What I learned about dream chasing while on a dream vacation

Last week I returned from the trip of a lifetime in Bali. I spent 10 days surfing, hiking, doing yoga, getting massages, visiting temples, swimming with dolphins, befriending monkeys and eating delicious food. (In the interest of transparency, I spent two days crammed into an airplane, and then I did all that awesome stuff.)

Our driver for the trip is named Wayan. Over the course of ten days I learned Wayan’s story. He came from a poor family in a poor village. He had no money for college, but a wealthy tourist from Hungary created a scholarship for him to attend school. With hard work Wayan earned a coveted internship in America, where he learned English and hospitality. When he returned to Bali he started a tour business with a network of drivers, massage therapists and Airbnb owners. 

Wayan’s story of working his way up from nothing to something is inspiring. But the greatest lesson I learned from Wayan is the way he helps others reach their dreams. 

When the young people in Wayan’s village don’t have money for college, they come to him, and he finds a way to get the funds. When someone wants to go abroad, an important career step for many, Wayan connects them with the right people. When his uncle had no means to support himself, and felt depressed and purposeless, Wayan helped him start carving wood sculptures to sell (they’re beautiful, I bought one). 

Wayan believes, and I agree, that helping others helps us all. 

This week as you hustle to reach your goals, look around and notice who needs help reaching theirs. Is there an introduction you could make? A loan you could offer? Helpful advice you could give?

There’s room for all of us at the top of the mountain. Let’s do what we can to help others make it there.