We had the good fortune of connecting with Lindsay McKenzie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lindsay, how do you think about risk?
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about risk is the common expression “no risk, no reward”. I deeply believe that risk is almost always involved in order to experience success. Sometimes the risk is higher than other times, but there’s always a level of risk you have to take in order to achieve your dreams. For me, risk has been a critical part of not only going after my dreams, but it’s also been critical in building a life of happiness in general. The biggest risk I ever took that then led to a domino effect of taking other risks was moving across the country and leaving my home state that I had lived in for 30+ years. I left my job place of five years, my family, and everything that felt familiar and comfortable to me. And the best part? I did it “just because”. Well, because my husband and I were feeling stagnant and needed a change. And because we’d always talked about trying out a new city, but never actually thought we could do it. But also because we were in the middle of one of the toughest seasons of our lives and there was something profound about taking action towards a new beginning or chapter in our lives. I ignored the doubts or the fears that kept popping up in my mind and in conversations I had with friends and family about our move. I knew that the worse case scenario was that we would hate it and move back and have to find new jobs again, which really wasn’t that scary. That’s the funny thing about risk, it’s sometimes not as risky as we make it out to be in our minds. If you really take the time to evaluate what the risks are, you’ll find that they aren’t so bad as maybe you’ve led yourself to believe. Risk: Leaving the comforts of my current home and life. Reward: I gained a whole new level of independence and confidence being out of my comfort zone. I gained a whole new perspective on what I wanted in life, which was the exact opposite of how I was living. And because I had gained confidence in myself and my risk-taking ability, I felt more equipped to take a bigger risk that was necessary for getting even closer to my dream life and career. Which leads me to the next big risk I took… I quit my next teaching job (yes, again) to travel full-time in an RV. Risky, right? It went against everything that had been ingrained into me since I was a child. It would require me to give up all those things that society was telling me I needed. Let me also clarify that this wasn’t just “a job”. It was my dream career as a Kindergarten teacher and I had worked my entire life for it. I had invested everything into the profession, including racking up student loan debt to get my teaching license and master’s degree. How could I just throw that all away for no guarantee that I’d be better off after taking my life on the road and figuring it out as I go? I didn’t have that answer. But it didn’t stop me from taking that risk. The key factor in making that decision was that I knew I would regret it more if I didn’t try. I remember thinking that I may regret walking away from my passion and losing everything I had worked so hard for. But the thought of what I could gain, despite being unknown at the time, was worth more to me than what I was giving up. And I’m glad I did it because the rewards have been beyond what I thought they would be. Risk: Stability and financial security, roots and a home base, a day to day routine, sold many of my belongings, etc. Reward: Expanding my skillset and creative ability to make money while doing the thing I love most, the opportunity to see and experience more places and activities than many people get to do/see in their lifetime, discovering that memories are more valuable than things, meeting new people and gaining a whole new mindset to approach my life with, along with the belief that anything truly is possible…and SO much more. As you can see by now, not only will you gain rewards by taking risks, but the rewards also greatly outweigh the risks. That’s actually the trick to taking risks. You have to keep your eye on the benefits that could come as a result versus the sacrifices you may need to make. This has been the guiding force in the other risks I’ve taken in my life and my career. When I made the decision to launch a blog and then to write and self-publish my first book, I had to focus on the hundreds or thousands of people that I could help or inspire through my writing. I couldn’t give the attention to my insecurities or concerns about what others would think because it would have stopped me from putting my story out there for the world to read. Risk: The time and cost it would take to create/write, the possibility of my blog or book not being up to other’s standards and the judgmental or negative remarks that may come with that. Reward: My blog and book have now led to a variety of opportunities that I never imagined would be a possibility for me, like hosting an online travel show or getting sponsored and paid to travel. I’ve received hundreds of positive messages and reviews on my work and have inspired others. And as a result, I’ve set even bigger goals for myself and my future. Risks are not just for career moves, though. There’s risk everywhere, and they’ll pop up in your personal life, too. You’ll have to take risks to find hobbies or to build relationships. You’ll have to take risks for your health and your emotions. Or for your family. When my husband and I made the decision to start the adoption process in order to achieve our dream of growing our family, I could have given up right away. I could have listened to all the negativity, felt overwhelmed by all the steps in the process, or the costs associated with it, and decided it wasn’t for us. But I envisioned our child in our arms and that helped me continue to fight through every decision and risk we had to make for an entire year in order to become parents. A lot of times people will advise you to “be present”, which is a great way to live. However, when it comes to risk, I’d say to think about the future, too. Imagine the possibilities and create the most vivid vision in your mind of what you want in life. Then, do whatever it takes – accept the risks – to make that vision your reality. You may not always have the courage you think it requires to take a risk, but do it anyway. One risk can give you the confidence to take another and before you know it, you’ve defeated the fears that have kept you from avoiding risks in the past. You’ll feel empowered and might even start seeking out risks because remember, no risk no reward!