes feels like you are winning at life.   While I love a good optimization strategy, I have found that there is nothing to optimize relationships and being human.  My hope is that this episode today helps you optimize the stuff in your life getting in the way of you connecting with other humans (or even with yourself).   Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/092Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Our guest today is the ultimate  life hacker helping others optimize their time, money, and travel. I've listened to stories of him begging to go to boarding school, being an undercover agent to expose a pyramid scheme, creating a company in 48-hours, and even the back story on how he  convinced his wedding videographer to do his wedding for free (I guess technically it was about a $1,000).  His tenacity in the face of uncertainty is inspiring and he always seems to find unique ways to bring people together from hosting concerts, to Laid Off Camp, to speaking at South by Southwest.  He is a travel rewards guru but also looks at experiences differently.  An example is traveling the world in 8 months when he suggested to his wife to take a one-way flight with him to South Africa, couch surf as much as possible and find interesting ways to travel between cities.  After years of working in start ups and aggressively pursuing Financial Independence, he also seems to have landed as the founder and host of All the Hacks podcast.  Chris Hutchins is a dad of 2 young girls, and Chief Optimizer here to share his insights.  Chris, thank you so much for being here.  Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa   Key Takeaways A great starter travel hack: Book your room directly through the hotel.  Then email the hotel directly (the local hotel not HQ) and share more about who you are and why you are staying there.  The number of extras people receive has been in the hundreds.  Hotels are in the hospitality game.  By interacting with them you are letting them do the things they are good at, which is hospitality.  By working with them direct you make it easier for them to build a relationship with you and provide a better overall experience.   Chris shared an experience where negotiating with the added challenge of culture and language barriers led to this escalating.  Even though he was in the right, it reminded him that sometimes winning isn't saving a few bucks.   Living on $30/day did inspire finding the cheapest accommodations each night.  However if $3 meant three hours walking around town, there is a point when you have to recognize you will never get the three hours back.  Is this really the best use of all of our resources.   Time becomes more important than money when you have kids.  Finding the value of 30 minutes is very different when your total free time is less than 4 hours as compared to 10 hours each day.   One way they optimized their life with kids was to hire someone from a Craigslist to bulk prep meals.  Sometimes optimizing means figuring out what management trick we can use right now without feeling like we need to create a system that solves all of our problems forever.   While they once traveled via the cheapest flights, the filter for searching flight options now includes the cheapest + direct flight.   Being a dad, he's gotten more optimized on time strategies without sweating a small to moderate financial investment.  He's much more likely to spend time with his kids than the hours he spent researching the best option earlier in his life.   Using the Lyft driving example, Chris was able to give his time a floor value.  Putting a dollar value on each hour of his time helped him realize the negative ROI of Do-it-Yourself type implementation.   Stacking two tasks that don't need the same part of your brain is also a tip that allows him to maximize his time.  For example he might schedule a call while on a walk or listen to podcast guest he is doing research on while driving or washing the dishes.   Do a calendar audit from time to time.  What lights you up and what can go away or be stacked on top of something else.   Having a THING to talk about when meeting new people to help build relationships.  Laid off camp was the thing people were curious about.  Better yet, listen more and have the others do the talking.  Connect or Follow:Podcast: All the HacksWebsite: ChrisHutchins.comEmail: chris@allthehacks.com Twitter:@hutchinsInstagram:@chrishutchinsFacebook: @chrishutchins Resources: All the Hacks episodes referenced in this episode 52 Places: The Art of Traveling Like a Journalist and Making Every Trip Memorable Hosting Cocktail Parties, Building Relationships, Museum Hacks and Friends Newsletters Rental Cars: Saving Money, Avoiding Fees and All the Secret Tricks Pro Travel Hacks for Every Aspect of Your Next Trip Maximize Your Points: Stacking, Buyers Clubs, Redemption Hacks, and More

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/091Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Key Takeaways Look for opportunities that inspire you.  Listening to the RVE podcast (link to episode) for sometime I was genuinely curious and decided to ask to be a guest on the podcast.  This led to a great conversation where I was able to contribute some insights and support their work.   Communities are made by people, not numbers.  There were just under 100 people and the depth of relationships built were unlike any other experience.  Humble Leadership is also an indicator of an authentic experience.   Create the space where others can ask you for help and you can ask others for help.  Being vulnerable to share opens doors to authentic connections.  I never want to be the smartest person in the room.   There are fascinating businesses in the RV space.  From a traveling band- shout out to my friends Jacqueline and Dave Hudson of the Border Hookups  and side note the entire concert was powered by solar it was so cool to share a few drinks on the patio; Niki of Your Selling Guide  teaching people retail arbitrage, Learning from the media relations side RV podcast veterans and the reason for several fan visits - Jason & Abby Eperson of RV Miles and America's National Parks Podcast.  With support from various forms of content - both digital and analog and roundtables to ask questions and get clarity.  I am always impressed to see what is possible.   My friends Scott & Taylor are the new owners of the Campers Hub and have an amazing vision.  Offering co-working space, amazing wi-fi, places to gather, meet, record.  I am so excited to see what is possible for the future of campgrounds.   When 10+ families with kids come together to play, learn and create together it is truly mesmerizing.  I was so proud to see creative independence emerge each day.  The kids stole the show each night playing on piles of dirt and creating worlds and experiences no adult has dreamed of.  I can't wait to bring the kids and meet up with other RV families.   Dirt piles are way cooler than playgrounds.  It has officially been added back into the renderings for the campground.   I can only go 4 days on crappy coffee.  One of the other attendees (shout out to @thatroadtripmom) and I caravanned back to Denver together.  I have never been so excited for boujie coffee.  P.S. If you want to you can buy me a coffee to say thanks and support the show., I won't turn you down LOL.  I am not quite back to eqilibrium.   Practice asking for ways others can help you.  People genuinely want to help.  If they are more focused on what they can get - they aren't your people.   Show up.  While it's nice to be back in-person, it is equally as important to show up and listen.  Connections are not made by who you know, but how did you make them feel in your presence.   Call to Action:: Connect with or Follow any of the amazing entrepreneur and RV families. Click on the links below.  Give them a follow, DM or share.  Let them know Ordinary Sherpa thinks they are awesome!  Josh & Kolie were amazing hosts and organizers.  You can find them at Gander Flight mostly on YouTube, or the Traveling Families podcast, Josh is also the host of the RV Life Entrepreneur Podcast. Scott & Taylor are the owners of the Camper's Hub, and RV park for the next generation of campers.  Watch their journey as they transform the space into an amazing place for family connections and lasting memories.   Dave & Jacqueline: The Border Hook-ups are a male-female acoustic duo that tours extensively.   Niki: Your Selling Guide has worked her way through the retail arbitrage space to successfully resell on Amazon. 

Jessica is a full-time human being and a part-time lifestyle design coach and writer at the award-winning blog, The Fioneers. Jessica's goal is to build a life she doesn't want to retire from and help others do the same through her writing, courses, and group coaching programs. Jessica has been featured in MarketWatch, Business Insider, The Motley Fool, and Forbes. When not writing and coaching, you can find her perfecting her sourdough pizza recipe, road-tripping in her campervan with her husband and dog, and playing complex, cooperative board games.  Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/090Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ to get the latest on the Ordinary Sherpa membership and “Middle space” communityJoin the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa   KEY TAKEAWAYS Financial Independence or the idea of increasing income, decreasing spending and accelerating your savings can sometimes feel like deprivation.  Jess saw FI as a tool to inspire her to consider “What would I really want out of life?” Developing that vision helped her establish how to get from here to there. Following some challenges with her mental health she needed to make immeditate changes and it was the first time she was able to look at her money and ask “What can my money do for me today?”  Recognizing she had a 9m savings runway she could take a career break.  This gave her the freedom to focus on her health and once that was in a good place she could begin to add in the passion work from her life vision.   Coast FI (Coast FI Calculator) is the point at which you no longer need to save and still be on track for traditional retirement.  Semi-Retirement (sometimes known as Barista FI) is a higher amount overall and through the combination of drawing down + a smaller amount of active income are able to potentially step back from traditional employment. Two of the empowering beliefs that helped guide her vision were:I deserve to be pain freeI deserve to live a thriving and joyful life Part of living into the vision is paying attention on a daily basis.  Not only from a to-do list perspective, but being intentional about having fun and spacious time. I learned that doing travel and adventure didn't have to be only on big trips, she began asking How can I do this everyday? What does adventure mean today?   Recognizing that travel doesn't have to be a hurry.  She stopped viewing travel as a “Once in a lifetime experience.” She referenced a two-week vacation to Europe that led to her feeling like she had to do all the things which led to other problems.   Slowing Down came as a necessity for her to remove everything and asking herself What do I want to add back in?  She also recognizes that you don't need an external crisis to go through this process.  The power is in realizing you have options and having the courage to take action.  Being intentional allowed her to reduce what she didn't want to do which then gave space for her to test what she did want to do.  It can be a virtuous cycle to build upon.   Jess speaks highly of the importance of building a community of like-minded people.  “It's life changing when you find the people who do understand and seeing different examples of what is possible”   To stay connected and learn about the upcoming LIVE event and Community subscribe to Ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe  To follow or Connect with Jessice (aka Mrs. Fioneers) Website: https://thefioneers.com Email: thefioneers@gmail.com Facebook: Slow FI Enthusiasts Facebook group - https://thefioneers.com/fb Instagram: @thefioneers Twitter: @thefioneers Resources from this episode:Coast FI Calculator: https://thefioneers.com/coast-financial-independence-calculator/  Supportive Friends will Change your Life: https://thefioneers.com/supportive-friends/   

Today we have the pleasure of talking with Heidi Dusek Heidi is an adventurous working mom and entrepreneur. She helps families connect through simple and authentic adventures on her podcast, Ordinary Sherpa, Instagram feed, website, book and through speaking and community-building events. The Dusek's are an adventure loving family, with 3 kids under 12 who leverage their skills and assets to design an adventurous life. They specialize in connecting families by creating meaningful experiences with adventures big and small. 
 Get more info and grab your RVE Roundtable tickets here: www.therventrepreneur.com/summit Get in touch with Heidi:
 Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-sherpa-family-adventure-coaching-and-design/id1539255067 
Website: https://ordinarysherpa.com/ 
 Book: Beyond Normal: A field guide to embrace adventure, explore the wilderness and design an extraordinary life with kids. https://ordinarysherpa.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/ 
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Be sure to join the RVE community on Facebook: therventrepreneur.com/facebookgroup

 Connect with RVE on your favorite socials: therventrepreneur.com/connect Have a question? We'd love to hear from you - send us a voicemail by clicking here: therventrepreneur.com/voicemail Want to be a guest on the show? Fill out this guest form: https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The RV Entrepreneur: www.therventrepreneur.com The RV Entrepreneur is presented by RV LIFE - Tools that Make Camping Simple www.rvlife.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rve/message

Welcome back to another episode of Ordinary Sherpa, I am your host Heidi Dusek.  This summer has been a fascinating journey in continuing to live out and test our adventurous lifestyle with kids.  We spent over 30 days living in an RV in The Canadian Rockies near Banff, Jasper and then made our way down into Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming before some time in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Our purpose for this experiment was to consider this a test in slowing down.  Treat it less like a vacation and more like a lifestyle filled with simple adventures.   You'll hear more about our trip in coming episodes and through my email list (you can read all with a dose of adventure in your inbox each week).  If you are intrigued about RV life I invite you to join me at the RV Entrepreneur summit in September in Colorado.  I am including the link in the show notes.  The theme for the summit is Connection Through Community.  If you are remotely interested in RV life, starting a side hustle, or how to manage a remote lifestyle you might want to consider attending.  I am particularly excited about the limited tickets in an effort to create a smaller event where we can connect deeper.  Registration Link: https://therventrepreneur.com/rv-entrepreneur-summit/ I am excited about this episode. When I was launching my book, Doc G was extremely open and supportive, I would say demonstrating the sherpa philosophy.  I also am excited because while he and I seem to approach life slightly different, I think our purpose behind the why of our work is similar.  In fact part way through reading his book I messaged him to say I think we are both working on cultivating a meaningful life! Jordan spent the later part of his career with patients during their end of their life.  His interest in becoming a doctor was ignited when his father died unexpectedly in the prime of his life.  After years of rotations and various practices, burnout and financial independence he settled into the speciality of hospice care.  Doc G, whom you may have heard in Episode 20 Opting Out is back as Jordan Grumet with his new book, Taking Stock a Hospice Doctor's Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life.   Worth noting, I have found that I really enjoy podcasting and having conversation without all the ads and interruptions many podcasters use.  If you enjoy the ideas, find joy or inspiration from my work, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks and support the show.  If you want to go deeper with the content and/or get more engaged you can find additional ways to support the show through the links below.   Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/084Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Key Takeaways Jordan is a study in delayed gratification.  Being a doctor meant putting in the time and work, which made planning for the future easy. Hospice allowed him to see 1. how fragile life is and how that rocket may never launch 2. Sometimes it's just more fun to enjoy life now and recognize maybe I don't need 2 marshmallows later!  “What I forgot is that the real joy is to live life.” His hospice patient reflections often sounded like “I wish I would've taken that trip 10 years ago when I felt better.”  Jordan didn't like the idea of YOLO until he realized you do only live once.  He learned from his patients who were dying that there is a spectrum: YOLO  on one end and delayed gratification on the other.  Realizing this softened his perspective on YOLO.   While the doctor role was my purpose, I didn't feel like I belonged in that culture.  Instead of having the courage to cling onto hospice care which spoke to me, I pursued all the other elements of being a doctor.  It took me decades to come back to do what I loved doing.  We're dying from the day we are born, but we don't really like to talk about that.  Death means we have a finite amount of time to live out our purpose.  Big scary thoughts remind us of our mortality.  We focus on less important things - for Jordan that was money.  Money and death are both topics that we don't like to talk about, both topics are intertwined, and both are critical to figuring out who we want to be today. A terminal diagnosis forces us to face important questions such as: What am I going to regret that I didn't do? What am I going to want to achieve in the last 3-6 months of my life?   We don't need a death sentence to have those conversations.   The idea of writing your own eulogy is a great clarifier.  He often gets the question “How do I know what my purpose is?” These activities force us to clarify what is important and meaningful to us.  Having children has profoundly affected me in how I think about my goals and legacy. When you have to explain to your children why do you do what you do?  Why do you have to work at night?  Why can't you be at my game?  These are great clarifiers and help you focus on life through a different lens.   We make the mistake of thinking we can commoditize time (exchanging things for time).  Time is static, it's unchangeable and uncontrollable - meaning time passes no matter what we do.  We need to change the conversation from gaining or losing time, rather what do we choose to fill our time with.   How do we experience time - it's different at different times of our life.  6 YO version of time is very different at 48 YO version of time when you celebrate your child's teenage birthday wondering where the time went.  Another example set a time and watch tv for 2  minutes and then reset the timer for 2 minutes and hold a plank position….the same amount of time can feel very different based on what we are doing to fill the time.  Ideally we want to find things that bring us joy, meaning and value to fill the majority of our time.  How can we view money as potential energy to erase the things we don't want to do?  I would rather do something I like but don't love to erase something that I hate doing for an hour.  Studies show we have a decent amount of free time.   Money and time capital are probably the least important of the overall equation.  You can parse it out into all different sorts of capital, but when you get the money part of the framework you can erase the things that don't bring you joy.  Time becomes less of an issue when you learn to perceive it as abundance.   The Book Taking Stock Connects purpose, identity, to who and what we want to be in life and secondly gives us the money framework to make a meaningful life.  Once you figure out your pathway to financial independence and how fast to get there.  

Check out this week's episode where I interview my good friend Heidi Dusek from Ordinary Sherpa. Heidi shares how she creates adventures with her family that don't have to cost a lot of money or any money for that money. She has created the mindset of how to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. You won't want to miss the nuggets she shares and some cool free resources too!

 As I've mentioned in the past adventure looks different for everyone and using the simple definition of a new or different slightly risky experience still drives home this theme week after week.  On this episode we'll be talking about edible landscapes, or in some terms foraging.  For some reason when I think of this concept I am reminded of two things.   One being my brown thumb capabilities.  Gardening has long been a desire but I realize that it takes daily or at least weekly attention to pull the weeds and where we live protect the plants and food from the wild things roaming our back yard.  We also tend to travel most of the summer and so I've outsourced my local foods to nearby family or friends who do this better than I.   Secondly, when I think of foraging wild plants and flowers to eat, I am reminded of Chris McCandless, a young man who was the character in the book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer.  Without giving a spoiler alert, foraging can create fear in eating the correct things or mixing the wrong things to create a cocktail of less than desirable outcomes.   We recently left Northern Minnesota State Park, and foraging was one of the key activities known at the campground website.  As it turned out the mosquitos and abundant rains Northern Minnesota experienced were the deciding factor in our foraging success, (or should I say, lack of foraging success)  however I do have a desire to continue to explore this fear or mindset that I'm not good at gardening or while out in the wilderness, the concept of forage.  I do want to call out that with foraging you definitely want to do some research before making assumptions about what to pick and what is edible. Everything from encounters with wildlife to having landowners permission, there are many little things that can become big things if you do not have some basic foundation in place.  On a fun, lighter not, my mom has been really into some of these concepts and recently made dandelion jam and cookies.  Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/08350+ Free Simple Family Adventure Download:   ordinarysherpa.com/free At the start of the New Year I created a mini-escape from 2021 with 50+ Free SIMPLE family adventure activities.  Interviewing our guest was a great reminder that sometimes we think adventures need to be elaborate or require considerable planning.  You can get those ideas by heading to ordinarysherpa.com/free    A couple from Florida with 2 basset hounds and binder of gardening opportunities set off on an adventure in search of the best place to cultivate the land. They landed in Burnsville, West Virginia, not likely on anyone's destination or bucket list of choice.  What happens when your backyard is the retreat and adventure you seek? With a desire to teach edible landscaping, and embark on projects such as building an outdoor pizza oven, they have turned their homestead into a growing portfolio of simple everyday adventures. Tony Slagbough, a friend whom I met through podcasting and now a member of the platform launchers community* is developing his space at home and online to help us all be better neighbors, get our hands dirty and fall back in love with the magic of the natural world.  Key takeaways  Fill a binder with your dreams and design the criteria for you to take action.  In Tony and Aine's case the dream was to see the apple trees grow. The criteria was no hurricanes, no lizards or fire ants and a location near water.   Have you ever eaten a rose petal?  Have you ever eaten a ___?  People have lived off the land long before conventional farming existed. The growing season is a year round even with four seasons.  Using strategies like companion planting and seasonal planting they are able to adapt to nature's tendencies.   What are you buying now?  What tastes and flavors do those items represent?  There is a native substitute for everything.  Seize the opportunity.  The plum trees only bloom for a week.  A great day calls for a picnic to enjoy the blooms, buzzing insects and glory of a simple day.  Document your journey in whatever format that works for you.  Handing your legacy down in notes, and pictures to support the next generation also plants a seed and allows it to grow Wood-fire pizza was a 45 minute drive so they built their own pizza oven and now create some of the best pizza his father-in-law has ever tasted. Imagine eating that delicious pizza while listening to a stream, with virtually no sound pollution or light pollution to inhibit your view of the stars. Did he paint the picture for a future Ordinary Sherpa retreat?  I think a seed was planted.  When asked “Why did you move here?” he responded with “Why haven't you left?”  Finding the hidden gems, the people and natural wonders  of a community, is what makes West Virginia the perfect neighborhood for them.   If you are looking for simple adventure ideas consider downloading 50+ Free Simple adventure Ideas.    You can find it at Ordinarysherpa.com/free To Connect with or Follow Tony Slagbough  from Hello Good Neighbor PodcastPodcast: Hello Good NeighborWebsite: https://hellogoodneighbor.com Instagram: inthenookfarmFacebook: In the Nook Farm *indicates Ordinary Sherpa is an affiliate meaning if you use this link to purchase, it costs you the same amount but Ordinary Sherpa receives credit for the referral. 

Replay of Episode 007 with Courtney Fleet where she discusses everything from studying abroad in Italy to hiking the John Muir trail to now hiking with Toddlers.  This episode launched in December of 2020 so I wanted to give an update on Courtney Fleet.  Since recording this episode she now has THREE girls. To connect or Follow Courtney she has a new social media handle: Happy Trails and Ponytails on Instagram Courtney is a native Oklahoman who grew up traveling throughout the US with her family. She has visited 43 states, lived in two countries, and now resides in North Carolina with her husband, two daughters and two dogs. Hiking and backpacking have been growing passions of hers since she was young and something she enjoys doing with her sister and now with her young girls. When she's not entertaining her kids, she works full time as a physical therapist. I am excited to share Courtney's adventure story.  As you will soon hear she emulates the spirit of adventure, being brave and helping remind all of us to simply “get out the door”  and yes sometimes things will be hard, but that is temporary and the season of hard things will pass and in the end we will have shared experiences that will sear lifelong memories into our soul.  I am so excited that Courtney was willing to be brave and make her first ever guest podcast appearance on Ordinary Sherpa. Key Takeaways Having adventure baked into the family culture helps spontaneous experiences come much more naturally throughout life.  Approach the opportunity of unplanned time with a curious mindset, not all experiences can be planned for three memories equals shared experiences. Having a shared experience with family fosters connection while the adventure will end. The memory of that experience can stay with you for as long as you want.  The  habit of enjoying the moment and waking up with a smile on your face can go with you wherever you land.  Use your connections to create a different experience.Her experience in South Africa would never have happened as a tourist  The shared experience of hiking with her sister was not mutually exclusive to together time  How do you build into your process, time for coming down from an adventure and transitioning back into daily life?  Becoming a mom doesn't mean you leave your passion.It means you adapt it to include the ones you love. I needed to put my sadness aside and honor the accomplishment of my daughter. It was a good frame of reference and mindset that I needed to be able to do this with both kids and include them in my passion. Get out the door, getting out the door is the hardest part. You won't get it right. You won't get it perfect. But just try it.  Try again. As Courtney noted in her stone mountain hike. When you reach that peak, my mama heart, my hiking heart, were smiling at the summit. It was a new level of accomplishment that I had never experienced before.  The gear is far less important than the doing Mary Janes and ruffle socks are perfectly okay. Embrace the mindset that everything is temporary. There are hard things. Aren't going to go as hoped. This is just a season and we can always try again, this tantrum, this moment, this season, it's all temporary. And by the way, this will be funny tomorrow.  To Follow or Connect with Courtney: Facebook: She is a member of the free Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa  Instagram: @happytrailsandponytails

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/079Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Beginner's Guide to Untourism:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/untourism Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Doing Better.  It's a growth mindset that we can change and learn new things no matter how old we are.  I had been looking for someone to share concepts of sustainable travel who could dive deeper into how to travel better.  I wanted more than all natural roughing it type of experiences, because if that is not our style we aren't likely to make things harder than they already are, especially if we have a kid or two in tow.  I also wanted more than the trending eco-friendly accommodations.  I wanted to dive into sustainable concepts like carbon offsetting for dummies; the convergence of minimalist principles and environmentally friendly power of LESS.   I was excited when I found our guest's website where the home page highlights.   It's not about being perfect – it's about doing it better. She uses a different way of doing something familiar, in this case a different way to travel.  You will soon recognize the alignment to the principles of Untourism and might even see small businesses doing sustainability travel well on her website.  So while riding up the escalator at Travel Con and I shared I had a podcast and she and I exchanged business cards I immediately made a note to follow up with her.   Ketti Wilhelm is a former freelance travel writer and the founder of TiltedMap.com, which is a blog about sustainability, travel, and zero-waste. She left Montana after college, with a job teaching English to 300 university students in China, and a side-hustle as a freelance magazine writer… and just one word of Mandarin and no background in education. She determined her husband was the right partner after two months living in a minivan and many other adventures.  Feeling left out of conversations with her husband's friends (who is from Italy) she was determined to learn Italian.  She received her master's degree in Sustainable Business and Energy from Bocconi University, in Milan, Italy and has lived in China, Italy, and France.  She has since returned to the US and back to her roots in writing.  Ketti Wilhelm of Tilted Map, welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.   Key Takeaways Ketti took the job as a tool to get to the next country.  Having the job first simplified the decision of where to move and offered a built in community.  There is a link to an article on her blog  [11 strategies from a serial expat] Ketti initially focused on sustainability from the social aspect perspective which is essential to the sustainable travel efforts.   Where you spend your money matters When traveling, make an effort to live a similar lifestyle to what you would at home.  The intent is to do better, not be perfect.  Simple habit changes over time drastically improve the curve.   Carbon reduction is the process where an organization directly reduces greenhouse gas emissions through efficiencies while carbon offset is a trade-off, where companies get credit for funding external projects that reduce emissions. One example of an offset program is  planting trees.   Some ways individuals can reduce their carbon footprint is to eat less meat, reduce single use plastics by using shampoo bars or seeking hotels that offer refillable dispensers over small short term use sample size toiletries. Where you go is less critical than how you act when you get there.  Ketti started her blog to showcase that sustainable travel is more than ecolodges and thatched roof accommodations.  Ketti shared an example of a hotel in the Mississippi delta region who was doing many things right.  Likewise on the Paros in the Greek Islands it was more socially acceptable to have the bartender fill her waterbottle with tap water versus suggesting she buy a single use bottle of water.   The Lazy guide to more sustainable travel is a blog post (linked below) can help determine what to look for when making travel decisions with brands.  One example is a B Corp certification which means a company has a triple bottom line (financial, social, and environmental). Plastic free July is an initiative of the zero waste movement to encourage people to notice their use patterns and make an effort to reduce plastic use and consumption.   It is interesting to me that many of the principles that she discussed overlap with similar principles of minimalism and untourism, a term I use to travel differently and support local businesses.  If you were inspired by this episode to do better in some way, then let's play show and tell.  Post on Instagram and tag @ordinarysherpa, send me an email or DM, or better yet leave a written review.   Before I sign off I have a quick update on the podcast.  I am spending some intentional time with my family adventuring a considerable amount this summer.  I want to model the type of lifestyle I often talk about on the show.  I have pre-recorded several episodes throughout June & July so there will still be episodes dropping each Wednesday, however I am also including a few Best of replays from the early days of the podcast, perhaps some you haven't had the chance to listen to.  I have been aspiring to do less and this summer is a great opportunity to slow down and be present.  I will periodically be checking email but generally you might see a little less.  If you would like to do a deeper dive on our lifestyle design and get ready for fall you might appreciate reading my book: Beyond Normal a field guide to embrace adventure, explore the wilderness and design an extraordinary life with kids.  It goes great while camping, sitting next to a babbling brook, or spending some simple time outdoors this summer.  You can find the links to purchase on the homepage of my website: Ordinarysherpa.com Until next week, I look forward to hearing all about your adventures and tips you are practicing to do better.   To Connect with or follow Ketti Wilhelm of Tilted Map Website: https://www.tiltedmap.com/ Instagram: @TiltedMap https://www.instagram.com/tiltedmap/ Facebook: @TiltedMap https://www.facebook.com/tiltedmap/   Resources referenced in this post:  The Lazy Guide to More Sustainable Travel [Simple Tips & Resources] https://www.tiltedmap.com/easy-sustainable-travel-guide/  Want to Live Abroad [11 strategies from a serial expat] https://www.tiltedmap.com/how-to-move-abroad/ 

