Torbjørn Pedersen has always dreamed of being a famous adventurer. He spent his childhood building dens in the woods, pretending to be his hero, Indiana Jones. Even as an adult, he couldn’t shake the sense that he was destined for greatness. There was just one problem: “I was born at least 100 years too late.” Things reached a tipping point when he turned 34. He had a successful career in shipping and logistics, owned his own home, and had just started a serious relationship. It was time to give up his childish dreams. Then his dad sent him an article about people who had traveled to every country in the world. They weren’t millionaires, but just ordinary people who walked, cycled and hitchhiked around the globe on shoestring budgets. That was Pedersen's Eureka moment. He spent the next 10 months planning his journey — the route, the budget, and what to pack. He set three rules: at least 24 hours in each country, no visits home, and absolutely no flying. He figured his journey would take him in the neighborhood of four years, with a budget of $20 a day — funded by savings. Pedersen left his home country of Denmark on Oct. 10, 2013, heading first to Europe and then North America. As the end of his journey approached, he struggled. It had taken far longer than planned — nearly 10 years. He took a slow, 33-day voyage home from his last port in the Maldives. He walked down the gangway on May 23, 2023 to find his family, assorted journalists, and 150 well-wishers waiting for him. What big lessons did he learn on his travels? If anything, his quest taught him how to rely on others. “The solution is not necessarily in you. A lot of solutions in life are found through other people. You might have to try a thousand closed doors, but there’s always an open door somewhere. Never, ever give up.”
