If you’re going to live out your dream you’d better be doing the right things. In my last post I introduced you to Justin and Adam Fricke, two brothers from central Florida, who are living out their dream of visiting all 50 states in a Sprinter Van, hiking, surfing, and rock climbing all along the way. It’s called The Bro’d Trip. Their journey got off to just a bit of a rocky start, but now they’re beginning to enjoy the ride and are learning all along the way.
What really impressed me about The Bro’d Trip is that Adam and Justin did everything right as they prepared to live the dream. They thought it through. They laid the groundwork. They prepared themselves as best they could. And they set out on their trip having researched, having enlisted partners, and with money in the bank.
Here are the seven right things Justin and Adam did that enabled them to live out their dream and pursue their passion:
- They saved. Justin had the idea for the trip already more than two years ago, and it took him a while to enlist Adam to jump in with him. But as soon as Justin set the idea in stone he began to save his money and live a thrifty life. He had his sites set on purchasing a van with cash and wanted to have substantial money in the bank before they left. Adam did the same once he decided he would go along. Every time they got their pay checks a majority of it went into savings. The van was, indeed, bought with cash. The brothers have savings that will help support them as they go, as well as have some money left over when they return home.
- They sought sponsors. A number of months before they embarked, the brothers put together a package to send out to potential sponsors. It included sunglasses and other free goodies, a note, and a video introducing the whole concept of sponsorship for their trip. Some companies ignored it. Some responded with in kind donations. Still others stepped up and provided financial assistance. In fact, one company is providing enough support for them to add a healthy supplement to their savings as they go.
- They built a platform. Before they took off, both brothers used social media separately to introduce the idea of their trip. Once they came up with branding for The Bro’d Trip they began to promote it using a web site, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. People took note and began to follow. That platform will only grow as they get more publicity throughout the course of the trip.
- They promoted themselves. Aside from social media, Adam and Justin took advantage of local news outlets to get some promotion. In fact, the newspaper at their alma mater, The University of Central Florida, the second largest university in the nation, did a piece on the brothers, giving them both print and online promotion.
- They used their skills. Justin knows how to blog and build a web site. Adam knows how to use video. And they both are pretty great behind the lens of a camera. Writing, photos, and video will be the lifeblood of the journey as they get the word out about what they’re doing. No doubt these skills will also be incredibly beneficial as they attempt to land jobs once the year is over.
- They threw a party. Just before they left, the brothers and their parents threw a party for all the local people who have been, and will be, supporting them. It was a great way for them to say thank you and to provide one last way for friends and family to say farewell. Not only that, but it was a celebration of the accomplishment of being able to fulfill a dream.
- They connected personally. All the early supporters of The Bro’d Trip got a bumper sticker in the mail and were asked to put it in an interesting place, take a photograph of it, and post it on social media. They ran a contest to see who would post it in the most interesting place. This was yet another creative way to promote the trip online. In addition, everyone who signs up on their web site to receive email updates will get a handwritten post card from the brothers somewhere along the way. In the day and age of seemingly everything being online, who wouldn’t want to get a handwritten post card in the mail?
Living out a dream takes a great deal of preparation and promotion. Justin and Adam have done all the right things. The dream they’re living will most certainly propel them to bigger and better things. But it all begins with the small details. They did the right things.
When you do the right things, you can begin to pursue your dream, as well.
What would you add to this list?
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