Jungle Crabs Invade! (And Prompt Annual Reflection)

/
Jungle Crabs Invade! (And Prompt Annual Reflection)

Invasion!!! The jungle crabs are back! Must be time to close up my jungle lodge once again. But that would mean …can it be…13 years? Have I really been a Wildpreneur for that long…?

June on the Mexican Pacific brings thousands of jungle crabs. They dance on the beaches, dirt roads, and even knock on the door to my casita—a sure sign that the tropical rains will soon arrive. These ubiquitous crustaceans trigger two annual rituals:

1) My lodge goes into hibernation for the summer monsoons.

2) Time to reflect on the year (s) that have passed.

Read on for a decade of Wildpreneur lessons/reflections and a sneak peak at the chapters of my book!

Read More

Britta's Secret Garden: Wildpreneur/Biomimic

/
Britta's Secret Garden: Wildpreneur/Biomimic

I was starving…for two essential things. Nutrition AND a true friend. After several years of jungle living, my relentless focus on building the Tailwind Jungle Lodge had compromised my health and my social life (don’t make this mistake, balance is key!). Exhausted, I finally hired on some helping hands, learned to delegate, and sought a healthier routine. My first stop? A new farmer’s market that had just been created in Sayulita, a nearby surfing community.

As I meandered through the colorful market to a stand that was overloaded with radiant organic greens—what a delight to see kale after years of enduring iceberg lettuce! Beneath the table, a golden retriever wagged her tail happily while a naturally beautiful young woman wearing a charmingly tattered straw hat greeted me with a warm smile.

“I think I need to know you…” I said to her the golden retriever held out her paw to shake hands.

Read More

Connected?

/
Connected?

What does it mean to be “connected” in this modern world?

It’s an unusual time to be a human—as we step into radically new territory technologically, we drift further from our natural roots and instincts. It’s human nature to crave connection, but what does “connection” in this modern world mean to you?

As Wildpreneurs seeking quality of life, purpose, meaning, fulfillment, and nourishment we may pause to consider the “connection” conundrum. The following experiences/moments from a week of my life in San Pancho, Mexico may spark some thought:

Read More

Book to be published by HarperCollins Leadership

/
Book to be published by HarperCollins Leadership

It’s taken me a while to find the best home for my book but the stars have aligned and I’m excited to announce that The Wildpreneurs will be published by HarperCollins Leadership. I am delighted to be creating a synergy with HCL and its inspiring team. Good things ahead!! Given their holistic approach, The Wildpreneurs will take many shapes: hardcover, paper back, audio, E-course and more. All will be designed to empower you free-spirits on your journey through creating unconventional businesses. Stay tuned!

This is my first book and I’ll be learning much about the publishing process. I look forward to sharing my journey with you on this blog. Thank you all for your incredible support thus far. The adventure of wildpreneurship continues!! For now, a huge GRACIAS to my jungle family. Thank you for picking me up, dusting me off and believing in me every single day. My heart is filled with wildpreneur love!

Read More

On The Right Path?

/
On The Right Path?

In this article you’ll find tips for tuning in to see if you’re on the right track. Are you doing what you’re meant to do here on earth? Also, an excerpt from forthcoming book, The Wildpreneurs:

If we are wise, we choose work that we’re willing to put extra effort into—that’s when we know we’re on the right track. “This is the most simple and basic component of life: our struggles determine our successes. So, choose your struggles wisely,” says Mark Manson.* When it comes to the work we’re doing, we get to pick our problems (to some extent). We must ask, “what kicks us in the ass in a good way?” For many of us, surfing is a great example—if we come out of the water from surfing, grinning and saying, “that was hard!” and yet eager to go back out there and get our asses kicked once again, then we know we’ve found something worth working for. Alternatively, if we come out of the water cursing the board bitterly, the work will feel much harder and we will be much less likely to stick with it in the long run. I don’t know about you, but for me, this is a BIG reason to think hard about my life path, I definitely want a tailwind, not a headwind!!

