Embracing Fear and Finding Purpose: Insights from Tom Benson, CEO of Wildplay

Hello, LinkedIn community! Today, I want to share some transformative insights from my recent episode of the Inbodied Performance Podcast, where I had the pleasure of interviewing Tom Benson, the co-founder and CEO of WildPlay Element Parks. Tom's journey from a childhood marked by frequent relocations to becoming a professional climbing guide and founding a company centred on adventure and personal growth is nothing short of inspiring. In this article, I have outlined some of the key takeaways from our conversation in an attempt to support entrepreneurs and professionals alike. This episode was a powerful conversation about how to achieve elite performance while living a life of intentionality and purpose. 

In this article I break down three key topics that really landed with me. Three topics that I feel every entrepreneur or high-performer can benefit from.

1. Aligning Activities and Decisions with Purpose

I was very excited about speaking with Tom during this episode because he is a man who has achieved a high level of conventional success while staying true to his principles and purpose, which, in today's society, is becoming increasingly rare.

Far too many of us (myself included) get distracted by the allure of money, the bigger house, the lavish trip, the next big contract, or the final acquisition of what we are building, and we forget what matters. We forget that we have a gift, a gift that was given to us for a reason, and that reason is to use it. This gift could be speaking, writing, telling stories, creating connections, capturing moments, supporting others, giving back—the list goes on and on. Yet we pursue other things because “they make more sense” or provide “more security,” and, for many of us, our gifts get further and further away.

In this episode, Tom gives great advice on how to pick the right path—one that not only highlights your gifts but empowers you to be more successful. The secret? Following one’s excitement. When we follow our excitement, we tap into a very powerful force, one that empowers us to overcome any and all adversity that gets in our way. It’s through this journey of getting clear on what you want and who you are, and pursuing actions that reflect it, that over the course of one’s life, reveal our purpose. And not only that, it starts to produce much more fulfilling results.

So ask yourself:

• “What excites me, and how can I do more of it?”

• “What am I naturally really good at, and how can I bring more of it into my life?”

• “How can I turn this excitement and these natural abilities into something that adds value to the world?”

The results you are looking for lie in the answers to these questions. The more raw and real you can be with yourself, the more potent the results will be. So silence the noise, turn inward, and start looking at how you can do more of what you love. I promise that in return your performance will increase and your excitement for life will follow.

2. Managing Guilt and Ego in Decision-Making

In this episode, Tom is quoted saying, “Guilt is a beauty.” This was definitely the first time I had ever heard this.

Tom feels that guilt provides you with a choice—a choice to either do something about the guilt or not. And once the decision is made on which course of action to take, then you can just let it go. Tom shares that guilt is simply an ally trying to help you understand something better than you already do. So use it; it will guide you well in making decisions. 

As Tom and I furthered our conversation I became very curious about this concept of what I am defining as “excitement based decision making”. In theory this made a lot of sense to me, but in practice I was very curious about its application. Sure when the decisions that need to be made are clear and concise it seems like an easy course of action, but what about when it’s not. What about when the lines separating a person’s “truth” and “ego” get blurred? 

Ego is a very obscure topic and definitely something that is hard to navigate. Because he is a man of truth and principles, I asked Tom in this episode how he keeps ego out of the decision-making process. Tom expressed that while ego can’t be removed completely, it must be managed through knowing one’s values and principles and keeping them at the forefront of the decision-making process.

Far too often, humans get stuck doing something for the accolade or outcome because the want or need for “success” is so strong. Even though there is nothing wrong with this, the pursuit of this success can pull us away from what excites us or what we are naturally good at, resulting in a reduction in overall performance and ultimately fulfilment. Tom expresses that this is why it is crucial for business owners and leaders to know their values, understand what really motivates them, and stick to a set of principles no matter what. They are the only anchors you have.

3. Discovering Purpose Through Adventure and Curiosity

As we follow our excitement, push to do more of what we are good at and navigate the world of making both right and wrong decisions there has to be something that keeps us coming back for more. There has to be something that empowers us to get up off the ground and back to work after we’ve been knocked down. We need a driver…

When I asked Tom what drives him, he responded very simply with a one-word answer: “curiosity.” I could not have been happier with that response. In my opinion, curiosity keeps the adventure going. As long as one stays curious, they will keep growing because they have the resilience to see any and all outcomes through. As entrepreneurs and high achievers, curiosity, in my opinion, is the most important characteristic to uphold. It is a super power. I believe that curiosity is what keeps the human spirit alive through all the trials and tribulations of life. How? Two words… “What if”.

No matter where you are in life, if you are curious, you are going somewhere. One’s purpose can only be discovered through a combination of curiosity, action, and result. If you are curious enough to ask the questions, willing enough to take the risks, and resilient enough to deal with the diversity of results, you will find your purpose. Conversely, if you lose the adventurous spirit, stay trapped in comfort, and stop asking questions, you will limit your performance, lose touch with your purpose, and ultimately hinder your results and lose your excitement.

With that said, curiosity lies at the heart of every human's purpose because only through being curious will it ever be revealed.

Final Thoughts

Tom Benson’s journey and insights offer valuable lessons for anyone striving for elite performance and a fulfilled life. By aligning activities with purpose, managing ego and guilt, and discovering purpose through adventure, along with a host of other powerful nuggets of wisdom from this man, we can unlock our true potential.

I encourage you to listen to the full episode for more in-depth insights and actionable advice. Let's embrace the adventure of life and strive for excellence in everything we do!

Feel free to connect with me and share your thoughts or experiences on how you’re applying these principles in your own life. Together, we can create a community of high performers living with purpose and passion.

Stay strong, stay focused, and live boldly!

Best,

Cam McDougall