Have you ever thought that traveling and going on adventures would have to stop either when you have kids or when you are saving money to pursue financial independence as a physician associate / physician assistant? Heidi will share how those beliefs are misconceptions! Heidi Dusek is the founder and host of Ordinary Sherpa podcast and brand designed to inspire families to connect through simple and authentic adventure experiences. Heidi is well-versed in challenging the status quo, connecting people and designing experiences. She has an adventurous lens on life, using empathy and curiosity as critical threads in the fabric of designing an authentic and memorable life. Heidi and her family travel frequently, spend a significant amount of time outside, and create simple adventure experiences near and far. As a working executive, she did not want to choose between her career, being a mom, or having an adventure-filled life resulting in her latest book, Beyond Normal: a field guide to embracing adventure, exploring the wilderness and designing an extraordinary life with kids. In this episode we discuss the benefits of trying to incorporate simple and affordable family adventures, and we review some of the neuroscience and research that support how beneficial adventuring can be. Take a listen to be inspired to plan an adventure today in your own backyard! Claim your freebie with 50+ everyday adventure ideas by clicking here! Visit ordinarysherpa.com to learn more, check out her podcast and book, Beyond Normal, and to connect with Heidi! Instagram: @ordinarysherpa https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa/ Interested in learning more about travel hacking with travel rewards from credit cards? Check out this blog post: http://pathefiway.com/how-to-utilize-travel-rewards-for.../ Or take a listen to the two past PA the FI Way podcast episodes about travel hacking (episodes 22 and 47) through here: http://pathefiway.com/podcast/ Enjoy the show? You can now support the PA the FI Way podcast through Buy Me a Coffee! Thank you for all of your support! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pathefiway Follow along on Instagram: @pathefiway https://www.instagram.com/pathefiway/ Join the private Facebook group created for current and future PAs on their journey to financial independence: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pathefiway Like the Facebook page to follow along for updates: https://www.facebook.com/pathefiway Website to read blog posts: pathefiway.com Prefer to pin the posts that you found informative? Follow along on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pathefiway

Have you ever thought that traveling and going on adventures would have to stop either when you have kids or when you are saving money to pursue financial independence as a physician associate / physician assistant? Heidi will share how those beliefs are misconceptions!    Heidi Dusek is the founder and host of Ordinary Sherpa podcast and brand designed to inspire families to connect through simple and authentic adventure experiences.  Heidi is well-versed in challenging the status quo, connecting people and designing experiences.  She has an adventurous lens on life, using empathy and curiosity as critical threads in the fabric of designing an authentic and memorable life. Heidi and her family travel frequently, spend a significant amount of time outside, and create simple adventure experiences near and far.  As a working executive, she did not want to choose between her career, being a mom, or having an adventure-filled life resulting in her latest book, Beyond Normal: a field guide to embracing adventure, exploring the wilderness and designing an extraordinary life with kids.    In this episode we discuss the benefits of trying to incorporate simple and affordable family adventures, and we review some of the neuroscience and research that support how beneficial adventuring can be. Take a listen to be inspired to plan an adventure today in your own backyard!    Visit ordinarysherpa.com to learn more, check out her podcast and book and to connect with Heidi!  Instagram: @ordinarysherpa https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa/     Interested in learning more about travel hacking with travel rewards from credit cards? Check out this blog post: http://pathefiway.com/how-to-utilize-travel-rewards-for.../   Or take a listen to the two past PA the FI Way podcast episodes about travel hacking (episodes 22 and 47) through here: http://pathefiway.com/podcast/     Enjoy the show? You can now support the PA the FI Way podcast through Buy Me a Coffee! Thank you for all of your support! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pathefiway    Follow along on Instagram: @pathefiway   https://www.instagram.com/pathefiway/   Join the private Facebook group created for current and future PAs on their journey to financial independence: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pathefiway    Like the Facebook page to follow along for updates: https://www.facebook.com/pathefiway   Website to read blog posts: pathefiway.com   Prefer to pin the posts that you found informative? Follow along on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pathefiway 

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/078Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa We often talk about adventure as a new, risky, or potentially uncomfortable experience that leads to growth. Ultimately, for me adventure is fun, it's where I am the best version of myself.  I see things in myself and in my kids that make me smile and feel inner peace.   In working on my book and creating the Ordinary Sherpa brand in my unofficial market research, I found many people associate adventure with hard, fear, the wilderness..  Today I want to flip it and start with something we know, love and might be our favorite thing.  Yes, that would be ice cream.  What does ice cream have to do with adventure….well, if you are in the Dusek family, ice cream and adventure are like peanut butter and jelly.  You rarely have one without the other.  Just to demonstrate the power of ice cream I want to share a story that is more common than rare.   A few years ago my son and I joined a casual after school running club and the intention was to complete a 5K and the end of the season.  I thought this would be a fun way for him and I to hang out and for me to have a healthy activity to look forward to with my son.  Well, I didn't realize how fast he was in 3rd grade.  He would often be off running with the 5th graders while I trailed behind.  Eventually my daughter in first grade at the time joined us.  She preferred walking.  On race day, which was a school sponsored Color Run put on by the local Sources of Strength High School group, we were about halfway through the race. My son was considerably further ahead of me and my daughter just wanted to quit.  I walked with her a few times and realized she had it in her to finish this race, so I offered that when we complete the race we will go for ice cream.  AND if she ran the final 1.2 miles without walking I would let her pick out whatever kind of ice cream treat in whatever size she wanted.  She took off running to the point that I had a hard time keeping up.  She was on a mission and it worked.  She finished the rac without stopping to walk and ran the fastest I had ever seen her run. My best intentions of spending time with my kids and getting a workout might not have been accomplished, but this story sealed the deal on ice cream as bribery.  This wasn't the first time I had used ice cream as bribery.  Or as I like to refer to it as the Challenge reward.  I can assure you it won't be the last.  I might even use it as psychology to reward myself for completing a task I didn't really want to do.     Ice cream became a very natural part of our adventures.  In fact finding the best ice cream place became part of the adventure.  A few years ago on National Ice Cream day (P.S. Mark your Calendar , it's July 17th and definitely one of our favorite holidays to celebrate) I was sharing some of our favorite ice cream we have tasted AND also curating a list of the best ice cream in our area, when I came across a few surprises.  Local ice cream shops and creameries that I wasn't aware of.  The ice cream list was born and then fueled and later reinforced to become my youngest son's travel goal: to taste the best homemade small batch ice cream in all 50 states.  That would be so much more fun than simply checking off the states as he visited.  Finding and sourcing the best ice cream is now a great connection builder when I am looking at destinations and connecting with other families.  People are quick to offer their favorites!     We are using a rating and review  process to share our results and writing our untourist guide version.  From our research thus far there will be at LEAST 3-4 ice cream tastings in each state.  If you think there is one that needs to go on the list, email, DM or leave a written review on the podcast and I'll make sure it's included in our research.  You know our style, we love off the beaten path, locally owned, hidden gems.  And for the record there are no chains included in the guide.  We might eat at them along the way, or visit the original birth of an amazing ice cream chain, but they will not be included in the “Best ice cream” listings.  I post about them often on Instagram and use the #icecreamconnoisseur (that is in the show notes b/c I know how hard it is to spell connoisseur :)    Using this theme, this thing, or a skill we are already good at and enjoy doing I want to share with you the idea of recreating an appearance of a different experience.   In my Book (Beyond Normal: A field guide to embrace adventure, explore the wilderness and design an extraordinary life with kids) Appearance is the A in the MAGIC acronym I use to help families create simple adventures without much time or money.   The story I share in the book is using the experience of walking into Cold Stone Creamery, selecting the base flavor of ice cream, adding your mix-ins, what type of sauce, or toppings you want.  We used this experience to create a fun birthday dinner using pancake batter instead.  We scoured the cupboards with what we thought might be fun to try.  We came up with a few recipes (I share many of them in the book) and each person was able to have a fun experience and celebrate my son's birthday with an ice cream inspired experience. If you want to read more about it, you can buy my book either through my website or on Amazon Some fun other ideas of how to recreate and experience but now with ice cream as the focus include: Do a pint sized swap: Everyone chooses their favorite flavor of ice cream and you buy the pint sized at the grocery store and for a fun family night do a pint-sized swap.  It's like exchanging white elephant gifts, but secretly you really want your own! Do an around the world experience.  A future guest (Erin Austen, author of Family Field Trips) shared the idea to try different ice creams from around the world.  In the United States ice cream is often made using frozen milk fat; Alaskan native call it Akutaq and use animal fat mixed with snow and berries.  In Italy it's Gelato, and Italian law says that Gelato requires at least 3.5% buttercream.  In Japan, Mochi is the name and is a mix of ice cream with rice dough.  One of our favorites is from Thailand, known as I tim pad, it is made by pouring milk onto a frozen steel pad mixed with fruit or other ingredients and rolling it into curls and serving in a cup.  There are also variations like Shave Ice Imagine the birth of the first ice cream.  Recreate this experience by making your own.  You might use an original recipe and kick things around with rock salt OR you might borrow and ice cream maker (or be in the look out for on at a thrift store or garage sale this summer) and make your own ice cream.  Stock up on cream and sugar.   You might be aware that ice cream also inspires our travel.  My youngest son's goal is to taste the best small-batch homemade ice cream in all 50 states.  We are using a rating and review  process to share our results and writing our untourist guide version to share with you.  From our research thus far there will be at LEAST 3-4 ice cream tastings in each state.  If you think there is one that needs to go on the list, email, DM or leave a written review on the podcast and I'll make sure it's included in our research.  You know our style, we love off the beaten path, locally owned, hidden gems.  And for the record there are no chains included in the guide.  We might eat at them along the way, or visit the original birth of an amazing ice cream chain, but they will not be included in the “Best ice cream” listings.   While adventure might mean creating a new experience or be associated with something hard or outdoorsy, it doesn't mean it can't be fun.  We like to base our adventures in what we already enjoy and want to experience with a new twist.  Finding the best ice cream is part of the journey (or maybe the incentive) along the way.  Adventure is not intended to be a journey in deprivation or roughing it experiences.  Add in some comforts or luxuries splurges where it fits.   Key Takeaways While adventure might be a growth experience, it doesn't require a deprivation mindset.  Adventure can include or  be paired with comfort and luxury when desired.  Dusek family adventures pair amazingly well with ice cream. Consider designing adventures based on what you already know, like, and are good at.  I am really good at eating a single scoop of ice cream after a hike.  Ice cream also makes you thirsty and encourages hydration if you needed an extra reason ;) Create an adventure based on that thing you love: can you taste different ice creams around the world, or find the best of in a defined area.  Even buying a pint and comparing flavors or making your own experience.  All of these use the simple spark of ice cream as the foundation for the adventure.   Adding your family personality to an adventure makes the experience much more meaningful than a bucket list of locations to check the box on.   What is the best ice cream in your community or state?  If you have a favorite that is not a chain, send me an email, DM, or leave a written review with your suggestion and I'll research it further to determine if it makes the list.   If this episode is making you hungry, go grab some ice cream, take a selfie and post it on instagram.  Tag @ordinarysherpa and say thanks for the inspiration from this episode :)  While you are there follow @ordinarysherpa and be on the lookout for some of our favorite ice cream based experiences near and far.   I can't wait to see your face, hear your suggestion and continue encouraging you and your family to get out and adventure!

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/077Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Join the Everyday Adventure Challenge  for simple adventure tips to create a summer to remember. https://www.ordinarysherpa.com/challenge Our guest today has an obsession with financial independence. After years of consuming content she thought it was about time she produced and shared her obsession with others. She realized there was a gap in resources around personal finances geared towards moms. Trying to get ahead with money is one thing, trying to get ahead as a mom is whole other ball game. In an effort to learn and crowdsource the best, she is on a mission to find moms who can share their money examples, interview then and share their knowledge with other mom listeners.  The Investor Mama podcast was born and the origin story of my connection with Jen was born, as we grew up in podcasting. With 2 young kids and moonlighting as a real estate agent among all the other things, Jen shares some of her money tips for making adventures fun without breaking the bank.  Jen Narcisso of Investor Mama, welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.   Key Takeaways Podcasting was in the honor of her son Nathan and brought good to his name and kept her going.  What are the things that drive you and keep you going?   House Hacking is a way to rent a portion of your house while living in another unit. When you start to see opportunities in how to use your assets differently it might create streams of income.  On the flipside, what's the point of having money if you aren't creating joy with it.   Jen's dream is to throw a dart at a map on the globe and spend 4 weeks, to create intense family connection time.  Forced family time removes you from the distractions of daily life.     Jen found a way to prove to her husband to take the family to Disney.  Her child was in early childhood intervention and the experience at Disney exploded his growth and development.   Travel with kids under 2.  They fly free.   Jen used Travel rewards through Chase Ultimate Rewards to cover flights, Hilton card has 4 nights and 5th night free and covered hotel.  Her mother-in-law had a Citi card that covered Park tickets as a travel eraser.  Jen stayed at the DoubleTree at Disney Springs and used the shuttle for free.     The Unofficial Guide to everything Disney (and other parks) from how to get discount tickets, to how to plan your day, optimize the lines.  The Wyndam Bonnet Creek is on Disney property but not a Disney property.  It's a condo with all the amenities and with a full kitchen, living room and several bedrooms in each unit.   Jen optimizes her big backyard, local playgrounds, and scavenger hunts.  Ultimately your outlook is the driving factor and if you are excited about it, the kids will mimic your energy.  Let kids' curiosity be the guide.  Find the extraordinary in the ordinary.   “My daughter doesn't know she is missing out.” Kids don't need to be signed up for a bunch of different activities.  Jen prioritizes swim lessons due to the safety concerns around water.  The better we get at getting creative at home, the easier it is to master adventures on the go while traveling.   There is no bad weather, just bad attire.  By focusing on good gear they are able to spend more time outside. Having an intention to go outside allows you to focus on the options versus being comfortable inside.   Kids don't need to be told what to do if we encourage them to be creative and model excitement.  Leaning on your community helps to get you unstuck from lulls in the season.  Nobody wakes up to say, I'm going to be a bad parent today.  Give yourself grace, you just survived your first pandemic.   You don't need to spend money to be a good mom.  Finances are foundational to allow us to thrive in life so having your finances in order opens so many options.  Connect with Jen, she is amazing and loves to help.   If you are looking for simple adventures to help you make it through your summer, I'd suggest registering for the Summer Season of the Everyday Adventure Challenge from June 5th -August 5th by heading to ordinarysherpa.com/challenge To Connect with or Follow Jen from Investor MamaPodcast: Investor MamaWebsite: https://investormama.com/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/438814630372392/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/investor_mama/

Marni speaks to the founder of Ordinary Sherpa, Heidi Dusek. Heidi is known as a catalyst, healthy disruptor, and unshakable optimist. She is passionate about challenging the status quo, driving change, and designing experiences. Her forthcoming book, Beyond Normal, inspires families to create authentic travel experiences through meaningful UN-tourism. Listen in to see how she is designing a life of meaningful experiences that inspire joy.   Key takeaways from this episode:   Challenge the status quo Create meaningful experiences Traveling differently — UN-tourism Simple is better How to say yes!   Challenge the Status Quo   The pandemic felt like the universe decided to challenge the status quo. It changed everyone in the world's life. This means that right now we have a unique opportunity to grab onto a new normal that better serves us. And, with more and more companies offering positions for virtual work, we no longer need to orient our lives around where we work. It is a freedom past generations didn't have.   Heidi has long pondered the concept of work-life balance. She recognized that there is no such thing, work is part of life. She decided only to have things in her life that made her joyful. Joy was her North Star. She recommends writing the narrative of what you want your life to be and then designing your new life around that narrative. Heidi's mantra is “I want every day to feel like vacation.”   Highlight the joy of life and get a bit uncomfortable challenging your status quo.   UN-Tourism: Travel Differently   Adventure is about finding out about new places other travelers haven't discovered before. Heidi recalls a story of a small diner that never would have been on her radar if the gas station attendant had not recommended it. Her family loved it and it didn't cost a fortune to feed a family of five.   All types of travelers can create a meaningful life on any type of budget. It normally doesn't take as much planning as we think it does. Scale it back to the basics and relish in your relationships instead of high-priced adventures. It can be less about what you are doing and more about enjoying the journey and getting through the rough spots.   What do you really want out of your life?   Simple Adventures Can Be Worth More   Heidi made a conscious decision to create a “Year of Yes.” Every time she had an opportunity she challenged herself to say yes. It's a reminder that everyone has the power to change their story. You don't need to make the giant, life-altering decisions, just change one thing that challenges you.   What if there is no tomorrow? Do it now!   Make a Connection: Visit Our Website Plug Into Your Superpower Retreat — Apply at DatingwithDignity.com/pluginform Join Our Dating Den Facebook Community Here! Learn how to attract your perfect equal… watch our latest training here! Interested in working with us? Book a Breakthrough session at DWDVIP Get a Free Coaching Session with Marni on Our Podcast — Sign up Here to Be a Guest On Our Show Download a Complimentary Copy of our Book — How to Find a Quality Guy Without Going on 200 Dates Ordinary Sherpa Beyond Normal: A field guide to embrace adventure, explore the wilderness, and design an extraordinary life with kids

This week we're sharing a special interview Nicole did with Heidi Dusek of the Ordinary Sherpa Podcast.Ordinary Sherpa inspires families to turn their adventure dreams to experiences. The podcast episodes help families define adventure, be inspired from other families on this journey, and be supported by a tribe of Sherpas helping you to reach your summit.  In this episode, Nicole shares her journey as a ski mom. We mention two popular posts in this episode:10 States Where Kids Ski Free: https://www.momtrends.com/travel/10-states-where-kids-ski-free10 things to get ready for Ski Season: https://www.momtrends.com/ski/ten-things-you-can-do-right-now-to-get-ready-for-ski-seasonGet details on the Ordinary Sherpa Podcast herehttps://ordinarysherpa.com/About Heidi: Heidi's passion lies in challenging the status quo, driving change and delivering experiences. She and her husband live in Wisconsin with 3 children and spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, remodeling their third generation farm house, mastering un-tourism, and creating connections with people around the world. Get to know Heidi better by listening to Episode 001: Our Adventure Story.Get Heidi's New Book: Beyond NormalWith big trips and everyday joys, a life of adventure awaits you. Whether you enjoy traveling or staying close to home, you'll love this book. Soak up everyday adventures exploring new places, trying new experiences, finding fun in everything, and making play more prevalent than screens.You do not need to go back to normal. Beyond Normal is a field guide to help your family navigate an adventurous life filled with authentic experiences. Throughout this guide, you will find ways to assess your risk tolerance, stretch beyond your comfort zone, and find community. Venture forth!Order your book on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3wujbbS Visit the Ski Moms Fun Gift Shop here shop the Ski Moms Fun Swag Shop here.Rate, review and recommend the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Join the Ski Moms Fun Community!Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunFollow Ski Moms Fun on Facebook here.Check out the Ski Moms Fun Store Get your copy of the Ski Moms CookbookEmail us at sarah@skimomsfun.com

It's May (when I am recording this episode) which might mean many things.  For us it means cramming in our school and spring kid activities, it means busting out the camping gear and preparing for the kickoff to summer, it means many more hours outside it also means budding blooms (ie pollen), and bugs emerge from who knows where.  For me it also means publishing my first book.  Beyond Normal: A field guide to embrace adventure, implore the wilderness and design an extraordinary life with kids launches on May 17, 2022.   Book Description: With big trips and everyday joys, a life of adventure awaits you. Whether you enjoy traveling or staying close to home, you'll love this book. Soak up everyday adventures exploring new places, trying new experiences, finding fun in everything, and making play more prevalent than screens.  You do not need to go back to normal. Beyond Normal is a field guide to help your family navigate an adventurous life filled with authentic experiences. Throughout this guide, you will find ways to assess your risk tolerance, stretch beyond your comfort zone, and find community. Venture forth! If you head to my website  Ordinarysherpa.com (beginning May 17th) you can purchase, download the free ebook (for limited time), or request a copy of the book Beyond Normal for your local library.   Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/074Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Authori Bio:  Heidi Dusek is an adventurous working mom. She helps families connect through simple and authentic adventures on her podcast (Ordinary Sherpa), Instagram feed, and through speaking and community-building events.  In all seriousness, I wanted to take you behind the scenes to share the development of this book from idea to publication and the addition of a published author as a part of my identity.  It began last year about this time a friend posted on social media, “If you were to write a book, what would the title be and what would it be about?”  I rattled off 3 titles and a sentence description.  The initial description was something like “create everyday adventures and live life on purpose.”  I received a couple comments from friends that said “please write this book”  and that was how it began.   I knew the concept, but I struggled with figuring out what to write. I'm just an ordinary mom.  I didn't really know what people would want to read about or what exactly I would write about.  I knew the topic of adventure parenting was likely the topic but I didn't really have the concept.  Through a series of requests in the Ordinary Sherpa FB group, Everyday Adventure Challenge meet ups, and individuals who would buy me a coffee  I'd meet with listeners who connected with the Ordinary Sherpa mission to help families connect through simple and authentic adventures.   It was through these conversations that I was able to dive deeper into who the book was for and why they were struggling with adventurous parenting.  I came up with 12 different reasons based on our conversations Think it costs a lot of money to adventure Not enough time Perceptions of success and constraints of work Mindset of “what adventure is” “I'm not adventurous” “I'm not outdoorsy” “I live in a city, I can't adventure here” Fear, Adventure is risky, I am a parent and need to be stable Discomfort with uncertainty: Kids who adventure make parents nervous, unsafe Feelings of Joy: immediately followed by guilt, fear of losing the thing that led to joy Society norms of “settling down” you have to choose  Working against marketing and media (influencers, big brands) Activities send family members in different directions (sports, school, work, music, etc)  Need ideas of what to do, don't know how to do it themselves so not comfortable being the leader Tired/exhausted/overwhelmed,  adventure seems hard From here I explored other books in this genre to see what else already existed to support parents with answers to these questions.  I'll be honest, I found a lot related to family travel or an adventurous lifestyle without kids, but not many for family adventures specifically.  I bought or checked out anything remotely related to the concept and read the books throughout the writing process to have a sense of what those books offered and how or if my content would be different.  The entire time I was doing research I also began my writing without any expectation, but thoughts or stories that I would think of while reading or listening to other stories.   I organized the questions or reasons why parents struggle to adventure into core themes which later became the three parts of the book.   Part 1: Live Deeply focuses on the adventure mindset and the foundations of adventure as a value proposition to a fulfilling life.  Part 2: Explore Bravely begins to put all the limiting beliefs and perceptions of safe and stable lifestyle into question.  I share research, walk through exercises as a guide to work through the process, and offer my own stories of adventure and parenting to offer context throughout the book as a guide to work through the process.   Part 3: Play Wildly are examples of actionable steps to make adventure more accessible.  It is my belief that if we can build a life where everyday adventures create the foundation for a thriving life.  Even if we choose to travel to see new places and new people, we have the foundation of adventure built into our ethos so we are not continually using vacation as an escape.   With the key themes established, the challenges readers face I began the writing process. I will say the first chapter was the hardest to write and the one that required the most edits.  I went into the writing process with the idea that I didn't have to have it figured out, I was just going to sit down and write.  I had heard that an average non-fiction business book is 40,000-60,000 words.  So I turned on the word count and sat down regularly to write.  I celebrated word count milestones by sharing a story in instagram or having a mini party of 1.   I realized I wanted data, scientific evidence and sources to back up or validate my experiences.  This is just part of who I am.  I personally appreciate when a book is more than stories.  When I had a question or wanted to look into something I would use parentheses to indicate I wanted to come back to an idea.  This allowed me to write without the question to derail my progress.  For example:  I knew there was neuroscience data behind the power of pause, to create space but I needed to dive deeper into what was the source and was that relevant to the topics we were leading.  I knew there was child development data around risky play; I knew there was a conditioning process to dampen our curiosity.  These were concepts, but I made sure to come back to these topics and dig into the research. I proofread my manuscript twice before I sent it to my editor.  There is a point when you get sick of your own writing.  After sending it to the editor I was a little burned out and took a break from it.  In fact, even after it was returned to me I didn't look at my manuscript for almost a month.  I did start to garner interest along the way.  I invited friends and listeners to be members of the advanced reader team to pre-read the book.  In late January after almost 6 weeks of not looking at my manuscript I sat down and binged a few weekends through the edits.  I began to share bits and pieces of the book with my advanced reader team.  In mid-March I shared the entire manuscript with my advanced reader team and received an abundance of feedback.  I took 2 weeks sifting through comments, edits and questions.  I viewed each piece of feedback as a detailed gift they shared with me.   Throughout the writing and editing process there were many times when my progress was stalled by my own limiting belief and desire for perfection.  I would compare myself to established authors.  However reading comments from listeners, or friends asking about the book helped push me through.  In mid-March I made a detailed list of all the things I needed to do to get the book into the world.  The list included Finalize the title Create Cover design Write the back of the book description Determine which Amazon categories to publish under Reach out for endorsements Write my acknowledgements page Complete internal formatting Get an ISBN number Design the graphics for inside the book Set up Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) Create the sales page on my website Establish a book marketing plan Write an Amazon Book Review Tutorial After another round of scrubbing I sent the manuscript and some detailed market research to my designer and publishing assistant.  In full transparency, the book releases in 6 days and a few items on that list are still not crossed off.  This entire process has felt like a daring adventure.  While I have always been intrigued in writing a book, I didn't really have a dream or vision of being a published author.  There is something special about the first and while I have given myself permission to update if need be I can be happy with the product I am sharing with the world and that it reflect the season of life we are in while hopefully encouraging and supporting other parents on this adventurous journey.   I thought I'd end this episode by sharing some of the endorsements and feedback from advanced readers.  “I love that you offer a glimpse of an alternative and adventurous parenting path. I think this concept is missing from many of the books I've read about nature parenting, minimalist parenting and Scandinavian parenting philosophies.  So many of our peers feel like they lose themselves when they become parents and your book shows how rich life can indeed be. Your concept of "a window closing" also resonated with me.“ – Tracy Phillippi  “Great content and experiential examples from your personal life. As you told your story I got pulled into the big moments you share with us as readers. What an overcomer you are. You have used the trials and triumphs in each stage of life to build on, and add to, the qualities that make you no Ordinary Sherpa.” – Perry Gabbard “It's so easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day grind of life with kids that you lose sight of what it feels like to be adventurous and genuinely have fun. Heidi Dusek's wonderful field guide on designing an extraordinary life does the remarkable: it brings this life within reach and gives you practical ways to build a little more fun and adventure into your family's life.” – Brad Barrett, cohost and cofounder of the ChooseFI podcast “Through vulnerability, insightful questions, and actionable steps, Heidi shares practical wisdom to generate adventure and joy for your family and most of all, for you. With clarity, honesty, and humor, she brings the reader so many gifts at once using stories from her life and learnings by experience. You won't wonder how to integrate the many unwrapped lessons into your own life, but rather enthusiastically try to figure out how many you might take on! And best of all, the path will be uniquely yours as it was for her and fueled with intention and courage. A must-read for anyone looking for permission to thrive and a foundational guide to getting there.” — Laurie E. Oswald, CEO of InteraWorks and founder of The Best Year Yet Foundation If you would like to support me  through this you can purchase, download the free ebook (limited time), or request a copy of the book Beyond Normal for your local library.  All of the steps to do these things will be included in the show notes on the website.   Key Takeaways Writing a book is a shared experience that was shaped through many interactions with listeners, followers and friends.   The content of the book was based on questions from the Ordinary Sherpa community.  I strongly encourage you to reach out to me with any questions or challenges you are facing in the world of family adventures.  While I'm not the expert I have been fortunate that the sherpas in this community have many insights to share.   While the content of the book will likely support anyone seeking an adventurous lifestyle, I wanted to give special focus to parents to question the narratives we hear about being adventurous with kids.   The energy flow from jubilation to burn out was experienced throughout writing the book.  Part of the benefit of self-publishing my first book was that I could establish my own timeline and be curious about the process.   Authors share years of experience for the value price of $15.  The book culminates key takeaways from this podcast, lessons from the Everyday Adventure Challenge and many other experiences into one easy to digest location.  While you probably could find this content by scouring the internet or binging every episode the book is nicely compiled all in one place.  The ROI on your time for someone interested in an adventurous lifestyle may be worth the investment.   If you head to my website  Ordinarysherpa.com (beginning May 17th) you can purchase, download the free ebook (for limited time), or request a copy of the book Beyond Normal for your local library.  AND leave a written book review on Amazon.  Much like written reviews for podcast it offers new readers or listeners social proof of the contents value.  