Read More

Mexicolate - Business with Love

/
Mexicolate - Business with Love

Happy Thanksgiving to all you wildpreneurs! Keeping in line with our love and gratitude theme this month, I’m putting a spotlight on my favorite shop in San Pancho, Mexico. I originally popped my head into Mexicolate because I was allured by chocolate (couldn’t live without it!) but my heart was immediately captured by the owners and their philosophy—they infuse love into every aspect of their business and community.

Check out this sweet interview with Toto Flores, co-founder of Mexicolate.

Read More

Daily Gratitude + I Stand For Love

/
Daily Gratitude + I Stand For Love

We returned to the jungle a few days ago to be greeted by a category 5 hurricane off the coastline. “What does the radar say now?” was the question of the day. Needless to say, we were tremendously relieved when the storm took a northern turn. Phew, that was a close call! My heart is filled gratitude that my jungle home has been preserved. The jungle is also grateful for the downpour—it’s now glowing a radiant green.

Gratitude is beautiful practice to integrate into your life as a wildpreneur. Pause regularly to savor your surroundings. We must appreciate the now—things can certainly change quickly!

My casita is filled with gratitude reminders…discover what they are here! Read an interview with inspirational wildpreneur Sarah Love (gratitude and love expert!) and get 10% off your 2019 I Stand for Love calendar.

Read More

Guided Visualization to Spark Success

/
Guided Visualization to Spark Success

“It looks like an archeological find” he told me, alarmed.

“Yeah,” I chuckled in understanding, “that happens every summer.” My friend’s description of my jungle lodge has some truth—at the peak of the summer it resembles something out of an Indiana Jones movie.

The Tailwind Jungle Lodge has been closed for 5 months over the rainy season and it’s now time to roll up my sleeves, get to work and gently nudge the wilderness back a bit (we love living in harmony but we all need our personally space!). As I prepare to dive in, I find myself visualizing the tasks ahead. Some are little things—cutting down vines, clearing trails, cleaning railings and hand painting signs. I see myself laughing as I work alongside my staff. I also envision myself working on the bigger things—expanding the lodge with new casitas, rebuilding my website, and launching my book. I envision the steps required to achieve my goals and how it will feel to succeed. Oh yeah…it’s gonna be sweet!!!

Visualization has guided me throughout my journey as a wildpreneur. I whole-heartedly believe that visualization is one of the keys to making your wild dream come true! Where your intention goes, your energy flows. This audio-recording, tips and tricks will get help you tune into the power of visualization.

Read More

Forest Bathing with a Musical Squirrel

/
Forest Bathing with a Musical Squirrel

What the heck was that? I strained my ears to hear, it sounded as though a child was attempting to play clumsy chopsticks on the piano. But how could that be? This old house has a piano, but me and my snoring old yellow lab Paris were the only occupants at the moment. Or so I thought? As the mysterious notes continued, I tip toed down the stairs. Ah ha! I’m not sure who was more surprised—me or the squirrel bouncing over the keys.

The Beetthoven squirrel jumped off the piano, out the window and scurried into the woods. Intrigued, I sprang into pursuit. Of course, the squirrel disappeared into the forest before I could even slip on my shoes. Paris ambled down the stairs and looked up at me groggily.

“Well, why don’t we follow the musical squirrel into the forest?” I asked Paris. Her ears perked up and she wagged slowly in response.

As we ventured into the New England forest, my delight from the unique squirrel encounter turned into awe at the natural beauty around me. As we wandered, listened, sniffed and felt the leaves, I began to practice what was recently described to me as “forest bathing.”

Read More

Polly the Wooden Sloop

/
Polly the Wooden Sloop

I just met Polly. She's a wooden sailboat built in 1945. Peter, a friend from Telluride, is a passionate boat builder who has devoted the last 4 years of his life to restoring this sloop. I was lucky enough to be invited aboard for Polly’s first cruise.

Though I’m a land lover by nature, I opened my mind and my heart to this adventure at sea. As we cruised gracefully through the Maine Islands, my thoughts drifted with the water and the wind. I focused on being fully present with Polly and her captain. Though exhausted from the months of arduous work that lead up to Polly’s grand launch, Peter’s excitement and inspiration radiate from him tirelessly.

Read More

Attention: Calling All Wildpreneurs!

