If you want to take it to the next level, then go on an adventure of your own. You don’t have to do anything crazy or plan it all yourself (I will help you plan if you reach out to me if you want), but do have to get out there and do things. The best way to learn a lesson is through personal experience. This is the most memorable for a human being, and that is why I recommend it. I also recommend travel because it will change the way you see the world. Do yourself a favor — go out and explore. I am here for you if you need the help, but I am confident you can do it.

My goals for my adventures are to go out and learn about the differences in the world, try new things and share my experiences with others. That is why I wrote this book. It is why I continue to make YouTube videos. And why I want to open myself to you if you need any help. If you need anything from travel suggestions, help planning your trip, or starting down the road to seld-discovery I am at your disposal. My email is lukemakris@gmail.com. You are free to email me any time with any request or story you have to share. I want to help you plan unforgettable adventures, and I would love to hear about them. I look forward to next time. Until then, I will catch you on social media. Have an awesome adventure!

Best wishes and lots of love as you explore the world around you, both near and far. Keep and open mind. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Also, Don’t Forget:

The Purpose of this book is to Encourage, Inspire and Enable you to travel. I believe traveling is a transformative experience everyone should partake in as early on as possible. It changed the trajectory of my life and I am sure will change yours. Now it is up to you to go experience what I am talking about.

It would have been nice to earn money from writing this book, (because it did take A LOT of work to write it) but that would defeat the purpose of enabling you to travel on a budget.

So, I ask that after you read this book (no matter where or when you got it) please determine how much value it provided you. Then based on that value, donate to help support me in my travel adventures as I strive to bring you more value through my future books, videos, tips, tricks, etc.

Any amount is very much appreciated! After reading this book I hope you see that I know how to stretch $1 very far. And if you didn’t, just know that I am GREAT at getting the most bang for my buck, no matter what it is. That’s part of what I believe makes me unique.

My Paypal: lukemakris@gmail.com

My Venmo: @lukemakris

My email: lukemakris@gmail.com (in case you want to find another way to support me, or just want to connect)

Go ahead and share this book with anyone and everyone.

Go Farther and Faster in Life with Less.

Best,

Luke Makris

I denied this lesson for too many years. It was only through the unforgettable experiences I have had in the past two years that I gathered enough strength and evidence to make myself believe that money is not as important as I thought. Many have said that money can buy happiness, but I beg to differ. I believe money can buy you freedom, but not happiness, at least not directly. By this, I mean that having more money allows you to worry about less worldly things such as bills, which allows you to focus more on the things that will truly bring you happiness in life.

For the longest time, I had a hard time spending money on myself, but never with spending money on others. Because of this, I would often forgo opportunities to do fun things like go to an amusement park, visit museums, and buy myself a gift. I would tell myself that whatever “it” was at the time was not worth my hard-earned money. What I failed to realize was that I was completely wrong.

While on my US Road Trip, I did lots of fun activities, as I mentioned before. I was only able to do most of them because they were free. After experiencing the exhilarating and sometimes life-changing nature of these activities, I began to question why I had deprived myself for all these years.

I have always been an entrepreneurial guy. I started my own small business, and I am always planning out a new method of making a little extra cash. Also, I have been a saver since first grade, and even had a newspaper route in fourth grade. Needless to say, I had more money than most of my friends and classmates, yet I did not spend any of it on myself. As a result, I was missing out on many new and unexpected opportunities.

When I lost all my possessions on the train, I realized that, within the blink of an eye, all my money could disappear. If I continued to hold onto money so tightly, I would miss many opportunities in life, opportunities that could prove to be much more valuable than the money. Unfortunately, it took a severe incident to get me to change my habits. But after that day, I took on a whole new approach to life. If there was something I wanted to do, even if it cost me some money, I was going to do it.

Now, I know that not everything I spend my money on will be worth it, but that is when I think of it as a learning experience rather than a lost cause. For example, I spend $80 zip lining in Vermont. After the fact, I was very disappointed. It was not as exhilarating as I thought it would be. All I could think about was that I would rather have gone go-karting (another one of my new experiences) ten times instead of spending the equivalent costs on zip lining.