Ordinary Sherpa utilizes the term untourism to define a different type of travel experience.  It reveals locations that might be unconscious to the general public. We unearth hidden gems, support the local flavors and activities that benefit the local people, small businesses and communities. Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/071Beginners Guide to Untourism:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/untourism/ Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Join the Beyond Normal Book Launch team: http://ordinarysherpa.com/read Today I bring you a Little Local Flavor. Our guest has lived in Nashville for over a decade, and recognized how special the local food scene was she designed an experience to share with you!  With the major growth that Nashville has recently experienced,  she feared large chains and celebrity-themed honky tonks would overshadow the great local establishments. To expose people to the real Nashville experience, she founded A Little Local Flavor. Now she spends each day showing off the strengths, stories, history, and people that built Nashville, Tennessee to be a wonderful community! A Little Local Flavor has received many awards over the years, including the 2021 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Best of the Best Award indicating they are in the top 1% of attractions worldwide!     Key Takeaways If visiting Nashville the recommendations of Christine's Best Friend test would include: The Nashville Arcade which is inside the oldest indoor shopping center built in 1902.  The restaurants on the first floor are not open very long and are the least expensive. The owner of the Nashville Arcade keeps rent low to allow small businesses who provide local amenities that couldn't compete with bars and music venues. Printer's Alley has great live music and great food (including Jane's Hideaway one of her favorites) Alley Taps have a ton of local brews on tap and live music Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar host amazing artists from all over the world.   A tour takes all the work out of it and offers an insider guide.  Christine created a tour that she wanted to take based on local foods and the stories behind them. Her intention was to invest money back into the local community.   A food tour will visit multiple restaurants with pre-selected menu items to allow guests to try local foods they may not try otherwise that also includes historical landmarks and local stories.   A great tour includes: A great tour guide who can customize the tour based on the guests interests, Criteria for picking restaurants: locally-owned with food made from scratch and are a pinnacle part of moving the community forward.   Go to a great restaurant when they are not busy and talk to the bartender, ask “What would you do today/tonight to get insider tips to reveal hidden gems” Bartenders know great food and beverages or may not have made the travel list.   Humans have been bonding over food since the beginning of time.  There are a few questions to help nurture the group camaraderie, but the small group casual experience is like seeing Nashville with a friend.    Shared experiences in a short period of time can compress relationships. A Little Local Flavor has over 900 5-star reviews.  Leaving a review is an absolutely free way to show your support to small businesses to trick the algorithm to get greater exposure.   Start your visit in Nashville with Christine at A Little Local Flavor!  As many travelers have shared the thing the learned on the tour are best to kick off your time in Nashville given all the insights and other resources shared.   To Connect with or FollowName: Christine WheatleyWebsite:https://www.alittlelocalflavor.com/ Instagram: @littlelocalflavorFacebook: @alittlelocalflavor  Resources from this episode: Family-Friendly Activities for your next trip to Nashville: https://www.alittlelocalflavor.com/blog-posts/2020/3/6/family-friendly-activities-for-your-next-trip-to-nashville Locations referenced in this epsiode are linked on the episode website: https://ordinarysherpa.com/071

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/068Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/   At the time of this recording we have 49,392 downloads.  Which means we will be celebrating 50,000 downloads with this episode!  While I don't get caught up in numbers and follows and all the metrics I do want to add some levity to what this number means.  Ordinary Sherpa has been putting out weekly podcasts since November 2020.  In May of 2021 we crossed 10,000 downloads.  In 2022, I had 10,916 downloads since January.   We average 1,100 downloads.  These metric place us in the top 20% of all podcasts.  But even bigger than that is Ordinary Sherpa currently has 91 written reviews.  90% of podcasts have less than 10 written reviews.  It might sound like I'm gloating here, but actually the only thing I have done is consistently publish new episodes, everything else - you did that.  As a listener who downloads my show. The listener who shared it with a friend or family member.  To the 91 who left a written review, you are all contributing to this show continuing to grow and reach new people.  Congratulations to all of you who continue to come back week after week.  This is a milestone worth celebrating.  Email from Listener Susie (I asked if I could share with you for this episode)I just wanted to give you some positive feedback. I have been listening to your podcast along with Choose FI and Everyday courage. I love your ideas validating small adventures such as eating with chopsticks or cooking a meal using a recipe from another country etc. I wanted to share some accidental adventures we have had. My husband grew up near Boston but never really explored the area he grew up in. Unfortunately,  his mom is not doing well so we have been flying up from Florida once a month and visiting. Because more than an hour of visiting time exhausts her, we go on adventures after our visit.  This helps us destress and stay positive. Boston offers so much history and culture as well as a couple of casinos, and state parks ( Walden Pond) unusual off-the-beaten path rock formations. I always dreamed of visiting the big stuff (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon) of course I still want to visit these places  but for now, we are having a great time figuring out which pub really does have the best clam chowder. Eating dumplings in Chinatown and visiting the many historical buildings, parks, and graveyards Boston has to offer. “Thank you for giving me a new perspective on an adventure. I used to think I was missing out on all these huge time and expensive travels and now I get to explore beyond the next tourist trap.” Susie's email demonstrated to me the essence of untourism.  If you hadn't heard my story I was working on some lifestyle goals of what I wanted my life to look like as I was aiming for Financial Independence and the phrase that stocks was “Everyday feels like a vacation”  When I double click on that thought it could mean so many different things.  Initially I thought it meant I wanted to travel the world, which I also want to do.  But more importantly that What I wanted to do, I looked more closely about how I wanted to feel.  Vacation has a way of calming my brain, being more present with my kids and husband, doing things together and creating new experiences and lasting memories.  That's  how I wanted to FEEL.  That spark led me to an adventure lifestyle which may or may not include travel.  I realized I don't need to travel 360 days a year to feel this way.  It led us to explore new locations within our own state and even in the far edges of our own property.   FOMO: Fear of Missing Out founded by Patrick McGinnis in 2004.  I learned more about FOMO and FOBO on this episode of All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins: https://www.allthehacks.com/fomo-patrick-mcginnis/ FOMO has become a commonplace in our language and officially became a word in the dictionary in 2014.  The origin came from Patrick's simple life in Maine to being thrust into the social setting as a business student at Harvard.  His definition of FOMO is anxiety, often fueled by social media, based on a perception that others are having more beneficial experiences than you.  The fear of being excluded from a beneficial collective experience.  We see things that aren't even real that provoke feelings of anxiety.  The attention economy is designed to steal our attention. When you use social media, how does it make you feel?  FOBO: Fear of a Better Option, analysis paralysis   JOMO: was a haphazard term that I heard Paula Pant refer to in this Afford Anything episode.https://affordanything.com/356-ask-paula-fire-vs-fomo-how-do-you-balance-between-these/ Around 2:03 there is a listener question that leads her to talk about FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).  To summarize she states when you make a choice you aren't really missing anything, you are replacing that time with something else. Unless you are in a Coma, the time you are spent in envy of the thing you could be doing is spent doing something else, whether it be reading, etc. Really it's JOMO: Joy of Missing Out   Wanting to do something else but feeling you have internal scripts that are telling you that you can't or you shouldn't“Let the heart lead and the mind execute” - Paula Pant  Begin with your values (Joe Saul-Sehy) if you don't value it, then the thing you are missing is not an opportunity anyway.     To come back to the idea of Untourism.  One thing I began to feel was when traveling.  When I would follow FOMO and let social media and the destination guide my travel planning, the experience almost ALWAYS fell short of my expectations.  Which is why I have not embraced a bucket list.  A bucket list to me is a FOMO list.  Of some perceived place that I want to visit before I die.  How do you know, based on something you saw on social media or fueled by someone else's experiences.  There are literally billions of places on this planet that I could visit - how do I know which ones I want to visit before I die? The only thing I think is helpful about a bucket list is reflective practice. Asking yourself “what do I want out of this life?  How am I advancing that goal today?”  Creating a list of locations you've heard about or saw in social media is often rooted in envy.  When we show up curious,  allowing space in our schedule to accept recommendations from locals, to check in with ourselves and everyone in our group to determine how we are feeling as opposed to powering through because the itinerary says so…we say yes to JOMO; to authentic, untourism path that allows you to slow down and be present in the moment. The greatest experiences we have experienced as a family are the places I never heard of, where things turned out better than we expected.  Usually we discovered them from a local or a connection met along the way.     I would imagine the Grand Canyon is on many people's bucket list. Do you know that 4.51 million people visited the Grand Canyon last year.  According to an article “The typical visitor takes a brief look into the Grand Canyon and departs. The typical stay lasts from five to seven hours, according to park surveys, and the average time spent looking at the canyon is 17 minutes.” https://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-981213onpgrandcanyonguide-story.html   I'm not saying don't go to the Grand Canyon. What I am saying is the idea of spending countless hours planning, driving the South Rim with 3 kids to get out of the car and stare at this magical wonder of 17 minutes along with several hundreds of thousands each day, does not sound like a vacation to me.  I want to create experiences that do more than check the box on a bucket list.  I don't want to be fueled by FOMO so that I can get to the instagram worthy location and fight to get the perfect shot and make others jealous.  It's why I have also resisted the label as a travel writer or influencer, because to me it's not about the location.  It's about creating experiences for connection through adventure.  It's JOMO- the Joy of Missing out on what everyone else is doing.  I don't want to be fueled by the perception of being excluded from a collective experience.  Instead I want to be in control of my thoughts and experiences.  If you download my Beginner's Guide to Untourism (Ordinarysherpa.com/untourism) you will see how traditional travel and bucket lists fuel the hive mind of FOMO and the difference in JOMO and untourism principles.     This past week was spring break in our house.  As many of you know my daughter kicked off 2022 with a severe biking accident and spring break landed 12 weeks post op.  The plan for spring break was to make full use of the kids Colorado Pass and ski several different mountains in Colorado.  But my daughter didn't think she was ready for that level of skiing, so my husband and boys went and my daughter and I stayed home.  Full transparency, I had FOMO.  I don't think I have ever stayed home on spring break.  I really needed to step into and practice JOMO this week.  Instead of feeling like I was missing out on something I asked myself, what do I get to do this week?   I needed to step back into the 9YO version of myself and remember that version of Joy.  We ended up taking a 2 hour hike to an enchanted forest to create a fort; We put on mud boots and walked through the hybrid stream and ice.  We rode on the 4-wheeler, she sat behind me with her eyes closed and her hands raised imagining she was riding a roller coaster. We met up with a group of friends and went indoor rock climbing.  We made ice cream from scratch.  She slept in my bed at night and we read silently next to each other.  JOMO was a blessing.  At the end of the week I was so grateful for the 1:1 ways we spent time together throughout the week.     My challenge for you this week is to do something that brings you Joy (or JOMO).  That helps you to reframe the FOMO, envy and the desire to escape your life.  What is something that you can do today that brings you joy?  Adventures are accessible everywhere.  We just have to be willing to stop looking everywhere else for inspiration and instead listen deeply and reflect on what you want this day, this week, or this year of your life to look like.  You don't have to plan it, or search the internet.  You just need to be ready to receive it.     Worth noting, I have found that I really enjoy podcasting and having conversation without all the ads and interruptions many podcasters use.  If you enjoy the ideas, find joy or inspiration from my work, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks and support the show.  If you want to go deeper with the content and/or get more engaged you can find additional ways to support the show through the links below.   Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/068Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa   CTA: Leave a Written Review: Ordinarysherpa.com/review Email from Listener Susie (I asked if I could share with you for this episode)I just wanted to give you some positive feedback. I have been listening to your podcast along with Choose FI and Everyday courage. I love your ideas validating small adventures such as eating with chopsticks or cooking a meal using a recipe from another country etc. I wanted to share some accidental adventures we have had. My husband grew up near Boston but never really explored the area he grew up in. Unfortunately,  his mom is not doing well so we have been flying up from Florida once a month and visiting. Because more than an hour of visiting time exhausts her, we go on adventures after our visit.  This helps us destress and stay positive. Boston offers so much history and culture as well as a couple of casinos, and state parks ( Walden Pond) unusual off-the-beaten path rock formations. I always dreamed of visiting the big stuff (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon) of course I still want to visit these places  but for now, we are having a great time figuring out which pub really does have the best clam chowder. Eating dumplings in Chinatown and visiting the many historical buildings, parks, and graveyards Boston has to offer.   Thank you for giving me a new perspective on an adventure. I used to think I was missing out on all these huge time and expensive travels and now I get to explore the most from any area we visit without just skimming through seeing what everyone sees and going on to the next tourist trap. Thank you and keep up the positive podcasts.   Susie's email demonstrated to me the essence of untourism.  If you hadn't heard my story I was working on some lifestyle goals of what I wanted my life to look like as I was aiming for Financial Independence and the phrase that stocks was “Everyday feels like a vacation”  When I double click on that thought it could mean so many different things.  Initially I thought it meant I wanted to travel the world, which I also want to do.  But more importantly that What I wanted to do, I looked more closely about how I wanted to feel.  Vacation has a way of calming my brain, being more present with my kids and husband, doing things together and creating new experiences and lasting memories.  That's  how I wanted to FEEL.  That spark led me to an adventure lifestyle which may or may not include travel.  I realized I don't need to travel 360 days a year to feel this way.  It led us to explore new locations within our own state and even in the far edges of our own property.   FOMO: Fear of Missing Out founded by Patrick McGinnis in 2004.  I learned more about FOMO and FOBO on this episode of All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins: https://www.allthehacks.com/fomo-patrick-mcginnis/ FOMO has become a commonplace in our language and officially became a word in the dictionary in 2014.  The origin came from Patrick's simple life in Maine to being thrust into the social setting as a business student at Harvard.  His definition of FOMO is anxiety, often fueled by social media, based on a perception that others are having more beneficial experiences than you.  The fear of being excluded from a beneficial collective experience.  We see things that aren't even real that provoke feelings of anxiety.  The attention economy is designed to steal our attention. When you use social media, how does it make you feel?  FOBO: Fear of a Better Option, analysis paralysis   JOMO: was a haphazard term that I heard Paula Pant refer to in this Afford Anything episode.https://affordanything.com/356-ask-paula-fire-vs-fomo-how-do-you-balance-between-these/ Around 2:03 there is a listener question that leads her to talk about FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).  To summarize she states when you make a choice you aren't really missing anything, you are replacing that time with something else. Unless you are in a Coma, the time you are spent in envy of the thing you could be doing is spent doing something else, whether it be reading, etc. Really it's JOMO: Joy of Missing Out   Wanting to do something else but feeling you have internal scripts that are telling you that you can't or you shouldn't“Let the heart lead and the mind execute” - Paula Pant   Begin with your values (Joe Saul-Sehy) if you don't value it, then the thing you are missing is not an opportunity anyway.  David Allen (Getting Things Done) at its heart it's like being like water, go where the river is running.  Be quiet and listening- can't do that when my life is a mess.  It's about removing the things from your life that don't bring value and then quiet.   Paula references an Email:  I really want to travel, can't stop calculating the missed opportunity of compound interest.  If I only considered decisions from the compound interest you would never do anything.  What is the purpose- what do you enjoy?  Money is a tool to help you accomplish the things you enjoy. Biggest mistakes came from making the logical decision.     To come back to the idea of Untourism.  One thing I began to feel was when traveling.  When I would follow FOMO and let social media and the destination guide my travel planning, the experience almost ALWAYS fell short of my expectations.  Which is why I have not embraced a bucket list.  A bucket list to me is a FOMO list.  Of some perceived place that I want to visit before I die.  How do you know, based on something you saw on social media or fueled by someone else's experiences.  There are literally billions of places on this planet that I could visit - how do I know which ones I want to visit before I die? The only thing I think is helpful about a bucket list is reflective practice. Asking yourself “what do I want out of this life?  How am I advancing that goal today?”  Creating a list of locations you've heard about or saw in social media is often rooted in envy.  When we show up curious,  allowing space in our schedule to accept recommendations from locals, to check in with ourselves and everyone in our group to determine how we are feeling as opposed to powering through because the itinerary says so…we say yes to JOMO; to authentic, untourism path that allows you to slow down and be present in the moment. The greatest experiences we have experienced as a family are the places I never heard of, where things turned out better than we expected.  Usually we discovered them from a local or a connection met along the way.     I would imagine the Grand Canyon is on many people's bucket list. Do you know that 4.51 million people visited the Grand Canyon last year.  According to an article “The typical visitor takes a brief look into the Grand Canyon and departs pumped full of wonder. The typical stay lasts from five to seven hours, according to park surveys, and the average time spent looking at the canyon is 17 minutes.” https://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-981213onpgrandcanyonguide-story.html   I'm not saying don't go to the Grand Canyon. What I am saying is the idea of spending countless hours planning, driving the South Rim with 3 kids to get out of the car and stare at this magical wonder of 17 minutes along with several hundreds of thousands each day, does not sound like a vacation to me.  I want to create experiences that do more than check the box on a bucket list.  I don't want to be fueled by FOMO so that I can get to the instagram worthy location and fight to get the perfect shot and make others jealous.  It's why I have also resisted the label as a travel writer or influencer, because to me it's not about the location.  It's about creating experiences for connection through adventure.  It's JOMO- the Joy of Missing out on what everyone else is doing.  I don't want to be fueled by the perception of being excluded from a collective experience.  Instead I want to be in control of my thoughts and experiences.  If you download my Beginner's Guide to Untourism (Ordinarysherpa.com/untourism) you will see how traditional travel and bucket lists fuel the hive mind of FOMO and the difference in JOMO and untourism principles.     This past week was spring break in our house.  As many of you know my daughter kicked off 2022 with a severe biking accident and spring break landed 12 weeks post op.  The plan for spring break was to make full use of the kids Colorado Pass and ski several different mountains in Colorado.  But my daughter didn't think she was ready for that level of skiing, so my husband and boys went and my daughter and I stayed home.  Full transparency, I had FOMO.  I don't think I have ever stayed home on spring break.  I really needed to step into and practice JOMO this week.  Instead of feeling like I was missing out on something I asked myself, what do I get to do this week?   I needed to step back into the 9YO version of myself and remember that version of Joy.  We ended up taking a 2 hour hike to an enchanted forest to create a fort; We put on mud boots and walked through the hybrid stream and ice.  We rode on the 4-wheeler, she sat behind me with her eyes closed and her hands raised imagining she was riding a roller coaster. We met up with a group of friends and went indoor rock climbing.  We made ice cream from scratch.  She slept in my bed at night and we read silently next to each other.  JOMO was a blessing.  At the end of the week I was so grateful for the 1:1 ways we spent time together throughout the week.     My challenge for you this week is to do something that brings you Joy (or JOMO).  That helps you to reframe the FOMO, envy and the desire to escape your life.  What is something that you can do today that brings you joy?  Adventures are accessible everywhere.  We just have to be willing to stop looking everywhere else for inspiration and instead listen deeply and reflect on what you want this day, this week, or this year of your life to look like.  You don't have to plan it, or search the internet.  You just need to be ready to receive it.  

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/066 (at some point head here to check out the pictures)Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Join the Book Launch team and pre-read Heidi's book  https://ordinarysherpa.com/read As many of you know the Midwest is the land of cold and snow the months of January and February.  I love the midwest and all 4 seasons.  Typically we spend most of Winter on our skis checking out the midwest version of mountains on our downhill skis or some other frozen treasures.  However given that my daughter had 2 broken arms it seemed our adventures might need to be more subdued this winter so I decided to build an igloo.  In my head I thought this would be a fun family project.  I thought I would use this episode to share the reality of my winter adventure of building an igloo and several important life lessons that came with it.     First this will be an episode where you will want to jump over to the episode website at some point to see the blog post with pictures.  It will help give context to the building process.  I found how to build an igloo from a youtube video in the later part of winter 2021 but by the time I had all the stuff the weather warmed up and I realized I was doing everything wrong.   I used those lessons to shape what I learned and have better success (read more than 12 blocks of ice) in building an igloo.     Bigger is not always better - size of the igloo, blocks of ice, too much mortar.  When I saw the video of igloo it had several rooms and youtube makes everything seem so simple.  Last year I started with pans that were too small.  I ordered bigger pans this year but they weren't deep enough.  The ideal size pans are 9x13 half size disposable baking pans (Note Link to pans on Amazon).  They should be filled ⅔ full with water.  I had my vision set on making an igloo big enough that we could either eat or sleep in it.  I am tall, almost 6' so I also didn't want to be getting in and out to be a challenge through the doorway. This turned out to be much larger than needed and ultimately making the project a challenge to complete.    Geometry matters To create the initial pattern I grabbed a cross country ski pole to be my protractor and mark the circle.  My son put his foot through the handle of the ski pole in the center and I walked along the tip, shuffling my feet to mark the full circle.  Let me remind you that a 5' radius is only half the diameter which meant I was creating a 10' wide igloo.  Spoiler alert, I did not fully finish the igloo before it melted, but given how big I made it, I am not sure how I would have finalized the top.  I also should not that having angled pans of ice were helpful it wasn't as big of a deal as I imagined it would be.  Which I'll come back to in an upcoming lesson.  However, making a round object with square blocks does take some creative maneuvering and I am not macgyver.  The trick was using broken pieces and staggering the blocks as much as possible.  I loved math as a kid and this project seemed like the best challenge to fit pieces together and have something come to life in ways you didn't expect.  While not 100% relevant to detailed geometry lessons, it got my wheels turning about how might we teach our kids differently using experiences like this to teach traditional education concepts.     Color makes everything more fun.  $1 washable paint from the Dollar Store worked much better than food coloring.  Not only was it cheaper it washed off.  It truly was the color of the ice that made me smile when I walked outside each day.  I strongly encourage you to add a pop of color to your life.  You might be surprised how much you notice.    There are many elements outside of your control The most critical factor to my success was temperature and time.  The best time to work on the igloo was after 6:30 PM when the sun set and the temperatures dropped.  It also required consistent days below 32 which start and stopped a lot of my momentum.  Because we were having challenges with the pans freezing to the ground, my husband created a freezing station.  4 construction horses and 6 8' 2x4 were the best solution to house and freeze roughly 20 pans of ice each night. We created the ice and the majority of the igloo in a shaded side (which would be the north side of the garage) to protect it from as much sun as possible.  However if temps didn't stay low enough during the day, we'd lose and entire day and round of ice making.  We strategized ways to make more ice faster, but without a factory sized freezer, this was just one aspect we could scale for greater or faster production.     Ice can break in ways you don't plan We worked hard for each pan of ice. It was slightly devastating when they would break coming out of the pan, or if one would slide while you were laying the blocks to create the walls.  Sometimes we needed to intentionally break ice to fit in small spaces or reinforce an area that is not 90 degrees.  We tried to make this methodical, my husband even attempted to cut a block of ice with a jigsaw- he could not cut through it which thoroughly surprised us.  Maybe TMI, but there were times when an ice block broke and it felt like I dropped a bottle of breast milk.  You worked so hard to get that block of ice what you needed it to be only to lose it.  I was pretty scrappy and picked up and repurposed what pieces I could.  Smaller pieces were also used as carving stones to crack away at bumps or major impurities to make the blocks smoother and easier to meld together.     Never underestimate the power of a LIttle snow and water.  The most awe-inspiring aspect of this process was making and attaching the blocks of ice together with snow-water slush.  The consistency of shave ice if you are familiar with the Hawaiian slush consistency.  On a cold night the blocks would freeze into place almost effortlessly and with small handfuls of the mortar.  To my point earlier, more is not better.  After years of working alongside my husband tiling I ran my mittens over the seems to smooth out each joint and remove excess mortar.  Everytime I tried to fix a block that was slipping with more mortar, it actually turned out worse.  Usually the problem was the ice was too slippery or wet yet, I needed to wait a little longer to let the ice firm up or let the outer edge be completely frozen.     Melting reinforces the structure overall.  My assumption going into this was that the mortar would melt first and the blocks would become unstable and topple.  The opposite was actually true.  When the structure warmed up the blocks of ice melted and dripped down over the layers below reinforcing the bottom layers each day.  A great lesson for life, sometimes when we feel like we are falling apart we are simply reinforcing our foundation.     Ideal conditions are the exception not the norm Ideal conditions for me were cold, but not windy.  Enough fluffy snow to make mortar mixed with water.  I think over the 60-day project I had 3 ideal days.  I worked on the project almost every day.  I had 2 weekends that we were gone and the final weekend while we were gone led to the igloo's demise.  Other days I did not work on it were because the weather was actually too warm, but I didn't complain about that.  As in life, we always hope things will go according to plan, but they rarely do.  It will take longer than you think Always an optimist, Youtube made it look like the project was done in one snowstorm, or at best a few weeks.  I worked every day that I could and I still didn't finish it.  As in life, what you see online is seldom the full story.  Given my points above out things like temperature being outside of your control, there is a cause and effect from warm weather and igloo building.    Many hands do not always make the work lighter As I alluded to in my intro, I thought with my daughter's accident and the absence of other adventures this would be a fun family bonding project.  The rest of the family wasn't as excited about this as I was.  My daughter didn't have use of her hands, so she would sometimes wipe the excess mortar off the blocks, or stir the color into water to make the ice blocks, but there aren't a lot of activities that many different people can do.  Often the kids would be off playing and exploring outside while I was building the igloo walls.  It was helpful when my husband would run out 5 gallon buckets of water from the tub to make the pans of ice, or be willing to get a ⅓ bucket of water to make more mortar.  On average I would go through 2 buckets of mortar each night.  The kids would sometimes help bring more snow to improve the consistency of the mortar if it got too wet.  Once the walls were up to chest height and we were working at a significant angle it was helpful to have someone hold the blocks of ice while the other slobbered on the mortar.     A project with a purpose is so much more fun. I am not a person that starts a project and has the tenacity to see it through.  It was late February when someone was complaining about the horrible winter we were having in Wisconsin and I really didn't know if we lived in the same town.  I thought it was a delightful winter.  Every night we were playing outside. It was a fun routine after supper and before bed to sneak in at least an hour of time outside, and we could all see the progress we were making.  I said when I embarked on this project that I wanted to make people jealous that they didn't live in the cold and have several friends from Florida ask if they could come up for the weekend.  Well, even though I didn't have the grand prize igloo and the idyllic experience with lights inside illuminating the colors while we enjoyed a winter snack it was still worth doing it.  One the fateful day in February as Iggy rolled over while basking in the sun, my sons still enjoyed one last pleasure of crashing up the blocks of ice.  We eventually loaded up the big pieces in a sled and hauled them out the woods to add to the potential pool of water near our garage.  The colors of ice in the woods still brought us joy.     As I am practicing how to slow down and enjoy the everyday adventures on the path to our next big experience, projects like these that take a few months are a fun way to offer experiences and purpose.  While we weren't sitting in the magazine image igloo singing kumbya and drinking hot chocolate it was worth every ounce of doing, fixing and trying again.  Spending time outside in Winter in Wisconsin feels like an accomplishment I look forward to again next year.  Who knows, maybe we'll even host an Ordinary Sherpa adventure family winter meet up and build igloos :)   As we look forward to spring all of my energy is in the final stretch of getting my book published.  Beyond Normal: A field guide to embracing adventure, exploring the wilderness, and designing and extraordinary life with kids will be available at the end of April.  If you are interested in stories and learning that made Ordinary Sherpa, want to support us in this additional chapter, or just want some behind the scenes into the book publishing process consider joining our book launch team at ordinarysherpa.com/read

