When my mother was battling cancer she passed along a terrific quote, “Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to give something back by becoming more and doing more.” It would be years later before those words really hit home and now that they have, I am fully committed to making a difference by being more, doing more and giving something back.

When I broke the news that I was intending to trek the world doing good deeds the most common responses were: Why? Are you nuts? What brought this on?  Well…there was a lengthy list of motivations but the simplest answer is that I just wanted to do some good and make a difference.

So… after years of living like a rockstar (recklessly, excessively and irresponsibly), I am now homeless, possession-less and without gainful employment. No security and no game plan seems to be par for the course these days.

A Little About Me

For the past couple decades I have had the pleasure of reveling in the hospitality and entertainment industry. Since breaking into the “biz” at the age of ten it’s been quite a colorful journey and one that has enabled me to draft a lengthy, eclectic – and if I do say so myself – impressive resume. I have operated as many kinds of concepts as there are variations in beer labels. From high-end celebrity chef-driven restaurants to live concert venues and everything in between; I have been fortunate to have worked in every aspect of this trade.

Since high school I have been living  like restaurant royalty. It has been an amazing and story filled career. Many never to be spoken of again! When I decided to pack it all in and was sorting through shoe boxes of wine stained photos, discarding old promotional T-shirts and tallying up the scars; it was apparent that it has been a heck of a ride and not all work without play.

My life in the industry also opened up some pretty crazy doors! In addition to hanging with all kinds of restaurant royalty, it enabled me to:  travel the world, do stuntman work, be a bull rider, create and co-produce TV shows, work with celebs, professional athletes, rockstars, mega-bands, billionaires, publish a cookbook, and become an ordained minister. Like I said…lots of stories to be told.

As much as I am still passionate about the scene, I now feel compelled to answer to a wildly different calling.  Over the course of the next five years, I intend to circumnavigate the globe and see what I can do to make a  small difference.

This is more than just a ‘walkabout’ and no…I was not all jazzed up on Shiraz when I made this decision. For those of you questioning my sanity or thinking that I am experiencing a mid life meltdown; I can assure you that I have not lost the plot. I don’t feel the urge to buy a red convertible or beg my doctor for a script of Prozac. To the contrary:  I am completely energized, happy, healthy and brimming with life so what better time to get out there and see if I can do some good.

~ Travis