047 | Opportunities from Adventure with Mason Gravley

Oct 20, 2021

047 | Opportunities from Adventure  with Mason Gravley

 

Our theme this week is the doors that open because of adventure.  THIS. (Soapbox warning) this is the reason we need to stop treating adventure like a destination we visit 2 weeks out of the year, and more about a part of the overall journey.  I have lots of thoughts on this and hope this podcast helps you see the value proposition of adventure beyond what I should do on vacation.  When I started this podcast almost a year ago, I had hoped it would connect me with other adventurous souls and inspire other families to see what was possible.  I had no idea that it would propel me into writing a book and creating a community around it.  That it would lead me to meet some of my ordinary heroes in the adventure world.  I just wanted to have interesting conversations and enjoy life.  We can only plan so much, the other part of the journey we need to be willing to show up and seek the next steps as we’ll talk about with our guest today.  The ask doesn’t need to be big, as I will demonstrate shortly.  

Review from Dani512 "Thank you for the ideas, inspiration and laughter. I am not a person who normally leaves reviews; in fact this is my first review of a podcast. Heidi’s clear ask for her listeners to support her by leaving a review inspired this write up.

I found Ordinary Sherpa through ChooseFI and have been a listener for a couple of months. The timing couldn’t be more perfect - my family is at the start of the biggest adventure of our lives! I just separated from my full time job and started homeschooling my daughter, while traveling in a travel trailer around the country for weeks at a time. Heidi’s podcasts - both her personal insights and the guests that she hosts - have given me ideas and courage through this transition. I now notice brown signs everywhere on our journey! And the conversation with Jillian Johnsrud had me laughing out loud.  Thank you for the content that you produce, Heidi! And may be one of these days, I’ll buy you a cup of coffee :)"
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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.  

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I  began listening to podcasts in 2018 and our guest today was one of the first I came across in my search for “adventure.” His guests tell amazing stories of epic adventures from climbing all the 14ers, to kayaking the inside passage, many thru-hikes, mountaineering and around the world travels.  While I participate in some level of adventure sports I wouldn’t call myself an epic adventurer like those I heard from on this podcast.  

Earlier this summer I sent him a message to share how grateful I was for his podcast and the inspiration he has offered me through the years.  I shared a screenshot of a written review I left for his podcast, with the simple statement that if he ever wanted an ordinary person creating a life of adventure with kids I’d happily volunteer to be a guest on his podcast, and invited him to be a guest on Ordinary Sherpa.  Long story short, I think Mason is now my friend.  As you will soon hear, his ordinary life turned adventurous is marked by the thread of curiosity, and exploring what is possible.  He’s completed several cross country bike trips to raise money for different organizations, hosts the Adventure Sports podcast and Without Compromise podcast of Athletic Brewing, heck even his wedding seemed adventurous.  He recently welcomed his second child and is excited to add adventure dad to his title.  Mason Gravley welcome to Ordinary Sherpa!

Key Takeaways

1. After years of hunting and fishing and not getting much, he finally gave up the gun and rods to just enjoy the outdoors.  We don’t always need a goal or a reason for getting outside.  The act is worthy regardless of the outcome.
2. Exploring is what drew Mason into this adventurous lifestyle and conversation with his friend in response to “we gotta do something.” What could we do?  What could you do?  Give it a 20% chance and see what you come up with.
3. Let’s reward generosity. Mason was gifted a bike from a local bike shop after sharing his crazy plans which really propelled his bike adventure from Alaska to Florida into high gear.   If you are in or near Highland City, Florida please stop by Road & Trail Cycles and thank Jason Brown.  Tell him you heard about his random act of generosity on the Ordinary Sherpa podcast and his gift of bikes to Mason and Paul!  How can you be generous to others in adventure? I continue to be amazed by the generosity of the adventure community.  Let’s make generosity contagious.  
4. The gift of fear allows us to open doors we didn’t know were closed.  After completing a 5000 mi bike ride in 66 days from Alaska to Florida, Mason realized what was possible.  
5. Sometimes the plan is wrong.  While Mason planned a career as a biologist at Yosemite, it didn’t fit.  He found other ways to design a life that fit his adventurous lifestyle.  
6. You have not because you ask not.  The easy part is the ask, the harder thing is sticking with it.  The early wins in his podcast led to big wins.  I like the saying small hinges open big doors.  Asking is a small hinge.
7. Look at the world like a big amazing opportunity, things are bound to happen.  Each thing could lead to something big or simply be an experiment.  We don’t need to weigh down decisions with expectations.  Allow yourself to try it, or maybe convince yourself that a no thank you taste is in order.  

 

I hope this episode inspires you to see the doors opening because of adventure.  Maybe they aren’t new jobs or massive income, but stabilizing your health and well-being, maybe it’s social connection, maybe it’s personal growth.  If you want to hear more about my story being a guest on the adventure sports podcast, check out episode 764: Heidi Dusek, How to Keep Adventuring with Kids (or any other major responsibility).  

 

If you are looking for ideas of how to have adventure become a part of your everyday journey, consider subscribing to the Ordinary Sherpa Daily Adventurer subscription.  You can find it at Ordinarysherpa.com/dailyadv

To connect or Follow Mason's content: 
Podcast: Adventure Sports podcast
Podcast: Without Compromise by Athletic Brewing

Instagram: masongravley @alive_adventures 

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