Ordinary Sherpa: Family Adventure Coaching and Design

Much like our guest today, my motivation for pursuing gap year life was not that I hated my job.  I just had a vision for something bigger and a window of opportunity with my kids that seemed like it might be closing.  When we started to get really serious about Gap Year Life it was pretty obvious that our life didn’t cost that much.  I didn’t need to build a business to replace our salaries, we simply needed enough of a runway to support an extended break.  Sometimes when pursuing the alternate path, it can feel like all or nothing.  Goals may have been crafted from arbitrary benchmarks or comparing your stage 1 to someone else's stage 20.  Stepping back and exploring WHY am I doing this from time to time is a good reset.  Which is why when my guest shared an article a few weeks ago titled, Build Your Business Based on Lifestyle Not Money I reached out to ask him to be a guest on the podcast.  After reading the 4-hour work week and many attempts at side hustles his foray into entrepreneurship sparked while sitting down at the piano one day procrastinating on one of his side hustle projects.  He would teach others how to play piano online through a method he learned that was much more joyful than childhood piano lessons.

Pianoin21days: https://pianoin21days.com/ 

Podcast:

https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theonlinecourseguy/

https://www.youtube.com/@TheOnlineCourseGuy

Resources Referenced in this Episode: Article: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/blog/build-your-business-based-on-lifestyle-not-money 

Book: $100M Offers by Alex Hormozi 

Joy Audit: https://ordinarysherpa.podia.com/joy-audit-tracking-form 

In this episode, we explore our family's transformative journey of 466 days of travel and the lessons we learned along the way. Discover how our gap year experience reshaped our outlook on life and home. Tune in to hear about cultivating a home filled with adventure, self-directed learning, and the joys of living with less while gaining more.

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/134

Subscribe to the email list to follow updates on their travel memoir style book:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/

Email Heidi for questions you have about gap year or to inquire about 1:1 coaching: [email protected]

Our guests today are parents we met at a playground in Alaska.  Our lives intersect through many similar interests and after a 2+ hour parking lot conversation, some time together geocaching, a beach day with swimmers itch and swapping favorite RV stories I decided it would be great to continue the conversation on the podcast. Christine and David  vistit their Alaska roots each summer but align with International Teaching community.  With previous placements in Jamaica, China and Guatemala and the unique decisions and lessons that accompanied each stage.   Join us as we talk through how they navigate us through their adventurous lifestyle at various stages of life with kids.  

Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/133 Downloadable Joy Audit: https://ordinarysherpa.podia.com/joy-audit-tracking-form Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/

In true RV fashion, this loop has not been unscathed from RV fixes.  As we field more and more inquiries about RV life, one area that comes up are in the technical aspects of RV ownership.  In our transition to RV life, my husband went from being a high school tech ed teacher (IE shop classes) to becoming a certified RV technician.  If you or someone you know is interested in RVing or looking for resources when it comes to owning an RV and the maintenance required, Brent (my husband) is a handy resource to have.  His Downloadable RV Inspection Form is a helpful starting point to buying  and maintaining an RV for your family adventures.  Another fantastic resource is our guest today.  We met through the RV Entrepreneur podcast and later met in person at the RV Entrepreneur Roundtable.  He is a full-time RVer, a proud father and husband, and a total RV junkie. He is the master of practical tips and unique perspectives while RVing, from awesome gear reviews to exciting DIY projects and lots of tips in between on his channel.  We’ll talk through his own RV journey, the process for making RV decisions and approaches establishing an RV lifestyle with a family, even if just for weekend adventures.  He is a skilled storyteller, a gear guru, and a master in creating community and organizing in-person events evidenced by his recent RV Content Creators Meet up at the Tampa RV Show. 

Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/132

For those interested in RV adventures, use this downloadable inspection form to save time, catch potential issues early, and enjoy peace of mind on your travels. If you are looking to learn more about RV gear, tips and hacks check out Joshua’s channel or follow him at any of the links below.  

To Follow Josh Sheehan and his RV Gear and adventures

Website: https://rvgearandfar.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rvgearandfar

Email Newsletter: https://rvgearandfar.com/newsletter/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rvgearandfar/ 

TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@rvgearandfar Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/rvgearandfar 

Mastermind Group: RV Content Creators

In the fast-paced world, where every moment seems to be driven by deadlines, notifications, and the relentless pursuit of productivity, there's a quiet revolution taking place—one that involves the deliberate act of hitting pause. II have hit pause several times on the podcast this year.  In spite of a underlying sense of guilt, I dug deeper into the transformative power of intentionally taking breaks, as experienced by someone who decided to embrace the "Power of Pause" in a year like no other during our family gap year. 

