11 Years of The Freedom Project: Travel — A Milestone Worth Celebrating

What started as a book turned into a movement. Here’s what I’ve learned 11 years later.

Jul 04, 2025

It’s hard to believe it’s been 11 years since The Freedom Project: Travel was first published. What began as a collection of emails, notes, and random thoughts turned into something much bigger than I imagined. I never thought I’d be the author of (what eventually became) a bestselling book. And then a course, a conversation, a movement. I couldn’t have done it without you - so thank you! 🙏

When the book was first released, I didn’t know if anyone would read it, let alone be inspired by it. I was just happy my bucket list item of becoming a published author was “done”. That turned out to be the start of another journey. Over the past decade (and then some), I’ve heard from readers all around the world. People who booked their first (solo) trip. People who dared to apply for that passport or visa. People who finally stopped saying “someday” and just… went.

This was never just a travel book. It was a permission slip.

The world has changed

The world has changed — but the freedom still matters

Eleven years later, a lot of things are different: airline rules, credit card perks, pandemic disruptions. In the last few years alone, the entire travel industry was flipped upside down and put back together again. When I check airfare and hotel rates recently, the changes aren’t in the travellers favor. So what hasn’t changed is the why behind the journey.

I don’t travel just to tick destinations off a list. I travel to feel alive. To disconnect from the noise and reconnect with who we truly are, as a human being. Travel is being reminded that freedom isn’t always about escaping — sometimes, it’s about coming home and returning to yourself.

I still go by this saying:

“Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.”

What hasn’t changed

Travel still isn’t a competition, but a personal revolution. Looking back over more than a decade of travel writing, these truths have only grown stronger:

You don’t need a round-the-world ticket to experience freedom. Start small. Support local - just go somewhere, anywhere. You often don’t need to go far to experience the benefits of travel.
Travel is a mirror. It reflects who you are, not who you pretend to be. That’s why solo travel is so powerful.
The most valuable souvenirs are stories and experiences, spend money on those, not on “stuff”.
Travel hacking isn’t about being cheap. It’s about being smart, strategic, and intentional. Using my travel hacking principles, I often fly business class and stay in luxury hotels. That’s not cheap - it’s being intentional about how I travel.
If you’re waiting for the perfect time to explore, you’ll be waiting forever. The best day to start looking into your next trip is today. Even if you just looked into airfare, routing, or previewed my class - it’s a start that costs you nothing but a few minutes of your time.

A quiet celebration

I’m not doing anything big to mark this anniversary. No launch. No campaign. No airport dash to a celebratory destination (though I might take a long walk with my camera). But I did want to pause and say thank you.

Haven’t read The Freedom Project: Travel yet? To celebrate 11 years, the paperback is only $14.99 USD or $19.99 CAD on Amazon.

Get the book + bonuses

Or, preview the Travel Revolution course and start your own journey — no fake honeymoon stories required.1

If you’ve read the book, sent a message, joined my course, or changed the way you travel — thank you. This milestone belongs to you, too. Here’s to the next adventure. And the one after that. Cheers to you. And as always, bon voyage.