I discovered then that there were so many things I could have done differently, but that thinking about them would not move me forward in life. If anything, it would only make me bitter. Instead, I could use each experience as a personal learning tool. Then, through my YouTube videos and travel advice, I could bring the experiences to life and help others to gauge whether it would be something they truly would enjoy. My loss could save many others money and provide them with their ideal bucket list activity.

All this is not to say that I no longer look for good deals or wait for holiday sales to make select purchases. I still do shop frugally, but I do not let money stop me from doing something new or something I would like to do. I maintain a budget and shop wisely, but I also allow myself to have some fun with the money I earn. Each time I remind myself, “Money is not as valuable as I think it is, but the opportunities it enables me to take advantage of are.”

When I was robbed in Italy and had nothing left, I had to go to the United States embassy to get a temporary passport. To enter an embassy, you have to be able to prove who you are, which is difficult if you have no ID. There are other ways to prove who you are, but they can be time-consuming and strenuous. A social security number makes the process easier because it uniquely identifies you, is issued by the US government, and trusted by the government. If you know it, you can confirm your identity quickly, and that is exactly what I did.

At the embassy, they asked for my ID. I did not have it, but I proudly told them my social security number. Within a matter of minutes, as opposed to hours or even days, I was a proven to be an American citizen. I have so much to thank my mom for, but this is probably the most important thing she has taught me. I do not know how else I would have proven who I am. Thank you, Mom!

My US Road Trip was perfect for the first few weeks. Then the problems began: I got horribly lost, and my car battery died in Vermont; I had to drive 8 hours straight across Wyoming; and so many others. I became frustrated many times in those instances. I could not understand why I was so unlucky.

One outcome of traveling on your own in remote areas is that you spend hours on end with yourself. This gives you time to reflect and learn about yourself and the world. One of my worst driving experiences occurred in California. It was during that trip that I realized this hard fact: the horrible days are a must.

I was driving on Route 1 at the northernmost tip of California. It is a painful to drive, one lane winding road that scales a mountain. Once you are on it, there is no turning back or passing cars. I had to force myself to be calm and collected. I finally managed to control my emotions and reach a state of peace. During that time, I began to think long and hard about all of the similarly unfortunate events that had transpired on my trip.

I asked myself how the trip would have been different if none of these painful experiences and miserable days had happened. I told myself it would have been ten times better. Sadly, I believed this for the next couple of hours and got angry that God would let me have such bad experiences. It was not until the end of the next day that I realized my mistake and understood this rule of nature.

The day after that horrible drive was one of the best days of the trip. Surprisingly, the series of events over the past 48 hours seemed like déjà vu. It was not the events themselves, but the pattern that stood out to me. I realized that every single one of my most memorable and activity packed days had been preceded by a horrible event or day. My adventures in Quebec were preceded by my car battery dying. My thrilling ATV experience was preceded by an uneventful day of travel. My amazing experiences in Yellowstone National Park were preceded by eight hours of torture as I drove 8 hours straight across the wide-open state of Wyoming with nothing in sight for miles! And those are only three examples.

What I realized is that my mind was comparing two days (the best day and the worst day) that are on the opposite ends of the spectrum. It is this contrast that made the great days so amazing and memorable. If every day became an awesome day, I would lose that contrast, and the impact would slowly be lost in my memories as a truly special day. Having the bad days helps you appreciate the good ones. The bad stuff grounds you so that you can have a more optimistic and appreciative mindset.

To illustrate this, think about how the following would feel. Take your favorite pastime or one of your most memorable days. Now try to imagine doing that every single day for the next year. How about if you did it for two years or even the rest of your life? Would it still be as memorable and thrilling? Probably not. This is why I say that the horrible days in life are a must.

