There is a podcast called Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman.
In the very first interview, he interviewed Brian Chesky from Airbnb. I have listened to this interview several times because in it, Brian Chesky talks about the hero’s journey in relation to a trip. I love the premise and have a vested interest because I have been working on creating an experience class and I have been searching for what makes an experience more memorable.
He describes what kinds of experiences make for “the best trip ever”, he has studied it, story boarded it, tested it and is now applying what he has learned to the “Trips” part of Airbnb.
The following is a quote from his product launch of “Trips”.
“A character starts in their ordinary world. They cross the threshold—think Wizard of Oz—to this new magical world, where they meet people…They have a moment of transformation and they return to the ordinary world.” – Brian Chesky
I think this is gold.
I thought about the trips I have taken and the experiences I have had. If the people and places were the same in two different trips the most memorable trips for me were when I left my comfort zone or engaged in something completely out of the ordinary.
We need more of this in our everyday lives.
I wondered why we should wait to find a magical transformation on a trip we may take once a year, or once every couple of years.
How do we apply this in life?
I think it’s quite simple actually.
Get out of the house, try new things, leave your comfort zone, meet new people and cross thresholds…then return to your ordinary world.
And repeat.
“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” ― Nelson Mandela
Thank you Mr. Mandela. I’m on it.