Summary: “The fact that we can even entertain the option of traveling, gives us all the riches of the world. You owe it to the universe, for giving you the lottery winnings, to do something exceptional and travel.” - Jake Lau The Bucket List Life Podcast #21 - Entrepreneur and World Traveler Jake Lau If we take a moment to comprehend how fortunate we are in this life to be listening to this podcast, to have a smart phone, iPad or computer, to entertain the ideas of business and travel, then we can start to appreciate that we are amongst the most privileged in the world and we are constantly surrounded by opportunity. Our next guest on episode #21 of The Bucket List Life has an inspiring story to share of seizing every opportunity presented before him in full appreciation and recognition of the treasures in life he’s been given. Jake Lau was born and raised Washington DC, currently living in Phoenix, Arizona. At the age of 27 years old, Jake quit his high profile position with PricewaterhouseCoopers and decided to travel around the world for 18 months while he had the opportunity. His travels included a road trip across the USA, hiking Kilimanjaro and backpacking through Nepal, Europe and New Zealand. Jake uses all of the lessons he has learned in his incredible travel experiences today as a successful startup entrepreneur and business owner of the only Chinese gourmet food truck in Arizona, Hoa Boa. Highlights from their conversation: 3:00 Having met through a mutual friend on Facebook, Kenyon and Jake never really connected until after Kenyon started The Bucket List Life. Jake says that the draw to find out more about The Bucket List Life was the impetus and momentum it was building. 5:15 Jake starts off talking about traveling for 18 months and how highly educational and mind blowing an experience it was. Jake then takes us way back to describe how he came to develop his sense and thirst for adventure from a very young age and then end up working for PricewaterhouseCoopers. 13:30 Jake describes the biggest factor in deciding that he needed to make a change in his current career position was the realization that he needed more adventure and excitement in his life. 17:00 Jake breaks down his thought process defining his professional career and his next chapter of life, post graduation and the limited window of opportunity he for travel and adventure, according to life’s prescribed plan. 23:30 Jake describes how his original jam packed adventure of a lifetime began with a four month, cross-country road trip. He describes all of the lessons he learned of the constant need for flexibility, adaptability, endurance and budgeting for the unknown. When planning a trip, only plan 20-30% of it, the important parts, the obligatory stops. Make the rest of your trip and your time about the people you meet, your surroundings, exploration and in the ambience of your travels. 34:15 Jake talks about building relationships in his travels and the dozens of people he had connected with around the world. He highly recommends that getting to know the people in your travels add so much color and graphic definition to an experience. 39:15 Jake talks about how fortunate we all are if we have the ability to buy a smart phone, or a car, or go to school then we have already won the human lottery. There is very little that we really have to lose. The fact that we can even entertain the option of traveling, gives us all the riches of the world. You owe it to the universe, for giving you the lottery winnings, to do something exceptional and travel. 43:30 Jake tells us what happened when he came back from his travels of more than 18 months. He needed two months to just reflect, adjust and take in the mind blowing, horizon exploding experience of a lifetime. And then he decided to pursue a long time dream of becoming an entrepreneur and starting up his own business. 47:00 Jakes explains his immense gratitude for his mother’s love,
