Soul-Searching on the French Riviera

I've been giving you a sanitized version of myself. That's over.

One thing I did not plan for on this trip was soul-searching. I have been living a life where I was not enough. Let that soak in.

I am going to be honest with you. Many of you know I lived in Mexico, and I started a company called Loco Gringo. One of the first online reservation services for the Riviera Maya. I sold the company in 2019. And while I was blowing up my life, I decided to sell everything I own, and bought a travel trailer to live in. More details about all that later.

Blowing up my life. One version had a plan. The other had better hair.

I went back to school for a master’s in travel and tourism for two reasons:

1. With nothing to do, I was afraid I would start having gin for breakfast.

2. I felt like I needed an advanced degree to validate myself and my 27+ years working in tourism and hospitality, while living on a dirt road.

I have a stack of certifications and accolades, all trying to prove something to “someone”.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love learning and enjoy school.

It took a getaway to the south of France to see it. Since the day I handed the keys to the new owner of Loco Gringo, I have been presenting a sanitized, vanilla version of myself.

Then AI came along.

Being a bit of a geek, I jumped into the deep end of the pool. I built an AI app. Spent a fortune. Shut it down. Tried consulting. Cared more about their businesses than they did. Started writing frameworks on Substack. It was mechanical and unsatisfying.

I am changing my Substack. To share the stories of being an expat, an explorer, and a traveler. A guest and a host. Avoiding potholes in business. And about life held together with duct tape.

If you are a already a subscriber, there will be some nuggets of knowledge still. You may not recognize the tone. It’s the real me. No workflows or frameworks. Gritty details of boots-on-the-ground, bruises, and scars from witnessing a civilization grow from the end of a dirt road.

And if you unsubscribe, I understand. There are lots of consultants and people teaching how to promote your property on TikTok. But that person won’t be me.

Buckle up, because sometimes you can’t make this shit up.