We all have choices—stay in your current patterns or break away and try something new. I believe that life is an adventure—as much s you make it. Today my guest is Marshall Chamberlain, a man focused on his passions, like I am on mine, with no time for extraneous niceties like pets, lawns, mortgages or plants. He has a Master’s Degree in Resource Development from Michigan State University and a graduate degree in International Management from the Thunderbird School.

Marshall was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and spent many years in investment banking, venture capital, and even as a professional waiter. He is obsessed with preparedness, survival and independence. This combination of traits leads him to all manner of adventure, including serious Stone Age survival classes. Chamberlain’s primary worldview is simple but profound—“I’m in awe of the magnificence of this world,” he says. And he hs tips for how you can expand your on horizons. Here’s what he has to say:

How to Make Life Interesting: Diversify Your Experiences
By Marshall Chamberlain

No matter your politics, religion or lifestyle, the maxim “all of life is a wager” is a reliable one.Most people live in a state of inertia and pursue only the most prescribed avenues. To me, the world is much too rich not to sample what life’s buffet has to offer.

Spend your days putting off your dreams, and the time to realize those dreams can easily slip away. Considering time and the unknowable nature of one’s expiration date, all of life is a wager. I say the time for taking action on those ideas – usually relegated to daydreams – is now.

If the weekly working grind has got you feeling like a drone, here are some tips for becoming a true adventurer:
•    Parlay your strengths into new adventures. As a US Marine Corps veteran, I became accustomed to a largely physical, Spartan-like existence. After my divorce, I simplified my everyday needs and became self-sufficient, living aboard a 30-foot sailboat for the better part of 10 years. I also traveled the world, participated in activities communing with nature, and pursued my passion to become an author of adventure-thrillers.

•    Make a list of what’s really important to you; trim the fat soon after. To put it simply, most of us will not know in advance of our death. We know one thing: we will one day die. With a finite amount of time to wager, we simply don’t have the time to watch the same bad movie every Friday night. Go big! Lose 20 pounds of fat and gain 20 pounds of muscle; or take a chance with that crush you’ve been nursing for six months; or buy a guitar and learn how to play it! You don’t have time for a banal life.

•    Become fluent in a second language (literally and figuratively): Indeed, become familiar with Spanish, French, Italian or some other language. More important, become fluent in a new language to approaching life. Start saying yes to ideas that you’ve harbored for a long time. One thing leads to another; perhaps in learning Italian you’ll develop a passion for the language’s rich culture. This could lead you on a trip to Italy. Who knows?

The important takeaway is: Don’t fear a new kind of fluency. Confront your fears. Are you sick and tired of the sheer predictability of your 9-to-5 existence? Nothing shrugs off the dreary residue of the daily commute than jumping out of a plane to put things in perspective. If you have a fear of heights and skydiving is too overwhelming, consider going to the top of the tallest building near you. Confronting fear not only fills you with adrenaline … you will also likely walk away filled with confidence. But don’t let the adventure stop there! Let this be a lesson in affirming life’s exciting potential; keep the adventure going by testing your limits.
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