I love a good self-improvement guru. From Mel Robbins to Tony Robbins, I’ve read and listened to them all. Despite their varied styles, there’s one powerful, universal theme I hear repeatedly:
Stop letting fear drive your decisions.
In other words, live bold.
This mantra might sound simple, yet it’s an invitation that must be experienced to be understood. Through this blog, I want to help you actually live boldly so you can fully grasp its transformative power.
I recently listened to the audiobook “The 6 Habits of Growth” by Brendon Burchard, a world-leading high-performance coach. He often challenges people to imagine themselves at the end of life, and think about what questions you will ask yourself about your life. In his talks and coaching he asks people to reflect on questions that might be personally important to you like “Did I live fully? Did I matter? Was I a good mom?”
He emphasizes that real fulfillment isn’t measured by external success—like money, titles, or accolades—but by whether you consistently acted on what you value most. Burchard encourages us to harness that same clarity now rather than waiting for a life-altering event, prompting us to ask: “Am I living boldly enough today to look back without regret tomorrow?”
You’re a Goddamn Cheetah
In the first chapter of her book Untamed, Glennon Doyle recounts the story of watching a female cheetah named Tabitha chase after a stuffed animal being dragged by a jeep at a zoo. Afterward, Tabitha’s reward is a store-bought steak. When a child in the crowd asks if the cheetah is sad because she’s not in the wild, the zookeeper reassures them:
“No. Tabitha was born here. She doesn’t know any different. She’s never even seen the wild. This is a good life for Tabitha. She’s much safer here than she would be out in the wild.”
Glennon parallels this to how women (and people in general) are often told they should be “grateful” for what they have, no matter how confining their circumstances. We learn, directly or indirectly, to settle for what’s in front of us rather than reach for the unknown. Doyle imagines Tabitha thinking:
“I should be grateful. I have a good enough life here. It’s crazy to long for what doesn’t even exist.”
But Glennon’s response—and the rallying cry for all of us—is:
“Tabitha, you are not crazy. You are a goddamn cheetah.”
This is a powerful reminder: even if you’ve never seen the “wild,” your instincts may be calling you to break free from the limitations and expectations placed upon you.
My Journey to “Live Bold”
I grew up with a loving family, supportive parents who told me I could do anything. For the most part, life followed a traditional path: I got good grades, did well in sports, made friends easily, and graduated with a tech business degree that led to a stable job. By most standards, I was doing what I was “supposed” to do—and I never questioned another way.
I married a wonderful man from my school who shared my drive to succeed. Our first big bold move came when we both quit our well-paying jobs to travel the world—after meticulous saving and planning, of course. Because living bold doesn’t mean living recklessly. It’s about deeply questioning what you really want—even if it goes against every norm you’ve known.
Many friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers who heard about our trip immediately reacted with fear of the unknown. (This type of gap-year trip is not as common for Americans as it is in other parts of the world.) They asked questions like, “What about your jobs? What if you get sick? How will you do laundry?” The sentiment under all of these was, you’ll have to change your life around, and change is scary.
Our 18-month, 40-country adventure was life-changing, and the same family and friends who thought we were crazy soon saw the incredible experiences we were having through our travel blog.
Then came my biggest personal challenge yet. During our Africa leg, we spent two months in a tour group—camping, hiking, and going on wildlife safaris—when I met my now-wife, Dani. I had never questioned my sexuality before, but the spark was undeniable. Rather than ignore it and continue a comfortable life, I took the boldest leap yet and followed my gut to Australia—where I had little more than a hope it would all work out.
Finding Your North Star
Life coach Martha Beck describes finding your “north star” by paying attention to your body’s signals. When you do something aligned with your true self—quitting a job, ending the wrong relationship, or starting a new adventure—you might feel a noticeable lift in your chest, as if a weight has been removed. That sensation is your body saying, “You heard me.”
Today, Dani and I have been together for 10 years, married for 7, with two kids and countless adventures behind (and ahead of) us. It’s amazing how you can be so far from where you planned, yet exactly where you’re meant to be.
What It Means to Live Bold
At its core, living bold means making decisions based on what feels intrinsically right rather than letting fear or social pressure dictate your path. It’s about:
- Stepping beyond your comfort zone
- Taking calculated risks that align with who you truly are
- Embracing authenticity and questioning life’s “shoulds”
- Listening to your body as it guides you toward peace and purpose
Just like Tabitha the cheetah, you may have been led to believe the life you’re living is the only one possible. But if you sense a call to the “wild”—that deeper desire to roam free—maybe you’re a “goddamn cheetah” too.
Who This Is For
If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about traveling the world but keep telling yourself “maybe someday,” this is for you.
Living bold is about pushing past “maybe someday” and taking real, tangible steps to make it happen.
If you feel restless or stuck—like you’re living someone else’s script—this blog is your invitation to break free. You might be:
- A recent graduate craving an adventure before settling into a career.
- A parent looking to show your children a world bigger than their backyard.
- Someone in mid-career seeking deeper meaning beyond the daily grind.
- Retirees or empty-nesters wondering if there’s still more to explore.
- Anyone who senses a “pull” to make a bold change but can’t quite articulate why.
In short, if there’s a voice inside telling you there must be something more—more authentic, more exciting, more you—then you’re in the right place. Living bold is about taking that nagging desire out of the realm of daydreams and translating it into real-world action. It’s for those who refuse to let fear or convention decide what’s possible, and who are ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery, adventure, and lasting transformation.
Why It Matters
Once you experience a bold choice that feels right—whether you discover a new country, a new career, or a new love—it changes your perspective forever. You realize how much is possible when fear no longer runs the show.
My hope is that by sharing my story and some practical tools, you’ll find the inspiration to take your own leap. And if you do, I’d love to hear your story—your testimonial might inspire someone else to break free from “maybe someday.”
Ready to Live Bold?
No more waiting for the perfect time. If you feel that inner pull to book a trip, leave a job, or embark on another personal quest, let this be your sign. Living bold is a journey—a decision you make again and again as life evolves. Each step you take in alignment with who you truly are will bring a deeper sense of fulfillment and peace.
I invite you to follow along here for more stories, practical exercises, and motivating calls to action. Together, we can stop living small and start embracing our full potential—even if it isn’t what anyone else expects.
Remember: You’re not crazy. You’re a goddamn cheetah.