Meet Danny Rod Stahl | Founder of Gallivant Colorado

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danny Rod Stahl and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danny, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve worked as a Director of Events for several Active 55 Plus communities. At each community, many of the residents would tell me they wished there was a transportation service specifically catered to their demographic and local travel needs. I researched and was shocked to find there were no local transportation businesses catering to their demographic.

I had been feeling unfulfilled in my profession for a couple of years. Working to make someone else’s dreams a reality didn’t sit well with me. I disliked being underpaid and recoiled every time I had to ask permission for time off. Having only ten business days of vacation per year is disgraceful.

I’ve always been passionate about traveling and truly enjoy the hospitality industry. I feel most alive when I’m the one responsible for others truly living in the moment. There is no better feeling than seeing people joyful and having fun. It was disheartening to see the Active 55 Plus community was being underserved. They don’t particularly enjoy driving, especially at night and more so in the mountains.

Since I was in my early 30’s I’ve always dreamed of being an entrepreneur. I was now in my mid-forties and telling myself if I’m going to start a business it’s either now or never. One of my Active 55 Plus residents told me “Trust me, you don’t want to be in your older years with regrets and being a member of the could’ve, should’ve, would’ve club.” That statement propelled me to take the leap of faith and to pursue my dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I enjoy being a part of the Colorado hospitality industry. Welcoming people and showing them around this magnificent state brings me nothing but pure joy. I take pride in my work and I treat each person with courtesy, dignity, and respect.

I’m a people person. I enjoy meeting people from all walks of life and with all kinds of different experiences. Sometimes I get a little bit of quality time with my guests and I get to learn some fascinating insights about the lives they’ve lead. Truly connecting with people and learning their stories has always excited me since I was a youngster.

One of my mantras is to follow the golden rule which is to treat others as you wish to be treated. This has served me well my whole life.

I created my business to take people on adventurous journeys. To assist guests to step out of their comfort zones and to try new experiences and to meet new people and make new friend connections. The more we meet people the more we understand we have more in common than we think we do. At the end of the day, all we really want is to be “seen.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First and foremost I would take my friend to Chautauqua Park. The first time I visited Chautauqua Park I knew I wanted to become a Coloradan. I knew this spectacular park was just the tip of the iceberg of what nature in Colorado has to offer.

I would then proceed to take them to Larimer Square, Union Station, and Capitol Hill to discuss the pivotal roles these places have in Denver’s history.

Finally, I would take them to explore all the cool and fun places in the RiNo, LoDo, and Highlands Neighborhoods with the REI flagship store on top of that list.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I enjoy the idea of The Shoutout Series. We all have many people to thank. We all have different “teachers” positive and negative. Both are essential and come into our lives to teach us the lessons we need. The positive ones nurture, teach, nudge, and give hints that lead us to our destiny. I remember a friend telling me “How are you ever going to know what you’re made of if you don’t even try”

Ironically it’s the negative ones who give us the strength, courage, and determination to take on life’s most difficult challenges. There is no greater motivator when you have something to prove.

I find lots of inspiration in people, especially from our veterans who’ve suffered unimaginable horrors. They fight for their lives and to succeed in life despite their sometimes debilitating mental and/or physical disabilities. Veterans are my heroes.

Website: www.gallivantcolorado.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gallivantcolorado/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-rod-stahl-0956741b/