When I returned from my European Train Trip, I had no cell phone. Until I found a replacement, I had to use an old flip phone. It was such a struggle to use that old flip phone. Every time I missed a call or text, wanted to post on Facebook or do other things most millennials take for granted, I became more and more frustrated. It made me almost ready to pay any price for a new phone. But, being someone who likes to make deals, I focused on finding the perfect phone at the lowest price.

I knew I wanted an iPhone 6s because of its superior camera. At the time they were selling for $600 new and around $350 used. Unfortunately, I could only spend about $200 for a phone (Remember that I was also in the process of replacing my computer, passport, ID, video camera, clothes and bowties). I still held out for the iPhone 6s.

This led to three more weeks without a smartphone, which felt like an eternity. But with some patience, and a little pride, I guess, I finally found what I was looking for, a brand-new iPhone 6s for only $200. This great deal, coupled with the fact that I had survived what felt like an eternity without a smartphone, drove home the importance of having patience. I now believe, through experience, that good things come to those who wait.

The second example of the importance of patience is more of a compilation of stories. Much of my US and European trips were about doing more with less and spending as little money as possible. This meant that when I wanted to try new things, visit museums, or do any paid activities, I had to be very decisive and aware of all my spending.

In the US, it was easy to use my travel-advice-sharing spiel (which you can find on YouTube under: “The BowtieGuyMD Spiel for Free Stuff!”) to earn things like free food from fast food restaurants and farmers markets, and entry to smaller attractions, but some things were much harder. These were usually the bigger-ticket items, such as National Park and amusement park admission fees. On top of that, there were things on my bucket list that fell into this category. I wanted to ride an ATV for the first time, go to a shooting range, ride in a dune buggy, learn to surf, and go sky diving, among other things.

On the trip, I managed to do 80% of the big-ticket items on my list, much of which I did for free. Along the way, there were many times when I could have paid to do an activity, but I said no and waited patiently for the right opportunity. I tried my pitch out on even the most expensive things. I did not have much faith in my big-ticket attempts, but I soon realized that I should have.

Here are some examples of the incredible experiences I would have missed if I hadn’t exercised patience.

In Oregon, I met the Snuggards family. They were the key contributors to my dune buggy and ATV experience. I walked into Sand Lake Sand Dunes Campground and started introducing myself. Not long after, I met this awesome family and had the experience of a lifetime. Riding dune buggies is a hobby of theirs, and they appeared to have invested large amounts of their time and money into it. After befriending them and asking, I got to ride in a dune buggy several times, including at night (You can also find a video of this on YouTube under: “What it is Like to Ride a Dune Buggy for the First Time.” The Snuggards invited me to spend the night with them. The next day, I got to drive my own ATV. I even rode on the back of a dirt bike, which was quite the experience. I thought I was going to fall off the entire time, but it was tons of fun. It was an epic two days!

All along the West Coast, I had numerous opportunities to take surf lessons. Let me tell you, it was very tempting, but also very costly. I told myself I would wait until I found what I thought was a reasonable price, and if that did not happen, then I would simply wait for a future trip to learn to surf. Luckily, I did not have to wait that long, thanks to Surf Ed in Santa Cruz, who worked out a fabulous deal. I totally recommend learning to surf with them if you are in Santa Cruz!

I do not know why, but I have always dreamed of shooting a gun. My uncle lives in Phoenix, Arizona and so I of course wanted to stop by for a couple days to say hi. He is also a former cop and current FBI agent. You might think there is not much to do in Phoenix, and that it would be too hot to do anything outdoors, but you would be very wrong. There is so much to do, including going to an outdoor shooting range. Yes, I said outdoors. My uncle took me skeet shooting and we spent an hour and a half outside in the 109° F sunshine. It was awesome! I barely even thought about the heat, and I did not even know how hot it was until after we finished.

These are just some examples of how I “earned” my way across the country whether it was through a service I provided, such as writing a review and creating publicity, or by being brave enough to ask. However, what was even more significant to me was the following:

· I gained tremendous amounts of self-confidence and maturity.

· I learned how to accept rejection in a healthy manner.

· I saved money, gained valuable skills and learned many important lessons.

