I read "Finding the Open Road" it's a Roadtrip Nation project. For those of you who don't know Roadtrip nation started off as a journey taken by three friends to talk to people all over the country to who love what they do. They wanted to understand the journeys that people took to find the thing that they love which often lead to sucess as well. I was intrigued by this project. Roadtrips are such an All-American experience and right of passage much romanticized in book and film. The conclusion these guys seem to have come to is that The Roadtrip is an experience that more people need to have and be exposed to. So this is what they do for a living now. They are some kind of media and education company that plans and coordinates the roadtrips of kids in their 20's trying to find their way. Some of the book is inspiring and very interesting. The interview with Mark Burnett the creator of Survivor, Eco-Challenge, and Survivor was particularly groovy. And the potato phone exercise is pretty amusing. But I have to say that the 20 day road trip they offer at the end of the the book was dull, dull, dull. I hope that their TV version has more content than what they offer in the book. Cause it was lackluster.
I might try to look up some of the original documentary and book to see if they offer more satisfaction.
I think in part because it would help to have some of these people tell you more about what they do and what it is that they love about their work. Get into the bones of their being. Beyond the generalities and cliches.
I wonder for all the success stories how many people on a similar path have ended up in a not as happy place selling appliances as Sear's. Is a myth being created to make people blame themselves for a lack of acheivement and opportunity careerwise or if this is a dream that we can share and all make a reality. I am a bit daunted by the stories (so many of them sounding so much the same) say about the energy and dedication and hardwork and self-confidence and enterprenurial spirit required to find what you love and live your passion.
Whiel I was disappointed in the last section of the book I am still intrigued with the idea. Still the answer seems to be figure out what you love and do it. And if you can't do it, try something else that is related to it. The number of people who said "I didn't know what I was doing but I just did it anyway," was staggering.
5 comments:
so wait, these people plan road trips for other people? Isn't the whole point of a road trip to go out and do it yourself, to get lost and end up pulling into a creepy pet cemetary or a "Children of the Corn" sort of place? To eat at greasy diners and chain smoke with truckers at midnight at the Super Truck Stop?
Yeah, it's not like your regular "head out on the highway looking for adventure" kind of roadtrip.
My understanding is that they give you an RV, a tiny bit of spending money, some advice, and a camera crew. You have to set up the interviews and put the trip together. But the focus is already on something besides wandering the world.
Ditto Kat E & Fishlamp... had the same thoughts myself. Nice idea but it seems to take the magical and the mystery out of the tour.
How can you "find yourself" at a commercially pre-planned urban spot when you might already be waiting for yourself in the desert?
I'm inspired now to play "Come Find Yourself" by the Fun Loving Criminals :)
Trying to find yourself and still thinking about a roadtrip, aye S? My vote is that you need to hit the road (after taking a nice self-defense course *wink*).
Well you know how I'm always losing things. Keys, glasses, parking ticket, Self. *wink*
We'll see. We'll see if I get the guts to do it.
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