Build A Pack
A place to discover and plan your perfect backpacking trip.
Get introduced to the world’s most ambitious hikes with tips and gear suggestions that will help you succeed. Build your gear list with our data-driven approach. Then compare your backpack with fellow hikers and review personalized suggestions to improve your experience.
YDNTI
The first step of intentional growth is to become aware. Identify the behavior you want to change or the person you want to become. Break down false internal narratives of fear and failure by asking “Why Don’t I?”. Then take action! Throughout your growth journey, reflect by asking “Why Didn’t I?”. This formula is intentional. It will fuel growth faster than you thought possible.
Check out my free journal layout – Coming soon!
Pacific Crest Trail
April 3rd, 2022. A 2,650-mile trip from Mexico to Canada. My life shoved into a backpack. It’s crazy. But is it crazier than working for 40 years and ignoring my desire to go? It’s a break from my data water hose (feeds, news, games, and an ever-growing list of to-dos). No goals. No search for purpose. Only one thing matters – to be open-minded and let nature change me.
ShopAffect
Cause marketing is abused. Companies appeal to customers without transparency. Campaigns that “donate a percent of profit” have always bugged me. Profit can easily be manipulated by salary and benefits, resulting in a laughable donation. ShopAffect’s goal is to bring transparency to cause marketing and funnel retail profits to people in need. Say hello to curated products with a tangible, quantifiable impact. And you fund an ACF international project with each purchase (education, water, hunger, education, or healthcare). Yes, the impact is clear. ShopAffect isn’t active. But I promise it isn’t dead.
Packback
In 2016 I joined an Education tech startup as the first marketing hire. I built the marketing and sales ops foundation that fueled 2,700% revenue growth between 2017 – 2020. In 2020 Packback hit #357 on the INC 5,000 and I transitioned from the director of marketing into finance. I led the company through an initial financial audit and scaled finance operations. After growing the team and leading Series B diligence, I left my role as director of finance to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.
Learn more about Packback
Interior Design
I built houses during my high school and college summers. This is a little different than my new medium of excel spreadsheets. I missed the feeling of using my hands to create something new. So home projects and design became my outlet. When I moved to Chicago, I threw myself into new roles at Packback and began my personal growth journey. I wanted my space to foster creativity and growth.
Blog Post – Coming Soon!
Shenandoah National Park
In August 2021 I hiked through the Shenandoah National Park. This was my first long distance backpacking trip (100 miles). I met some amazing people and fell in love with the trail. These weeks inspired a 2,650-mile hike from Mexico to Canada. Check out my journey and photos!
Blog Post – Coming Soon!
Streaming
I’ve played video games for 20 years. I stream FPS shooters (Apex Legends) or RPGS (The witcher, RDR2, etc). I stream on YouTube as zhriker from time to time. Subscribe if want to hang out and chat about personal growth, hiking, or gaming!
Check out my youtube channel