What are simple ways to adventure as a family?  As a follow up to Episode 060 | Invitation to Connect and Create Simple Adventures I wanted to give you some examples of simple adventures that your family could do this weekend.   These are some of the Everyday Adventures we build into our monthly adventure list that I will be helping you create and bring to life in the Everyday Adventure Challenge.  I wanted to give you some insights into what I mean by simple adventures and remind you that the value is not in this list of ideas. The magic happens when you bring these Everyday Adventures to life so each member of your family feels connected by spending meaningful time together having fun and connecting with other families throughout the process.  Make a Mess Play in the dirt, get your hands dirty, do a messy craft project, play with shaving cream, throw pottery, paint a canvas, do a mud run Turn the dining room table into a fort with pillows and blankets.  To extend the experience grab a flashlight and read a book in your new fort.   Check out a seasonal attraction.  Some examples in our area are ice caves or ice castles, polar plunges, giant snowmen, or snowmobile races.   Visit the best playground with in ___ miles Have a paper airplane contest Eat whatever is for dinner with your fingers.  Spaghetti and soup are a fun challenge and will offer lots of laughs.   Grab a pack of gum and try the “the biggest bubble” contest Try a new coffee or ice cream shop throughout the season. Order a signature drink or flavor. Keep a report card with your ratings. Write a letter or draw a picture and mail it to someone Design an indoor obstacle course.  Some of our favorite supplies are stools, bed pillows and painters tape as laser beams Crank the music and do a family dance in the kitchen.  Some examples include Cha Cha Slide, Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Macarena.   Sleep out in the family room Jump Around.  Try different types of jumping contests or activities, jump rose contest, standing broad jump, who can jump the highest, or blast House of Pain and pretend you are at a Wisconsin Badger Football game.   Geocaching Like a scavenger hunt but with gps.  Download the geocaching app (free) and see what is close by. Plan a local adventure weekend: 5 things you can do to be gone for more than 12 hours? I invite you to join other families by participating in an online challenge to create 60-day everyday adventure habits with your family. Participants are supported with weekly inspiration, action-able adventure lists, and accountability check ins to make simple adventures happen. By participating you will be present in your own life, creating connections and memorable family experiences.The challenge will run from June 5- August 5; September 5 – November 5; February 5-April 5th.   Participation is $40 and includes weekly challenges via email, virtual group meet ups and 1:1 accountability check ins. Registration will close at 11:45 PM on the 4th (the night before the challenge).  To Register: https://ordinarysherpa.com/challenge If you want to support the idea of an adventure community and want to help here are 3 things you can do:1. Share the Everyday Adventure Challenge with a friend, family member who you think would benefit from exploring it.  Registration is at https://ordinarysherpa.com/challenge Registration closes February 4 at 11:45 PM.    2. Share the Everyday Adventure Challenge on your own social media.  Tag friends that you know are looking to shake things up and connect with other adventure families. 3. Head to Ordinary Sherpa on Instagram and comment on the Everyday Adventure Challenge posts or share them in your stories.  The more comments and engagement the more exposure the challenge will get and trick the algorithm to show up in people's feeds. If you share to your story make sure to tag Ordinary Sherpa.

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/0459 Join the 60-day Everyday Adventure Challenge:https://ordinarysherpa.com/challenge Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Our guest today is a ski mom based in Vermont. She is the founder of Momtrends.com where she writes articles and ski guides, clearly she is a skilled skier and passionate about the sport. She has two girls 16,13 who ski race for the Green Mountain Valley School in Vermont. She is the Admin of the Ski Moms Facebook Group, the Founder of Momtrends.com and co-host of the Ski Moms Fun podcast.  Being a ski mom whose kids all started skiing by age of 2 and who now can out-ski their mom it is so fun to connect with other ski moms and I am grateful for the community she has created.  Nicole Feliciano, welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.  Key Takeaways Experiencing the mountains and the vastness of the ski experience in Montana was like seeing the ocean for the first time.  She continued to design experiences with her husband and later with her daughters to find joy and embrace skiing as a part of who they are.  Unlike many other sports, skiing requires embracing cold temperatures and your feet sliding beneath you instead of firmly planted.   A life hack for couples and parents- if you want someone to enjoy something you enjoy, invest in lessons from someone else who is skilled in the sport or activity. Getting exposure to the elements was as important as building their skills. Participating in activities with a peer group helps build the skill and connection while also learning confidence and independence.   As Nicole confessed “ski moms love the community nature of a small hill.”  Skiing set the tone of family time.  Unlike many sports, when her daughter is competing is ski races, she also is on skis and participating not watching passively on the sidelines.  She is doing her thing, which also takes the pressure off the skiers which was a healthy environment for kids sports.   Skiing is a lifetime sport with participants from 2-80+.  It doesn't matter if there is a speed differential as you all meet up at different points along the way.  Also when riding on the ski lift there is a confined time to connect with teens.  Mom Trends was a way to grow and learn about everything from travel to baby strollers at a time in her life when she was curious and looking for ideas.  It was never about parenting advice and she never made money off her kids.  The content continues to grow with her and ski articles still attract considerable traffic.  Ski Moms Fun both grew from a place of Nicole not seeing herself represented in the market and wanting to offer resources to other moms who were interested in skiing and looking for support An unexpected bright spot from the Ski Moms Fun was the community and peer connections that have developed to support other moms.  What brings everyone together is the love for the outdoors.  There are regularly examples of moms sharing ways to make skiing easier and more accessible to access.   Be curious about winter.  Finding an outdoor activity or sport that brings an appreciation for the change of seasons so when the season changes it's not the end of something, rather embrace the change with a sense of joy.     As referenced in the conversation there are ways to make skiing accessible such as participating in various state passes, rental sharing agreements.  Our family began skiing by volunteering to chaperone school ski trips and chaperones received a free lift ticket.  Nicole referenced the states with ski programs to encourage and make skiing accessible.   To Connect with or FollowName: Nicole FelicianoPodcast: Ski Moms FunWebsite: Momtrends.comWebsite: SkiMomFun.comInstagram: @skimomfunTwitter: @skimomfun A few resources: 10 States Where Kids Ski Free: https://www.momtrends.com/travel/10-states-where-kids-ski-free 10 things to get ready for Ski Season: https://www.momtrends.com/ski/ten-things-you-can-do-right-now-to-get-ready-for-ski-season

I heard an interview the other day with English writer Katherine May which introduced me to the term Wintering.   I drew this quote from the Book Reads description of her book  Wintering The power if rest and retreat.  “Ultimately Wintering invites us to change how we relate to our own fallow times. May models an active acceptance of sadness and finds nourishment in deep retreat, joy in the hushed beauty of winter, and encouragement in understanding life as cyclical, not linear” I'd like to share a recent wintering adventure story. …1:30 AM on our way to the airport. We have 9 bags of gear and ski equipment for the 5 of us. The 3 kids are bordering between comatose from little sleep and hyperactive about our upcoming ski trip and we end up in the ditch. It's silent. You can cut the tension. My husband immediately tries maneuvering out and potentially a few expletives leave his mouth as he runs back to the garage to get a chain and his truck. The immediate feeling is defeat. This might be one of the lessons of wintering. When forecast is actually right and 9” of snow show up at precisely the wrong time. While our nature is to power through and look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel what our body really needs is rest.  But wintering also suggests a bit of magic. There is a brightness the emerges when snow first covers the ground. A sparkle. Even fairytales use snow to demonstrate the magical nature of snow marking a transformation. And in this story the magic was all of us coming together to move all the bags to the truck and we left the van in the ditch and some how we made our flight with 30 minutes to spare. Despite losing an hour navigating the ditch, driving through snow, sleet, rain and dense fog to get there. Another magic moment was at the top of the mountain on the start of day 2 the sun was making the dusting of snow look like we were skiing on diamonds. All of my kids were skiing independently and quite honestly if I can brag on them with such technical skill that I stopped at the back of the pack and just took it all in. It had been 10 years of beginner hills and kids between my legs and now I was watching them and their form was so graceful, it was like I was watching them frost the mountain.  Rush to the finish line then collapse. Each day is filled with an insurmountable task list that yearns for our checkmark and then amidst the scurry we reach the finish line to the coveted vacation time to a time of rest only to be too exhausted for authentic connection or creative adventures.  It seems in my life I am feeling the case of extremes and the shifting tides and finding any sort of illusive balance falls away to the demands of life.  And the adventure is simply navigating life. Embark on 2022 It seems for me the accountability of a steady challenge has been the model that provides the greatest indicator of progress.  Purpose, passion and goals can easily lose their spark after 3 weeks. Heck sometimes after 48 hours.  Creating lifestyle challenges that help me progress towards a larger goal.   It's less about what I do for this challenge, but more about how I do it.  It's less about the process, because quite frankly process goals get really boring.   Here are 10 Challenges you might consider for 2022 Weekly 5K or other weekly challenge (52 Hikes)1000 hours outside 365 MilesCreate your Travel Goals: All 30 MLB, all 63 NP, Best Ice Cream in all 50 states, Rachel Richards 053? all the 14ers 100 hours unplugged 30 in 30 Daily adventure (2 hours outside per day) 21 adventures in 2021 12 ___ in 12 months Complete your age the month of your birthday (distance, consecutive days)  It could also be an adventure new experiences: Guest on 100 podcasts in 2021 As a fun parting gift from Ordinary Sherpa, I have been curious about turning our traditional Christmas Cards into a virtual escape room to make the experience a bit more interactive.  I'm sharing our Virtual Escape Room with you.   You can help the Dusek Family escape 2021 by helping them reach one final destination for the year and if you unlock all the clues you will get a Free Family Adventure Guide with 75 simple adventure ideas.  Link:  ordinarysherpa.com/escape

Join the Waitlist for In the Arena Mastermind or Adventure Tribe Community:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/arena Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/054 Buy me a Coffee: Enjoy the podcast without the ads and interruptions many podcasters use.  If you enjoy the ideas, find joy or inspiration from my work, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks and support the show. A Weekend of mini-adventures and spontaneous experiences Friday night lights: learned how to create google maps guide.  It was a quick and dirty experiment to convert several screenshots of addresses into saved spots that we could later drive to on our route to see the best Christmas lights.  We even managed to explore a new brown sign (for more information on brown signs listen to episode 041 | Adventure Potential of Brown Signs) which was hosting the Festival of Lights.  A donation based walk through Christmas lights experience…which also happened to be selling THE BEST caramel apple cider I have ever had in my life!   The whole experience reminded me of when the kids were little. I'd have everyone get their PJ's on, I'd give them their Golden Tickets and we'd ride the Polar Express.  We hadn't done this in a few years so it was a fun experience for my little monster and a bit of a nostalgic nod for my older 2.  I will say I really appreciate the old school approach to Christmas lights, while it's fun to have the kits all synchronized to music, the ones that actually string individual lights from the flag pole to make the Christmas tree and then synchronize each strand received much more of our respect than the LED images and designs. Overall I'm such a sucker for light shows so I probably rated it a little higher on the Joy Audit.  We think we may have even discovered where Clark Griswold lives.  The siding and the roof were solid with light strands, it was interesting.   The kids all had their piano recitals and since we were all dressed up, not in pajamas we grabbed a family picture.  When we got home at 8 PM we were still feeling pretty festive so we made a batch of Christmas cookies and watched a Trans Siberian Orchestra Concert on YouTube.  A spontaneous experience and it felt fun to stay up late and lounge together in our living room.  We seldom sit down as a family to watch movies so this felt special. Sunday we slept in and woke up to snow.  My oldest son carved a Cross Country Ski trail through the woods with the dog and our younger two played on the playground.  When they came in we had hot cocoa and I decided to pull out some yarn and make a stocking hat ornament with them that I had found and thought it would be fun.  While making the ornaments it started snowing again and I realized, while my kids played outside I stayed inside all day and I needed to get out of the cheap seats and into the arena.  We ended the weekend with the entire family putting on our snow gear and cross country skiing on a path in the woods.  I have been reading about the social and emotional benefits of fresh air so especially as the cold weather hits, we are trying to be more intentional about spending 2 hours outside everyday.  I'm noticing that it's already having a noticeable impact.   This leads me to the theme for this episode. Are you IN the arena?   One of the pivotal moments for me in my parenting and adventure journey was listening to Brene Brown on a podcast.  She shared her discovery of the Teddy Roosevelt The Man in the Arena quote and how it led to her writing Daring Greatly.  A little backdrop on the quote.  I have long been a fan of Teddy Roosevelt and this summer visited Teddy Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota which led to additional learning and curiosity. The Man in the Arena quote is from a speech that Teddy Roosevelt gave in Paris in 1910 called Citizenship in a Republic.  Roosevelt was addressing the roles of citizenship and called out the voices of cynicism dissuades many from doing great things  (Source: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63389/roosevelts-man-arena among others) The quote states: "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives val-e-antly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." I remember hearing this recited on the podcast as I drove home from work one day. I was living life on drift and thought “oh crap, I'm not in the arena.”  The truth was not many in my circle, my network had the same parenting adventure desires that I had.  Yet I listened to their worries, their concerns and need for safety and stability kept me in the cheap seats.  The cheap seats of the dreamers and the talkers.  The doers of deeds are in the arena getting dirty.   As I traversed down the trail of being a parent who is willing to adventure and take risks it often felt lonely, that the voices of the critics were loud.  When I set out on this podcast I had an intention to find others who were ahead of me on this trail.  Who were already in the arena or were willing to join me in the arena and share triumphs or failures while daring greatly.  I have participated in numerous parenting groups, I've joined masterminds and signed up for online courses, and while those were great in building a more diverse set of experiences and connections, by and large the adventure parenting arena still feels pretty lonely with quite a few eager but timid souls sitting in the seats waiting and watching.   There is a chapter in my upcoming book about building and creating an adventure tribe or a circle of trusted adventure advisors which was inspired by Pat Flynn and reinforced by John Lee Doumas if you are familiar with any of their work.  Pat suggests when he was launching his business that he needed a different trusted circle of advisors that were not merely friends, but rather skilled advisors he trusted much like his financial advisor, legal counsel who were vested in his personal and professional goals. People who could test him still came from a caring place and had his best interests in mind.  Who could connect with him in the pits when things weren't going well and share honest feedback not just try to make him feel good, but actually improve.  The advice I took from John Lee Doumas was to find a mentor who is one year ahead of where you want to be and invest in them, learn from them, do whatever you can to get access to their content.  Surround yourself with people who have more experience than you. I think it was Shane Sams who said, your goal is to be the dumbest person in the room and just soak up and learn from others, you want to be in the room where it happens (feel free to break out in Hamilton song if you haven't already)  When I encounter a problem is A) Find a solution B) Create a solution C) Let the problem go.  We have some pretty Brave and Bold adventure family goals that we are embarking on in 2022 that I am not willing to let go of.  I have yet to find a solution after several years of searching so I think that leads to answer B) Create a Solution. I have been searching for a community where I can learn from others on this adventure journey, who are in the arena.  Who don't merely talk about their goals and dreams but get marred with dust and blood taking action. They spend their time and energy on a worthy cause trying to design a life they want to live.  I have found a few families who do this well and I want to bring them to the community, to do deep dives and masterminds so we can interact and bring their experiences and lessons learned to the arena.  Where we don't merely have to sit in the cheap seats. A reference to my teaching in-service days, I'm not interested in offering “a sit n' get” experience, but rather get in the arena.  Try different suits of armor on, get dirty, fall down, go forward with great enthusiasm knowing that there are 20+ other adventurous parents in the arena with you.  I want to bring you the members of my trusted advisor circle who help me through mindset, and money, setting expectations, working through self-doubt and fear; while also helping you build yours in the process.  I want the arena to not only inspire and support you but also keep you accountable.   I have also heard from my everyday adventure challenge cohorts, the simplicity is great AND Several of them have big bold ideas that need more depth, more planning support, more insights and if they had someone to help them predict and navigate the Black Swan events they would gladly sign up for this experience.  Some examples of “in the Arena” experiences that I know people in the Ordinary Sherpa community are working towards:  Take a 6 week vacation in the summer Take a slow travel road trip in an RV around North America Hike the patagonia trail Take a mini-retirement or gap year  Take a luxury trip using only travel rewards Rent out their house and be location independent Write a book Launch a blog/podcast brand Live on a sailboat Start a homestead Attain dual-citizenship  All of these are worthwhile lifestyle experiences that can be achieved within the next 6-12 months.  I will admit while none of the adventure goals above are mine.  But we do have a bold family adventure goal for 2022.  The kind that has me both excited and scared at the same time.  Having a tribe of advisors and curious supporters willing to embark on a Bold and Brave in 2022 feels good. SO here is the official announcement of the In the Arena membership that will launch in January 2022.  I am keeping it a closed group with  about 20-30 people max in it and I know many don't listen to these podcasts the week they come out so I wanted to give you the time to think about it and consider applying.   If you are intrigued and simply want to be on the waitlist or know more details head over to ordinarysherpa.com/arena All that does is put your name on maybe/want more information list, when you sign up you will receive more information and a link to an application.  I will be scheduling a call with every applicant and treating this experience like an adventure lifestyle mastermind to help you achieve your lifestyle and adventure family goals in 2022.   I am kind of excited about the arena, but I also want to be really clear that it's not just about the service offering.  THe arean can exist wherever you want it to exist and sometimes it really is the simple things like I experienced this weekend.  SItting in the house watching my kids play outside.  Outside and play are critical to every human being, not just kids.  I want you to notice, where are you sitting in the cheap seats and when are you in the arena getting dirty.  Because regardless if the result is victory or failure, at least you are taking a step towards action.   Key Takeaways Brown Signs are not merely locations for 3-seasons, explore what simple opportunities might exist at nearby brown signs regardless of the temperatures outside.   Life is a sequence of unpredictable events that can either become moments that pass us by or experiences to take hold of. Are you more likely to sit in the cheap seats watching others enjoy the adventure or are you willing to get in the arena and do the thing? What feels bold and brave for you in 2022?  Was your adventure goal listed?  There are many in the Ordinary Sherpa community embarking on new and uncomfortable adventures. Finding an adventure advisor circle or tribe who can inspire and challenge you to work towards your adventure family goals are hard to find.  Friends and family might not be the right members for those seats.   Who is one-year ahead of you on the journey.  There is no reason to start from scratch or create something new.  Identifying those you admire or who you think are living the lifestyle you want to live is step one, building a relationship with them is step two.   Embarking on a bold and brave adventure goal can feel lonely and include many simultaneous feelings.  If you want to join a community of other adventure families designing and achieving adventure and lifestyle goals you might want to join the list and stay in the loop on the In the Arena Mastermind and Adventure Tribe experience.  To join the waiting list and get additional information head to Ordinarysherpa.com/arena.   Notice everyday…are you in the arena or cheap seats?  Natural sunlight, fresh air and outdoor play has dramatic effects on every human beings well-being.  Adventure and outdoor play isn't just for kids.  I hope to see a 7 YO version of you adventuring this week.  (Tag @ordinarysherpa on Instagram if you do!) May this episode inspire you to take a step in the arena and know what matters is not the outcome, but that you are IN the ARENA. Until next time we are over here rooting you on.  I can't wait to see and hear what little adventures you are doing, and what bold and brave experiences you are designing for 2022.  Keep that adventurous and festive spirit :)Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Leave a Written Review: Ordinarysherpa.com/reviewFollow on Instagram: @ordinarysherpa

I did a thing this week, I sent my book to the editor.   In some ways it feels like a major step on a new and uncomfortable experience. Writing a book has been on the long life list of things I wanted to do someday. I know this isn't the summit. The manuscript will come back in a couple weeks marked and dismantled, but I am excited for that. It means someone else is going to see something I spent 3 months writing and another month editing. It's out of my hands and further down the path. I strongly encourage taking a look at your someday-maybe list. With the thanksgiving holiday coming up it might be a great time to sit down with family and review/revisit/create that someday-maybe list. I love talking about the someday-maybe list, the dream list (maybe you have another name for it), but taking the steps to do the thing is a different kind of experience. I highly recommend it! I'm definitely at a checkpoint and ready for a snack still a ways off from the summit. What is something on your someday-maybe list that you would like to take action on? Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/052Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Earlier this year I participated in a Book-writing Mastermind call that Rachel Richards led. She was one of few who inspired me to write a book.  Her authentic and audacious voice in the financial space made the content fun, simple and welcome change from the stuffy and dry tone more common in the space.  At the age of 27, Rachel quit her job and retired, living off over $15,000 per month in passive income. Rachel has made a name for herself in the personal finance realm as the bestselling author of Money Honey and Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement. The reason I invited Rachel on Ordinary Sherpa was watching her navigate a season of location independent lifestyle with her husband and dog.  She set out for months  living vivaciously in AirBnbs, making a second side following as a hiking influencer exploring the peaks and valleys of the western United States. Key Takeaways Never underestimate the parenting benefits of having a strong-willed child.  Look at Rachel as an example of what is possible Times have changed but the way we look at retirement hasn't.  Rachel made space to change the narrative and offer insight into what retirement could look like for a millennial.   How many sources of income do you have?  We are taught that having a salaried full-time position equates to job security and income security. Rachel disagrees with that approach because you're completely dependent on a single source of income.  Much like we are advised to diversify our investment portfolio, Rachel also highlights the value of diversifying your income.  She shared at least 5 different sources of income she has and how that has shifted over the past few years. Passive Income is not a get rich quick scheme.  It's front loading the work so later we do not have to trade time for dollars.  In addition to her book: Passive Income Aggressive Retirement, she also offered all of my listeners a free bonus.  Passive Income starter kit available at moneyhoneyrachel.com/bonus Spending 6m exploring the western United States had highlights and shadows.  While it was an amazing experience overall, the stress, cancellations and maintenance issues they had to work through with various Airbnb and VRBO rentals was extremely taxing.  Rachel indicated she is seeing a shift back to hotels for this reason.   When spending 6m traveling around the country you also don't have a social life where you can go meet up with friends in the evenings. It was her and her husband together 24/7 for six months straight. So you gotta make sure you really do like your person that you're with. Traveling is hard on dogs.  While her dog Chloe adjusted after a couple months, having things like gates, lots of chew toys, and leaving them with some of their shirts helped ease the initial anxiety. As referenced, episode 036 | Traveling with Pets that might also be helpful resource  While the initial plan was to hike in many of the national parks, they realized that wasn't feasible due to the restriction with dogs on hikes.  Since they had no interest in boarding their dog, they readjusted their overall travel plans and still made a few day hikes to a couple national parks.   Maybe it was David Goggins book Can't Hurt Me that sparked her interest to inflict pain and set out to tackle all the 14ers in Colorado.  She summited her first 14er in March completing Quandary and would not recommend doing in winter.  To prepare she referenced the website 14ers.com and many forums and Facebook groups, but really it's about doing steep elevation hikes. “Well, it's one of those things where you don't grow unless you force yourself to be uncomfortable, whether it's physical or emotional or whatever, but I think it just comes back to that.” To Connect or Follow Rachel Richards:Website:moneyhoneyrachel.comInstagram: @moneyhoneyrachel Tik Tok: @moneyhoneyrachel Books: Money Honey; Passive Income Aggressive Retirement

