“Off the Beaten Trail” – Jake Heilbrunn

Jake Heilbrunn is the author of “Off the Beaten Trail.”  It's the story of what he learned by going on a backpacking trip throughout Central America by himself with no phone or knowledge of Spanish. Listen To The Podcast:                           His book is a memoir.   I like memoirs.   Especially from people who have lived long and interesting lives. Jake is 19.  He hasn’t been on the planet for very long. But as Indiana Jones once said, “It’s not the years, it’s the mileage.” Jake's got a story to tell. Especially because at 18… Jake decided to leave the life he was used to… and go on a solo backpacking trip through Central America with no phone OR knowledge of Spanish. We’re going to talk to him about that trip… and some of the things he learned from the experience. Jake’s been rocking it since his return.  In addition to his new book, he’s also been featured in Psychology Today, ThoughtCatalog.com, and The San Diego Union-Tribune to name a few. He’s living the DREAM THINK DO life… so I wanted to have him on.  Listen in because Jake has some wisdom to share that’s way beyond his years! I’d love to hear what stood out to you about Jake’s story. Leave a comment and let me know. Jake's Contact Information: Off the Beaten Trail by Jake Heilbrunn is available on Amazon. Website: www.jakeheilbrunn.com. Now, here’s some show notes for those who enjoy that kind of thing: Summary What could happen if you dared to follow your heart and make a major change in your life? What if that action taking your life in a whole new direction? Nineteen-year-old Dream Think Doer Jake Heilbrunn focuses on these questions. He’s written about his adventures in Off the Beaten Trail and is a sought-after speaker at high schools and universities across the country. Time-Stamped Show Notes [00:00] The first of three podcasts featuring three very diverse Dream Think Doers, at different points in their lives, who recognize the need to make a change to live more authentically. [05:00] Off the Beaten Trail is a memoir written by Jake Heilbrunn, covering his solo-backpacking trip through South America with no phone and no knowledge of the Spanish language. [07:00] An outbreak of hives and overwhelming anxiety made Heilbrunn question his life direction, and consider how he might make some changes. [10:46] Volunteer work in Guatemala was a brave choice, but it turned out that by following his gut feelings, Heilbrunn found a new way of being. [18:02] The contrasts between life in Guatemala and life in the U.S. brought Heilbrunn a new understanding of the world and the choices we make. [23:00] Heilbrunn finds inner power from his experience. He learned not to be afraid to put himself out there, and not to wait for someone to give him permission to live the life he dreamed of. [29:15] How a college career counselor changed his life by asking him two questions: What is the worst thing that could happen and what is the best thing that could happen. Dream Think Do – Jake Heilbrunn Off the Beaten Trail is a memoir of sorts, written by Jake Heilbrunn, covering his solo-backpacking trip through South America with no phone and no knowledge of the Spanish language. Memoirs often bring to mind work written by a person after reaching a seasoned age, but at nineteen, Jake already has some pretty incredible stories to tell, not just of his adventures, but of how he allowed the experiences to change his life. A Rough Start at College Heilbrunn’s problems started in earnest three days after he left his home and family in San Diego to attend an out-of-state college where he knew no one. He broke out in hives and was pretty much plagued by them every day for the first semester. Doctors prescribed pills and creams, but nothing seemed to work, and they couldn’t identify the source of his problem. If that wasn’t enough, he also began manifesting signs of excessive anxiety.