One thing I have wanted to do more of is video. However, video to me is quite scary. It’s easier to me to hide behind words, to cobble together whatever honest filaments of prose I need to build a story. In contrast, video is captured as is and though editing can do a lot (and de-contextualize), the medium remains a lot more daunting to me. Your mannerisms come across, your quirks or your expressions. All of which are fairly scary. Getting up on stage at WDS to talk about travel and finding your path in life was also scary, as it marked the first time I spoke in public to a crowd, and to a crowd of 500 no less! I was a corporate attorney, not a litigator, so I was not accustomed to public speaking in any capacity. And Chris, bless him, only told me this when he asked me to speak – “Be inspiring”.
Oh, is that all?
In writing the speech – and as you’ll see as a newbie I wrote it all out – I decided to use my own story and my travels as a basis for my message. Namely, that while it’s worthwhile to follow your dreams, you also need to keep moving along that path even in the face of negativity. It’s not enough to say “I quit my job to travel” and leave it at that – your path (like you) is a work in progress, one that is fraught with challenges. In retrospect, quitting was the easy part. What is difficult, and remains difficult, is the chasm of uncertainty that opens up in front of you the moment you do so. I’ve written about this in some capacity, specifically on the things that long-term travel does not fix, but this is the first time I’ve explained the trajectory in full of why I did what I did, and how.
In telling my story I wanted to make it clear that I wasn’t encouraging people to change their lives in the same way, but rather to use my story as a prism through which they could see their own choices. Or, as I said in the speech “there are always things I could do, so why not risk doing the thing I want to do?”
My keynote on finding your path in life
I’ve gotten quite a few reader emails asking if I would post my WDS speech, so I thought it was high time to do so. It’s 33 minutes long, and I hope you enjoy.
-Jodi
p.s. Yes, I am fully aware that I spelled my own site name wrong in one of the slides. That, my friends, is what you get for doing your Keynote slideshow on a 10-hour layover in Seoul ;)
Nice video, I really liked it :D I will keep pushing forward to achieve my goals and travel all my life :D
Thank you Rodrigo! I love that you found the blog looking for a different book, but thrilled that you stayed around to listen. Best of luck with your planning and upcoming travels too.
awesome Jodi! Congrats on a great presentation, I wish I had been there to see it in person :)
My only question is “Did the chicken lay an egg on you?” haha
THE CHICKEN DID NOT LAY AN EGG. Also, it did not crap on me. However, it did smell terrible. You win some and you lose some, eh? ;)
I was waiting for the TED.com music to play at the end. :)
You’re a peach, Jodi, and now I want to meet you even more.
I absolutely agree. This was as good as any TED Talk!
Still annoyed I couldn’t be there (to throw marshmallows). But this will do just fine.
Do you generally see the nervousness or downright fear of uncertainty as an arrow pointing towards the things worth doing, as Jonathan Fields does in his new book – one of the truest guides to what you need to thrive? And has that ever proved unreliable for you?
I don’t know Sowden…I was nervous enough without being pelted with marshmallows!
I think the nervousness is fear of making an ass out of myself in a room full of people. There’s certainly something to be said for doing the things that scare you, which is part of why I’ve agreed to speak elsewhere, to force myself to get less nervous each time (we hope!). But the rationale behind it is much more simple: it’s incredible daunting to get up in front of people who are there looking to you as guidance or inspiration; you don’t want to let them down.
Great speech, Jodi. I was wondering when you would post this… Glad to catch it at last. You nailed it!
Thanks Ryan! I know I mentioned posting it awhile back but was distracted with travels and food. Happy you enjoyed.
I keep on telling people you brought the roof down that day. It’s only the smallest exaggeration. Since you actually did, blow everyone away, despite the fact that the roof stayed where it should be. But then, none of us ought to have really been surprised knowing you. Soo glad I was there and present that day. XO
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I thoroughly enjoy reading new and old posts your website and this video is yet another source of inspiration for me :)
Wish I could have been there! You sound and look great! Trying to watch the whole thing but this Ecuadorian internet hasn’t been the best.
