Jack Macdonald

Location: London, United Kingdom

From a young age, Mum and Dad made it clear to my sister and I that travel was a privilege and was not to be taken for granted. A lesson I’m grateful for, that has stuck with me to this day.

I can still remember going on a plane for the first time for a family holiday when I was eight years old (much younger than my parents were when they went on their first plane). I was so excited and filled with adrenaline as I embarked on an unknown journey, losing all sense of what was real and possible in this world, looking out the window, head above the clouds.

There’s just something about that feeling…

Having flown on lots of planes since, the excitement and adrenaline has admittedly worn off some, however, I still find myself cherishing the clarity, separation, and anticipation of a new adventure that a plane offers.

There’s something about being up in the sky, far away from the ground, that helps me to detach from the pressures, thoughts, and obligations of everyday life, giving me new energy and perspective.

Since that very first flight, some of my travels include:

• More family holidays throughout Australia.
• My first international trip to the U.S. at age sixteen.
• Moving to the U.S. at age nineteen, where I lived for four years, studying, and playing college basketball in both San Francisco and Anchorage, Alaska.
• A two-week trip to Thailand with a best friend in 2018.
• A trip to Mexico for a week with another of my best friends in 2019.
• Travelling to Vietnam, Hong Kong, and China in search of quality manufacturers for our clothing business Colour Plane in both 2022 and 2023.
• Travelling back to the U.S. and Canada multiple times for friend’s weddings and short holidays with my beautiful girlfriend Steph (she made me write this) in 2022 and 2023.
• Travelling to Tasmania to run a crazy race through one of the most beautiful rainforests in the world with 3 of my best mates in early 2023.
• Most recently, a three-month trip around Europe to plant seeds, expand the Colour Plane business, and to see more of the world (still living this one out).

Looking at the above, it’s easy to see that I’ve been blessed with several opportunities and resources along the way, making these trips possible. This is no doubt true; I feel extremely fortunate to have seen and experienced what I have. I’m very lucky to have grown up in a country like Australia, and to have parents that valued trips and experiences over material possessions.

With that said, nearly all these trips came off the back of a lot of hard work, and a concerted effort to prioritise travel and life experiences over other things.  

Whilst living in the U.S. I came across this guy by the name of Jesse Itzler. If you’re unfamiliar with him, look him up, he has a refreshing take on life. One of the things that he lives by is this idea of a ‘life resume.’ Essentially, a way of life that prioritizes life experiences over anything else, including a traditional resume.

This philosophy really aligned with me at the time and became something that I adopted in my own life. That was five years ago now, and I can’t express just how fruitful this mindset has been. So much so that I’m telling you about it. Not only has it helped me to see more of the world, challenge myself, try new things, meet new people, and grow in many ways, but it’s also helped me professionally funnily enough.

Having a story that is considered different to the norm has opened doors and helped me to stand out, maybe more than I’d expect. In fact, it’s something that I now look for in others when hiring for my own business. This isn’t to say that work experience isn’t important, it no doubt is, however, I wouldn’t discredit the impact that an interesting life resume can have.

When it comes to travel and jumping at experiences that are outside of your daily life or routine, it can be easy to find excuses and hide behind your sensibilities. “It’s not the right time”, “It’s too expensive”, “I’m not ready”, etc. These are all constructs that we create in our minds and oftentimes are not as hard to overcome as we may think. “GO NOW!” That’s what I say to myself when I feel these thoughts creeping in.

The reality is, there will never be an ideal time to go. Therefore, it’s best to just commit, and as a coach of mine used to say, “figure it the fuck out.”

If you’re young without many responsibilities, jump at experiences now, don’t worry about your bank account, or part-time job, those things can wait. I know it may seem scary and put the pressure on at times, but in my experience a bit of pressure is good everyone now and then, especially when the payoff is exploring a different country or culture. You’ll figure it out, just as I did.

From age 24-26 I barely had a cent to my name, I was living week to week, and anything that I did manage to save I spent on travel. I made sure that if anyone invited me to go somewhere or do something that excited me, I would find a way to get there. That was my choice, and you’ll have yours.

A tool that helped me during this period was a yearly wall calendar. Nothing fancy, but a good way to commit to certain dates/experiences ahead of time, and to visualise the year ahead (another Jesse Itzler gem).

With plans to live overseas again soon, I’m aware that life as I know it will undoubtedly change. A scary feeling, but also a feeling of excitement. Much like that eight-year-old boy embarking on his first flight.

There’s just something about that feeling…

Next: Close Circle