· I was pleasantly shocked and am forever grateful for all those who helped me along my trip, as well as for those who did not. Both were crucial to my personal development.

I now believe, because of these experiences, that good thing … no, wait … GREAT things come to those who wait.

Life Lesson from Travel #8: Patience is a Virtue was originally published in Ascent Publication on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

This next lesson is pretty straightforward, and as a student IT technician, I should have known better. Backing up your data is crucial. If you do not know anything about technology, do not worry. Google, the provider I recommend, is easy to use and has great tech support. I’ll tell you more about Google Drive soon. But let me share my story first.

My US Road Trip was a wild trip. It is safe to say I took more photos on this trip than I have in the rest of my life. I had no idea how to pick and choose what I took pictures of and what I recorded for my YouTube videos. As a result, I had almost a terabyte of data from the trip. This is the equivalent of 1,099,511,627,776 letters in a document, a 157,073,089,682 word essay, 1,500 CDs, 500 hours of videos, 250 movies, or 650 episodes of your favorite TV show! Needless to say, I had a lot to lose if something went wrong.

Fortunately, I was not robbed on this trip, but I did learn this painful lesson in another way. Many people do not know that when you save and delete things from your computer, you are accessing your hard drive. This is where all your data is stored. The more you use it the quicker it dies. Every time you save a file, move a file or delete a file you use the hard drive. Thus, after three years of use at school and 80 days of moving lots of data, my precious MacBook began to die.

As I shared my experiences through weekly YouTube videos, which depicted each of my days in detail, I began to have trouble accessing my files. I would click on them and the computer would tell me, “Sorry, these files are not readable.” I panicked! This could mean one of two things: either the files were truly corrupt and non-recoverable; or if I was lucky, the data was fine, but the computer was struggling to read the files because of missing pieces of data.

To make a long story short, my university IT office used their expertise to recover 95% of my data. I am not experienced or knowledgeable enough to explain how these methods worked in detail, so I will not try. I can tell you they used a system that basically filled in the missing holes of data within the hard drive based on complicated math. This process took about three weeks, but it was worth it. At that point, what mattered to me was that I got all my data back so I could share my experiences with you. But this is not the end of the story.

After my data was recovered, I was introduced to Google’s version of the cloud. You might be aware of iCloud or the Apple Cloud, but I think Google Drive is far better and this is why: ease of use, rapid customer service, and incredible pricing. Google Drive allows you to store everything from word documents and photos to videos and movies, all on their hard drives (which are much less likely to fail you than a computer); you can then access any of your files no matter where you are. Of course, you must be connected to the Internet.

Let me explain each of the benefits I listed above with a story about my data. The first thing I did after recovering all my data was to upload it to Google Drive. Fortunately, as a student at the University of Maryland, I was entitled to unlimited Google storage. If you are or were a student at a university, I highly suggest you look into whether you have this benefit. If, however, you do not, Google Drive still allows you a certain amount of free storage, which is more than sufficient for most people. After that, additional storage is not too expensive. Also, you are allowed limitless storage of high-resolution photos, which is the primary reason most people need large amounts of storage space.

After uploading all of my data to Google Drive, I began to make my weekly videos. As I was cleaning out old data (which I should not have been doing since I had unlimited storage), I accidently deleted folders and emptied my trash, which contained a large amount of my US Road Trip data. Usually, deleting things is not a problem because you can go into the trash and pull them back out. The mistake I made was empting the trash because that permanently deletes everything.

I panicked and called Google right away. They explained to me that emptying your trash on any computer would do just what I feared; there would be no way to recover anything from an empty trash can on a typical personal computer. However, Google explained to me that my situation was different. Because of Google, I was in luck. Since my data was on their server, they still had access to it. They make backups of backups. Within an hour, I had all my photos restored and was given extra storage. My life was saved once again, but this would not be the last time Google was my superhero.

