The Doorstep Mile

The times I have rolled the dice and gone big with my dreams have always turned out to be fascinating, informative experiences. You learn so much about the world and yourself when you step out your front door and dare yourself to have a look around.

Show Notes

Ten lessons from the road

We are amongst the most fortunate people who have ever lived. What excuse do we have not to try to maximise our potential and our opportunities in an adventurous, worthwhile, fulfilling life?
The times I have rolled the dice and gone big with my dreams have always turned out to be fascinating, informative experiences. You learn so much about the world and yourself when you step out your front door and dare yourself to have a look around.
Here then are ten lessons from the road.
  1. Shoot for the moon. Set yourself an outrageous goal. 
  2. Just do it. Make it harder to ignore your dream than to overcome the risks and obstacles.
  3. Failing is a normal, acceptable and unavoidable fact of life. Giving up easily need not be. Keep taking one more step and you might be surprised how far you travel.
  4. You are the only person who controls your potential. Everything is up to you. The choice is yours.
  5. A bad day is a good day. Earn the good times. Embrace Type 2 fun. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.
  6. Be brutally honest with yourself. Do you believe your own excuses?
  7. Does this year matter? Then use it.
  8. Think like a goldfish. Do not think about the end. Focus on the next step to keep you moving forward.
  9. Take care of yourself. Physically and mentally. Being fit feels good. Anima sane in corpore sane – a healthy mind in a healthy body. 
  10. The world is a good place. Trust. Smile. Boldness and relentless passion will be rewarded. 
Over to You:
  • What ten lessons has your road in life taught you?
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What is The Doorstep Mile?

Would you like a more adventurous life?
Are you being held back by a lack of time or money? By fear, indecision, or a feeling of being selfish or an imposter?
Living adventurously is not about cycling around the world or rowing across an ocean.
Living adventurously is about the attitude you choose each day. It instils an enthusiasm to resurrect the boldness and curiosity that many of us lose as adults.
Whether at work or home, taking the first step to begin a new venture is daunting. If you dream of a big adventure, begin with a microadventure.
This is the Doorstep Mile, the hardest part of every journey.
The Doorstep Mile will reveal why you want to change direction, what’s stopping you, and how to build an adventurous spirit into your busy daily life.
Dream big, but start small.

Don’t yearn for the adventure of a lifetime. Begin a lifetime of living adventurously.
What would your future self advise you to do?
What would you do if you could not fail?
Is your to-do list urgent or important?
You will never simultaneously have enough time, money and mojo.
There are opportunities for adventure in your daily 5-to-9.
The hardest challenge is getting out the front door and beginning: the Doorstep Mile.

Alastair Humphreys, a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, cycled around the world for four years but also schedules a monthly tree climb. He has crossed the Empty Quarter desert, rowed the Atlantic, walked a lap of the M25 and busked through Spain, despite being unable to play the violin.

‘The gospel of short, perspective-shifting bursts of travel closer to home.’ New York Times
‘A life-long adventurer.’ Financial Times
‘Upend your boring routine… it doesn't take much.’ Outside Magazine

Visit www.alastairhumphreys.com to listen to Alastair's podcast, sign up to his newsletter or read his other books.
@al_humphreys