One year ago I put out a trailer into the world with no idea what I was doing.  But I was excited.  Each step in this journey has been a daring adventure.  I want to use this episode to give you some of the behind the scenes at Ordinary Sherpa over the past year and also answer some of your questions.    “In the end, maybe it's wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.” -Elizabeth Gilbert Episode 50.  I missed 2 weeks of publishing.  I did not have any specific goals.  Instead I approached all the metrics and outputs purely from a curiosity lens. How long until I had my first episode with 100 downloads? How long would it take to have 100 people in my Facebook Group?  How long until I had 100 followers on Instagram?  How long until I had 100 email subscribers? How long would it take to make $100?  How long would it take to have Ordinary Sherpa downloaded in all 50 states?  How long until Ordinary Sherpa ranked in the top 200?  How long until I received 100 written reviews?   I also wanted to use this episode to dig deeper into the Sherpa philosophy.  I wanted this community to support other families on their adventures the way the Sherpa tribe supports Climbers on Everest.  A sherpa is often known as a guide.  Someone perhaps a few steps ahead of you on the trail.  They might not be the best of the best or the expert.  With that mindset I thought episode 50 was a great way to highlight Ask a Sherpa and highlight some of the questions raised and support offered through the community. What is your funniest travel story?      Do the kids like the RV or home better?   Do you ever get in touch with the state and local tourism boards and chamber of Commerce when planning a trip?  They sometimes speak of the off the beaten path adventures Is Instagram's power to introduce us to hidden gems good or bad?  How do you find balance between going to the top spot and dealing with crowds, or going to a less beautiful spot that is less crowded?   What podcasts inspired you?     What are some of your favorite camping recipes?  When are you launching your book?   What is next for Ordinary Sherpa? Worth noting, I have found that I really enjoy podcasting and having conversation without all the ads and interruptions many podcasters use.  If you enjoy the ideas, find joy or inspiration from my work, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks and support the show.  If you want to go deeper with the content and/or get more engaged you can find additional ways to support the show through the links below.   Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/050Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa

Hello to Iceland and Denmark.  Ordinary Sherpa ranked in the top 200 in both countries.  Which is fun, because I have not been to Iceland, but glad to know that my podcast has. Maybe we can do a virtual meet-up and share a cup of coffee. I want to thank those who bought me coffee, who left written reviews, and took action to do something adventurous this week.    Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/   The challenge last week in the everyday adventure challenge was Impossible.  What adventure is something that inspires you but feels impossible and we took various approaches to break that down into possibility.  Ironically Thru-Hiking the Appalachian trail is one of the things that seemed impossible to me.  I have researched the idea of hiking it.  Just to give some context for today's episode here are some facts about the AT with a link to the source cited below.  The Appalachian trail is 2,200 miles, crosses 14 states and is the equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest 16 times.  The trail was created in 1937 but has been rebuilt over 90 times thanks to a crew of 241,936 volunteers in a given year.  On average hikers need to consume 5500 calories per day and most consume a ½ gallon of ice cream at the halfway point and typically go through 4-5 pairs of shoes.   Sometimes there are stories of families doing amazing things that virtually stop you in your tracks.  As I scrolled Instagram one day this summer I came across a family thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail.  I've had several friends who have hiked the AT, PCT, and Continental Divide.  I knew the amount of planning, grit and persistence required to make an adventure such as this come to life.  However I had never seen a 4 YO complete such a task.  Harvey Sutton is the youngest person to walk the 2,193.1 mile trail North from Georgia to Maine.  As many of my listeners have heard, I love to challenge the status quo and didn't want to accept that my adventures needed to end when I became a mom.  The Sutton family immediately became a story of inspiration for me, regardless of the outcome.  I wanted to cheer them on and support them however I could. So today I am here with Harvey's parents, Josh & Cassie Sutton to share their story of one amazing and inspiring adventure.  Giving them a new definition of success spending 7 months in the wilderness, appreciating their time together reaching an incredible summit.  Josh & Cassie I am so honored to have you, Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.   Key Takeaways:   Josh Sutton swore he'd never hike the Appalachian trail after a long backpacking trip as a kid.  Adventure is not a “born with it trait.” While some people might be naturally more drawn to adventure it is usually because of an event or experience that nurtures that desire.  Both Cassie & Josh had parents with health issues who were not able to live the life they imagined.  When living the rat race of adult life, they read 4-hour work week by Tim Ferris which inspired the concept of mini-retirements. While the Everest Base Camp was a spontaneous trip, the Appalachian Trail was a 5 year planning process they worked toward.  The strategy they cited was “you make your mind up that you are going to do something is step 1.”   It's interesting how people told them to cherish this time with their son, and yet when they shared how they were going to do that people balked at the idea.  You do not need to ask permission to adventure with your family.  This is your time, these are your memories, choose the path that you want to look back on without regret.   Physically they started training with Harvey around age 2 simply taking walks in the park and not carrying him. Slowly they built the habit of hiking 8-10 milers.  If there is a big adventure on your list, with training and the right mindset, it is achievable.   Fears and dangers can be overcome with some practice.  The Sutton family met with Harvey's pediatrician to discuss a nutrition plan, they practiced a 50 mile hike the summer before and practiced overnights in cold weather.  They also planned their route early in the year so they would be past the poisonous snakes by spring.   There will be challenges.  Both Josh & Cassie shared summit experiences after hard days that made them feel strong.  While halfway might seem like halfway done, there is still an equal amount yet to complete.  Keeping the focus on Harvey by playing games, telling stories and making sure he was enjoying the hike helped alleviate the struggles that other hikers faced.  There is no need to compare yourself to others.  As Josh indicated he thought they were going slow as many hikers passed them early on the trail. However when climbing the whites, he and Harvey were a full 30 minutes ahead of Cassie's fit brother.  Doing the pace that feels right for you and your family then look back and appreciate all that you have accomplished.   Coming off the trail has been an adjustment.  They are working hard to incorporate the aspects of the trail into their life that they like about being on trail.  SHared experiences create deeper connections.  The camaraderie on the trail is definitely hard to replicate.  If I'm being honest, the camaraderie and generosity of other adventurers is usually what pulls me back time and time again.  How might Ordinary Sherpa help support the adventure community building and sustainable camaraderie?   Leaving work is scary.  It's still scary as they think about future adventures.  They put the necessary things into place to save money and generate additional income where they could, including some real estate rentals, Airbnb their house but also some DIY work.  Being proactive helped them put the necessary resources in place.  To Connect with or follow Josh & Cassie Sutton Instagram: @LiveSutton  https://www.instagram.com/livesutton/ YouTube: @LiveSutton https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUAfUef5Cy3n4ujPE5JDQ1w Resources Cited in this episode:  https://www.rei.com/blog/hike/21-appalachian-trail-statistics-that-will-surprise-entertain-and-inform-you Worth noting, I have found that I really enjoy podcasting and having conversation without all the ads and interruptions many podcasters use.  If you enjoy the ideas, find joy or inspiration from my work, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks and support the show.  If you want to go deeper with the content and/or get more engaged you can find additional ways to support the show through the links below.   Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/049 Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa

047 | Opportunities from Adventure  with Mason Gravley   Our theme this week is the doors that open because of adventure.  THIS. (Soapbox warning) this is the reason we need to stop treating adventure like a destination we visit 2 weeks out of the year, and more about a part of the overall journey.  I have lots of thoughts on this and hope this podcast helps you see the value proposition of adventure beyond what I should do on vacation.  When I started this podcast almost a year ago, I had hoped it would connect me with other adventurous souls and inspire other families to see what was possible.  I had no idea that it would propel me into writing a book and creating a community around it.  That it would lead me to meet some of my ordinary heroes in the adventure world.  I just wanted to have interesting conversations and enjoy life.  We can only plan so much, the other part of the journey we need to be willing to show up and seek the next steps as we'll talk about with our guest today.  The ask doesn't need to be big, as I will demonstrate shortly.   Review from Dani512 "Thank you for the ideas, inspiration and laughter. I am not a person who normally leaves reviews; in fact this is my first review of a podcast. Heidi's clear ask for her listeners to support her by leaving a review inspired this write up. I found Ordinary Sherpa through ChooseFI and have been a listener for a couple of months. The timing couldn't be more perfect - my family is at the start of the biggest adventure of our lives! I just separated from my full time job and started homeschooling my daughter, while traveling in a travel trailer around the country for weeks at a time. Heidi's podcasts - both her personal insights and the guests that she hosts - have given me ideas and courage through this transition. I now notice brown signs everywhere on our journey! And the conversation with Jillian Johnsrud had me laughing out loud.  Thank you for the content that you produce, Heidi! And may be one of these days, I'll buy you a cup of coffee :)" Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Worth noting, I have found that I really enjoy podcasting and having conversation without all the ads and interruptions many podcasters use.  If you enjoy the ideas, find joy or inspiration from my work, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks and support the show.  If you want to go deeper with the content and/or get more engaged you can find additional ways to support the show through the links below.   Website for this episode https://ordinarysherpa.com/047 Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa I  began listening to podcasts in 2018 and our guest today was one of the first I came across in my search for “adventure.” His guests tell amazing stories of epic adventures from climbing all the 14ers, to kayaking the inside passage, many thru-hikes, mountaineering and around the world travels.  While I participate in some level of adventure sports I wouldn't call myself an epic adventurer like those I heard from on this podcast.   Earlier this summer I sent him a message to share how grateful I was for his podcast and the inspiration he has offered me through the years.  I shared a screenshot of a written review I left for his podcast, with the simple statement that if he ever wanted an ordinary person creating a life of adventure with kids I'd happily volunteer to be a guest on his podcast, and invited him to be a guest on Ordinary Sherpa.  Long story short, I think Mason is now my friend.  As you will soon hear, his ordinary life turned adventurous is marked by the thread of curiosity, and exploring what is possible.  He's completed several cross country bike trips to raise money for different organizations, hosts the Adventure Sports podcast and Without Compromise podcast of Athletic Brewing, heck even his wedding seemed adventurous.  He recently welcomed his second child and is excited to add adventure dad to his title.  Mason Gravley welcome to Ordinary Sherpa! Key Takeaways After years of hunting and fishing and not getting much, he finally gave up the gun and rods to just enjoy the outdoors.  We don't always need a goal or a reason for getting outside.  The act is worthy regardless of the outcome. Exploring is what drew Mason into this adventurous lifestyle and conversation with his friend in response to “we gotta do something.” What could we do?  What could you do?  Give it a 20% chance and see what you come up with. Let's reward generosity. Mason was gifted a bike from a local bike shop after sharing his crazy plans which really propelled his bike adventure from Alaska to Florida into high gear.   If you are in or near Highland City, Florida please stop by Road & Trail Cycles and thank Jason Brown.  Tell him you heard about his random act of generosity on the Ordinary Sherpa podcast and his gift of bikes to Mason and Paul!  How can you be generous to others in adventure? I continue to be amazed by the generosity of the adventure community.  Let's make generosity contagious.   The gift of fear allows us to open doors we didn't know were closed.  After completing a 5000 mi bike ride in 66 days from Alaska to Florida, Mason realized what was possible.   Sometimes the plan is wrong.  While Mason planned a career as a biologist at Yosemite, it didn't fit.  He found other ways to design a life that fit his adventurous lifestyle.   You have not because you ask not.  The easy part is the ask, the harder thing is sticking with it.  The early wins in his podcast led to big wins.  I like the saying small hinges open big doors.  Asking is a small hinge. Look at the world like a big amazing opportunity, things are bound to happen.  Each thing could lead to something big or simply be an experiment.  We don't need to weigh down decisions with expectations.  Allow yourself to try it, or maybe convince yourself that a no thank you taste is in order.     I hope this episode inspires you to see the doors opening because of adventure.  Maybe they aren't new jobs or massive income, but stabilizing your health and well-being, maybe it's social connection, maybe it's personal growth.  If you want to hear more about my story being a guest on the adventure sports podcast, check out episode 764: Heidi Dusek, How to Keep Adventuring with Kids (or any other major responsibility).     If you are looking for ideas of how to have adventure become a part of your everyday journey, consider subscribing to the Ordinary Sherpa Daily Adventurer subscription.  You can find it at Ordinarysherpa.com/dailyadv To connect or Follow Mason's content: Podcast: Adventure Sports podcastPodcast: Without Compromise by Athletic Brewing Instagram: masongravley @alive_adventures  email:mason@adventuresportspodcast.com or masong@athelticbrewing.com

After a summer of adventure with 27 non-adventure days the return to routine was needed but also a bit stifling so we have spent the last few weekends adventuring and unplugged.  I am in the midst of finishing the book I am writing and need less distractions.  I went into airplane mode only using my phone for photos on the weekends and taking a social media and podcast pause.  Ironically it just so happened that Facebook, Instagram and WhatApp also took a pause during that time I hear.  Having the time and space has helped me also prepare several other developments such as …. LAUNCHING TODAY the Daily Adventure subscription. Have an adventure idea delivered to your inbox each day.  Join anytime for $7/month.  You can pick and choose which adventures to keep and try.  To join head to ordinarysherpa.com/dailyadv    We are approaching our 1-year anniversary with several developments emerging.  A goal of Ordinary Sherpa is to reach 100 Written Reviews by November 11, 2021.  Thank you to Rachel Q West who is getting us one step closer with her review this week.   Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Finally, we will be launching a Paid Adventure Community in the coming months.  If you are curious and want to know more about it, I encourage you to join our email list. The email list is where all of the announcements and updates are shared first.  Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ to get the latest developments so you don't miss it. Worth noting, I have found that I really enjoy podcasting and having conversation without all the ads and interruptions many podcasters use.  If you enjoy the ideas, find joy or inspiration from my work, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks and support the show.  If you want to go deeper with the content and/or get more engaged you can find additional ways to support the show through the links below.   Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/046Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa The theme for today's episode is a blend between making decisions and getting on the same page with your partner.  Joining me today is the honorable Brent Dusek. He gave me the last name Dusek and fun fact we are also celebrating our lucky 13th anniversary this week.  I don't know if he understood all that came with the words “I do” when he agreed to be my adventure partner for life.  He is known in our house as husband, dad, Mr. Fix it, and Help with all the things life throws at us. He always seems to find a way to execute project plans and turn dreams into reality.  The majority of our community knows him as Mr. Dusek, a tech ed teacher with over 20 years in Middle and High school leading project-based trades and skill based learning experiences, in addition to all of the other duties as assigned.    Key Takeaways Take 24 hours to think through any crazy idea.  Giving yourself the time to think can avoid major emotional decisions and give the other person time to explore and wrap their head around the idea. Level set expectations with each new experience.  Skiing with kids, the expectation was to complete at least 2 runs (depending on weather) before taking a break.   No decision is ever final.  With experience comes growth and decisions evolve and change. Having each person responsible for certain aspects of a decision helps to move ideas forward.  Rely on each person's strengths and abilities.  It's okay to build in responsibilities for the kids too. What really matters?  Does it really matter how the car is packed?  Sometimes done is better than perfect.   Have fun in the process.  Laugh about your mistakes and enjoy all the crazy moments, there will be too many to stay serious. There is no reason to wait for the right time.  People discouraged us from skiing and traveling with kids because they were too young, today our kids are stellar skiers and we are able to notch up the adventure and enjoy time skiing together as a family.  There is no such thing as the right time. There is a huge benefit to having other people take an interest in your desired outcomes.  Who inspires and mentors your kids? Who else can reinforce principles that you might be thinking about with your partner?  I always try to look for the helpers, listen and learn from those who actually have more experience than we do. We gravitate towards those individuals in designing our adventure tribe and trusted advisor circle.   What is your splurge agreement?  Having a risk-tolerance threshold or process helps eliminate surprises that might upset your partner.  The majority of disagreements in relationships stem from disagreements or stress over money.  

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/044Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Generosity can be giving our time, talents or money to help someone else without expecting anything in return.  Science has shown (Harvard Study) that individuals that volunteer live longer happier lives.   Everyday Lifestyle we can practice in our own back yard by: doing a roadside clean up, being neighborly by waving, simple random acts of kindness.  Last year we made “Boo Bags” as a way to reverse trick or treating (similar to May Day Baskets).  We have also celebrated birthdays by donating to a cause that could benefit more than our kids with more stuff.   Generosity while adventuring looks like using our talents to show appreciation (picture or letter to flight attendants).  Approach travel experiences from a place of gratitude and curiosity.  How can I make someones day a little better.  The coffee shop story in Hawaii led to deeper connection to locals.   Receivership: Accepting generosity from someone else.  When we downplay that or decline someone else's generosity, we take away the opportunity for them to give.  While we might think we are doing it from a place of humility, it could also be selfish.  Adventure is embracing the uncomfortable Being generous does not mean giving things away for free or giving away millions of dollars.  Keep in mind the boundaries you set for yourself.  There is no right or wrong way to give.  Be Authentic and don't expect anything in return are my key guideposts.  Being generous is not only for strangers, but can also be practiced with our kids, our spouse and ourselves.   Part of my mission with untourism is to benefit local communities and create deeper connections.  I do anticipate a bigger shift towards socially conscious travel and moving away from big tourism brands.  Key Takeaways1.Generosity is to give our time, talents or money to help someone else or to solve a problem.  2. Receivership is accepting another's generosity3. Be Nice.  How can you make someone's day just a little better?  4. If you would like to be generous to Ordinary Sherpa you can share an episode with a friend, Leave a written review  or Buy me a coffee:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ordsherpa to help me create more content.  Coffee is one of my favorites and I would always welcome meeting up with friends and listeners over a cup of coffee.  I'll schedule a virtual coffee meet up for anyone who purchases

We are embracing this season of transition with simple adventures.  Between the soccer games and school adventures are less like the travel and mountain biking experiences this summer and more like simple things in our backyard.  I really enjoyed the meet up this weekend of the Everyday Adventure Challenge members where we discussed novel and simple concerts to experience adventure at all different ages and in many different locations around the world.  In our family that simple adventure was playing a game, or an at-home escape room.  (More ideas around this in episode 034| Games of Adventure (https://ordinarysherpa.com/034/) .  The game we played was Finders Seekers (ordinarysherpa.com/finders) and the kids (ages 11, 9, and 6) were really engaged in not only learning about the national parks, and begging for the cool posters to be hung in their room, but also genuinely interested in finding the clues and solving the mystery.  They were disappointed when we solved it because they didn't want it to be over, so we will be purchasing more and experiencing some amazing wonders of the world while doing these unique escape rooms from the comfort of our home.   *Purchase the Finder Seekers at Home Escape room:ordinarysherpa.com/findersWebsite for this episodehttps://ordinarysherpa.com/043/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ I never wanted to have to choose between being a mom, my professional career or adventurous lifestyle...so I didn't.  I wish I had been exposed to individuals like my guest today earlier in life.   Finding her was like a breath of fresh air. Adventurous Moms can be successful entrepreneurs and financially independent.  I think one of my first interactions with her content helped me redefine what the benchmarks of success were for our family, and embrace the fact that our family was different in all the right ways. That being weird and having adventures was part of our superpowers, and many others simply hadn't been exposed to the possibility of what was possible yet.   Jillian Johnsrud  became financially independent at 32 years old, then turned her personal and professional experience towards a creative life. She is a popular public speaker, teaches online classes, coach, and writer. Her book Fire the Haters: Finding the Courage to Create Online in a Critical World helps creatives and entrepreneurs share their best work with the world. She hosts the Everyday Courage Podcast. Her husband and she live in Montana, near Glacier National Park, with their 5 kids. She's an avid traveler and drinker of hot tea.  Key Takeaways1. Many mid-life crises happen because we take someone else's definition of success.  There comes a point when we look back we realize we gave up so much to achieve something that wasn't important to us.   A mini-retirement is anytime you take 30 days or more away from a 9-5 to focus on something meaningful to you.  The time and type of mini-retirement is dependent on what you pick as your intention. There are seasons of our life that have expiration dates.  A 10-week camping experience in a pop-up camper is not something she would be able to convince her 21-year-old son to sign up for.  Recognize when the season is closing and embrace the opportunity.   Getting comfortable with discomfort is part of embracing an adventurous lifestyle.  Expect things to go wrong.  The beauty is many of the things that go wrong are also things we remember and laugh about later. Confidence and clarity are earned through doing.  No one starts something as an expert, you have to do the thing and build the skill. Do a practice run.  If you want to travel for 12 weeks, start with 1 day from 7 AM to 7 PM being gone.  You will get better at organizing the chaos and the logistics of inconvenience.   We get into something because we have good taste, but our skills don't match our taste.  The only way to get there is to keep building the skill. We have a unique vision that was given just to us.  Others might not share in your vision.   Recognize others didn't opt into the changes we decide to make.  There can be all kinds of insecurities that look like them being unsupportive.  Release them from understanding rather than trying to sell them on your ideas.   Buy the book, subscribe to the podcast or take her free mini-retirement course to consider the courage for big life adventures.   To connect with Jillian:Website: https://www.jillianjohnsrud.com/ Order the book: Fire the Haters https://www.jillianjohnsrud.com/book/  Listen to the Podcast: Everyday Courage https://www.jillianjohnsrud.com/everyday-courage/  Mini-retirement mini-course: https://www.jillianjohnsrud.com/mini/ Instagram: @JillianJohnsrud *Note some links listed are affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase using this link I might make a little money in return.  It costs you nothing more but helps support the work of Ordinary Sherpa.  

Before kids, Heidi was traveling around the world, loved the outdoors and epic adventures. Once she became a mom she felt like she had to let go of a lot of that. Determined by knowing how great the world of adventure is, Heidi has dedicated her time and energy to continue her life of travel and adventure with her family. Today she and her husband live in Wisconsin with their three children and a dog.  They travel frequently, spend a significant amount of time outdoors, while both working full-time and remodeling their third-generation farm house. She is the founder and host of Ordinary Sherpa podcast designed to inspire families to connect through simple and authentic adventure experiences.   Find out more about Heidi below:Website: ordinarysherpa.comInstagram: @ordinarysherpaPrivate FB Group: facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpaEmail List: ordinarysherpa.com/subscribeSupport Adventure Sports Podcast monthly by going to Patreon.com/AdventureSportsPodcast or make a one-time donation to the show here. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/adventure-sports-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this week's episode, Brad and Jonathan discuss the benefits of slightly diverting from the FI mindset and spending more on meaningful purchases. While splurging can be a slippery slope, calculated splurging can yield large returns in terms of enjoyment, opportunity, and time! Resources Mentioned In Today's Conversation PaperKarma Opt Out Prescreen FI Weekly: May 11,2021 ChooseFI Episode 076: Planned Spontaneity with Mrs. Adventure Rich ChooseFI Episode 048: The Happy Philosopher | The Happiest Man in the Room ChooseFI Episode 337: Ordinary Sherpa with Heidi Dusek Find Your Local ChooseFI Group! Follow Brad on Twitter! Follow ChooseFI on Twitter! TurboTax TaxCaster SmartAsset Want to start your own journey to Financial Independence? Sign up for the free 5-Day FI Challenge here!

We have talked about brown signs in Episode 013 | Untourism. How to Travel like a Local which focuses on a way to travel differently.  It is a form of authentic adventures where our intent is to design an experience based on local insights (rather than from the tourism industry)  and 028B | 15 Mini Adventures your Family can do this Weekend are ways to experience simple adventures in your own community.   If you want to practice simple ways to experience adventure and get a little uncomfortable you might want to join the 60-day Everyday Adventure Challenge.  Registration closes September 4, 2021. ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT To register ordinarysherpa.com/challenge Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/041 Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ What do brown signs indicate? A tourist sign, often referred to as a brown sign, is a traffic sign whose purpose is to direct visitors to tourist destinations, such as historic buildings, tourist regions, caravan or camp sites, picnic areas, sporting facilities or museums. I found “brown signs” many years ago on long car rides in the passenger seat.  I became curious and began exploring this more deeply.  As we planned travels or looked for everyday opportunities in our own backyard I began looking at the brown signs.  The exposure revealed an entire world of unconscious opportunities.  In the mid-1970s tourist signs were introduced in France.Since that time the idea of directing tourists to sights and attractions using a uniform type of signage has spread around the world.  Part of my mission with untourism is revealing opportunities that are unconscious to us and designing our own experience rather than being sold what the tourism industry wants us to believe.   Example of the potential of one County in Iowa 12,000 Acres 22 Parks 32 Athletic Fields 300 Special Events (Runs, Rides, Fairs, public picnics, concerts, derbies, recreation events like orienteering, regattas, markets, Horse rides, performances, swap meets and car shows, Food Truck events, exercise classes, sports tournaments, etc.)  Endless miles of trails 1 Conservatory 1 Public Campground 46 Campsites 4 Scout/Youth Camping Areas 2 Dog Parks ​with reciprocal access to 3 additional dog parks  2 Arboretums  2 parks for Off-road cycling  1 Beach for Swimming 4 Canoe and Kayak launches  1 Fish hatchery  1 Model airplane flying field  5 parks with Pickleball courts  4 parks with Tennis courts  6 parks with Designated Sledding Hills  2 parks with Downhill Skiing  Endless Fishing 3 parks with Groomed Cross Country Ski Trails 2 Disc Golf Courses  3 parks with Golf Courses 5 Courses 81 total Holes ​3 Ice Skating Rinks  1 Working/Educational Farm  1 Bird Sanctuary  There is a huge untapped potential to begin an everyday adventure in a local tourist attraction that you did not even know existed.  I think many of us know about National Parks and Monuments, followed by State parks and there are resources curated to help you navigate the opportunities.  I am deeply interested in creating a more comprehensive solution for finding and crowdsourcing experiences.  I just haven't figured it out so if that is something you would be interested in helping Ordinary Sherpa develop DM or send me an email to connect and discuss further.   Key Takeaways1. Do not underestimate the opportunity of a brown sign.2. One county park in Iowa had over 25 adventures embedded in one location.  How many counties are across the state? country?  That is a lot of adventure potential3. When you see a brown sign take note and get curious.  4. Beyond state and national parks, I have not found a great source for finding the hidden gems of brown sings..  If that is something you would  be interested in helping with reach out to Heidi @Ordinary Sherpa  (DM or email)5. Have a favorite brown sign?  Jump into the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group and add to the thread.  This community is designed to crowdsource what you value. 

