In 1994, I worked as a pianist in Stockholm. One night a friend mentioned how lucky I was who had an ear for music.
– Yes, that might be, I responded, but it’s also lots of focus and motivation.
– Well, you can’t do anything in life just because you are focused, my friend answered.
The discussion ended in a bet;
could a person with the lowest grade in gymnastics bicycle to Africa?
This was 30 years ago on May 16th in 1994. At 14:00 to be exact.
Since then I’ve spent over 3000 nights in a tent. I’ve climbed Seven Summits, biked both North and South Pole, kayaked to Africa, tried my wings in a Flying Boat, kite surfed across Greenland, traversed oceans & deserts, driven across Africa and visited all 196 countries on planet Earth.
It’s been a long journey.
It all started with “adventures” that were just about me, my ego and to prove to others that I could do something extraordinary. For a boy with the lowest grades in gymnastics – this was very important to me at the time. But I felt lost, it was just about me and it didn’t change anything in the world.
In 1997, I filmed my first documentary about climate change in Antarctica and in 1999 I crossed the Magnetic North Pole filming migration of birds for Discovery Channel.
My life changed and I was now into “Exploration” more than Adventures. I raised awareness but did I really contribute to any change?
A few years later I hiked across Serengeti to raise money against poaching, produced the worlds highest concert on top of Kilimanjaro and raised money for a cleaning expedition on Everest and I now realised that my future must be a mix between both Adventure, Exploration and Philanthropy.
Today I arrange private adventures where we contribute to a better world by raising funds, building schools, supporting rangers and scientists. I produce documentaries that give insight in the tribe cultures and helps wildlife.
What started with a bet 30 years ago has now turned into a philanthropic lifestyle where I’m trying to both change the world for the better and create a life for myself.
Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something
#johanernst@rewild#johanernstadventures