/
Attention: Calling All Wildpreneurs!

Wanted: Free-spirits who are blazing their own trails through business!

Goodbye 9 – 5. Hello flip flops and freedom! We are breaking free of old business models and creating a new paradigm for entrepreneurs.

We do what we love and love what we do!

Wildpreneurship takes many forms, but are united by LOVE and guided by the following principles:

1. Love of life. A yearning to learn and a craving for unique experiences.  A willingness to absorb each moment as it comes is required!

2. Love of the unknown. We journey into new territory with open minds and open hearts. We are attuned to the mantra “the only certain thing in life is change.”

Read More

Artful Mistake Making

/
Artful Mistake Making

I have not failed. I've just found 1000 ways that don't work. - Thomas A Edison

I am a master of mistake making. I moved to the jungle at 23 years old. What happens when you take a white skinned blond girl out of a liberal arts college in Vermont and plop her down in the jungle on the Mexican Pacific? A very lost gringa! I gripped my freshly printed business plan in my sweaty hand and proceeded to make every mistake you can image. Yikes, I certainly have a few memories of blood, sweat and moats of tears that I cried into the sand. Though I was living in paradise chasing my dream those first few years were rough.

Perhaps the roughest part was that every time I made a mistake I beat myself up! I've since learned that mistake making never ends, it’s how you respond to and approach mistake making that can make all the difference.

Read More

Sailing Vessel TAILWIND

/
Sailing Vessel TAILWIND

Play With A Purpose

Wildpreneurship takes many forms. At the Tailwind Jungle Lodge, the wind is blowing us into new territory with our 47 ft Olympic ketch. Sailing vessel TAILWIND will combine adventure with awareness around marine and coastal conservation issues.

Mission: To embody and educate about the ways we can minimize our impact on the places where we love to play and explore. Trigger individual action locally that creates waves of positive change globally.

Purpose: Sailing vessel TAILWIND will be a non-profit branch of the Tailwind Jungle Lodge. This structure will allow us to seek grants and donations, that will fund our  desire to provide opportunities for school age children, scientific researchers, and tourists to come learn and explore on the Mexican Pacific Ocean.

Read More

The Mexican Fisherman Story

/
The Mexican Fisherman Story

I discovered the parable of the Mexican Fisherman in 2010, a few years into the creation of my jungle lodge. This simple story triggered a tremendous ah-ha moment for me and has since become a cornerstone philosophy for wildpreneurs. Gracias to my Mexican amigos for sharing your wisdom with me! The passage below is sourced from Courtney Carver at Be More With Less.

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.  Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna.  The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

Read More

The Awesomeness Factor - Couplepreneurs Paul Girardi & Danielle Hachey

/
The Awesomeness Factor - Couplepreneurs Paul Girardi & Danielle Hachey

Paul & Danielle hosted their surfing & yoga retreat at the Tailwind Jungle Lodge in 2015. I immediately fell in love with this couplepreneur duo and have since followed them to the waves of Nicaragua and to their cozy cabin in the Kootenay moutains of British Columbia. This inspiring couple recently tied the knot (congratulations newly weds! loved the pre-wedding hootenany!). I can't wait to see where their life adventures together take them...and I hope they don't mind me tagging along! Check out their interview here, you definitely don't want to miss the wildpreneur wisdom in this one :).

Read More

As Natural as Squatting in the Woods

/ Tailwind Jungle Lodge /
As Natural as Squatting in the Woods

I recently went on a canoe camping trip on Lake George in the Adirondacks of New York.  We watched the sunset over the lake, the moonrise over the mountains, and sat by the camp fire telling stories and grilling local goodies. T’was a blissful night indeed and I fell asleep with my heart full, feeling alive and inspired.

At dawn, nature called and I wandered into the woods away from my sleeping amigos. I dug a hole and began to untie my pajama pants. Suddenly I heard some twigs snap in the bushes behind me. I looked over in alarm to find that one of my amigos had followed me…my yellow lab, Paris! She wagged her tail, grinning happily. She then proceeded to spin around in a circle a few times and pop a squat right next to me. Time for her morning duty too! I rose my eyebrows and thought “why not?”

Read More