The concept of “exposure therapy” can help expose you to blind spots of what is possible.  Sometimes that means practicing being uncomfortable.  Two examples this week were having her kids run in the rain, and getting out of the comfortable passenger seat and be a little uncomfortable in the driver seat of the 30+ foot RV.  If you want to practice simple ways to experience adventure and get a little uncomfortable you might want to join the 60-day Everyday Adventure Challenge.  Registration closes September 4, 2021.  To register go to ordinarysherpa.com/challenge Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/040Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/   I was first exposed to my guest today through his brother Brad Barrett on the Choose FI podcast, where he spoke about the adventure of teaching abroad.  It sparked my curiosity. As a former teacher and student who studied abroad in high school, I never considered teaching abroad as an option.  That episode also introduced me to the concept of geo-arbitrage.  Scott Barrett taught for 10 years in the United States before moving to Chile to teach internationally and later took a year-long sabbatical at the end of the 2018-2019 school year, unfortunately ended a bit early due to covid. When I learned he was living in Madison, WI I had hoped we would be able to meet-up, however he is currently in his final year of teaching as he will retire in June at the age of 40 and be moving back out east. Scott intends to start a financial coaching business, volunteer and add on to the 50+ countries he has previously traveled to.  Scott Barrett, it is such an honor to have you as a guest today, Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.   Key Takeaways Exposure to something that isn't “normal” can open up so many opportunities. Scott's simple curiosity led him to learn about and challenge assumptions related to international teaching.   Most international teaching schools are taught in English and based on a western style of education. Speaking another language is not required but an added benefit you bring to the experience. Resources like International School Services and Search Associates have websites and job fairs to help explore International Teaching opportunities.   A sabbatical is an intentional time away from work.  Scott and his wife decided to say yes to a year of travel rather than falling victim to the one more year syndrome.  They created a basic skeleton of a plan and filled in the details as they went.   They optimized their resources by establishing bookmarks where they had friends and contacts.  Then they purchased the big flights mostly with travel rewards they stockpiled the year prior (using flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards, and co-branded travel currencies through British Airways, United Airlines and Hilton.   In addition to hotels and long term Airbnb rentals they utilized Trusted House Sitters to give a local experience and create more of a homey experience after significant time on the go.   Things that don't always go according to plan sometimes make the best memories.  Keeping the mindset “we are intelligent people, we will figure this out” and not being afraid to ask for help through local expat groups or Choose FI local groups were great resources. Shared experiences don't require everyone to speak the same language.  A smile is universal sign language.   People are genuinely helpful.  Travel has renewed their faith in humanity. Exposure to something different allows you to see what is possible and also helps you appreciate what is familiar.  After many years away, coming home is a welcome feeling.   To connect with Scott:Instagram: internationalteacherslife Website:  www.mindfulmoneymentor.com Facebook: @ScottBarrett

038 | Making Space with Jennifer Bried Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/038 Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ We just wrapped up our Sumer Everyday Adventure Challenge and today we open registration for the Fall Everyday Adventure Challenge.  The challenge is designed to inspire and support families to connect through simple adventures.  The Challenge runs from September 5-November 5th and each week I give you tips, ideas and support to help adventure show up in your life.  While the ideas are great, this challenge also has built in accountability with check-ins from me and virtual meet ups with all challenge participants.  It's a really tangible way to have a little more adventure and fun family time especially as the fall usually means back busy for so many families.  You can register by visiting:  http://ordinarysherpa.com/challenge I first met our guest today in the middle of a frazzled leadership moment when I was trying to figure out how to keep track of all the stuff coming at me.  I participated in a training she led, and while the framework and content were game-changers for me, her thoughtful, playful and caring demeanor literally had me say out loud, “can I be your friend?” Jennifer has spent 15 years in the space of organizing, time management, productivity- working with people to maximize time and soak up more of what matters most to them. Jennifer gets her fuel from the outdoors, sweating it out in a hot vinyasa class, snowboarding and most of all, those weekends with no plans at all- hanging at home with her husband and two wild boys. Jennifer Bried, it is such an honor to have you as a guest and share your superpowers with all of my listeners, Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.   Key Takeaways:  What are we saying yes to?  If the ROI of that yes is fueling me with joy, memories and connection- go all in.  But if it's not...time to rethink why you are saying yes to giving your time to something you don't believe in.   White space is where the magic happens.  That's when we can show up and be in it and as amazing as that sounds it can be really uncomfortable too.  Jennifer's story of doing work at her in-laws and having her boys be a part of a big project was powerful.  However, if she had plans that day she would have been an interstate of anxiety and need to do the next scheduled thing.  Give your self permission to keep some unscheduled time in your calendar for both you and the kids.   Get the surface level things out of your head and then double click into What are the open loops?  What decisions do you need to make?  What are you wondering about?  What are you fearing?  We are so full of stuff that normal is reacting.  A 4 minute brain dump can be a cleansing way to not only release the thoughts but also the emotional response without really having clarity about what is swirling in our heads.    What are your wildest dreams?  What do you want to do? Feel? Experience?  Get beyond the fluff and don't shut up for a while.  Take away all the constraints and just dream  Then take it to the next level by asking what do you want your life to be in the next 5 years?   What are the micro-moment energy builders and when those don't work, what is the hydro-boost that is needed?  Be where your feet are! Simplify your space and make the staff we desire within reach.   Consider your mental state changes.  As Jennifer eluded to, what was the worst case scenario and wrestle that to the ground so you can get back to where your feet are.   Want practice being aware and finding micro-moments, the Everyday Adventure Fall challenge is a great first step to dip your toe into creating space.  You can register by visiting:  http://ordinarysherpa.com/challenge You can connect with Jennifer Bried on Linked In:Jennifer (Furrier) Bried | LinkedIn

Does settling down and starting a family really mean that your days of adventuring are over? In this week's episode, Brad and Jonathan are joined by Heidi Dusek from the Ordinary Sherpa Podcast, who firmly believes that having a family doesn't mean that your ability to adventure disappears! Heidi shares with the guys strategies that you can implement with your family to ensure you continue to exercise your "adventure muscle!" Heidi Dusek Website: Ordinary Sherpa Podcast: Ordinary Sherpa Resources Mentioned In Today's Conversation Find A Local Group Vincent Pugliese's Total Life Freedom Jillian Johnsrud Everyday Adventure Newsletter ChooseFI Episode 76; Planned Spontaneity with Mrs. Adventure Rich Want to start your own journey to Financial Independence? Sign up for the free 5-Day FI Challenge here!

Website for this episode:https://ordinarysherpa.com/34 Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Austin is a cognitive scientist and the host of the Mat & Board Podcast - a show that studies the intersection of tabletop gaming and how we think. He has always been interested in innovative ways to help people learn and earned a master's degree from Harvard in Mind, Brain, & Education. In his free time, he enjoys learning about new cultures, trying new recipes, and of course - playing board games. To Connect with Austin:  Matandboard.com Twitter.com/matandboard Instagram.com/matandboard Facebook.com/matandboard Podcast: Mat & Board  Key Takeaways Think about gaming more than just entertainment, but as this vehicle to bring us closer together or teach us about ourselves. Games are an interesting way to foster multi-generational connections. Games have a way to make the content and experience beneficial for the child, parents, grandparents or even aunts and uncles.  From a neuroscience perspective, it has skill-building value for all ages.   Games can help build strategic thinking skills with transference to many other areas of life.   A misconception about games is that winning is the main objective. Winning isn't the best teacher.  If we reframe games as vehicles for fun, discovery and creativity, Individuals can use games to reinforce skills of perseverance, continuous improvement, and learning more about themselves in the process.   Games can be tools for connection, often triggering memories, either through the content of the game or the shared experience playing games with others.   Playing a game can be a mini adventure in times when you might not be able to physically adventure.  Likely 2020 brought forth a resurgence, but also times such as poor weather, or or having a down day.   Games can be a tremendous tool for learning about something new or deepening your learning in a fun way.   Many consider games to be something in a box, the simplicity and versatility of a deck of cards can't be overlooked.   Kids have an amazing ability to suspend reality and dive into something by creating games. Embrace and continue to nurture those opportunities.   As adults we lose some of our creative edge as we get older. Board Games can provide a medium to help keep our brains fresh. Activities that have been looked into in neuroscience show some games have the ability to expand our memory or our cognitive agility. To get a list of all the games mentioned on this episode and suggestions from the Ordinary Sherpa community go to: http://ordinarysherpa.com/games

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/033 Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Every once in a while you come across someone who enamors you just a bit.  They have skills and experiences so different from your own and yet there is a mutual respect and admiration for what the other person does.  I first began interacting with Dawn just over 5 years ago through our work paths.  Dawn has 20 years of experience in corporate marketing and events, and currently manages the U.S. Venture Open, a golf outing in Northeast WIsconsin that hosts over 1200 people, and attracts celebrities like DuWayne Wade, Michael Phelps, Matthew McConaughey, and this year Charlize Theron.  The event raised over $4.5 million dollars last year to address the root causes of poverty in our region.  Dawn is the master of recognizing the details that make an experience memorable.  Beyond work she is a spontaneous adventurer who loves to see how things go and invests in the experience she is most interested in.  On a personal note, Dawn is an OG to Ordinary Sherpa.  She literally listens to every.single.episode the morning they drop.  I am so grateful to have Dawn in my tribe of listeners, colleagues, and friends.   Key Takeaways Creating a memorable experience is often in the details.  Imagining every aspect from an attendee perspective.   Your sense of smell is a critical piece to creating a memorable experience.  Walk through all of the 5 senses: touch, taste, see, hear and smell and design aspects of the event from those desired elements.   Recognizing your genius zone at work and in your personal life are important.  Because Dawn is so involved in planning details at work, in her personal life she is much more comfortable showing up and seeing what opportunities present themselves.   Creating experiences can also be a solo adventure.  When Dawn was in Anaheim she went to Disneyland alone. She asked strangers to take her picture and optimized her time using the singles line for rides as a solo adventurer.    FOMO can be motivation.  The fear of missing out can be a helpful indicator in designing your list of desired experiences.   Buy the tickets without knowing all the details.  When a legendary band is coming within driving distance she has learned to buy the tickets and figure out who will attend with her later.   When people recognize you are a person that says yes, they are willing to share opportunities that you may not have access to otherwise.  Notice, what do you say yes to?  Is that what you want people to invite you to do more of?   Be open to the opportunity when it presents itself.  Some of the events she attended weren't from a deep desire to attend, rather a place of curiosity.  Seeing and hearing about an event is one thing, but it's a completely different experience to be there.   A healthy indicator is a sense of discomfort and slight fear.   Having an experience completely different from your life can offer a perspective that leaves a lasting memory.  Ideally sharing the experience offers a deeper connection as opposed to one person attending and telling others about the learning and perspective.     Websites references during the episode:  https://www.usventureopen.com/  https://vicodec.org/  To Follow or Connect with Dawn Facebook: @dawn.ruchala.1 she is also an active member of the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group Instagram: @druchala LinkedIn: @dawnruchala

Guest Heidi Dusek   A catalyst, healthy disruptor and unshakeable optimist, Heidi's passion lies in challenging the status quo, driving change and delivering experiences. Known as a translator between sectors whose background transcends education, health, nonprofits, university, business, philanthropy, design and podcasting. While stacking talents and lived experiences is her superpower, she continually embraces each role with a lens of empathy, trust and curiosity as critical threads embedded in the fabric of designing an authentic and memorable life.   Today she and her husband live in Wisconsin with 3 children and spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, remodeling their third generation farm house, mastering un-tourism, and creating connections with people around the world.  Her podcast Ordinary Sherpa inspires families to connect through simple adventures. Ordinary Sherpa podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-sherpa-family-adventure-coaching-and-design/id1539255067  website/subscribe to email newsletter: https://ordinarysherpa.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/  Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa/ Show Notes Heidi grew up on a farm with a large family. She remembers meeting and greeting people often and spent the majority of her time outside. When she became a mom, she felt the need to choose between adventure, career, or motherhood and decided that would not be her story.   Heidi defines adventure as anything that creates a new experience and something that feels like a risk. (As in you may try and fail) She thinks it's important for families to adventure together because it's healthy physically and mentally and helps build resiliency, adversity and not let fear dictate your decision-making. Adventure is the most novel way for us to experience all of those benefits while having fun and connect.    Jenna asks Heidi for practical and easy ways families can incorporate adventure into their lives, particularly right now during the pandemic. Heidi says it starts with intentionality - having a list of possible things the family can do when there is spare time, so they can refer back to it when boredom strikes. An example she gave is that her family decided to have a whole weekend around the theme; apples. Her family came up with lots of ideas about how to incorporate apples into their weekend, like cooking with apples, shooting apples with a bow, and dunking for apples. She doesn't always do a lot of planning, so on unplanned weekends she refers to the list.   It's also helped her family explore local attractions. She found many great places just in her area within 20-50 miles.    Jenna asked if Heidi's family keeps bags of essentials prepared and ready to go? Heidi says they definitely do. They started out with a beach bag and added a hiking bag and camping bin to the “ready to go in under 10 minutes' essentials. They also have a weekender checklist. Jenna wonders, is part of the success of adventure, being prepared? Heidi says yes and no. There's room for both.    Jenna shares how her and her husband are never really fully prepared when they go on outings, yet they make it work and ultimately learn a lesson every single time they have an adventure. That's one of the best things about adventuring, is the lessons learned along the way. Heidi shares a story of when her and her husband assumed that all their kids had all put shoes on when they left to go camping, but one of her kids hadn't. Luckily they had a pair of crocs in the car (in the aforementioned beach bag). The unpredictability of adventure is what makes it fun. Jenna shares how her family went on a trip to Tenerife with friends and although she had checked the weather, it was a weather station at the top of the volcano on the island. Jenna had packed clothing for temperatures in the 50's but it turned out to be really warm there. She had to buy some tank tops and she laughs about that now.    Jenna asks, how do you include your kids in the adventure planning? First off, Heidi prefaces her suggestions with the fact that she doesn't feel like an expert, she only shares what has worked for her family.  You all know your kids best and can better determine their strengths and weaknesses. She looks at fare sales, and then gives her kids a few options. Each of her kids have different interests and goals for adventuring. She asks them, “What excites you about these places?” and “What do you want this experience to look like?” Heidi adds that her role in adventuring with her kids is to provide the environment where they can thrive, not necessarily plan out each detail of the process. Jenna adds that the people in those environments provide our kids with more knowledge and insight that we (as in just the parents) can offer.    Asking locals for directions or recommendations is a great way for kids to learn communication skills and become more comfortable talking with people of all ages, cultures, etc. Engaging with local communities is part of the learning process. It also provides children with an opportunity to interact with strangers safely.  Jenna asks, do you ever split up to accommodate everyone's needs and interests? Heidi says, “yes!” She points out that it's actually great sometimes for the kids to separate because they had a nice break from each other. Jenna adds that her family has a lot to talk about when they do different things. Heidi says sometimes her kids get FOMO after splitting up and hearing what the others got to do, but it's a great moment for them to reflect on their choices. Jenna thinks it's also a great opportunity to change plans for the next few days to incorporate that activity. Jenna's family loved white water rafting and she thinks they should have scheduled more of that on their trip to Colorado. Heidi cautions though that sometimes it's great to end an activity when everyone is still having fun.    Jenna asks what ways does Heidi think that adventuring creates a better family connection. Without all of the distractions of daily life, she feels like she gets to really get to talk with and learn from each other. It also creates a shared experience. Heidi adds that not all experiences are good ones, but they are great moments to build trust with each other. Jenna adds that those crappy moments give us a great opportunity for parents to model how to deal with those sticky situations. Heidi adds that she has seen a lot of generosity in those difficult moments as well.    Jenna asks, what are some adventures families can do without leaving their neighborhood? Heidi gives an example of how her family made luminaries out of ice and rings of fruit for the birds. They try to think about things that will get them outside. They also do family game nights - her daughter recently chose kickball. Days ago, they went ice skating on a pond in their neighborhood. Jenna feels like the thought of a specific time allotment for adventure can be off putting. She says some of her best moments with her kids are in small incremental time slots throughout the day. She feels like forced game nights and activities are not superior to short, but authentic moments of connection. Heidi says yes, keep it simple!   Jenna asks, why do some families not embrace adventure or outdoor activities? Heidi says over 50% of parents surveyed said they don't adventure with their kids for fear of not knowing the answer to something their kids ask them. Our culture and the public education system create this “need to know the answers” mentality. The current research showing the brain's neuroplasticity is another reason why it's so important to adventure. New experiences help our brains form new connections.    Jenna says that as self-directed learners, we know how following our curiosity is so important, but she knows from experience that we can also get into slumps and wonder, “what else can I do?” It's always important to try new things.    Jenna asks, what is the most memorable trip you've had with your family? Heidi said living in an RV was such a great learning experience. It was such a simple life. It was an eye opener. Life is so complicated and going back to a simple lifestyle made her realize it's more about sharing moments together than anything else. They are very curious now about an RV lifestyle. Many of her best memories came from moments in their adventure that weren't planned for, like witnessing a moose fight in the Tetons after snowshoeing.    Jenna remembers a time when her family stayed in a small, bare bones cabin and it really made her reflect on their lifestyle too. It made her realize nothing really matters as much as the connection with each other.    Heidi enjoyed quarantine time because she got to spend more time with her kids. Both her and her husband are thinking about homeschooling permanently because the structure is really limiting and uninspiring. We don't do school well. We aren't the teacher-pleaser kind of people. Heidi's son started up 4-5 new hobbies with all the free time he had during quarantine. He isn't thriving in the school environment. They are thinking about worldschooling, taking a year off, or something else.    Heidi and her family are thinking about an RV trip or Hawaii in the future.    Helpful Resources Mentioned in Today's Show   Join me on the Show!   Rogue Learner Homeschool Directory   Healthy Minds App   Ordinary Sherpa Website   Ways to Connect Email me: contact.roguelearner@gmail.com Facebook  Instagram Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rogue-learner/id1543224038 Google Play: https://podcasts.google.com/search/rogue%20learner Spotify: https://roguelearner.libsyn.com/spotify YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCocbWsxxAMSbUObiCQXPg Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/rogue-learner

To read the first three chapters of "Dwell on These Things" by John Stange, click here:  https://desirejesus.com/dwellonthesethings . Become a patron of this ministry and enjoy exclusive opportunities to connect with John Stange.  Please visit https://www.patreon.com/tentmaker to learn more. . To get a free copy of John Stange's book, "The Mind of Christ - How to make the most of the new perspective, new eyes, and new outlook you've been given through Jesus," please CLICK HERE. . To email John Stange directly, please send your message to john@desirejesus.com.

Hello Good Neighbor, Today's Episode is born out of a question I read about a month ago: What is "the Last, First thing" that you did? Meaning, when did you last have a first-of-its-kind experience? Hmm... Makes you stop and think a bit. It took me a while but I finally figured out what mine was, so I figured that I'd share it here with the Neighborhood. Heidi Dusek, the host of the "Ordinary Sherpa" podcast, posed this question on one of her episodes a while back, crediting Seth Godin for the inspiration. Here's a link to Heidi's website where she provides encouragement to turn our dreams into everyday adventures. https://ordinarysherpa.com/ Check out her wonderful podcast episodes for an experience of your own! Here's a link to Seth Godin' blog https://seths.blog/ Seth has wonderfully practical insights into the world of marketing and life in general. If you would like to find out more about the Hello Good Neighbor podcast and "all things neighborly", visit our website at hellogoodneighbor.com or find us on Facebook Groups by the same name and logo. I hope you are blessed and bless others in return! Thank you for listening, Tony Slabaugh

Ordinary Sherpa is designed to inspire families to connect through adventure.  Connection being paramount as many working families are pulled in a million different directions.  And while many of us are striving for the American Dream, it's easy to lose sight of the simple everyday things that make family memories.  My guest today recognized this as he was doing all the things to align with the American Dream, but in 2014  he left college after transitioning out of the military, and reconnected with a love of leadership and a desire to become a better husband and dad.  He launched the Military Veteran Dad in 2019 and is now a stay-at-home dad and coaching spending quality time with his family while still working hard and helping others.  Ben and I met through a mastermind community and immediately connected over the demands on parents in 2020.  Ben Killoy is a Marine Veteran, speaker, coach with a focus on dads allowing them to step into their best life.  To connect with Ben Killoy          Website: benkilloy.com; freedadcourse.com Podcast: Military Veteran Dad and The Business of Fatherhood Facebook: fb.me/Benjamin.killoy              Instagram: @ben_killoy Twitter: @benkilloy Key Takeaways Stop playing chicken.  Sometimes you need to make the first move and simply say Hi.  As we emerge from the pandemic and interact with others, don't overthink a simple hello.  Be willing to take the first step into an uncomfortable adventure of connecting with others at the park.   How you lead your own life will set the bar for your child's expectations in life. You can create a lot of freedom and growth that prepares both you and your child for a stronger life. Bedtime talk is a way to do small things like tell jokes and tell stories with your kids. “I'm practicing being there for the small things so that later in life she'll bring me the big things.” Anchor memories create common experiences for kids to reflect back “What would dad do?” Most of these experiences come from doing and being, it doesn't come from a lot of work.   Adventure hack: Find an ice cream shop an hour away and point the car in that direction.  Maybe empty the garage into the car and be ready for whatever else shows up along the way.  Or find a paved path and start your scooter adventures.   Ben thought he was the worst ski instructor, but remembered kids are looking to be led by their parents, whether it be adventure or a lesson. Perfection is usually what messes up that moment. Your kids don't want or even know what perfect is, they just know and want you.    Create an opportunity for kids to be led by someone.  You want to change the world, be an example in your neighborhood. Embrace the inner-child.  Do a spontaneous adventure and think, what would a 4yo like?   For more information on the 60-day Everyday Adventure Challenge or to connect: To Register:  http://ordinarysherpa.com/challenge Follow/DM on Instagram: @ordinarysherpaJoin the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Subscribe to the email to be the first to know about future offers and discounts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/

Do you feel like the merry-go-round is picking up speed and we won't even realize we are on it? Yes, I see you! I see you, working mom who's trying to figure out how to make sure the kids have clean clothes and healthy food, while still working full time. I see you working dad who feels guilty for the amount of time he spends behind a screen in comparison to the time interacting with his kids. I see you families who spend weekends apart at 3 different locations with every child doing their own thing, wanting to always have someone in the stands rooting them on.   I see you entrepreneur who is hustling to make tomorrow a little better than today, but whose kids just want to steal a little bit of your attention.   I see you parents who are sending their oldest off to college and can't figure out where the last 18 years went. I see you and I feel you! I created Ordinary Sherpa to help families CONNECT.  The best way I know how to do that is through adventure.  While we love travel in our life are we okay with adventure being the one vacation a year.  For me I wanted it to be a habit, a muscle to build, a regular dose in our life.  60-day Mini-Adventure Challenge is the antidote of regret.    I see people rushing back to pre-covid life and I'm nervous that the merry-go-round is picking up speed and we won't even realize we are on it.  Which is why I invite you to participate in a 60-day Everyday Adventure Challenge.   In this 60-day challenge I am going to help you create an adventure list to show up in your own life and connect as a family.  For 60-days you will create simple adventures that lead to memorable experiences as a family.  AND I will show up each week to guide you as much or as little as you wish through the process.  Everyone who joins can meet together 4x to share ideas, ask questions, and work through all the things that get in the way of just being a family.   NOTE: Listen to episode 28B (bonus episode) to highlight 15 simple adventures you can do this weekend to give you some insights into our adventure list activities.   The challenge will run from June 5- August 5. Because this is my first time offering this, I am offering a Founder's Special of $30 until June 1st then it will go up to $40.    Registration is open now, but will close at 11:45 PM on Friday, June 4th   To Register: http://ordinarysherpa.com/challenge You mean all I'm doing is creating a list?This is not another to-do list. The value is not from the list of ideas I give you.  The value comes in bringing the list of your simple adventure ideas to life.  It's in the doing, in creating the experiences. It's in being a participant in your own life with your partner and kids and stop sitting on the sidelines. There is little value in a list without action. Together we will redefine what it means to check the boxes.   I'm not creative.You don't have to be.  This is not a pinterest party.  I will give you a template to work from and support you along the way. To level-set expectations,  the goal the first week is to be aware.  You can decide what winning looks like, it might be one 20-minute activity a week. P.S. Everyday is an aspirational expression, not an expectation. You decide what works best for your family.  But I'm already busy, how am I going to fit in one more thing?You don't have to.  There is not an expectation to do something everyday.  The concept is to get in the habit of having time together connecting and having fun.  If this isn't the right season, there will be another season.  This is just the beginning, it will be even better next season.  We all have seasons and if now isn't the time, check back in the fall.   Remember when I said I see you.  I still wear my busy badge of honor.  At the end of the day, how does that feel? For me it's exhausting.  Everyday Adventure isn't just another thing.  It's creating cup-filling moments connecting with your kids. If you just want the pre-packaged list you could purchase The Adventure Challenge Family Edition that I shared in episode 005 Gifts of Adventure.  If you use this link http://ordinarysherpa.com/adventurechallenge  and coupon code ORDINARYSHERPA you will receive 10% off your order.  What if I can't make the meet-ups?All the meet-ups are virtual and will be recorded.  Most of the communication will happen via email or DM's and all of the material will be available to you regardless if you are able to attend or not.   For more information or to go deeper on this challengeEmail: Heidi@ordinarysherpa.comFollow/DM on Instagram: @ordinarysherpaJoin the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Subscribe to the email to be the first to know about future offers and discounts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/

Aaron Hunt is a Personal Brand Photographer helping entrepreneurs and freelancers be the face of their brand.  Regardless of where you share your images, it's important you look and feel great representing your brand.   Aaron helps business owners "stand out, be noticed, and be you."  I was fortunate to have him interview me on his podcast.  I thought it might be helpful for listeners of Ordinary Sherpa to hear more about the brand and pull back the curtain on what inspired this podcast.   To Connect with Aaron Hunt:  Website: https://www.thepersonalbrandphotog.com/ Podcast: Your Personal Brand Podcast Instagram: @thepersonalbrandphotog Facebook: @AaronHuntPhotography Linked In: @Aaron Hunt Key Takeaways1. Untourism is the art of traveling like a local.  Make the hidden come to life, focus on connection with the people and places.  This experience helps make adventure experiences memorable.   2. Imagine you are writing a “Choose Your Own Adventure” story (it was a thin in the 90's).  You have $2,500 to go adventure anywhere and do anything.  Where do you go? What do you do? How will you spend $2500?  Adventure doesn't have to be expensive to be memorable.   3. Find the yellow option.  Life pretends to only offer black and white choices.  You don't have to choose between black and white.  Decide what you want the experience to be and design it based on the colors you choose.   4. Make white space for play.  Sometimes the best ideas happen when we aren't striving towards productivity.   5. When you feel stuck, ask yourself “when is the last time I did something for the first time?” Make a list of all the things you've never done and circle 1-2 that excite you.  Let's take the first step towards that adventure.  

Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ My path first intersected with this guest in 2018 as I was looking for inspiration for family adventures.  I stumbled upon a podcast of a family who sold everything and lived full-time in an RV.  I later heard them speak as a guest on an unschooling podcast. They spoke openly about the joy and challenges of this simple and authentic life they were creating, inspiring so many other families along the way.  I have always been one to challenge the status quo and found their story inspiring.  Here was a family who just decided that all the stuff was taking over their life and was willing to explore something different.  Originally from Wisconsin, this family of 6 (and 2 dogs I might add) hit the road in 2014 in an RV to explore North America and are still going strong 7 years later.  Having grown up in a traditional family life with school and sporting events, they knew they were embarking on a completely different lifestyle and still question if they are doing the right thing but can't imagine going back.  Along the way, this mom  built 2 remote businesses, had incredible adventures and spent many nights around the campfire. She is a Speaker and Educator on RVing, on being an Entrepreneur, and produces content to inspire others to get on the road with their families. I have been a listener, blog reader, email subscriber, and recently a book launch volunteer absorbing all of their content and appreciating their courage and adventurous spirit they bring to this space.  When Ordinary Sherpa launched I secretly had this guest in mind, hoping one day I might get to speak with her.  It is an honor and privilege to have her here today.  Bryanna Royal, welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.   To Connect with Bryanna Royal:   Website: www.crazyfamilyadventure.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/crazyfamilyadventure Instagram: www.instagram.com/crazyfamilyadventure Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/crazyfamilyadve/ You Tube: www.youtube.com/c/crazyfamilyadventure Book: Full Time RVing with Kids: an Insider's Guide to Life on the Road Key Takeaways Why Not? We saw others doing it so why not us?  When they started there was no determined end date. Look for the Sherpas.  Finding those who can inspire you and also someone to share the same questions and fears with.   “There are things I miss, but I wouldn't give all of this up for those things.” By putting yourself in flexible situations, it created opportunities because they weren't constrained to the 9-5 school/work schedule. “There is Risk, but you can still have a parachute.” “Life is a constant repositioning to focus on joy” “It's okay to live the life you want to live, not the life someone else is telling us we should be living.”  

Today's guest is one of my superheroes.  After struggling to figure out his path growing up a talk with his dad late one night nudged him into the world of photography.  He would go on to be, and still is, one of the best Sports Photographers of our time capturing award-winning photos for many professional sports.  And while I love photography and can appreciate his work, that isn't what drew me to him.  His story Freelance to Freedom walked me through how he challenged the status quo and rewrote the rules to his own life so that he could live, work and play on his terms.  He is an author, coach, entrepreneurial guru, AND also a devoted husband and father who lives generously, creating the space for so many others to succeed in life, work and play.  Vincent Pugliuse, Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa. To Connect with Vincent PuglieseWebsite: https://totallifefreedom.com/ Podcast: Total Life FreedomBook: Freelance to Freedom Key Takeaways  If your life was a Thank You Tour, Where would you go and who would you visit? After the launch of his book Vincent and his family went on a thank you tour to personally meet and thank many of the people who helped him launch his book.   Curiosity is the cornerstone to community.  When you meet someone, be curious and ask questions. Letting go of some of the control as adults will allow kids curiosity to flourish.  In the Pugliese family, school is life.   Just say yes to things.  What's the worst that could happen. Sometimes you need to be like Mr. Magoo, clueless, blind, and stubborn but just kept walking and things fell into place.  Just keep walking even if you aren't sure where you are going. “I wish more people felt like the had nothing to lose.  Having no expectations allowed him to say “why not?” “It's lonely at the top unless you take people with you.” Being at the top can be lonely but there is nothing saying you have to go alone.   Enjoy Life!  Don't get lost in work and daily life.  Enjoy the moments of life that make it memorable.  Resources from this episode: Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Currently some fun threads on summer travel, hiking, and visits to National Parks  Will you leave Written Review #50 on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ National Park Pass Programs:  Every Kid Outdoors program for fourth graders: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm  and 2021 fifth grade voucher: https://www.nps.gov/kids/fifthgrade.htm Full list of passes and entry fees: https://home.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/fees.htm Join the Ordinary Sherpa email list: ordinarysherp.com/subscribe

Imagine you are 8 years old and your hero, your dad, a well-known and respected physician passes away unexpectedly.  Life just gave you a moment of pain, learning and growth that is unimaginable to most kids.  You decide your dream is to become a doctor.  Despite the challenges in front of you like working through academic rigor with a learning disability, the grunt work of med school, through the trenches of residency, and years of unforgiving night shifts you achieve that dream and are a full-fledged medical doctor.  Except in reaching your dream, you have built protective armor so you can't hurt anymore, and your sense of humor has gone dormant. The path to the summit is a journey, filled with good intentions and aspirations; People rooting us on and society celebrating our achievements.  But what happens when our fuel gauge is empty and our compass seems off? I don't know where I first heard Doc G's story, but I do remember feeling completely validated.  My path was not that of a doctor, mine was a teacher.  There is a dark side to every dream and today Doc G shines a light on the aspects of life allowing armor to crack, giving way for joy and purpose to seep in. His empathetic approach creates the space for individuals whose identity is often intertwined with their careers.   Doc G is a husband, father, writer, prophetic storyteller and physician who discovered financial independence and opted out of medicine for a life of greater meaning and purpose.  Doc G it is such an honor and privilege to have you here today, welcome to Ordinary Sherpa. To Connect with Doc GWebsite: http://earnandinvest.com Podcast: Earn & InvestInstagram: @earnaninvestTwitter: @earnaninvest Key Takeaways The identity that fits us best may not be the one that we grew up with or that others put on us.   Having enough was as anxiety provoking as not having enough.  Sometimes having too many options, too many decisions, too many possibilities can be numbing.  Walking away from his physician identity created two losses.  The first loss was his own grieving of all that he worked for. The second loss is when friends and family realize that their vision of you doesn't align with who you want to be anymore.  People don't like to question deep things. So they don't necessarily want you to either. When it was time to step away, he systematically started subtracting the things that weren't fulfilling.  What are the things in your life that aren't adding value and how might you begin to subtract them from your life?  Doc G testified he's not nearly as good at doing the things now as he was at being a doctor. But today he can pursue these things he enjoys even if he's not amazingly successful at them.  This allowed him to pivot away from what he thought he was supposed to be doing and towards the things he wants to be doing. There's no real pressure to succeed above and beyond enjoying the process.  Deep connection is what happens when your purpose, identity and relationships all start to align. The need to explain yourself disappears. Connection naturally flows from identifying what your purpose is and embracing your true identity. Every day is a Monday or a Saturday or a Sunday or a Tuesday. He finds himself looking forward to Mondays, and sometimes on a Saturday afternoon he's doing what other people would call work. It's a very free lifestyle without the constraints and borders felt from the traditional work week.  If you can't say hell yes, you better start saying no. Some people mistake financial independence as once they have enough money they'll never work again.  That's not it. It's that you only do the work you choose to do, work that adds value to your life. The real power of having control of your finances is being able to say no to the work you don't want to do.   Instead of looking towards goals, look towards processes that bring happiness and joy, regardless of the end point or a goal that they lead to. If the goal is becoming such a hassle or fearful to the point where you're not enjoying the process, that's a sign to pull back or change. Call to ActionI agreed to do a giveaway drawing the rest of March for listeners who left a Written Review and Subscribed to the email list.  The giveaway is for a pint of our homemade maple syrup. You can watch the sap to syrup process @OrdinarySherpa on Instagram. If you would like to be entered into the giveaway drawing you can leave a review by going to ordinarysherpa.com/review for a tutorial on how to leave a review  AND  ordinarysherp.com/subscribe to join our email list and get adventure goodies delivered to your inbox.  

Spring (sigh).  While 40 degrees and sunshine does something special to my soul after a winter freeze, it also quickly turns into a muddy sloppy mess.  Since we are in the midst of another major home renovation phase (2 of 3) it feels like a mess or spring might just be the season of life I am in right now.   As you may know we create seasonal adventure lists to help offer something exciting to incorporate over several months into our family experience.  Our Spring Adventure List includes two of my favorite things: Maple Syrup and Waterfalls.  If you follow me on Instagram I have a highlight story on our Maple Syrup making process.  We had about 40 taps on 15 trees this spring and our process is pretty manual because the season is usually only 3-4 weeks long. The excitement of tapping the trees, gathering sap, and the day-long boil are all full adventures to look forward to.   GIVEAWAY ANNOUNCEMENT...Because I LOVE my listeners SO much I am going to give away a pint of our maple syrup ($10 value + S&H) to a few lucky listeners.  All of the details to this giveaway are on the Ordinary Sherpa Instagram Page, in the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group, and in my email newsletter this week.   Must do the following 3 things: Subscribe to the Ordinary Sherpa Email List (ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe) and Leave a written review for the podcast (go to Ordinarysherpa.com/review)  Take a screenshot, DM or email me the screenshot and the nickname you left it under to be entered.  If you have never had real maple syrup, it is very light and truly delightful.  I love it fresh from the boil on top of vanilla bean ice cream, but my kids have become maple syrup snobs and will eat waffles, pancakes and french toast everyday of the week in order to get their maple syrup fix.  I know buddy the elf and maybe the Trina from episode 003 and 005 might put it on spaghetti and others in my Facebook Group enjoy it on oatmeal.   Last week's episode with Melissa Lagerquist on Family Travel Rewards tips, which can we just say how awesome she was, set the foundation for travel rewards with families.  For something as complicated as travel rewards she really translated into such human terms.  As promised I am going to build upon the tips from Episode 018 and share our family's travel rewards strategy.  I'll give you a sense of our travel budget, our timeline of travel rewards, which cards we use, how we optimize the benefits and how we have utilized redemptions.  Our travel budget has never been luxurious, generally speaking it is about $2,500.  As a family of 5 that can be really tricky so while we would sometimes camp, or build a network of friends and family we can stay with, find cheap or free things to do, or benefit from a good fare sale (Scott's Cheap Flights being one of my favorite sources).  The last few years the game changer for us has been adding travel rewards through the use of credit card sign on bonuses.   My first travel rewards credit card was through my local credit union and it was the least effective reward card because there were no sign on bonuses to leverage in the accumulation phase, very few 2x or 3x earning bonuses, and overall poor travel redemption rates. However it was a starting point and you never get it perfect out of the gate.    I really upped my travel rewards game in 2018 when I began studying the rules of travel rewards and designing a strategy that worked for us.  If you want the DIY version I do recommend the ChooseFI.com/travel online course.  It goes deep but gives you a good sense of all the nuances.  But if you prefer DIY with a guide on the side, that's where Ordinary Sherpa can help you design a strategy for your family.   If you download my Family Guide to Travel Rewards, available at Ordinarysherpa.com/rewards some of the questions I walk you through are your location and airports near you, Potential destinations, Preferred airlines and accommodations, Financial behaviors, and timeline for travel with whom.  Living in NE Wisconsin the two airports close to us are Appleton and Green Bay, with the hub airlines of American Airlines, Delta, and United.   Because we are a family of 5 and my husband is a teacher, most of the traditional strategies didn't work for us because we didn't have the flexibility to travel in off-seasons, and we were a family of 5.  It's frowned upon to let a stranger take care of your 3-yo during a cross-country flight.  We needed to find options where we could sit together, and redeem points for 5 at a time, which takes a substantial stash of points. Which led us to Southwest Airlines as our first choice due to their companion pass.   Southwest Companion Pass is achieved by earning 125,000 points in a calendar year, I should note they do have a special Companion Pass offer out right now.  I didn't think it was as desirable, but given that I already have Companion Pass I also didn't study it as deeply.  A companion pass through Southwest Airlines allows you to bring a traveler with you on unlimited flights for the year you achieved CP and the entire following calendar year.  There are other airlines that offer Companion Pass (such as Delta and Alaska Airlines), but Southwest has the Platinum edition.  I earned my companion pass in August of 2019 and learned the hard way on several fronts that I did it the hard way.  Ideally you want to open both cards if possible in late October, early November.  You'll need a plan to hit the minimum spends and often Christmas helps out.  Just make sure you don't hit the minimum spend before January, or the bonuses will be applied in December.  My husband and I both have Companion Pass so each of us can bring a child for free and the stash of points we accumulated can be redeemed for our flights and one of our children's flights.  The other highlight for us was that we could use Companion Pass at any time during the year as long as there is a seat available on the flights.   Strategy 1: Choose a co-branded Credit Card that aligns with brands you prefer or that have routes that align with your departure or desired destination.  If you are interested in Southwest you can explore the Card options and benefits by going to Ordinarysherpa.com/sw Strategy 2: My next recommendation is to select a card/cards that offer Flexible Point currency such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership points, or Citi Thankyou points.  These points are flexible because they can be transferred to many different brands. Many of these flexible currencies include things like a reimbursement for TSA Precheck or Global Entry which allows you to expedite the security process.  In addition to other perks like trip insurance and airport lounge access.  We opted to do Chase since they aligned with Southwest and also included hotels and car rentals. Again we are in 2 player mode.  I went with Chase Sapphire Reserve and my husband went with Chase Sapphire Preferred.  We each opened a business card too which was Chase Business Ink (to learn more go to Ordinarysherpa.com/chase).  We are just beginning to draw down on our Ultimate Rewards points and find them helpful to cover car rentals or accommodations.   Strategy 3: Lastly, I would suggest getting a Travel Eraser Card such as Capital One Venture or Discover also has one.  Capital One Venture was actually our second card so we could use the points for things like Airbnb stays, or in 2020 RV rentals.  Anything that codes as travel on your statement can be wiped out with points.  These can also wipe out other travel related expenses such as tours or tickets.  For example if you are going to Disney, purchase your tickets from undercover tourist and you can use the eraser card to redeem points for those expenses.  You can learn more about Capital One Venture Card at Ordindarysherpa.com/venture This framework is for the DIY version of travel rewards. To learn details about travel rewards take the free online course at ChooseFI.com/travel. If you need a guide on the side, inquire about Travel Rewards coaching by contacting us on our online form at ordinarysherpa.com/contact and we can start the  Key Takeaways Choose a co-branded card that aligns with your destination and traveler needs Southwest Companion Pass is a great goal for family travel rewards Know the rules and timelines for earning the sign on bonuses Add a flexible use rewards currency to allow for other aspects of your travel to be supported by rewards.  Beware of the Chase 5/24 unwritten rule. A travel eraser card redeems points toward any expense coded as travel on your statement.   For a downloadable guide to Family Travel Rewards with tips, our 5 card strategy, and a rewards planning template, go to Ordinarysherpa.com/rewards  Resources mentioned on this episode:Episode 018 | Travel Rewards tips for families with Melissa Lagerquist: https://ordinarysherpa.com/familytravelrewards/ Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Leave a review: https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ *To be entered for the giveaway you need to do both, take a screenshot of your review and DM or send to heidi@ordinarysherpa.com Scott's Cheap Flights: scottscheapflights.yuy8ab.net/BmLWJ Travel Rewards Credit Cards Mentioned:Southwest Credit Card: ordinarysherpa.com/swChase Cred: ordinarysherpa.com/chase Capital One Venture: ordinarysherpa.com/venture To download the FREE Family Guide to Travel Rewards: https://ordinarysherpa.com/rewards/

Travel Rewards was a topic that seemed so elusive and complicated to me for so many years.  Now I can't imagine what our trips would look like without it. I was anti-credit card before I learned the rules to travel rewards.  Today I have 6 different credit cards in my wallet at any given time, and because my husband and I are in 2-player mode, he also has 3-4 in his wallet.  We do this all with a lens toward tax optimization, maintaining our budget (actually decreasing our travel budget) and strong financial position and credit score.   There are literally hundreds of resources that can guide you through travel rewards, however when you many of the tips and strategies are suited for solo/couples travel.  Things get a little more complicated when you add a family to the mix, which is why I invited Melissa Lagerquist to Ordinary Sherpa today.   Melissa is a freelance writer, travel hacker, cruise expert, military spouse, and mom of two boys. She has been playing the travel hacking game for over a decade and has substantial knowledge in the nuances to travel rewards, significant experience and insights for families wherever you are in your travel rewards journey.  To Connect with Melissa Lagerquist:  Website: Cruisefrugal.com Email: melissa@cruisefrugal.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cruise-Frugal-104926720896669 Instagram: cruise_frugal Twitter: @cruisefrugal   Key Takeaways First can I just say the movie Pearl Harbor, sigh, who remembers that movie.  I am imagining the premier on the Navy carrier.   Travel rewards through credits cards actually make your credit score go up. A large factor in your credit score is credit utilization.  If you open credit cards but pay the cards in full each month you will have a low credit utilization rate and improve your credit score.  Travel Rewards should only be considered if you are able to pay the balance in full every month.   Have a plan to meet the minimum spend requirements before you apply for the card.  Also, make sure to know the date that the minimum spend needs to be met by. Credit Card companies have their own lingo and unwritten rules, such as Chase, which is known as the 5/24 rule which implies you can only open 5 credit cards in a 24 month period.  Any credit card or authorized user counts towards the 5. If you have a specific trip in mind, you will want to create a strategy to account for all the aspects of your trip including airfare, accommodations and ground transportation.   The best redemption rate is the one that works best for your family!   Start with a little research to frame your questions, then join FB groups or take free online courses (like Choose FI travel rewards course).  There are a lot of resources available and generally speaking, people want to help.   A strategy for family travel rewards is to keep a combination of flexible travel rewards points (Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Points, or Citi Thankyou points) and a co-branded airline or hotel rewards.  This will allow you to mix, match, and transfer points if needed.   Cards with annual fees can offer high value and be worth maintaining.  For example many of these cards offer a $200-$300 travel credit, free airport lounge access, travel insurance, and TSA PreCheck and Global Entry to name a few.  These are all important perks to consider when traveling as a family.   Travel eraser cards allow you to erase charges codes as travel.  These are common for non-branded travel experiences such as UnderCover tourist tickets to Disney, RV rentals, or AirBNB stays.   Cruises allow for local adventures at the ports of call while reducing the overall planning while allowing accommodations for every member of your family.  This allows kids a sense of independence allowing kids to choose what they want to do, but not spending all the time together as a family.   Resources:   Choose FI Free Travel Rewards course: Your shortcut to traveling better using less money with travel rewards.  https://travel.choosefi.com    If you want to support or connect with Ordinary Sherpa here are 3 easy ways:Leave a written review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-sherpa-family-adventure-coaching-and-design/id1539255067 Subscribe to our Adventure to-go email newsletter:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/  Join the Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpaFollow:https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/

Adventures add life to living, but they don't have to be extravagant, expensive or epic trips. Heidi Dusek, founder of Ordinary Sherpa, helps adults and families transform ordinary activities into extraordinary adventures. The money parents spend on trinkets for their kids that just add noise to their lives and clutter to the house can be reinvested into memory-making park admissions and tools like butterfly nets and fishing poles. Heidi helps other families build lasting memories and discover how much fun it can be to share common experiences that enable everyone really get to know each other on a more personal level.

I am dreaming of southwest Florida right now.  We have begun the big freeze in the frozen tundra, with actual temperatures in negative double digits.  Most of our adventures have moved indoors for the time being with creative projects.  Tonight my son cut up a bunch of cardboard to transform our dining room table into a ping pong table.  Kids' creativity constantly amazes me.   The highlight of my week last week was a snow day, a real no school, 8 inches of snow kind of snow day.  It was so great to have everyone home.  I am working from home for my full-time job so I didn't get to enjoy it as much as my kids did, but it truly was a bright spot.  I think we went through 12 pairs of gloves, every time they came in they were soaked.  They were skiing, and sledding.  I even took a good 3 mile snowshoe as dusk set in and it was rejuvenating.  I was so glad that in this day in age with the ability to do virtual learning the school district recognized the importance of a day of play in the snow.  It was a breath of fresh air.  With the cold weather I have also created Hygge time. Hygge is the Danish term that describes comfort and cozy qualities that embody well-being.  Lately, one of those activities has been reading by the fire with a big fluffy sherpa blanket.  I have two episodes coming up with an author of adventure stories and I wanted to share them with you now so you have time to get the books and review before the episodes launch at the end of February and early March.  If you stick with me to the end, I'll share more about the author, books and discount code for Ordinary Sherpa listeners.    If you are ready to have a relaxing experience on the beaches of Sanibel Island, then having a friend like Nick Adams would be ideal.  Nick is from London, England and has been a photographer since the early nineties. He drew a lot of inspiration from his uncle, John Adams, who was a respected fashion and glamour photographer in the 'swinging' 60's through to the 'big hair' 80's in London whose work can still be found in stock libraries in London with the popular resurgence of retro culture. Nick started his career working on cruise ships where he met Lori (from Delaware, Ohio). In 1994 Nick and Lori moved to England. With the help of The Prince's Trust (an excellent English charity started by Prince Charles to help young people who wanted to start up in business), Nick set up 'Nick Adams Photography'.  The studio was based in a rural market town called Maldon in Essex. During their stay in England, Lori and Nick got married and had their first child Max.  In 1998 Lori, Nick and Max moved to Southwest Florida where Nick Adams Photography made a reappearance, with better weather and the sandy beaches as a backdrop. They made Southwest Florida their permanent home along with two additions to their family, Brooke and McKenna.  Currently, Nick and Lori still run a thriving photography business on Sanibel Island and have also started the Sanibel Captiva Guide, a comprehensive guide of the Islands.  Resources referenced during this episode: The Prince's Trust:www.princes-trust.org.uk The Sanibel Captiva Guide Web: thesancapguide.com Email: thesancapguide@gmail.com YouTube: The Sanibel Captiva Guide by Nick Adams Photography Insta: @thesancapguide TikTok: @thesancapguide   Nick Adams Photography Web: nickadamsphotography.com email: nick@nickadamsphotography.com YouTube: The Sanibel Captiva Guide by Nick Adams Photography Insta: @nickadamsphotog Key Takeaways How and why did you land where you are living now?  Nick's story from England, back and forth to America had several influences.  The weather was one influence.   There is a thread of generosity both on the receiving end and contributing end.  Nick Adams Photography version one was the recipient of some support early on from Prince Charles Charity to give it the backing to get off the ground.  Nick Adams Photography version two contributions have supported the local community of Sanibel and Captiva Islands.  How does generosity show up in your story?  How might you contribute to helping others on their adventure journey?  The Ordinary Sherpa Facebook group is a great place to contribute and receive others generosity.   The San Cap Guide is a resource detailing everything you would need or want to know about Sanibel Captiva Islands in Southwest Florida.  If Florida is on your list consider exploring it and paying a visit for an untourist and meaningful experience.   Untourism utilizes local expertise.  Imagine you are Nick and building a guide for your community.  What are the unique aspects of your community or region that would help visitors have a local experience? How do you capture adventures?  Have you ever considered having portraits taken while visiting a destination?  Photos are a critical piece to documenting adventures (which will have several upcoming episodes related to) and a great way to make sure everyone is included and have a quality non-selfie photo of the entire family.   As mentioned earlier in the show, I have several upcoming episodes with adventure author Johanna Garton.  She is the Author of Awakening East and Edge of the Map.  The first episode will dive into her adventure story which is Awakening East where she unfolds the story of international travel, adoption and living abroad with her family.  Part 2 will dive into Edge of the Map which Johanna authors the adventure story of Christine Boskoff, a world class alpine climber.  Awakening East is an older book so it may be hard to find in independent bookstores.  I am including the link to it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2N9Mn3o  However, if you purchase Edge of the Map from her website www.johannagarton.com  and use the coupon code SHERPA for 25% off.  They are both great reads for on the beach or by the fire, wherever you might be right now and I can't wait to dive into them with Johanna in upcoming episodes.   Leave a written review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-sherpa-family-adventure-coaching-and-design/id1539255067 Subscribe to our Adventure to-go email newsletter:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/  Join the Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Follow:https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/ Check additional resources on our website: https://ordinarysherpa.com/ 

Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa, I'm your host Heidi Dusek.  Today's episode will dive deep into one family's journey to enjoy life on the road. Before I get there I want to welcome everyone to Ordinary Sherpa.  We have seen a large influx of new listeners over the past week, thanks to the Choose FI team. Ordinary Sherpa is designed to inspire families to connect through simple and authentic adventure experiences.  You can learn more about my adventure story (episode 1) and why adventure (episode 2), but the short version is this, the only way our family survived 2020 was through simple, unplugged, outdoor experiences together as a family.  We didn't just survive, we began to thrive.  I dove deep into the research which validated what I have felt for so long.  So my mission is to help families realize, there are options.  My husband and I both work full-time and raise 3 kids and a dog.  I am with you on this journey towards freedom, adventure, and fresh air.  As are so many others (we call our listeners Sherpas) who are here to support you reaching your new summit, what ever that looks like to you.   I also want to take a moment of gratitude and acknowledge the Choose FI podcast and community.  Choose FI had such an impact on the development and launch of the Ordinary Sherpa podcast, so if you are not familiar go check them out: https://www.choosefi.com/   If you are joining us from that community, welcome. You are among friends.  While 2020 restricted our travel, Ordinary Sherpa has been getting around.  Ordinary Sherpa has been listened to in 26 countries and 44 states.  I had a goal to hit all 50 states in my first 90 days and we are so close.   If you know someone who might be interested who is located in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Maine, Vermont and I am hoping with our guests today we will fulfill Mississippi.   Brittany and Cody Holifield are the parents of 2 boys (Barrett, Corbin) and Sonic the dog are the family behind Hitch-to-Hitch.  They were looking for a change and as you will hear they didn't follow a conventional path.  They gave up the 10 acre farm and ideal American lifestyle to enjoy a life of adventure while living full time in their fifth wheel.  They sold everything 2 years ago and haven't looked back.  I binged on their YouTube channel leading up to and following our interview.  Even if a full time RV lifestyle is not for you, they are such authentic people who share so many insights.  I hope you are able to hear their mindset, how they allow for adventure to show up in their life on a regular basis.   Listen:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-sherpa-family-adventure-coaching-and-design/id1539255067 Website/Email Subscribe:https://ordinarysherpa.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa   Key Takeaways Time together is short, are you making the best of it? Are you worried about doing things in the right order?  Whether your timeline is 6 months or 5 years, there are options for both.   Is the ideal lifestyle weaning you out?  What might the alternative be?  Brittany shared taking care of the kids, the house, the farm, while teaching full time was wearing her out.   Test the path.  Cody initially wanted to sail around the U.S., but after a rough 5-day experience they realized that probably wasn't the right path for them.   You don't have to have everything figured out.  “I'm in it for the ride,” Brittany exclaimed.   Transition for the kids continues to evolve, from the social scene to freedom and independence.  They try to choose locations that are family-friendly when possible to support social interaction. Boondocking or Dry camping is camping without hook ups (water, Electricity, sewer) builds awareness to your power and water consumption.   Start with the end in mind.  Create the menu of options with enough flexibility to align with everyone's wishes and back up plans for bad weather or just off days.   Peak experiences and mishaps are part of the journey.  You can't plan for everything.  Embrace the opportunity. Some of the resources referenced on the show:-Location-based Facebook searches (not groups such as Ordinary Sherpa are good starting points)-RV Parky App:https://www.rvparky.com/mobile-app -iOverlander: http://ioverlander.com/ Follow or Connect with Cody & Brittany from Hitch-to-Hitch through any of the channels listed.   Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOfckR-uCVBy9aolefHP4ag Website: www.hitchtohitch.home.blog  Email: hitchtohitch@gmail.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hitch2hitch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitchtohitch/

FI-light-ER Episode 7 Show Notes: Post 10.0 from the Filighter.com blog: Post 10.0 –> Three Lies You Tell Yourself about Your Finances – FIlightER.com Post 8.0 from the Filighter.com blog: Post 8.0 –> Just Do IT! Take Action to Build your Investment Confidence…Its AUTOMATIC! – FIlightER.com The Ordinary Sherpa podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-sherpa-family-adventure-coaching-and-design/id1539255067 FILIGHTER PODCAST LINKS: FILIGHTER on APPLE https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filighter-podcast/id1533365446 FILIGHTER on STITCHER https://www.stitcher.com/search?q=FILIGHTER FILIGHTER on SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/show/6CFi5v1fTAv7IJ2yqrdJlc FILIGHTER on GOOGLE https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9maWxpZ2h0ZXIubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi1vteAuvbsAhWPY80KHfZhDRIQ9sEGegQIARAC WEBSITE and BLOG: https://filighter.com/ Remember our Disclaimer: I want to remind each of our listeners that content in this podcast including any show notes or links, the Filighter Blog, and the Filighter Website are entirely educational or entertainment in nature and you should seek a certified professional for Tax, Investment, or Legal advice or otherwise.  We are not Tax or Investment experts and are not in any way providing expert advice so please seek your own tax, legal, or other professional for advice and counseling.  Filighter or its creators accept no responsibility or liability for any actions or activities you may take based on anything discussed on the website, podcast, postings, or comments.