Shortly before I left for my European Train Trip, Google announced they would now offer unlimited storage for photos to all their users. This meant that photos would not contribute to your storage maximum and you could upload as many high-resolution photos as you wanted. You would simply download the app, choose an upload preference, and then start taking pictures. Any picture was taken on your phone, iPad, or another device would now be connected to Google’s servers, and you would no longer need to store them on your device. This would free up space and save your data if it was lost on your phone or computer.

As you know, this is exactly what happened to me. When my stuff was stolen, they got both my phone and my computer. I had been saving all my photos on my computer (and not backing up to the cloud because of weak internet connections), and when it was stolen, I was left with nothing, or so I thought. Weeks after coming home, I remembered that I had activated Google Photos and I found over 900 of my photos from the trip. I have no idea how many I took, but it sure looked like most it was there. Once again, I was saved by Google.

Google never ceases to impress me, and this is why I continually advocate for them of my free will. Do yourself a favor and look into using them for all your data and photos. It is true that when you store your data on Google, they can access it if they choose to, but they do claim to take measures to protect your privacy. You might want to think twice about what exactly you put on there, but if you give it a chance, I’m sure that Google will be your new best friend.

I was without a computer or iPhone during my three-week stay in France. Even worse, during my journey from Naples to Paris, I had no technology to help me with directions, train schedules, and passing the time. It made the trip much more difficult, but I realized that only a few years ago that is how everyone traveled.

After I had arrived in Paris, I had no phone and limited access to a slow computer for the next two weeks. There was nothing good on TV, so I had to find other things to do with my time. I ended up doing a significant amount of meditating and reflecting on the role that technology played in my life. When I arrived back in Maryland, I had a computer, but still no smartphone. Instead, I had to use a flip phone that barely even received text messages. Two weeks later, I got a new iPhone, which is when this life lesson sunk in.

I had just spent five weeks with little to no technology, and I survived! I could not believe it. During those first days when I had nothing, I was asking myself, “How will I live without my technology?” I thought I might have a mental breakdown. It almost felt like the world might end. That might sound a bit exaggerated but it is not. I dare you to give it a try and you will see how real the experience is.

With more time to reflect on life, I began to ponder the significance of material possessions in life. After much thought, it came to my attention that these material things take away from my focus on the more important things in life. These are the things that I take for granted. Things like food, water, shelter, a home, and people who care about me.

Then I began to think about an even more intangible aspect of life, the gifts I was designed with by God. Thinking about my trips, I realized that I am gifted with a mind and spirit capable of anything and that I am a truly adventurous and daring individual. Most people I talked to would have never taken a trip like I did all alone. I became proud of who I am and what I have accomplished in life. I began to see through all the artificial things in life. These are the things that we think bring meaning and importance to out life but do not. Things like money, expensive cars, big houses, cell phones, computers, etc. It gave me a new perspective on life and how I want to utilize it to its fullest potential.

When I got my new phone, it was a relief. My graduate education had already been underway for two weeks, and it was hard to manage everything with only a flip phone. The funny thing is that, after the fact, I almost wish I had never gotten a new phone. I know, crazy, right? I became so accustomed to not having a smartphone and managing without it that I realized I did not truly need a new phone. Getting one surely made life much easier and was a relief, but I think I could have managed without it. On top of that, I continually find myself getting consumed by my phone. I lose personal interaction with others and the sense of awareness of what is going on around me. I am torn between two worlds, which can be mind-boggling.

To keep my life in balance, I remind myself of that terrifying ordeal in Italy– I managed to survive for five weeks with no smartphone and very little technology. I hate thinking about how I was robbed, but each time I do, it enforces and conditions me to be more conscious of how I utilize technology and maintain a balance in life. This is one more surprising benefit of that unfortunate event. It gives me new energy and a refreshed view on life.

The lesson here is that technology is wonderful and can make life easier, but never get consumed by it and never forget what you can accomplish without it. The last point can only be realized by experiencing time without technology; therefore, I am going to leave you with a challenge: Try to go just one week without a smartphone. If you cannot do that, try to go one week with just an old flip phone — no internet or texting, just phone calls. If you cannot do that, try to go three days without any phone. If you cannot do that, try to go just one day without a phone.

