Investing World Tour: The End
Break out from the noise, see the world as it really is, deconstruct myths and gain confidence.
“What are the highlights of your trip?” was the question I feared the most. When it happened, my thoughts went directly to the memory part of my brain and sent me tons of mixed information: pictures, feelings, words, sensations, people, discussions, tiny details that no one cares about. I ended up stammering some words about the different places I had visited, people that I had met. It was a mess.
But how can I reduce such a transformative experience to short and simple sentences?
I always needed a lot of time to digest information but, this time, it was quite overwhelming. In 264 days, I visited 13 countries, 38+ cities, traveled for more than 250 hours through 87,000 km using buses, metros, tramways, cars, taxis, trains, planes, boats, tuktuks, crazy GoTo scooters. I took more than 3000 pictures, met hundreds of people including more than 100 investors and entrepreneurs.
I understood that traveling is about facing yourself, your doubts, your fears, your demons. It’s testing your ability to adapt to any kind of situation, to let go of your expectations and live in the present moment. It gives you a hint of what the world really is, but it shows you how much you do not know. And if you pay attention, you can harvest precious details about who you are, how you react, and what you want.
Besides all the interactions I had, I found pleasure in traveling, alone, for the sake of just moving. Move anywhere, but move. Because if you go fast enough, time moves slower. You’re stuck here, no network, on a plane, in a car, on a train - there is no escape. This is when you find that peace inside of you that makes you grounded in the moment.
Never had I dreamed of doing such a thing. I saw many of my friends traveling while I was in college but I was focused on complying with the “normal path” - bachelor, master, job, flat, taxes, boyfriend. I did not understand what was the thrill about it.
Now, I kind of get it. You find a new meaning to life. Something purer - or truer maybe - that can fulfill your curiosity, you search for truth. It often brings you answers to your questions and even gives you answers that you did not ask for. Traveling expands your world and makes you more focused at the same time. It makes you a better person.
Some will probably be disappointed, but, the biggest highlight of this adventure is my personal growth. I will never be able to do an objective comparison of myself before and after the trip - even though I wish I could. But, when I look back I can truly see the change. That’s the best feeling in the world isn’t it? To know you have evolved into a better version of yourself. I integrated teachings from books or people’s experiences way faster than if I had stayed in Paris, in my comfortable life. It is like I could see things clearer, quicker.
The most important strength I developed is enjoying taking risks and being more comfortable with uncertainty. Of course, I’m still human, I still have fears but what scared me the most back then seems like a tiny grain of sand in an ocean of options. At first, when you uproot yourself from your rxoutine, your habits, everything that you know or think is true, you feel insecure, uncomfortable, weak, vulnerable. It takes courage to do it, but what you get in return is invaluable: you trust your ability to deal with anything that can happen. And when you let go of your fear, nothing can stop you from living your dream and becoming the person you want to be.
This year, I offered to myself the greatest gift that can be: the chance to live in a reality of boundless possibilities.
“It's not that the ground underneath me was suddenly shifting; it's that it is never still. That's part of the work of my journey—getting comfortable with life's groundlessness.” - Alicia Keys
PS: I will share more insights about things I have learned this year later. If you would like me to talk about a specific topic, please reach out!