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

7 snips

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.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

From Malmö Window To Island Owner

Martin quit his nine-to-five in Sweden and used his savings to buy land in Southeast Asia with no plan.
Over nearly 15 years he built Lost Paradise from scratch through relentless work and learning on the ground.

INSIGHT

Stubbornness Reframed As Determination

Martin reframed apparent stubbornness as deep determination that kept him moving forward.
Recognizing determination changed how he saw his actions and sustained long-term effort.

ANECDOTE

Keeping The Project Secret

Martin told friends early on but stopped sharing when shame and doubt set in as progress stalled.
He kept the project secret from his mother for about 10 years to avoid worrying her.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

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

Resources:

Want More?

Thanks To Our Sponsors:

Apple Card - Earn 3% back on the Apple products and services you love with Apple Card.
Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com