Building a meaningful business while living your best life and traveling the world is not easy. In this episode of Before IT Happened, our host Donna Loughlin tells the story of social entrepreneur and philanthropist Jamie Bianchini, who biked through over 80 countries around the world for eight years with a friend calling themselves the ‘Peace Pedalers.’ Jamie’s motto “Live big, give big” has had an enormous impact in communities from Asia to Latin America where he’s helped build schools, start transportation projects and bring clean water to areas in need. Listen now and learn how this adventurer’s entrepreneurial spirit found its spark in his love for humanity.
Before any world-changing innovation, there was a moment, an event, a realization that sparked the idea before it happened. This is a podcast about that moment — about that idea. Before IT Happened takes you on a journey with the innovators who imagined — and are still imagining — our future. Join host Donna Loughlin as her guests tell their stories of how they brought their visions to life.
JUMP STRAIGHT INTO:
(01:20) - Jamie’s story and the ups & downs of entrepreneurial life - “You can build a business around the lifestyle that you want to have. That's what I aspired to do, and that's still what I do to this day.”
(05:44) - Traveling the world while trying to build a business - “I worked at a youth hostel in Switzerland that I modeled my business plan after which won Best Business Plan at USC.”
(08:27) - Working to make Peace Pedalers a reality - “It was taking the tandem bicycle with an empty seat on the back of it and inviting total strangers to come on. That gesture of friendship and connection is the essence of Peace Pedalers.”
(14:59) - Jamie’s life-changing realization of wanting to help people - “Magical things happen when we don't just focus on ourselves, but we try to infuse some level of intention, contribution, and purpose in our lives above and beyond just achieving.”
(18:53) - Getting the drive to keep going - “I pulled a two-peso note from my wallet, and somebody had written on the bill by hand a message in Spanish, ‘If love is your biggest weakness, you are the strongest person in the world.’”
(22:18) - What’s next for Jamie - “It's everybody's responsibility to pick our head up and see what we can do to help someone who's part of the human family who might not be as fortunate as us.”
(24:50) - On Profit & Purpose: Jamie's new project in the social venture arena - “We help anybody who’s purpose-driven or wants to be purpose-driven and make it easier for them to become even more impactful in their communities.”
EPISODE RESOURCES:
Connect with Jamie on Twitter and at Jamiebianchini.com
Learn more about Jamie’s latest organization Profit & Purpose
Watch Jamie’s Tedx Talk: Live Big, Give Big: Infinite possibilities powered by compassion
See Jamie’s original route for Peace Pedalers
Read Jamie’s book: A Bicycle Built for Two Billion
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Before IT Happened is produced by Donna Loughlin and StudioPod Media with additional editing and sound design by Nodalab. The Executive Producer is Katie Sunku Wood and all episodes are written by Jack Buehrer.