Hope you get to do more speeches like these! We’ve also been doing a whole lot of videos and it definitely reaches a different crowd. We love it.
Wow – I can’t believe it’s fast approaching 4 years since our Huachachina Paradox adventures! Great speech, inspiring me to get off my arse and get back out there – it’s been too long! Keep up the good ‘work’!
Luke! Thank you for the comment. Hard to believe we met so long ago in the sandy dunes of Huacachina :) Glad you enjoyed and hope to see you in London later this month.
Had heard great things about your keynote from a few people who attended WDS, and I’m so glad that I took the time to watch it myself! Inspiring, pragmatic words–and lots of great stories. Thanks for sharing.
This is the type of thing that turns admiration into a crush. : ) Haha, great job!
Wow! Your presentation moved me one step further towards what I’ve been annoying my friends and co-workers with for ages, letting loose and taking that leap of faith. I found myself during your presentation when inner restlesness came up. Thank you for that :)
Hagen
There are so many nuggets of inspiration in this speech that encouraged me in the place that I am today. Perhaps, it wouldn’t have struck a chord with me if you had posted it a few months back. Thank you for sharing it in this moment. :)
I’m glad the speech resonated with you Christina, specifically now with whatever you are working through. Best of luck to you as you work through your choices.
WOW! For someone who has never done public speaking before, you are terrific at it! This is so inspirational, Jodi. You need to go on the public lecture circuit. Seriously.
I think I nearly died when I did my panel speech for Meet Plan Go, I couldn’t imagine doing a half hour talk (although Jeff tells me I killed it). Serious guts lady!
Thanks Erica! I couldn’t remember anything of the speech (I was too nervous; it was all a blur) but glad in reviewing the video that I didn’t come off as a freaked out as I felt. Appreciate the kind words and hope to cross paths with you two one of these days!
I haven’t watched the video yet. I don’t need to. Being there on the day and watching you transform from freaking the hell out an hour or two earlier, to getting up on stage and quietly , deliberately, powerfully blowing 500 people away with your story and your conviction is as fresh in my mind today as it was in June.
As I said to you on the Friday night, “You are totally going to rock it.”
And then you did.
Keep being amazing.
Thank you Dave. And thank you, also, for being supportive when I kept saying “I just don’t want to throw up on myself on stage” the night before – you were a calming presence! Looking forward to seeing you again at WDS 2012.
That was awesome! First, I can’t believe that was your first public speaking foray because you absolutely nailed it from content and style to . . .well everything. Second, as a fellow shy small person who has ended up doing somewhat crazy things and going to far flung places partially because of people’s notions that I couldn’t, I sincerely hope to sit and have a big cup of tea with you one day. May your journey continue with its same grace and strength.
Celeste, I’d absolutely LOVE to meet and share stories one day – your writing has always been full of voice and presence and great humour. I’m sure we’d have plenty to talk about. Thank you for the compliments. If you’re in PDX in July, let’s make it happen.
What an inspirational presentation! Makes me wish i was physically there listening! :)
This is amazing Jodi, and really you inspired me to do the same…absolutely you are not little, you are so so big a person…
I have a Q. are you planing to go to Egypt after your short vacation at home?
Hi Mohamed, I am happy to hear you found the video inspiring. I am now in England with my brother and am not yet sure of plans come January, to be honest. I might return to Jordan or Turkey, or back to Southeast Asia. I don’t tend to plan too far in advance :)
An absolute delight to watch! And incredibly inspiring… There’s just so much to admire about what you’ve done, but you present it in a way that really makes me feel like we can all do it too. :)
Thanks Eliza! You can do it too, if you want to. I hope that message comes across, that I’m not saying everyone ought to take my path, and that of course there are many subjective considerations (people with families or mortgages, or other obligations). Ultimately, though, if you want to do something you can figure out a way to do it, whatever it might be for you. Thanks for watching!
As the father of 2 adult daughters, I can say with confidence that your father is very proud of you.
