8 learnings from my walking experiences and 5 quick wins for you

Do you know the feeling when you come home satisfied after a relaxing day at the lake with lots of sun and fresh air? Or when you're exhausted after sport but still full of energy? When you could move mountains after a success, full of motivation and ideas? When you're in the flow?

That's roughly how powerful an experiential walking conversation feels , say my walking conversation partners. Originally, I didn't want to offer this option at all. But it would have been a real shame if I hadn't just tried it.

After I left my own company and took 100 days off, one of my mentors encouraged me to pass on my experiences and other life lessons. I resisted this with all my might ;-) Here is the story of how it came about .

I literally "stepped out" of my comfort zone and developed my own format . I've probably been having these conversations unconsciously for half my life. Creativity, enthusiasm and motivation are qualities that are attributed to me and that I now know how to use.

This year I have already conducted 10 experience-walking conversations. The effects and results make me proud, especially as I have been able to work with many exciting and successful people. But what I am most pleased about is the effects for the walking conversation partners - because that's what it's all about... from the experience to the result !

Learnings from Experiential Walking Conversations

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An exchange while walking is a completely different format and brings movement on many levels.

If you want to get moving, you have to move - at least out of your comfort zone. Studies show that movement in nature promotes creativity and innovation, stimulates new ways of thinking and leads to new ideas. Steve Jobs was known for holding important discussions while walking. Aristotle was also mentally and physically active. Some companies already conduct employee discussions while walking - I even know some who hold their job interviews while walking ;-) YES, that brings movement into the conversation!

Such micro-breaks of one day are wellness for mind and body - and your own future .

Do you know the story of the lumberjack? In the story, an old man is walking through the forest and spots a lumberjack laboriously trying to chop down a tree with a blunt axe. The old man approaches and says, "Your axe is blunt. Why don't you take a quick break to sharpen it? That would make your job easier." The lumberjack sighs and replies, "I don't have time - I have to keep chopping!". But he thought about the old man's words and decided to take a break and sharpen his axe. When he got back to work, he realized that it was much easier and required less effort. The moral of the story: taking a little break for self-care and sharpening tools leads to greater productivity and less stress.

Everyone has different challenges – consciously or unconsciously, privately or professionally. Impulses from outside bring different perspectives . This can have an impact...

From experience to result has already led to a wide range of effects: changes in daily routines, impulses for business and personal goals, overcoming uncertainties and fears. There have already been career changes, company purchases and the founding of a company, but also 100 days off for a managing director. There have been profitable recommendations from contacts and the right books for further study. And lots of positive energy and plenty of motivational fire.

Tools or the right toolbox are proven to make sense and bring structure to different challenges.

A set of your own tools and experiences as well as well-known methods are processed in the bucket list method. The right tools at the right time - and repetition - is the magic word for mastering the tools.

Many people talk – but only a few do! At the end of the day, you have to pick out the right ideas and then implement them.

The most important step after the discussions is implementation. I have suggestions for you to get started. And yes, it's that simple.

A shared experience creates a bond. Trust is essential.

Experiential walking conversations must be the safest place in the world. Open words create new opportunities and sometimes even friendships. And that's what it is - a walking conversation between friends. We left as acquaintances and came back as confidants.

If you want to get moving or gain momentum, you look for a sparring partner – that’s what many successful people do.

Such mentors bring new ways of thinking and perspectives. There are many reasons why it makes sense: If you want to be successful and are looking for answers, inspiration or a second opinion. Maybe because you want to get to where that person already is. Or because you are stuck, need energy and are simply looking for inspiration and new fire. Or because there are topics that you cannot/do not want to discuss with your partner or friends - and there are no answers there either. I have been using this form of development for years and have been able to learn a lot. People now come to me to find answers or just to have a sparring partner. And I am humbled by that.

For me personally , I have learned that I can do it and that I want to do it. But only if I feel like I can help and I enjoy it .

The aim was to be a sparring partner for the participants and to provide inspiration - my most important realization was that I had an answer to almost everything or knew someone who did. Also, for me, this is not work in the traditional sense, but I get so much joy when I can get people moving and see the effects of it.

Due to the positive feedback, the positive effects after such a short time and all these learnings, I have decided to permanently include the walking experience talks in the Bucketlist Schmied portfolio . A successful "pilot" so to speak, which is literally "going into series" ...

In addition, there was already a greater need for walking conversations in the first season, which I can now cover. Another 10 walking conversations will be held and I am pleased that there are already bookings for the autumn - recommendations from participants and a repeat offender ;-)

Quick wins to get moving for free and on your own

• Read books. Often it is the bestsellers in the respective categories that are close to your heart. Take a few hours and spend them in a bookstore. Or ask people who have achieved what you are aiming for about their three favorite books that got them there.

• Find mentors and sparring partners . Find someone who is already where you want to go or has already had the experience. You will be surprised at who will give you answers if you just ask... it will have an impact!

• Get moving. Whether it's talking, listening or thinking. Lots of people talk, but only a few DO! No matter how you go about it, get moving. You have to take the first step out of this comfort zone yourself - you can walk the path together.

• Have conversations while you're moving. During staff meetings or business appointments, as well as phone calls or web meetings, conversations with friends or family - exchanging ideas while walking can open up new perspectives.

• And... combine this movement with a small or large experience. Whether it's appropriate or just for fun. In any case, following the bucket list method, it can lead from the experience to the result.

I hope that this has given you some inspiration. If you are interested in an experiential conversation with the Bucketlist Smith, you can find all the information you need for your personal change of perspective here .

All information about the walking conversation

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