Today we’d like to introduce you to Bradford Benoit.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2001, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor. I moved into a home with my 92-year-old Great Aunt Mary, who lived above the Sunset Strip on Doheny and got myself a job at Starbucks on the strip. As a young actor, I took work at several different jobs over the next 18 years as I auditioned, including delivery driver, an A&R rep for a record label, a market researcher, a mover, a PA for film and TV, a real estate assistant, a cameraman, and finally a special effects technician for the last 13 years – before branching out to start my own business. Throughout my life, there has always been a consistent throughline: Create. I have always been a creator, and usually with something that involves my hands. I am a leather craftsman, woodworker, and photographer to name a few. Another constant in my life has been travel. From a very young age, I have been lucky enough to see so many wonderful places around the globe and I thirst to see so much more. I like to think that the more you see, the more you realize there is to see.
In 2008, I met my now wife, Christina, and we continued to travel the world together. In fact, engraved on our wedding rings is the phrase “There is still so much to see.” So, we take our adventurous hearts very seriously and believe that this world is meant to be explored.
During our time together, we had always been working jobs that didn’t fulfill our wild spirits, but always found the time to travel. In 2017, we had our first child, Finnigan, and our perspective on everything we ever knew changed.
We both left our jobs, sold our house, and decided to live our life on our terms. We wanted to follow the call of our wild hearts and we started a travel brand called Live A Wilder Life. I am now a full-time travel photographer and travel writer.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely NOT been a smooth ride, but I don’t think it ever really is. But, what I can say is every bump or hiccup along the way has led to where I am today. For that, I am very grateful.
It took many years of sacrificing my true self to finally come to the place where I can say I am happiest.
If you had asked me 10 years ago to guess what I would be doing today, I would never have imagined this would be it. But, to me, the best parts of life are the most unpredictable or unknown. Life is ultimately a big mystery with creating your own ending type twists and turns, so where’s the fun in knowing how it turns out?
Much of this is also about surrender, but that’s a whole topic all on its own.
Overall, I am a firm believer that each struggle, failure, or misstep is an educational stepping stone to your next success. Without the struggles we don’t grow, and after all, is said and done, that’s what it’s all about, right? (That and the Hokey Pokey.) <-I’m a Dad, so this stuff kills in my house.
Live A Wilder Life – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My wife and I started a company called Live A Wilder Life that focuses on travel and adventure for families that wouldn’t otherwise think they could travel with kids. Our goal is to encourage and help folks travel more and often to places that are off the beaten path. We want to show parents and families that it can be done and that the “traditional” parenting style is not for every family. We offer travel hacks, inspiration, and wanderlust photography on our website www.liveawilderlife.com.
Our aim was to show our son that life is meant to be lived on your own terms and furthermore, there is much to be learned from other people, cultures, places, and experiences. I believe that a life filled with experiences is the best way to ensure you won’t have regrets when your time is up.
I am the photographer and videographer for the brand, as well as a content creator and video editor.
Feel free to sign up for our newsletters and get insider travel tips and photography advice, or reach out to me personally with any questions you might have.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
This is a tough question. I believe that a career is made of highs, lows, and everything in between, but the moment that someone gains the courage to follow a dream – that is the proudest moment (and most brave) that someone might ever have. It might also look like fear, uncertainty, or any color of emotion on the spectrum, but make no mistake this is a pivotal moment in a career. The moment someone decides to no longer waste time living someone else’s life and live for oneself – that is the moment we should all strive for.
So, I could say that my proudest moment was working on a Super Bowl campaign, with worldwide brands, or another accomplishment that sounds cool. But, honestly, my proudest moment was the moment that I stopped living someone else’s dream and took my life back. Because the reward in truth is greater than any career accolade I could achieve.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.liveawilderlife.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/liveawilderlife
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/liveawilderlife
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/liveawilderlife
Image Credit:
Bradford Benoit
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