What a wonderful comment. Yes, my dad is proud and though it’s not a conventional path (and one he probably wouldn’t have chosen) he is happy I am doing what I am passionate about in life. I think he does wish it were closer to home, however! ;) Thank you for reading.
Hey Jodi! Great video! I’ve been following your blog for a little while now and have yet to post but wanted to let you know you’re a great public speaker. :)
You should add pins to a Google Map of all the places you’ve been and add it to your site, of course I’m sure that the whole map would be filled.
Hi Paul! I actually used to have that map, but it filled up with the maximum per page of destinations and stopped loading properly :) It was great while it lasted, though – and a lot of fun to document. Glad you enjoyed the speech!
Hi Jodi,
I found your blog by accident a few months ago when I was looking for alternative careers for law grads. I’ve stuck around since then, and enjoyed your pictures and posts. Your talk was amazing and inspiring. I emailed it to a bunch of my friends who are first-year associates at big firms in NY and unhappy. I know how scary it is to leave a plush job for something so uncertain, but I’m so inspired by you that you took that leap of faith. It just gives me inspiration to follow my gut about what I think will make me happy, which isn’t necessarily practicing law.
Looking forward to more travel stories!
Best,
Sarah
Glad to hear that the talk resonated with you as a fellow law school grad and I appreciate you passing it on. Student Life Magazine also has a section profiling lawyers doing other things with their law degree, if you’re looking for more ideas. Thanks for the kind words!
To pursue a dream, this is what life is all about… It is lovely that you are sharing it with us. Keep up the good… fun!
Can’t wait to watch I have no doubt you will dazzle me!
Great video! You look like a pro at public speaking.
i never would’ve guessed you had any qualms at all! you were just flowing!!
lawyer, traveler, blogger/writer, photographer, and public speaker!! is there anything you CAN’T do??! :)
Ha, yes – many things. Hand-eye coordination is faulty at best, so anything involving it is off the table. No juggling for this legal nomad! Thanks for the kind words.
Just finished watching the video from beginning to end. Great preso. Perfect balance of info, inspiration, humor & personality. Well done.
I think that you have actually left me speechless.(Well almost). I started the video thinking that I would watch a few minutes of it and then go have my dinner.
Well my dinner is now cold…..
I could only describe my feelings after watching it all in one word – ‘proud’.
I am proud of what you had to say, and of how you conveyed it, but I am especially proud of what you have accomplished over the last 3 1/2 years. We’ll all still worry about you, but it’s somewhat comforting to hear in plain and simple terms, what drives Jodi to do what she is doing.
I can only say that you have solidified your place as my favorite neice.
Thank you Unca H. Despite being your only niece, I will take the rest of the comment with the smile it deserves. So glad you enjoyed (and you heard about how nervous I was ahead of time more than most!) and despite hearing many of these stories in person, still found the video engaging. Miss you!
I already told you a few months ago, but worth saying again here – that presentation f’n rocked. It was both inspiring and moving. Lucky to call you a friend. Cheers!
Thank Andrew. I consider myself lucky to have you as a friend too, and have been really happy to see our path cross multiple times in the last few years. Looking forward to the next one – perhaps you should bring your son and we can get him bitten by the travel bug uber-early in life! ;)
Your p.s. makes me laugh because I know that it is hard to stop sweating the small stuff. As an ex-atty myself, I find stories like yours inspiring, helpful, and encouraging. So few attorneys are willing to leave the big firm life. When you have it all, I suppose you have the most to fear. Hope you’ll keep speaking and posting videos. You are a wonderful speaker and what you have to say is so powerful.
Thank you. The reaction to this video has certainly encouraged me to keep posting more of them, and I’m glad that so many of readers (new and old) found it compelling. It’s hard to stop sweating the small stuff when you’re used to being paid to do exactly that, no? This is what I tell people when they catch me worrying about something inconsequential. We’re all works in progress ;)
Hey Jodi, great speech!
So many people get stuck in the life that others tell them they’re supposed to lead…I love to see/hear that people are living their passions for themselves and no one else (even if their path started on a dare ;).