If you try any of these and are not successful, do not think of it as a failure. Think of it as a learning experience and new goal to be set. Start with one day. Once you achieve that goal, move to two days, then three, then four, and then five. When you get to the fifth day, set the goal of one week and start to think about how well you are managing to survive without the phone. At this point, you need to focus on yourself and reflect on the following: what you are fortunate enough to have; what makes you special; and what makes you want to get out of bed every day. The best practice would be to document everything in writing or video because no matter how hard you try, you will forget some things, especially on day seven when you pick your phone back up. Having something to review will serve as a refresher and give you a basis for accountability to yourself. And if you do all this with conviction I believe this process will help you to enjoy life to the fullest.

I often find in my daily life that things happen for a reason. This includes things both small and large. As a case in point, once I showed up to an appointment 10 minutes late because of traffic. It turns out the slow traffic was the result of an accident. If I had started any earlier, it could have been me in that accident. Even though I missed my appointment and had to reschedule for two months later, I was spared worse outcomes such as injury and or repair expenses. Other people tell me similar stories about how small things, that at the moment, we think are the end of the world, can turn out to be blessings in disguise.

Here is a more powerful example. In the summer of 2016, I did not get an internship. At first, I was furious with God and with myself. I did not understand why God would let this happen and how I could have failed to find an internship. What I realized later was that I did not get an internship because God had an even greater plan for me: to travel the US for 80 days out of the back of my car. It was an experience that drastically changed the course of my life.

Now consider the situation from lesson 1. What if the person or persons who stole my stuff on the train were carrying a weapon and I had been awake? Who is to say that plan B would have been to use the weapon(s). After all, I was on a train without security cameras. Being asleep could have made their job easier (if you want to call stealing a job…) and spared my life. It may sound as if I am exaggerating a bit, but I am serious. I spoke to locals in Italy who told me about friends and family members who were injured in robberies.

I realized that I was a lucky man. Even though I lost over $2,000 worth of technology and all my identification, I still had my lovely face to take a picture of and make a new passport. I was able to replace the material things and continue with my life. This experience taught me an enormous amount about myself and about gratitude, which I will discuss in the next life lesson.

The lesson here is that no matter how bad an event is, or how bad you think it is, there is usually a reason for it. Personally, I believe it is an act of God, a plan that he has for a better future. But even if you do not believe in God, I guarantee that something in the universe is dictating all these events. Take some time to think about it and investigate who God is. He has changed my life, and he could change yours. Just think about it.

When I was on my US Road Trip, initially, my goal was not to earn my way around the country. In fact, I had been a saver since I was in 1st grade and I was really to spend my well-earned money. I had been a paper boy for seven years and had countless other business ventures as a child. So I planned every expense of this trip and budgeted $10,000. However, just days after starting the trip, when my entrepreneurial spirit kicked in, I learned about the power of asking. I developed a one-minute pitch that told people what I was doing and asked for their support.

Not long after coming up with the pitch (and revising it at least 30 times), I began to receive free food from restaurants, farmers markets, and locals. I had to tailor each speech to its audience, show my enthusiasm and connect with the person to whom I was speaking. Sometimes getting ahold of the right person to talk to was the key to getting a yes, and it was surely the hardest part.

I continued to revise my pitch and began to use it for museums and attractions. I said to myself if these YouTubers and blogger who I read about and watch all the time can do it, why can’t I? After the first three weeks, the only thing I was paying for was gas. Still, I was only asking for what I would consider small things (valued at under $20) in most situations. It was only when I arrived in Santa Cruz that I truly realized the power of asking when I pitched myself for something worth $120. Here is that story.

I had told myself before arriving in California that one of the things I wanted to try was surfing. Then, I found out that one surf lesson cost about $120, which was much more than I wanted to pay. I felt defeated. That is until I thought about my pitch. I kept telling myself it would never work. Surely, they wouldn’t give me something that costs $120 for free. I thought about it hard and asked myself, “What is the worst that could happen if I asked?” They would just say no, right? I did not have to fear legal action or being embarrassed, besides, who knows if I would ever meet these people again. The only two possible results would be yes or no. So I tried it.

