From Corporate CEO to Mountain Explorer- Why Execs Are Turning to Adventure Travel

More and more corporate executives and CEOs are quitting their comfortable office jobs to become explorers, guides, or extreme sports. As a travel writer with over seven years of experience, I’ve seen this interesting trend. Read below about “From Corporate CEO to Mountain Explorer- Why Execs Are Turning to Adventure Travel”.

I’ll talk about why this is happening, what some of these past executives are doing now, and how their new jobs are related to what they did in the business world.

What Draws People to Adventure

Why do successful leaders at the top of their fields quit their jobs to go trekking in Patagonia or climb Kilimanjaro?

Because of a few main things:

• Looking for a reason beyond making money. Many people find they’re not happy after years of chasing money and fame. Adventure gives them a reason to live.
• Physical difficulties are good for the mind. CEOs are used to mental stress, but not physical stress. It feels good to push their bodies.
• Don’t be stuck in a habit. It gets boring to have meetings all the time and report every three months. Unexpected adventures spark new interests.
• Discover new areas. Executives are naturally driven and eager. Adventure lets them break new ground in their own lives.

Of course, these dreams can come true thanks to generous company severance packages. But it’s not just about money; it’s also about finding your passion, your purpose, and your limits again.

From Board Rooms to Base Camps

Then what kinds of adventures are these ex-executives going on? Here are a few examples from real life:

• Mark Jenkins quit his job as an executive at a big bank to become a mountain guide. He has reached the top of Everest and made the first new routes on K2.
• Sarah Nicholson quit her job as CEO of a marketing company to take kayaking trips in Papua New Guinea’s remote areas. She is now in charge of a kayak tourist business.
• James Watson quit his job as a consultant to ride a bike across Africa. He rode more than 4,000 miles and wrote a best-selling book about it.
• In order to buy an adventure travel company in Chile, Becky Hall quit her job as vice president at a software business. It is she who leads hikes through the Atacama desert.
• Michael Brown sold his share of a private equity company to pay for trips to sail in the Arctic. He takes groups of scientists to study climate change.

These leaders all quit their unfulfilling office jobs, took charge of their time, stepped out of their comfort zones, and followed their dreams. They put adventure, meaning, and personal growth ahead of making money and getting promoted.

Why Adventure Resonates with Former Execs

What is it about adventure that makes former leaders feel so strongly? There are a few important links:

• Freedom. Given their job, they were used to being in charge. Adventure also lets them be in charge and choose what to do.
• Solving problems. They helped clients with hard problems in the business world. Now they deal with important personal problems like finding their way through rough terrain.
• Taking charge. As bosses, they were in charge of teams. As adventure leaders and guides, they take groups on fun trips.
• Taking risks. They’re used to working under a lot of stress and taking risks to make money. Adventure is a pure way for them to take risks and get benefits.
• focused on results. They really want to do well. Adventures give them a way to set real goals, like reaching the top of a mountain, and then enjoy the benefits.

Adventure basically gives them a chance to use their leadership skills in new and exciting ways. They leave the office for the open road, the spreadsheet for the summit, and the suit for hiking boots. They then get back to leading teams, getting things done, and fixing problems in strange places.

Why Now? Cultural Trends

Why are leaders seeking adventure these days? What changes in culture are causing this?

• Balance between work and life—Burnout is common. Executives know that money isn’t everything. They care most about their health, happiness, and way of life.
• Teenagers and young adults are losing faith in faceless companies. In the same way, executives lose hope when they chase money over meaning.
• Lessen your reliance on things; learning is in. It’s in to collect memories. Adventures give you moments that matter.
• The rise of escapism: People want to get away from the stress of the world. Getting away from routine with an adventure can be very freeing.
• Focus on health: People want to be busy outside because the number of overweight and mentally ill people is going up. Executives are no different.

It’s pretty clear that corporate leaders want to get away from our achievement-driven, materialistic, and tech-heavy society. A trip gives them a chance to disconnect, relax, and feel truly alive.

From the Point of View of a Travel Writer

As a travel writer, I’ve had the chance to talk to a lot of past executives who are now looking for adventure. I’m always moved by their stories.

I admire how brave they are to leave safe business jobs at the top of their careers to follow their dreams. When I think about excitement, I wish I had their risk-taking, free spirit.

When the daily grind gets boring, I think of the execs who used to hike through alpine meadows, raft down remote rivers, or climb to the tops of mountains that I can see in the distance. It makes me wonder again and reminds me to think about job paths other than the usual ones.

I worry that I’ve become a slave to work because I’m always writing things. It brings me back to the present when I hear past executives talk about how adventure brought them back to living in the present. It makes me want to spend more time in nature, away from technology, to let my imagination flow.

Conclusion

I’m most inspired by how adventure has helped ex-executives find new meaning, drive, and peace of mind. Their stories show that you can change and live your life on your own terms at any time. The risks they took have paid off with more adventures and stronger bonds. We all have an explorer inside us that is just ready to come out. I hope you like reading “From Corporate CEO to Mountain Explorer- Why Execs Are Turning to Adventure Travel”.