Follow: website, Instagram Join the Community: Facebook Group Welcome Back. I took a slight pause after the holidays and things got a little crazy last week so I decided to hold onto this episode. January for me has always been an excuse for a fresh perspective, so whether you have been with us from the start or you are just finding us, I want to welcome you to the show. Ordinary Sherpa is on a mission to inspire families to connect through simple and authentic adventure experiences, while simultaneously supporting you through an online Sherpa community. What I hope you find is that this community isn't as focused on the insta-worthy tourist destinations (sure those still show up in our stories), but rather the journey and experience of simply participating in an adventure experience as a family. You get to define what adventure means to you. Much of my adventure story includes travel, and I wanted to share a resource with each of you. If airline travel is making its way back into your story, I HIGHLY recommend you check out Scott's Cheap Flights. They curate the best flight deals to your inbox. Because of Scott's Cheap Flights we were able to fly round trip from Green Bay to Anchorage for under $200/person in peak travel season. These tickets are regularly closer to $400-$500.  You can try their Premium Membership for free for 30-days...But they have a major sale happening right now. Their Premium Membership is typically $49/year, but until January 31, 2021 it is only $29/year.  I only share resources that I find value in, and this is definitely one worth exploring. Since many people redefined adventure in 2020 (which I shared many stories of that in Episode 008 with Ed Tee) I am sharing this as some are considering adding travel back into their adventure definition for 2021 and beyond. Today's episode features Jessica Jens. Jessica and I met when we worked together with University of Wisconsin Extension - Youth Development leading leadership and educational experiences for youth. I have long admired and respected Jessica's courage to help push beyond traditional boundaries to find new ways to help individuals learn and grow. Her soapboxes of transparency, honesty, acceptance and individual superpowers have led her to excel in creating both personal and professional adventure experiences. Belief in the power and opportunity of adventure experiences drives Jessica to support all kids, adults, and families in their quest for a novel and unique path through life. Making a choice to pick adventure education as a field of study for her graduate work, she quickly discovered that perhaps muddy shoes, tired legs, messy hair, wide vistas, and fresh air can provide just as much self-reflection and learning as months of couches and therapy. Professionally, Jessica has worked much of her life in the areas of youth development, environmental education, organizational growth, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership. She provides servant leadership while standing on her core soapboxes of transparency, honesty, acceptance, and individual superpowers. Jessica is a daughter, wife, mother, backpacker, rock climber, horseback rider, lover of chickens, super bad gardener, and sailor in training. She lives with her husband James, and their two adolescent children on a small hobby farm in southeast Wisconsin.  Key Takeaways Adventure Education is about the transformation of people using the natural world and experiences.  It works because it is novel. Memorable experiences don't have to be epic.  The sustainability of the experience is based on your experience and moments of self-discovery. Transformation happens when you move out of the comfort zone into the stretch zone, but avoiding the panic zone.  The stretch zone is where learning and growth happens. Experiences on adventure trips when pushing yourself outside your comfort zone are incredibly transferable to our everyday lives.  Visualize the frayed rope.  What is the scariest thing you've ever done?  If you can get through that, you can get through this! It's important we are able to recognize the panic zone in kids and others.  You don't learn in the panic zone, so being able to recognize the cues and check in is an important aspect to the adventure experience process. You can control your fear if you have to Talk about it.  The reflection of the experience is critical. At a basic level, adventures allow us the opportunity to examine our choices and learn from them for next time End when having fun. The last memory of the experience will be the one that sticks.  It might mean being creative on the final leg to make it special, or it might mean stopping sooner.  There is little value in pushing through. What are your family's superpowers?  Focus on  the strengths vs. deficits of each individual creates an experience where everyone is valued for their contributions.  Consider each individual's superpowers in the adventure design. Family systems theory shows the value of a shared experience has a lasting impact on families ability to bounce back from adversity.  Each individual can have a unique and shared experience in that the way they internalize or perceive the experience may be different, however the simple act of sharing an experience, makes the experience relatable and transferable for everyone involved. Adventuring with adolescents requires perseverance.  They might not show their appreciation or act like they are finding value in the experience, but stay the course and ask them a week or month later to get a better understanding of the experience.  Moments that feel like torture are really moments of growth a week later. Many parents opt-out of adventures because they are afraid their child will ask them a question and they won't know the answer.  If this is you, know there are so many people and organizations here to support you without judgement (including the Ordinary Sherpa Community).  Adventure as a family is a great practice in letting go of perfectionist tendencies. If you found value from this episode- share it! The greatest compliment to a podcast is to leave a written review.  The more written reviews a podcast gets the more accessible it becomes to people who need to hear these stories.  It is the single greatest action you can do to help Ordinary Sherpa reach the individuals and families who need to hear these stories. If you have additional questions for Jessica, she is an active member of Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group, or you can connect with her through RiversEdge Nature Center in-person, through email or on the social media accounts below. Website: riveredgenaturecenter.org  Email: jjens@riveredge.us  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/riveredgenaturecenter  Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/riveredgenaturecenter Twitter: https://twitter.com/riveredgenc?lang=en

Join the FILIGHTER Community as we explore Millennial Boomer relationships and pass the best lessons down to the Next Gen FI  Get mid-life traction on Financial Independence and make Early Retirement a real possibility We pledge to bring our community actionable content and become a catalyst for your pursuit of Financial Independence!  Hosted by blogger Lambo the Filighter Filighter website  www.filighter.com Filighter podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filighter/id1533365446 Filighter Blog https://filighter.com/home/blog/ Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/FIlightER EPISODE SHOW NOTES: For more from the Ordinary Sherpa, here are Heidi's details : The Ordinary Sherpa podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-sherpa-family-adventure-coaching-and-design/id1539255067 Website:https://ordinarysherpa.com/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ordinarysherpa/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa email: Heidi@ordinarysherpa.com 

We are sitting on one of the most bittersweet days of the century.   While I know we all want to flip the calendar and expect some magical force to take away all that was in 2020.  I also know that in dark times in life the fairy godmother doesn't just appear and make everything right.  It takes work and sitting in what a friend of mine calls “the dirty diaper” of reality, acknowledging and working through the stuff that will help you climb to new heights.  I asked each of my kids and husband this past week “what was something you learned in 2020?” Their direct answers were: Trying homeschooling To not touch stuff in stores, be cautious, and wash your hands Don't just eat snacks RV life is appealing You can enjoy the chaos and need a break from it at the same time.  Life is not binary Keep things simple  Hindsight 20/20 (pun intended) If I knew at the beginning of the year what I know now, this would be the advice I give to my January self: progress over perfection trust your gut Just because you can do hard things doesn't mean you should Ask for help Recalibrate expectations Like many I have made it a practice each year to do a Year in Review and work through a framework to create an intention for the upcoming year.  While this had typically been a professional practice that I used at work to frame goals and objectives for the upcoming year, in 2018 I decided to use the same practice for life.  I had been learning about and exploring the customer loyalty metric using Net Promoter Score, which is a rating on how likely customers recommend your products or services to their friends, family, and colleagues.  In short, I was wondering how our family rated our experiences and which would they recommend to their friends and other family members.  This simple thought led me to the Joy Index: could I measure our family joy?  (DM me on instagram if you want the deep dive version) The Joy index was used for everything from Money and spending habits, to kids goals, and minimizing the clutter around the house.  It stems from a minimalist mindset.   The pillars if the framework allows us to evaluate and get clear about what joy is for each of us, how to give it and how to source it.  After each 1:1 or family activity we would rate our joy.  We analyzed the things that rated the highest for the most members of the family. What will BRING me the most joy? One month I tackled my closet: Do I LOVE this?  Does it fit? Do I look and feel good in it? Have I used it? Why do I have this?  I sorted things, tried things on, asked my kids to share their honest thoughts with me.  The practice was cleansing and helped me let go of things I held on to for no apparent reason.  I simply sorted the items that weren't serving me well into a laundry basket and left it in the closet for a while. How can I use what I have to GIVE Joy?   Was there someone else who would find joy in these items?  I offered things to some friends and family members. Many items were gratefully accepted and genuinely appreciated.  I also considered donating items to thrifts stores, or exploring if there were ways to reuse items into new sources of joy.   I also consider the skills and talents that I could give to bring others joy.  I quickly learned that this required some balance.  I could give away all my joy if I wasn't careful.   If these things weren't bringing me joy, how could I SOURCE Joy? What are the missing pieces that we need to obtain.  Who or what dow we need to fill the capacity constraints.  Ordinary Sherpa was designed as a community to help be a way to source aspects of your joy.  We are here to help crowd source and fill in pieces to help you achieve joy in 2021 and beyond. If travel is a desired part of your joy story in 2021 and beyond see a resource at the end of this episode to help source affordable airfare around the world.    We were constantly sorting, trying things on, and asking my kids and husband to share their honest thoughts with me. In order to get to sourcing joy, I needed to continually practice and learn what brought each member in my family joy.  The trends we began to see, were that the items that rated highest didn't necessarily cost much.  They weren't things, they were adventures. They were time, attention, and required intentionality.  We needed to create the conditions for these opportunities to exist in our family life.    SOURCING TRAVEL: a resource I have used to source desired and affordable airfare around the world is Scott's Cheap Flights sourced regularly to your email inbox. I encourage you to try the free membership I have been a premium user of Scott's Cheap flights for a while.  Living in NE Wisconsin, I choose Green Bay, Appleton, and Milwaukee airports as my preferred airports.  Because of this I was able to get RT flights from Green Bay to Anchorage for $196.  Typically these flights are between $400-500.  It was well worth my annual $49 investment to have these customized alerts.  Scott's Cheap Flights has an exciting announcements coming, so I'd encourage you to try the free membership and see if would be a source to help you experience travel joy! scottscheapflights.yuy8ab.net/BmLWJ THANK YOU.  Every listener, podcast class cohort, anyone who has left a review, followed on instagram or clicked the subscribe button! I did not know that a podcast was going to be a part of my 2020 story, but you have helped to shape something that has been inspiring for me and so many others.  I am grateful to have you join me on this journey.  

This episode, Ed takes adventure to the next level with ways to experience adventure near and far.   Ed is a husband and father originally from Singapore now in Washington.  Prior to Covid he was a sophisticated travel hacker, but now more of an aspiring polyglot.  Others might also say he's a tax optimizer, a geo-arbitrage schemer, homeschooler, entrepreneur, and just adding a budding asian cuisine chef...Right?  Let's just say Ed Tee has become one of my adventure Super Heros.  This episode will demonstrate, there is not much he hasn't done as he works to leave his own mark on the world.   In preparing for this interview I dove deep into what it means to be a polyglot: which is the study of multiple languages.  While Ed only speaks 2 languages fluently, I believe he said he can speak at an elementary level in I believe 12 languages.  For listeners who may not be familiar with geo-arbitrage, it's the ability to live anywhere.  As you will hear Ed spends a significant amount of time in various countries.  I am so grateful Ed was able to join us and take us on a wild ride just touching on a few of his adventures and give us all some tips and free resources to support our own adventure journey.   Themes:Military ExperienceLanguage LearningUnlikely Cooking Lessons in ThailandLength of travel and depth of experiencesTeenage daughter inspired most iconic adventure for the entire familyHomestead experience in Western MongoliaTravel hacking2020 version of adventureLifestyle fueled by Financial Independence Key Takeaways: I just wanted to recap with a couple of key takeaways that I noted throughout this episode.  Embrace the suck.  Making the best of an experience can open your mind to new possibilities. Once you realize you can belong anywhere, and be happy, the whole world opens up to you.   Language and food are critical aspects to local culture.  Authentic local experiences typically don't require extensive tourism. You don't need to be fluent, but the attempt to learn the language builds connections.  Define a benchmark such as ordering a beer.   The military can be a path to explore the world and make meaningful connections.   Traveling the world is “more than collecting stamps in your passport.”   Is hunched over cooking at a street vendor push cart what you imagined for local cooking lessons?  Maybe it could be.   While American safety standards exist for a reason, be open to what the standards in the community you are visiting.  Lean in - get curious.  You might be opting out with your hidden bias.   Is anyone else craving yummy Asian cuisine now?!  Note to self: go to Thailand and indulge.  It's cheaper than Mac-N-Cheese at home :) Look for inspiration everywhere.  The curiosity of his teenage daughter took them on one of the most iconic experiences for their family.   Someti mes the greatest experiences will happen in the most unlikely places.  Memorable experiences are not always synonymous with comfort.   Adventure and travel is a tool to reinforce children's learning.   The buddy system is a good practice, even for remote locations like Western Mongolia Not traveling in 2020 led to adventures in learning a new language and Japanese home cooking.  Language and food were 2 large chunks of his travel experiences.  What are big chunks of your travel experience.   The key to allowing their family the flexibility and freedom to travel extensively was a combination of Financial Independence and Homeschooling.   Financial Independence = Earn More, Spend Less, and Invest the difference.  Maintain a reasonable lifestyle that keeps your spending aligned with your values.  Make investing simple using broad-based index funds.  After 10 years they were able to draw 3-4% to cover their annual living expenses.   Fill the gap by being willing to take odd jobs or ad-hoc consulting.  This gave them the ability to be anywhere in the world. Free Resources Referenced during the Show:   Financial Independence 5-day Challenge: Free FI challenge for people short on time and just want something bite-sized and action-oriented: choosefi.com/challenge.   FI 101: Free FI course for Everyone: for people who want to get started and dive deep into FI: the Foundation's FI101  choosefi.com/fi101.   Choose FI Travel Rewards course: Your shortcut to traveling better using less money with travel rewards.  https://travel.choosefi.com     Pimsleur Language Learning Series: CD set available from local library system.  Recommended by the military and available in about 50 languages.   Asian Home-cooking: http://Justonecookbook.com  with Nami.    Seriously, I learned so much in my 30 minutes with Ed. I'm just loving this community. I love having the Sherpas of this group contribute and tell their stories. And so this was just one example of many more to come.  Thank you so much for joining me folks. Ordinary Sherpa is all about connecting and community.  It's also about learning from each other.  We'd love to hear one take away from you and continue this conversation in the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa

This episode, from John Muir trail to toddler hikes with Courtney Fleet, is sure to be an exciting journey. Courtney is a native Oklahoman who grew up traveling throughout the U.S. with her family. She has visited 43 States, lived in two countries, and now resides in North Carolina with her husband, two daughters and two dogs. Hiking and backpacking have become growing passions of hers since she was young and something she enjoys doing with her sister and now with her young girls. When she's not doing all these adventurous things, she's also working full-time as a physical therapist.  I am so excited to share Courtney's adventure story with all of you. As you will soon hear, she emulates the spirit of adventure. Just being brave and helping remind all of us to simply get out the door. And yes, sometimes things will be hard, but that is temporary. And this season of hard things will pass. And in the end, we will all have this amazing, shared experience that will sear lifelong memories into our soul. So much of my conversation with Courtney happened off the air as much as we have on the air. And this clearly could have been at least three episodes. So I tried to pair it down into  the highlights of her story, but I am so excited to share with you that this is also Courtney's maiden voyage on a podcast as a guest. Themes: Childhood and family culture Moving in High School Study Abroad in Italy Grad School break in South Africa Hiking the John Muir trail. 21 days. 211 miles.  Coming down from Adventure Transition to Motherhood Toddler Hikes Key Takeaways: I just wanted to recap with a couple of key takeaways that I noted throughout this episode.  Having adventure baked into the family culture helps spontaneous experiences come much more naturally throughout life.  Approach the opportunity of unplanned time with a curious mindset. Not all experiences can be planned for. Memories equal shared experiences.  Having a shared experience with family fosters connection.  While the adventure will end, the memory of that experience can stay with you for as long as you want.  The  habit of enjoying the moment and waking up with a smile on your face can go with you wherever you land.  Use your connections to create a different experience.Her experience in South Africa would never have happened as a tourist.   The shared experience of hiking with her sister was not mutually exclusive to together time  How do you build into your process, time for coming down from an adventure and transitioning back into daily life?  Becoming a mom doesn't mean you leave your passion.It means you adapt it to include the ones you love. "I needed to put my sadness aside and honor the accomplishment of my daughter. It was a good frame of reference and mindset that I needed to be able to do this with both kids and include them in my passion." Get out the door, getting out the door is the hardest part. You won't get it right. You won't get it perfect. But just try it.  Try again. As Courtney noted in her stone mountain hike. When you reach that peak, "my mama heart, my hiking heart, were smiling at the summit. It was a new level of accomplishment that I had never experienced before."  The gear is far less important than the doing. Mary Janes and ruffle socks are perfectly okay. Embrace the mindset that everything is temporary. There are hard things. Aren't going to go as hoped. This is just a season and we can always try again, this tantrum, this moment, this season, it's all temporary. And by the way, this will be funny tomorrow. So good. Oh my gosh. So much learning so much Goodness. I'm just loving this community. I love having the Sherpas of this group contribute and tell their stories. And so this was just one example of many more to come. I want to look back at the last episode, I did offer a drawing for every five written reviews and I did get five. So I have one giveaway today of the Advent(ure) Calendar. It's a scratch off 12 days of adventure leading up to the holidays. I know it's a little time specific, but I just want to give a big shout out to anyone who takes the time and leaves a written review. You have no idea how much that means to us in the podcast world! It is how we get our podcast exposed and it is literally like giving life to our podcasts.So if you would be so kind. I would be so grateful.  Today's review comes from jenniferandclayton and it states: “Ordinary Sherpa has infused new life into our family. The conversations are full of easy to implement ideas for enriching the mundane in a way that inspires awesome quick episodes, full of unique and playful ways to maximize joy, and meaning for families. I am so grateful for what Ordinary Sherpa has already brought to our lives.” Jennifer and Clayton will be receiving the scratch off calendar. If you are interested in a scratch off adventure type experience, we do still have the adventure challenge books available. The link is in the show notes, and if you use the code ORDINARYSHERPA, you'll get 10% off your complete order. We use it. We love it. I wouldn't recommend it if I didn't believe in it. And I just think it's a fun way to kick off 2021. I know it's probably too late for a holiday gift, but there's no wrong time to start adventuring.  Thank you so much for joining me folks. Ordinary Sherpa is all about connecting and community.  It's also about lifting each other up. And I think Courtney demonstrated that, that if you are interested in connecting with Courtney, her information is below. Facebook: member of the Ordinary Sherpa Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpaInstagram: @court.fleet

Adventure can feel overwhelming if we don't make it simple.  This episode is dedicated to give you some tools and tips to make it simple and action-oriented. When I say simple,  I am always thinking through the lens of “what can I do tomorrow?”  Magic is when things are not as they seem.  You are actually tricking the brain into a new and different experience.  The micro-experience are the everyday moments that pass us by.  If we can learn to create opportunities for magic moments by tricking our brain, we are taking the first step towards connecting through adventure.   How to create the conditions for serendipitous adventure experiences?  Episode 3...find your starting point...When I talked with Trina she revealed that some of her greatest adventures happened when she was lazy, which means she has an opportunity to be intentional about creating the conditions for serendipitous adventure experiences You might begin to realize that our thoughts are truly the starting point of many of our experiences.  Given that, I want to offer some ways to frame your mindset around what the first steps might look like.   Changing locations Fun First I wonder.... unexpected/ unplanned One of the unique elements of Ordinary Sherpa is the tribe of Sherpas who are offering insights, and suggestions.   FB group suggestions Curated crowd-sourced resources  The following are suggestions from Ordinary Sherpas like you: Lisa: "So not sure if this would qualify as an adventure, but my dad did something super cool when we were young that I always remembered. He would wake us up in the middle of the night (probably really like 9pm, but felt much later at the time) to take us on an adventure. One time he took us to a local carnival, another time it was a drive in movie, and once I remember we went to look at Christmas lights. Nothing expensive or far, but there was just something so magical about being half asleep and being whisked out bed to do something fun. It felt so exciting! My dad was amazing that way... ❤️" Dawn: "One intentional thing I like to do is meet people along the journey and get their advice on where to go and what to see if they're local or even tourists and what they've enjoyed the most on their trip. This approach has helped me and my girlfriends discover a salsa club in Manhattan & Russian/Turkish bathhouse in Greenwich Village. They are the best memories from our NYC trip." Tony: "Star Watching. Eye's only, telescope, using a phone app where the constellation lines appear.  Grab some hot chocolate with Milky Way bars." (the element of Fun first...milky way bars and hot chocolate at night!) Reframe Expectations: planning a trip: What are the minimum requirements of planning? Mystery trip, ask a stranger, you decide  Workout vs. hike.  5K weekly challenge Perspective: Summer camp example  “Deep sea diving” Tips for Cultivating Magical Moments Brown Sign Adventures:  Road trips, state and county highlights (historical, parks, beach, etc.) Why is this place special? Notice and take note! Seasonal Adventure List: engage the family in this one.  Some example of things on our Winter Adventure list (in Wisconsin)  Ice Skating (Venues, DIY, random locations) Snow Sculptures///make and Igloo? Snow shoe Turn garage into a roller rink Family art class (Kids Drawing channel, local orgs) Better yet, have someone else make the list.  Ordinary Sherpa is partnering with The Adventure Challenge.  They have curated a family adventure challenge book.  We purchased the family adventure Challenge book (they also have a couples and friends version) and I will say it has all the magic baked into it. .....element of mystery, unexpected, no planning, and gives you the structure to just do it!  My intent is not to sell you anything, because I actually was planning to curate lists for you, but after trying this as a family I am going to highly recommend that if the first steps are hard, or you are simply out of ideas - you might want to check this out. I am also thinking it's a great way to gift experiences vs. things, especially this year!  I do have a link to purchase and a coupon code in the show notes.  I wouldn't be sharing it if I didn't LOVE it.  I also have a fun announcement related to this at the end of the show!   Adventure to-go bags Swim bag: Beach towels, goggles, sunscreen, baby powder Travel bag: chapstick, tweezers, band aids, extra contact lenses, charging cord and battery pack, hair ties, dental picks Camping bin: Smores kit, head lamps, propane tank, hammock. Kids carry-ons: Kanteens, snacks, drawing supplies, 2 books, 2 toys, blanket, and pipe cleaners! There is no wrong first step.  The only thing you could do wrong is do nothing!   ANNOUCNEMENT: To help all of you get started I have a fun announcement.  As I mentioned earlier in the episode we are thrilled with The Adventure Challenge and they have created Advent(ure) Calendars for the 12 days leading up to Christmas.  In light of that Ordinary Sherpa is doing a giveaway.  If you would like to be entered into the drawing you simply need to leave a written review on the podcast platform you are listening on.  Then email us at info@ordinarysherpa.com with the screen name you left the review under.  We will pick 1 prize for each 5 written reviews we get and announce the winner on the next show.  This episode will be dropping on November 25th and I will run the prize drawing until we either award 10 advent(ure) calendars or until December 9th so families can get them in time to participate in the mystery adventures.  Again these are family-friendly adventures that you scratch off each day and design for you to experience adventure with your family.  And don't forget if you are interested in the Adventure Challenge books use our link below and coupon code ORDINARYSHERPA for 10% off your entire purchase.   Thank you for joining us on this journey. I look forward to reading your reviews and connecting with you soon.   Products and Partners mentioned in this episode: The Adventure Challenge: We purchased the Family Adventure Challenge.  They also have Couples and Friends editions. We also will be giving away Advent(ure) Calendars to any listener who leaves a review between November 20, 2020 through December 6, 2020.  You can use ORDINARYSHERPA for a 10% discount at checkout. Kleen Kanteen:  These are the indestructible water bottles that I referenced.  We all have our own and I bought extra caps too.  The sippy top was a nice feature for when the kids were toddlers.  Kleen Kanteens Adult:https://amzn.to/37bClp8    caps with loop: https://amzn.to/39dddAI  Kids: https://amzn.to/2HvzChc  sippy cup top: https://amzn.to/3l1MmtU     *Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Walk through research and experiences that highlight the benefits of adventure.  Heidi will also unpack why Ordinary Sherpa chose adventure as our platform to inspire families to connect.  Additional resources cited in the episode are referenced at http://ordinarysherpa.com Episode Notes: Health & well-being Mind/Mental Health Sense of Purpose body/physical health Risk & resiliency Parenting/Child Development Education and learning Frameworks Last Child in the Woods: Richard Louv How comfortable are parents with risk? balance with safety Accomplish Risk=Confidence booster unplanned scenarios- experience in the moment Mindset: keep adventure simple journey vs. destination UK Study: Kids Need Adventure  Data on kids and parents desire to experience more adventure Edge of the Map (Book):  "Sport of climbing is misunderstood...they don't have a death wish, but a wish to live in a way that few understand."  "It's a type of alive- not like a party, but like being one with the world. It's being in tune." -Johanna Garton (quoting Christine Boskoff) Connection most authentic person, alone in the woods experience (reference to OnBeing podcast with Mary Oliver: the trees were her people) Stillness Challenges experienced along the way Moment that breeds confidence, power Experience hard things together Shared experience builds trust and common will

Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa podcast. In this episode we dive into our adventure story that led to the development and purpose of the Ordinary Sherpa Podcast. Join the community of sherpas inspiring families to connect through simple adventures. For more information go to http://ordinarysherpa.com