I went to a surf school, and I spoke to an employee who told me that the manager was out. She informed me that when he returned he would ask on my behalf and then call me back. From experience, I knew that was a bad sign. When asking for something for free, your goal is to personally make the pitch to the person in power. First, a face-to-face interaction means that the words coming out of one’s mouth now represent who they are as an individual. This leads people to want to say and do more favorable things (if you want to know more I suggest taking a psych course or two). Also, it allows the other party to interpret body language and feel your energy. Most importantly it allows you to connect one on one with the other party by reshaping your pitch and conversation to align with what the other party cares most about. Only by being there in person can you effectively and accurately diagnose the situation. On the other hand, playing a game of Telephone often ends with dissatisfying results.

To pass the time, I went off to a local art museum, The Museum of Art and History (I totally recommend it). Unfortunately, I could not stop thinking about the surf lesson. My mind was racing with the possible scenarios, and they all ended with some form of no, which seemed devastating at the time. The funny thing is that if the answer were no, I would not be hurt or changed in any negative way. I would be just fine, even if I didn’t learn to surf.

One hour later the phone rang. I picked it up, and you know what happened next? They said YES! I was going to get a free surf lesson. I raced back to the beach and took advantage of their generous offer. It was the craziest thing ever! I successfully learned to surf after just one hour. Before that day I thought that surfing was something only other pro athletes tried. I do not know why but I thought that you had to be good at other sports as a gateway requirement to trying out surfing. The feeling that you get when you stand up on the board, successfully hold your balance and feel the wind across your body is inexplicable. It is a perfect metaphor for how it feels to have worked so hard on developing a pitch, refining it and then executing it with success!

If you would like to develop a pitch of your own, whether for travel or for another goal of yours, I have included the elements of a pitch and tips for a successful pitch below. If you want a more interactive and visual explanation you can go to my YouTube channel (Luke Makris) where I posted a video explaining this. The video is titled, “How to Form a Successful Sales Pitch for Travel.”

ELEMENTS OF “THE PITCH”

1. Introduce yourself
2. Tell them what you are doing
3. Provide yourself with credibility
4. Tell them what you will do for them
5. Ask for exactly what you want (don’t hold back)

TIPS FOR DELIVERING A SUCCEFUL PITCH

· Make every effort to speak to the highest seniority person, or second best, the marketing head

· State your name and alias on social media if it is different

· Firm handshake

· Eye contact

· SMILE

This is a very simple lesson and a rule I have chosen to live my life by. For introverts, I know this can be difficult, but the power of this and the opportunities created by meeting new people is endless. In a professional setting, you might be opened to new job opportunities. On vacation, you might be introduced to new adventures. In school, you might be exposed to new subjects of interest. You might even be introduced to your calling in life through one of these unexpected doors.

On both of my trips, this rule gave me many new adventures worth share and led to many unexpected situations. Here are a few of the activities I was able to do thanks to the people I met, both strangers and friends of friends.

- I discovered that sand dunes exist in Oregon. While there, I got to ride in a dune buggy as well as ride a quad for the first time, both of which were on my bucket list for the trip!

- I ate dinner in a hidden local restaurant, called The Cracker, whose front door was secretly hidden away in the parking garage of a massive hotel. If you’re ever in Berlin, you should look it up.

- People shared countless things worth seeing in each city I visited. I now have many great memories from each of those activities to share in my YouTube videos.

- I was able to find a hidden wind cave; a favorite spot pointed out to me by a park ranger.

- I gained valuable insider information when it came to local deals and things to avoid. For example, in Europe, the guides of those free tours I mentioned are locals, so they know all the secret places and scams — so much local knowledge you could benefit from. Be sure to introduce yourself at the beginning, engage in their tour, and then ask for advice at the end.