The Experience Philanthropist

I have learned that the most valuable things we can collect in life are experiences. It shapes us, teaches us, and reminds us what it means to truly live. But somewhere along the way, I discovered something even more meaningful than collecting experiences for myself: sharing them with others. That is when I realized I had become what I call an Experience Philanthropist.

Philanthropy to me has always revolved around donating money or time, but I’ve seen that it can also be about giving something even more valuable—the gift of experience. When you share where you have been, what you have done, and what you learned along the way, you give people a shortcut to joy and discovery. You help them see what is possible. You help them live more vividly.

Why I Organize Adventures

People often ask why I organize so many trips, adventures, and retreats, or why I run Reject Average as a nonprofit. The answer is simple: I love it. I love showing people what is out there. I love helping them experience things that changed me. Somewhere in that process, I realized I was not just collecting memories; I was distributing them.

Genuine Sharing vs. Showing Off

There is a misconception that sharing travel or adventure is showing off. Genuine sharing is something very different. When you take the time to explain where to go, what to avoid, what surprised you, and how it made you feel, you are doing a service. You are helping someone create a better experience for themselves. The goal is not perfection; it's inspiration. You are giving them confidence to step into something new.

Social media often gets criticized for being superficial, and that criticism is well-deserved. But it can also be a tool for good. When sharing is honest and detailed, it becomes generous. The goal is not perfection. The goal is inspiration. That moment when someone thinks, 'I want to do that,' or 'I didn’t know that was possible,' that is the impact. That spark is what experience philanthropy looks like in practice.

I plan these adventures because I want others to feel that spark. I go on the same trips repeatedly with different groups, not because I need to relive them, but because I want to watch someone experience them for the first time. I have done the Jetski2Catalina run more than fifty times, and it never feels repetitive. Seeing it through someone else’s eyes makes it new every time. It is the same feeling as taking your kids to Disneyland. You know what is coming, but watching their reaction transforms the experience. Their excitement becomes the reward. That is what I get to witness when someone has an extraordinary experience for the first time.

Sharing the Journey

When I traveled around the world, one of the most fulfilling parts was not just what I experienced, but how many people followed along. Sharing the journey in real time created connection. Messages from people who booked a trip, tried something new, or changed a plan because of what they saw stayed with me long after the trip ended. That’s when it fully clicked. Sharing experience is not self-promotion; it’s generosity. When you give people your insight and perspective, you empower them to create their own adventures. You become a guide, even if only for a moment.

Travel does not end with you. It multiplies when shared. You don’t need a platform or a travel club to live this way. You just need to share honestly. Talk about what worked and what did not. Recommend the guide, the trail, the food truck, the moment that mattered. Invite someone else into possibility. Because when you do, you are giving something that cannot be bought. You are giving someone confidence, curiosity, and connection. I have seen how transformative that can be. I have watched people come alive. I have seen fears dissolve and friendships form. I have learned that the reward for sharing experience is every bit as powerful as the reward for living it.

People assume that because it’s not a profitable business, I get nothing. But it is not nothing; it is everything. Watching someone have one of the best days of their life because you helped make it happen is priceless. Being an Experience Philanthropist means understanding that your experiences are not meant to stop with you. They ripple outward. They build community. They make the world more curious, more connected, more alive.

If you have ever had an experience that made you think 'everyone should do this,' don't hold that information; give it freely. The best way to collect experiences is to give them away.