I recognize I am publishing this episode while steeped in the emerging fresh slate of a New Year and the declaration of new goals and intentions.   It was on purpose, hopefully it will remind you to stop, take a deep breath and notice - even if for a few minutes.  Give yourself a grace period to regroup after the holiday season.  If you’d like to consider how you might be intention and explore collective pause with your partner or family members, the joy audit downloadable form (downloadable form) can be a helpful tool to consider the spikes of joy you have experienced this year to set you on a path to support designing your life to include intentional pauses.  If you need a Sherpa, schedule a coaching discovery session (email me to schedule) and we can talk it out. 

Complete show notes: Ordinarysherpa.com/131

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 resource page 

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)

The basis of our gap year is the foundation of simple and inexpensive adventures we do as a family. Within this episode, you'll discover 10 curated simple adventures that can be embarked upon with ease. From hidden trails to local landmarks, from unique flavors to thrilling challenges, each adventure is designed to ignite your family's imagination and create lasting memories. I know this because over the past 10 months (and quite honestly past 5 years) our bustling family of five has tested these simple adventures. Why simple adventures, you may wonder? Well, they are the perfect remedy for our busy modern lives. These bite-sized escapades offer a wonderful opportunity to escape the ordinary, to bond as a family, and to uncover the magic that lies within the seemingly mundane. They allow us to see the world through fresh eyes, appreciating the beauty in every detail and cherishing the moments shared with loved ones. Simple Adventures, I’ve learned, are the key to unlocking the magic of everyday life.  Simple Adventure brainstorming led to joy audits, which eventually led to a career break and family gap year traveling North America in an RV.  From exploring nearby trails to visiting local museums, trying new activities and uncovering hidden gems in our own region. Simple Adventures infuse joy and wonder in our everyday lives.  

Call To Action: Simple Adventure Subscription If this episode is helping you think differently or infuse a simple adventure into your lifestyle you might enjoy the Simple Adventure Subscription. You can register at any time using the link: https://ordinarysherpa.com/simpleadv The first 25 can use the code YES to get $2 off per month.  

Each week you will receive adventure tips, ideas, or support via email to help your family take small steps toward big memories.

Show Notes: Ordinarysherpa.com/129 Subscribe to the Simple Adventure Subscription: https://ordinarysherpa.com/simpleadv The first 25 subscribers get 1 month free with code: YES Read my Book: https://ordinarysherpa.com/book/ 

Follow us on Instagram: @ordinarysherpa

Periodically during our family gap year life in the RV, we have moments when we start to feel like we are missing the comforts of home.  When people ask what we miss from home the kids often - having a bedroom door (instead of a privacy black out curtain), a dishwasher, hot showers that don’t require us to turn on the hot water heater nor having to listen to the groan of the water pump.  Much like the novelty of travel, simple indulgences take us out of our daily routine and can offer a refresh.  In this episode I want to lean into how we might experimenting with indulgences without feeling the slip of lifestyle creep or justifying expenses that don’t align with your values.  

Before we get into this episode, I want to thank one of our sponsors, Elakai Outdoors is a company to help people live their  best life outdoors with high quality and beautifully designed yard games.   One of our favorite outdoor yard games is Kubb, a simple Scandinavian and family friendly game which I like to describe as a cross between chess and bean bag toss.  If you haven’t played, no worries each game includes a QR code to download the instructions for off-grid play.  The outdoor games from Elakai Outdoor  are built to last a lifetime, not just a single season. My husband awed at their custom crafted from premium wood and accompanied with a compact travel bag, you can see a short clip of us playing if you head to the show notes.  It was an indulgent accessory that was perfect for campgrounds or a friends backyard,  it’s a timeless addition to your outdoor adventures, bringing joy wherever it travels. You can check out Kubb and other stunning outdoor games by clicking on the link in the show notes.  Use code ORDINARYSHERPA10 for 10% off. Add a little indulgence to your outdoor play with Elakai Outdoor.

Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/125Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Elakai Outdoors: https://glnk.io/r549q/ordinarysherpa Use code: ORDINARYSHERPA10 for 10% off your purchase

After years in public accounting as a CPA, Brad reached financial independence at the age of 35 through diligent savings and investing. Brad Is passionate about everything from saving money, to living a more healthy lifestyle, to ‘boring’ things like tracking your finances and cutting down on your tax bill. But his favorite topic is leveraging credit card rewards to save more money, and take trips you never would have dreamed possible for pennies on the dollar.Co-Founders and Co-Hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa, ChooseFI has become home to the largest Financial Independence community in the world. Every podcast episode, video, and blog article is packed with relatable, real-life content crowdsourced from the FI community. Each week they share the best life hacks, strategies, stories, tools, and resources to help you take control of your money and get 1% better each day on your journey to FI.

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/127Subscribe to the email List:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/

Resources Referenced in this episode 4 Hour Work Week Flippa.com site to purchase ecommerce sites Beyond Normal: a field guide to embrace adventure, explore the wilderness and design an extraordinary life with kids (my book) buy me a coffee  and reach out regarding your questions on how I might help you on your journey

To Connect with or Follow Brad Barrett Podcast: Choose FI PodcastEmail List: ChooseFI.com/subscribe Website: Choose FI

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)