Does it take a lot of courage to change your career path? Peter Morton thinks it does, and it was his own boss who gave him the nudge to do so! In 2006 he left his job in IT to pursue a career in outdoor education as a freelance instructor. This led on to the creation of RedOakBushcrafts, a family run business in the Peak District.

RedOakBushcrafts offers bushcraft, wilderness and survival skills courses in the Peak District and canoe expeditions in Scotland.

Here are the questions I ask Peter during this interview:

• Do you find it challenging to do people-facing work?
• What do you see is the impact on the people that come on your courses?
• What was it that reignited your passion for the outdoors?
• Did you feel impatient about your career progression when you left your IT job?
• Did something trigger your decision to leave?
• How did it feel for you to be making such a big change?
• Do you think you would’ve stayed longer if your boss hadn’t given you the nudge?
• Are you pleased you’ve taken these steps towards what you’re doing now?
• Do you feel like it takes a lot of courage to leave things behind?
• Which parts of your work do you absolutely love?
• Do people really bond on your canoe trips?
• What aspects of your work do you really not like?
• What have you learnt along the way?
• Has your work/lifestyle turned out as you expected?
• How do people react to the type of work that you do?
• Do you feel that your work is meaningful when comparing it to your previous job?
• What were the first steps that you took with setting up RedOak?
• What do you think your friends and family think of what you do?
• Do you think you need an outdoorsy background to pursue an outdoors career?
• Do you train people to do what you do?
• Do you feel like you have a good standard of living?
• Do you create as much free time as you can?
• What question would you ask somebody who is thinking about a career change?

RedOakBushcrafts Links

Website 

Instagram

Facebook

Recording information

This episode was recorded on the slopes of the Great Ridge in Edale, underneath a tarp, on 9th February 2024.

Support My Podcast

About The Adventure has a patreon community where you can contribute £5 monthly to the show. This supports the cost of making the podcast and in return offers you a 10% discount on coaching sessions with Sarah and events by About The Adventure.

Final notes

Visi About The Adventure website to email Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for future guests. Subscribe to Sarah's newsletter to receive episodes in your inbox, along with career change interviews and career coaching questions.

Podcast music is by Tsarzi and artwork by Tiffany-Francis Baker.

Thanks for listening!