At the end of January, I traveled to Thailand for a leadership development and humanitarian trip. We began our journey at an ethical elephant sanctuary near Chiang Mai, where we spent three days exploring the area, bonding with elephants, hiking, bamboo rafting, and setting intentions for the rest of the trip. I decided to focus on Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” theory, which encourages allowing others to be their authentic selves, recognizing that we cannot control or change what others do. By embracing the freedom to let others be who they are, we, in turn, allow ourselves to be our true selves. This concept resonated deeply with me, and I wanted to practice this skill throughout the trip.

Time with the Elephants

During our time with the elephants, a conversation stood out about the cultural differences between Thailand and the United States. One of the biggest contrasts was the resourcefulness of the Thai people. They make use of everything and, when something is no longer needed, often find a new purpose for it. This is in stark contrast to the consumer-driven, hyper-capitalist culture of the U.S., where we tend to buy more than necessary and, when something breaks or isn’t perfect, we simply dispose of it and purchase something new.

Taking the time to connect

As we moved into the second part of our trip, we shifted to the humanitarian portion. We spent 3 ½ days working with a local nonprofit, including two full days of manual labor preparing a new concrete foundation for a dormitory that will house rescued and/or at-risk children from nearby villages. The organization’s mission extends beyond rescuing children from trafficking—it also focuses on preventing trafficking by educating parents, teaching valuable vocational skills to young adults, and creating strong communities for kids in local villages. They connect with these communities and provide positive adult role models who show the children how to treat themselves and others with respect while teaching them that they are worthy, just as they are. Being a small part of this community was an incredible experience, witnessing how they truly come together as a family.

Visiting the villages and seeing the stark contrast between their lives and ours was eye-opening. It was difficult to see the joyful, smiling children, knowing what they would return to. This experience made me realize how much we take for granted in our own world—our families, our homes that protect us from the elements, and the meaningful jobs that support our families and make an impact in our communities. It’s moments like this that make reintegrating back into everyday life challenging. After such an experience, it’s hard not to see how trivial and unimportant many of the things we worry about truly are.

Steering clear of “hustle culture”

Having traveled extensively—living in Australia for six months, backpacking in New Zealand, solo backpacking in Western Europe for three months, hiking the Italian Dolomites, and now this trip—I’ve seen a lot of the world. Every time, I’m reminded of the incredible accomplishments of America, but also the toxic elements of our “hustle culture.” Many Americans live to work, because their self-worth is derived from their net worth, rather than working to create a meaningful life. One of the main takeaways from this trip was the importance of showing people how to use money as a tool to create a fulfilling life, rather than a measure of how much you work. It was during this trip that I coined the term “inspirational wealth,” with the goal of shifting conversations from “generational wealth” to something more impactful.

Make your impact on the world

How can we use our wealth and the freedom it provides not only for ourselves and our families but also to benefit our communities—and, dare I say, the world? These are the types of conversations that bring me fulfillment and remind me why I’m still so passionate about my career.