Bringing Travel Lessons Home

Before we begin…

Before flying home, I made a three-day stop in Los Angeles to meet with a client. This detour became a pivotal moment for integrating my travel lessons with my everyday life back in the US.

Staying with my dear friend Moji Oluwa, a Nigerian Olympian gold medalist, played a huge role in reinforcing these insights. Moji is a testament to how one can successfully live what I call an artful life by gracefully flowing between relentless perseverance and kind sensitivity.

Bringing Travel Lessons Home

Today, I’m finally home bound. It’s been exactly a month since I left. Since then I’ve changed in profound ways. As soon as I landed in the US, I was given the opportunity to stress test everything I learned. For that I’m thankful. Life has a way of giving me what I need, rather than what I want.

I could not have anticipated how this week’s meetings would unfold. My newfound comfort in ambiguity, spontaneity, and IRL scenarios allowed me to flow through each interaction with grace, presence, and ease. In other words, I had put in the reps in Taiwan. By the time I hit the US, my muscles were strong.

How will I adapt to work? Will I be able to bring the same love and flow to serving others? What I know for sure is that I no longer have the desire to stack my schedule like Client A does. He reminds me of how I was before, running at max capacity all the time. I can now see the value of play, relaxation and slack. To be more exact, I can feel it now. If anything, I can leverage mind mapping even better now to strategically allocate my time and attention, exploring fundamental questions and assumptions before building anything.

Instead, magic happens when I can turn my work into play and occasionally immerse myself in pure play. Freedom means to be able to go where I want, to see whom I want, when I want. In other words, I am effectively retired if I have flexibility with places, people and time. No need to wait for full financial freedom.

I’m actually closer to this than ever. Letting go of Client B was a big part of that. It was hard and awkward, but I feel like the runway is now been clear for constructing the Inner Citadel and restructuring MMN. Of course, another jam with Master Lon Fuentes is in order.

I had the honor of finally meeting our very first Mind Map Guru in person. I always come out of our conversations with new epiphanies 🙇‍♂️.

The other major finding is that I am much more present, social and happier in the analog world. Not having to open my laptop last month was truly liberating. Much of the phone screen time was to navigate the real world and meet real people. To use the digital to facilitate real world experiences. We humans after all evolved in the physical world. This is where we are the happiest. No wonder after existing nearly exclusively in the online world for the past two years has left me antisocial, isolated and unhappy. This is a key insight that I must integrate into my Inner Citadel.

Why stay glued to the screen when I can live my own show and create my own stories? The less screens I use, the more I’m able to live without external influence. Fortunately my wife is a main character who is not prone to social comparison. I’m also blessed to have friends who are independent and artistic in their own ways. All badasses in their own right. We have a great community.

Staying with Moji is perhaps the most important thing to happen to me as I transition from vacation to work. From freedom to structure - precisely because he is the living example that routines, discipline, and hard work leads to flow, love and service with the right intention and direction. What he does goes beyond work. It is a way of life, finely tuned and aligned to a higher source on a daily basis, yet remains grounded in humanity. It is art.

Thank you for being my guiding trellis as I continue to reach for deeper truths.

🤔 What I’m Pondering Over: "In the Name of Hope" Documentary Kickstarter Campaign 🌟

I am thrilled to spotlight a project that’s close to my heart - "In the Name of Hope", a powerful documentary showcasing the transformative journey of unhoused individuals finding their "forever homes". I invite you to join me in backing fellow MMN member Christine Leuthold’s Kickstarter Campaign, which is really a celebration of resilience and community effort that turns dreams into reality.

Here’s your opportunity to make an impact:

Christine has an amazing team, and now they need our support to bring this project to life.

• Pledge Page, quicklink: [Pledge Here] Every contribution will help in bringing these important narratives to the forefront and will also offer exclusive rewards in appreciation of your support.

• Connect & Share: Follow the project on Instagram (@inthenameofhopefilm) and Facebook for updates. Sharing this campaign with your friends and family amplifies its reach.

• Learn More Here: Watch the Promo Reel, meet the team and get more details.

With a deadline of April 24, 2024, and a goal of $25k, your support is vital.

Let's help [Christine Leuthold, Director | Steven Ullman, Producer] and their team showcase these paths from housing insecurity and/or homelessness to hope.

Robyn, featured in the film, never felt like she truly had her own home due to her experience with domestic violence. She rescued herself and her dog, Little Man, from their abuser. She now has a home of her own and works as a Care Coordinator for an agency serving those who are experiencing homelessness.

[+] They are also bringing on equity investors for those who want to become more involved. For that, they can contact Steven directly at Steven@inthenameofhope.com.

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