15 Years of Sacrifice, Secrets, & Sleeping with Cobras: Refusing an “Ordinary” Life to Build a Lost Paradise with Martin Vrana

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Sep 2, 2025

In a captivating journey, Martin Vrana, the founder of Lost Paradise, shares how he spent nearly 15 years creating a boutique resort on a remote island in Bali after leaving his stable life in Sweden. He reveals the emotional and logistical hurdles he faced, from working 450 hours a month to sourcing reclaimed wood across Indonesia. Martin discusses the personal sacrifices made, including maintaining secrecy from friends and family, and reflects on the resilience required to turn a dream into reality despite burnout and challenges that tested his commitment.

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INSIGHT

Learning Repair Over Replace

Local craft culture taught Martin to repair and reuse instead of replacing.
This mindset shaped sourcing reclaimed wood and building sustainably across Indonesia.

ADVICE

Respect Local Culture When Developing

Be respectful and integrate with local communities when developing in tourist areas.
Avoid behaving like a wealthy outsider and prioritize kindness and local relationships.

ANECDOTE

Language Learned On The Construction Site

Martin learned Indonesian by sitting and talking with carpenters on his construction site.
Speaking like a local earned smiles and deeper community trust.

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What happens when someone gives up security to build a tropical dream on a tiny island, with no job, no plan, and only one light bulb for power?

Martin Vrana is the founder of Lost Paradise, a boutique resort he spent nearly 15 years building from scratch on a small island off Bali’s coast. Born and raised in Scandinavia, Martin left a safe life behind to follow an adventurous dream, one that taught him resilience, determination, and the art of creating a life on his own terms.

In this episode, Martin tells the story of how he turned a blank plot of land into Lost Paradise resort, through three jobs, relentless determination, and years of overcoming logistical, emotional, and cultural challenges.

Martin shares the raw truth behind building Lost Paradise from the ground up: the emotional cost, the logistical nightmares, and the relentless mindset that carried him through. You’ll hear how he navigated burnout, sacrificed relationships, and lived off-grid with no electricity, all while staying anchored to his vision. This story isn’t about overnight success; it’s about what’s possible when you refuse to quit.

What wild dream or goal of your are you ready to make happen? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why he kept the journey secret (even from his own mother)
How sourcing reclaimed wood across Indonesia became an epic logistical feat
What it felt like to work 450 hours a month to fund a project you’re not sure will succeed
How natural disasters and COVID unexpectedly pushed the project forward
The emotional toll of isolation, stress, and living off-grid in a half-built bungalow
How Martin became part of the community, learning language and culture on the ground
Why he calls himself a modern-day adventurer, not a social media entrepreneur
What building Lost Paradise taught him about success, freedom, and fulfillment
How he’s recovering from the journey and what he’s dreaming up next
And so much more

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