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an online creative who sort of “does it all”! From blogging and freelance writing to virtual event planning and speaking, to digital product creation, consulting and social media influencer marketing. On top of that, I’m a published author, which is probably my proudest accomplishment. I’m also excited to be working on my latest book, which is a children’s book about adoption. I really let my passions lead my work and put my heart into everything I produce and I think that comes through easily, especially in my writing. It wasn’t easy to get where I am today professionally. I gave up my career and master’s degree in elementary education and took a huge leap of faith. It started with a desire to travel full-time with my husband and our dogs and I discovered that I could build my work around the life I wanted versus trying to find time to live my life around my work schedule. It’s required me to learn a lot of new skills, some of which I learned through doing unpaid or volunteer work. In the beginning, it demanded a whole lot more of my time and energy than teaching did, but it’s paid off in the long run. It’s taken a lot of sacrifice and willingness to collaborate with and learn from others and an even greater willingness to fail…a lot. My “why” is what kept me going through the challenges. My husband and I built our business to create content that inspires others to create a life they love. We left the so-called American dream to build our own version and haven’t looked back. Before doing so, we often felt stuck in the life we were living and it took a long time to believe that a life of travel, freedom, and flexibility was possible for us. It wasn’t until we received the life altering news that we weren’t able to have biological children together, that we finally took a “detour” from the path we were on. Since then, we’ve grown a lot and have learned many valuable lessons. The most important lesson, as cliché as it sounds, is that anything is possible. It’s just up to you to make it happen. You have to keep fighting for it until it happens. With consistency, perseverance, and unwavering belief that you’ll get there and that you deserve to get there, you will. It’s never easy but it’s always worth it. Through our brand, we hope we can show others not only that they can turn a dead end into a detour, but also that they don’t need a dead end at all. We all deserve the life we want and the happiness that comes with living life on your own terms. Anyone at any time can do it. You have to be willing to invest in yourself and your future and know your worth.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
You simply cannot come to Colorado Springs without a visit to Garden of the Gods. We’ve seen so many sights and views all across the world and Garden of the Gods wows us every single time, even after growing up in Colorado Springs. We love to just drive through the park and take in the views and pick one of the trails to stroll along. Sometimes we bring a picnic so we can sit on the rocks and enjoy lunch! After Garden of the Gods, we love to go downtown and grab a beer at our favorite local brewery, Pikes Peak Brewing. On a nice day you can enjoy the rooftop patio and catch great sunset views. When the sun goes down, grab dinner at one of the many great restaurants along Tejon Street. We love the pizza at Atomic Cowboy. The following day you could check out our beautiful Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, where you can ride the Sky Ride to catch stunning mountain views and feed the giraffes! After some fun at the zoo, head to the Broadmoor for an early dinner and bowling at “Play”. Before your reservation, it’s fun to walk around the lake and enjoy the beautiful grounds and then grab a cocktail on the patio or at one of the bars in the hotel. Some other activities to enjoy on a week stay in Colorado Springs are shopping and strolling through Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs. It’s fun to pop into the art galleries and quirky gift shops, grab ice cream, or a meal at one of the locally owned restaurants, like Mountain Shadows Cafe. If you want a thrill, go to Cave of the Winds Mountain Park. If you want a fun day trip, head to Cripple Creek for some gambling. If you want a physical challenge head to the Incline and take the 2,744 stairs to the top. But whatever you do, don’t miss what we are most famous for…Pikes Peak. You can hike it if you’re brave and physically fit enough, or you can take a shuttle to the top for a photo. Otherwise, just find a spot like Memorial Park or pretty much anywhere in the city to just appreciate it’s beauty. We love fishing and enjoying other water activities at North and South Catamount Reservoir, right along the Pikes Peak Highway. Lastly, the other thing we’re well known for is our new nickname “Olympic City” so check out the Olympic training center and museum before you leave as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt, my husband deserves so much recognition and credit for the risks I’ve had to take to get where I am today and where I’m headed in the future. He supports me and ALL my risks, even the ones that don’t work out – especially the ones that don’t work out. He believes in me more than I believe in myself sometimes. He not only listens to my ideas and dreams, but he helps me make them a reality. Whether it’s just cheering me on from the sidelines or helping me with all the details and behind the scenes tasks and challenges, he’s always, always there.

Website: www.FollowYourDetour.com
Instagram: @follow_your_detour
Facebook: @FollowYourDetour

Image Credits
Photos by Dan McKenzie

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