We were all moulded to fit into a certain shape as we grew up.

We were all told old “how things work”, and what it is we can and cannot do.

We were all pressured by our teachers to be a certain way, because our teachers were also pressured to teach in a certain way.

As we left school / formal education, we were released from the cast we were moulded in.

But most of us won’t change our shape.

Our thoughts, our actions, our beliefs, our human spirit,

Still bound by something that isn’t even there,

By something you can’t see.

Maybe that something turns into a job you hate.

A regret about never seeing the world.

A pay rise to continually chase.

A life lived uninspired.

I know that this doesn’t have to be you.

I know that because I’m just like you.

And I’m waiting to board my 7th flight of this month.

You don’t have to be in the “most of us”.

I’m not an exception, just an example.

And if there was one thing that I could tell my 18 year old self now…

The kid who started that commerce degree, scared of taking any other step…

I’d tell him to fucking go for it.

Not because it’s guaranteed to work out, because it definitely isn’t.

But because I can tell you right now where younger Sam would be if he never went for it.

I’d be in the “most of us”.

If I never went for it, I would have guaranteed the future I was terrified of.

So if you’re serious about not being in “the most” category,

Take a step off the expected path - any step.

And the way will begin to reveal itself.

I'm currently parked up in Athens waiting to begin my journey back home to Perth, Australia - It’s been a bit over a month now on the road, and the timing feels right to come back home and enter another chapter of deep focus.

I think that’s one of the coolest parts about going down the uncharted path.

Instead of having 2 weeks off in the year, and the same shit for the other 52, you get the freedom to sprint towards goals, then rest, or whatever you’d like.

Personally it’s become a bit of a “Traveller” vs “Builder” Mode.

Traveller Mode:
- Saying yes to everything
- Leading with curiosity
- Travelling (surprise)
- Very free flowing schedule

Builder Mode:
- Saying no to almost everything, except what moves me towards my specific goals
- Leading with focus
- More time spent working & creating
- More rigid schedule optimised for inputs (healthy lifestyle & learning) and outputs (deep work)

In the last couple weeks I’ve been with my girlfriend Olive through the Dolomites, Lyon and Paris - she’s back off to Greece to keep the euro summer going (lucky duck).

Use Chat GPT.

Seriously - if you’re not on this for getting efficient routes, eating recos, suggestions for how to hit a city in a specific time frame etc, you’re missing out.

I seriously think AI’s going to rinse so many of the half assed travel guide solopreneurs currently out there (not all though - depends on your authenticity - anyway, not the point).

Here’s some examples of how you could use it:

I’m staying in ___ , what’s the best way to see the city this afternoon on a budget? I’m on a [tight // mid // baller] budget, and want to end with dinner around [area you heard about].

I have a flight tomorrow from _____ and I’m staying all the way in ____ . It leaves at ____ - what’s my cheapest and easiest option for getting there?

You get the deal.

I haven’t really consumed much content recently other than french pastries and tik tok recos for eating out in Paris on a budget, so I’ll leave you to go touch some grass instead of listen to a poddy ;)

Talk soon,

Sam.

p.s : feel free to reply to this email with thoughts, feedback or anything in between - I read all replies <3