Dave Dean said that you crushed this speech (I think his words were, “the crowd was eating out of the palm of her hand”) and he was absolutely right.
Thanks for sharing,
Chais
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Beautiful! Fantastic presentation! I found myself getting emotional at times :)
I come from a place where this kind of travel is practically unheard of (rural Wisconsin USA)–so, having recently purchased a one way ticket to South America departing this May–people like you are a huge inspiration!
Thank you!
What great memories of a wonderful weekend. You did an amazing job and I for one are happy you are out there inspiring people to push themselves…the world certainly needs more of that!
Thanks Sherry. You’re a wonderful inspiration yourself and I’m glad to call you a friend. See you later this year!
This is awesome Jodi! It reminded me of why I love travel so much, why I left the law too and inspires me to keep pushing.
Hi Lily, thank you for the comment – which reminds me that your Thrillable Hours interview questions are sitting in my drafts folder! I’ll send them on right now. Looking forward to your responses.
Wow! There’s such a sense purity in your speech that makes it inspirational. What an amazing journey. And to think.. 11 birds, 1 bat and a few good bets along the way. That’s my kind of luxury. Great job, Jodi!
Thank you Kieu! Wonderful to know that this fall has been birdcrapfree – including time spent in the seagull capital of Morocco, Essaouira. Perhaps the vendetta is over? ;)
I wanted to believe you were telling us the truth in Portland at WDS, but you made it reeeeaaaaaly hard for us to believe you that you had never done public speaking before. You did a excellent job then and hope to see you again at WDS 2012!
Ha, Nailah I’d never make up something like that, but I’m very happy to know you found the presentation comfortable enough to watch that you thought I was an old hand. Looking forward to seeing you this summer as well!
You knocked it out of the park for your first speech! Can’t wait to see more :)
This was terrific Jodi! Confidence comes with passion I think and you definitely seemed pretty confident to me :) Thanks for sharing the video, glad I got a chance to see it.
I just came across your blog from GoOverseas.com. Your story is great. Kinda what I have for my own life in the future possibly. I’ve been abroad working/living/traveling and its been quite an adventure. Will return back to the US but should I become tired of a normal life, going to do what you want is the best feeling in the world. I have also sent your article to the students I have taught so they can also see that life isn’t limited. Best of luck to you in the new year. I hope I also will find what I’m looking for.
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Jodi,
We continue to be inspired and awed at the courage you show to pursue what your heart tells you. It was so amazing to meet you at WDS (we were the filipino couple sitting in the row behind you.)
Your speech and also your workshop was also instrumental in giving us increased confidence for our tour of SE Asia in the 5 months after the summit. (We bought a doorstop and used a picture app for translation as a result). ;)
Please don’t ever stop shining your light upon the world and exposing us all to the beauty of all cultures (especially the food…oh the food!) :)
Can’t wait to hear more nuggets of wisdom from you at WDS2012…and hopefully we can trade some interesting SE Asia stories in person!
Stay amazing!
Hello! Thank you for stopping by and letting me know how you are doing. I remember you two, of course – as well as our conversation enthusiastic conversation about street food in Asia and love of the Phils. Thrilled to hear that you’re doing well and looking forward to hearing all about your travel stories! Safe trip :)
Best 33 minutes ever!! I have been craving to know the details of your story since I stumbled upon your blog. Thank you so much for the inspiration.
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Well done! You are a natural!
Exchanging cooking knowledge for tourists with local food vendors is very clever. I can’t wait to try it one day soon. Great speech, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Have you written about getting robbed in Cambodia? I couldn’t find an article mentioning it.
Hi Matthew, no I never wrote about it. I didn’t talk to my family about it, and warned them when I posted this video. :) Thank you for watching!
Wow Jodi! I am very impressed by your courage and your choice to follow your dreams. It is very inspiring to hear of your trips you’ve made and experiences you have experienced! In addition, cool that you choose to travel solo, I think you are a really brave person!!