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Between Antarctica & Fiji, Round the World Trip #2 | Q&A with Shawn Scott & Kristen Baker

Traveling can be both fun and scary. For some, it can be a cause of stress and anxiety. For the free-spirited, it can be a liberating experience. Traveling is a rich source of lifelong learning about yourself and the world around you.

In this episode, Shawn Scott and Kristen Baker share with us their experiences during their second round-the-world trip. Shawn and Kristen describe in detail their adventure in Antarctica and Fiji. They also share their preparations and the many ways they dealt with surprises and challenges.

This episode is for people who want to explore, discover, and create new things. Learn more about Shawn and Kristen's round-the-world adventure by tuning in!

3 Reasons to Listen:

Know the nitty-gritty of planning for a round-the-world trip.
Discover the surprises and challenges of traveling to new places and meeting new people.
Learn the importance of maintaining a balance between work and leisure.

Resources

Gogonanas by Shawn Scott and Kristen Baker
Gogonanas YouTube Channel by Shawn Scott and Kristen Baker

About Shawn & Kristen

Shawn Scott, also known as Mr. Shawn, is a lifestyle and business coach. He also works in automotive, sales, training, executive leadership, and personal development. Shawn travels to discover new experiences with new people from different places.

Know more about Shawn Scott through his LinkedIn and Instagram. You can also email him at shawnscott107@gmail.com.

Kristen Baker, also known as Ms. Baker, is a kindergarten teacher. She uses her travel videos to produce educational material for her students. Kristen travels to try new things and gain a greater appreciation of the world.

Know more about Kristen Baker through her website and Instagram. You can also email her at msbaker@gogonanas.com.

Episode Highlights

Meet the Travelers

Shawn grew up in a military family. At a young age, he has already traveled and lived overseas.
Professionally, Shawn has been in the automotive industry for over 15 years. He uses travel as an opportunity to connect with people from different cultures.
Kristen and her family loved to travel even when she was young.
At present, she is a kindergarten teacher.
Both Shawn and Kristen took a break from their present professions for their second round-the-world trip.

“When people ask me what my favorite places are, I always say it’s wherever I am right now.” - Click Here to Tweet This

First Round-the-World Trip

Shawn and Kristen's first round-the-world trip was for five months.
They visited 18 countries.
Iceland was one of their favorite places, where they had a lot of unique experiences.

On “Sabbatical” and Taking a Break

A sabbatical is a time to rest and learn more about yourself.
It creates a space away from your usual routine. It brings rest and rejuvenation to the soul, spirit, and mind.

Burnout is common in the teaching profession. Taking a break can improve the overall satisfaction of educators with their jobs.

Planning Round-the-World Trips

You need to have a vision and a dream to want to do it.
In terms of finances, diligence plays a crucial role.
Shawn and Kristen never borrowed money for their trips. They work on a very calculated budget.
Save and set guardrails around your expenses.
Shawn and Kristen have a savings account where they put aside money for their trips.

Insights on Minimalism and Essentialism

For Kristen, minimalism is not the appropriate term for their lifestyle.
Essentialism, for them, is the more suitable word.
Throughout their travels, Shawn and Kristen love to pick up one thing from each country to represent their trip.

Overcoming Fears and Unforeseen Challenges

Uncertainty is their biggest fear. Sometimes, not knowing what could happen could become overwhelming.
Always go back to your “why.” Remember your purpose for wanting to go on a trip.
Risk management is necessary.
Being stuck in a foreign country where you don't speak the language can be challenging.
Traveling requires us to become uncomfortable and stretch our comfort zones.

“When you’re facing fears or uncertainty about how it’s going to happen, go back to your ‘why.’” - Click Here to Tweet This

On Managing Schedules

Shawn and Kristen usually don't have plans when they arrive in a country. They manage their schedules by design.
They discover activities through Google and talking to people.
Shawn and Kristen learn from locals and other travelers in the area. They plan their calendar as they go.

Biggest Round-the-World Surprises

Kristen used to be very careful about what she eats. During her travels, she cannot be very particular about health and wellness because they work on a budget.
For Shawn, the language barrier surprised him the most. He learned to improvise ways to communicate with people.
They were also surprised by how technology has changed over the years.
It would help to invest in learning basic language skills.

“I can’t control a lot of what’s happening right now. I can control how I’m reacting to it.” - Click Here to Tweet This

Advice for Adventure Seekers

Get over the fear of being different from what society says you should be.
Instead of the challenges, highlight the most significant learnings you could get by doing what you want to do.
The more you do something, the easier it becomes.
Shawn and Kristen's adventure were not a product of luck but hard work. It took them grit and a lot of sacrifices.

Greatest Learnings from Traveling

You see things from a different perspective.
You understand people better by learning about their environments.
Traveling also influences and shapes your belief system and morals.
You earn a greater sense of understanding, which leads to appreciation.

“Take that cookie cutters, and throw them away, and just start to go into your self-exploration.” - Click Here to Tweet This

What’s Next for Shawn & Kristen?

After visiting the seven continents, they are headed to Fiji.
Shawn plans to develop his platform for coaching and leadership further.
Kristen will release educational videos for children and adults. She will use these educational materials in her classroom.

“What I hope that we’re able to do through this journey is to tap into our own creativity and create that way and to inspire others to also be creative.” - Click Here to Tweet This

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To growing and becoming all we are created to be,

Tim