Jake Heilbrunn is the author of ‘Off The Beaten Trail’, an inspiring memoir about his journey leaving college and solo backpacking through Central America at 18 years old. Jake is dedicated to empowering people to live a life of purpose and fulfillment.
Show Notes:
5:20 Jake tells his story and explains why he decided to leave college and travel the world.
8:32 Jake explains his parents reaction to him leaving Ohio State to travel to Guatemala.
11:22 Jake talks about the contrast between Guatemala and California and an important lesson he learned from those contrasts.
13:12 Jake tells the story of one of his most transformational moments on his journey.
15:30 Jake explains the difference between who he was before he decided to follow his heart and who he is after.
16:50 Jake tells story of how he handed a copy of his book to Drew Brees at the quarterbacks house.
21:40 Jake talks about an interesting man that he met in Central America who spends his life caring for victims of the genocide.
26:30 Jake explains the importance of travel for everyone.
29:50 Jake gives his 15 year old self important advice.
Jake Heilbrunn’s Value Session:
35:20 What is one thing you find to be true that most people disagree with?
Having the courage to do what you think is right. Most would agree with that, but putting it into action is another story.35:40 How do you stay motivated?
The key to motivation is to stay in alignment with what your heart wants to do. When you’re acting in congruency with your “why”, which for me is to get people to wake up and take that leap of faith to pursue what what they want, it’s not difficult to stay motivated. Stay true to what you really want to do.
36:20 Do you have a daily ritual and what is it?
The first thing I do every morning is take a cold shower, it helps to wake me up physically and mentally. While i’m boiling my coffee, I write down three things that I’m grateful for , then I get to work.
37:20 What book/books have been the most influential in your life?
‘Onward’ by Howard Schultz and ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle
38:50 What is you definition of success?
Staying true to yourself and fulfilling your purpose on this Earth and doing so with happiness while making an impact on the lives of others.
39:30 What is a failure that stands out to you and what did you learn from it?
My skin problem and leaving college taught me to have the ability to interpret things that we label as “bad” as learning experiences and move our lives in a forward direction.
41:32 Who has been your greatest inspiration and why?
Jake Ducey has inspired me to pave my own path. We have similar stories and it it made me think “I can do this for myself too”.
42:40 If you could talk to one person from the history of humanity, who would it be and why?Victor Frankl, the author of “Man’s search for meaning” taught Jake the power that we have in our choices to think and respond regardless of the circumstance.
44:05 Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
Writing, speaking, traveling around the world helping people to become the best version of themselves.
44:50 What makes you happy?
Gratitude, spending time with people who love and support me and knowing that I’m doing work and living a life that makes a difference in other peoples lives.