Exactly five years ago I was studying business and economics, and getting ready for my marketing exam. As usually when I needed to study – I thought about everything else.
I thought about the fact that I was 25, living with my parents, postponing my graduation for years. I thought about my $35,000 debt from days I was a stock broker. I thought about the idea of traveling the world. I thought about.
That night I came up with the idea that would change everything, and mark my way for the upcoming years – I launched my facebook page.
That was my first step to combine my passion (travel) with my job (writing, photography, making videos). The goal was to have a “job that I love so I never have to work a day in my life”. Later on came the blog, media appearances, first sponsors, YT channel, the book, this webpage.
The path was full of intensity, places, people, experiences. The path was full of obstacles and challenges, but at the same time – full of overcame obstacles and challenges. And today, exactly five years after that first step, I can finally say – I succeeded in my original plan.
I’m 30, I don’t live with my parents, I graduated from my university. I payed off my debt. I traveled around the world.
Recently I saw a fridge magnet saying:
What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?
And then it hit me, after all these years. That was it. Simple recipe for success.
All this time I was succeeding because I wasn’t thinking about failure. Whatever I went for, I was in it with my whole being, believing I will succeed. At the same time, I wasn’t focused on the final goal, but the steps in between.
Thats why I went on my thousand day round the world trip, even though before that my longest trip was only two months long.
Thats why I sailed across the Indian ocean, even though I have never sailed before.
Thats why I lost “The best job around the world” competition, even though I was the number one candidate.
Thats why I wrote a book, even though I was always got B’s and C’s on my writing assignments.
Thats why I payed off my entire debt few days ago, even though it seemed impossible.
I believed, and gave my best. I wasn’t afraid of failure because I don’t believe in it. Because every failure is an opportunity for a new success.
At the end, because I had all of you beside me. All these years you read my stories, liked my photos, bought my books, gave me, for a travel writer essential, positive feedback.
Thank you for that.
Have I reached the goal? Not at all. Because the goal doesn’t exist. I learned that from my own experience – as soon as I reached a goal, it transformed into another, higher, more important one. And it will be like that forever. You reach the top of the mountain, you start thinking about another one. You travel the world and ask yourself – now what?
The journey continues. I have no idea where it will take me, but I’m sure it will be great.
And it will be a pleasure to have you by my side on that road. And it makes me happy knowing that our paths will cross. Maybe in some foreign country, or on my book promotion, or on your facebook wall.
Tomislav