Darius quit his job to embark on a journey to visit all 59 National Parks in 59-weeks. As a kid, Darius' dad took him to National Parks and shared with him the grandeur that National Parks have to offer. To accomplish his dream, Nabors decided to embark on a journey to visit all 59 parks as part of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
59 National Parks in 59 weeks for the 100th anniversary
[1:48] – Studied Political Philosophy, worked at Teach for America, Fundraising for the nursing school at University of Virginia
[3:28] – Growing up in Ft. Collins, CO – childhood spent visiting National Parks
[7:05] – Logistics- early on spread sheets, national park websites requesting magazines and maps, spread sheet for each park and best time of the year to visit each park, color coding for which parks to visit what months. Planning a route (2 ideas). Started in VA and began a loop that worked with the weather.
[11:57] – “What are you going to do today to work on the National Park trip”?
[12:40] – Biggest hassle- Very easy to plan these things but then the day comes to quit your job and pack your office you’re like, “why am I doing this?”
[13:34] – What helped you get through that? Making the decision, picking the day or action that you need to do. But knowing you’re going to have those nerves.
[14:46] – Launching into something new- Pick a date, pick a plan for after that date. So when you quit you know what your plan is. Have a 6-8 week plan. “When your time is occupied you don’t have time to worry.”
[16:18] – Establish a routine
[18:04] – Structure your day- if you don’t you have the time to wallow, that’s where self-doubt comes in and makes you ask questions – “why have I made this decision?”
[18:25] – Finding people who believe in me, friends, family mentors.
[18:55] – The Phuket List
[21:47] – After this experience could you settle into a 9-5 job again? Looking into other options, writing a book, submitting articles to magazines, speaking engagements…”throw as much spaghetti on the wall and see what sticks”.
[27:15] – If a book isn’t good, don’t read it
[29:54] – Researching the monthly stats of national parks, looking for change in visitor ship due to social media
[30:50] – National Park favorite and criteria: – Classic Beauty- Yosemite, Zion, Grand Cannon, Yellowstone, Glacier, they’re all known because they’re beautiful. The special moments are who you are with – rafted the Grand Cannon for 3 weeks, the experience is with those people. Also had a friend in Zion National Park – Angels landing in the AM.
[39:12] – Launch Out- You have to jump, launch out and take that leap of faith, your parachute is going to open, you just have to go for it!
Recommendations
Blue Highways: A Journey into America by William Heat
Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
Steve Harvey Video “You Gotta Jump”
Connect
Instagram @dariusnabors
3 Key Points
- What are you doing today to accomplish your dream? Keep it in front of you.
- Make a plan! Stay occupied to overcome the nerves of starting something new.
- Take that leap of faith, your parachute is going to open, you just have to go for it!