"From $693 to Living My Dream: My Journey to Ecuador" (Condensed Version)

Dear Andre, (3 min read)

Three quick things before we dive in (stick around for the part where I show you how to create your own story).

1. The Big Lie: My story isn’t interesting.

2. The Truth: Your story matters.

3. The Plan: Do things. Meet people. Learn to tell stories.

This is Part 4 of a series on signature stories. So far, I’ve shared about how I started Detailing, Drumming, and how I learned to Focus.

I’m pumped for you to read this week’s and next week’s letters. Why? Because this is the stuff I did at 24 that changed my life by 28. Without these experiences, I’d be living a totally different story right now.

So grab some popcorn—this one’s good.

It All Started with Disneyland

At 16, I got a job at a grocery store.

I know, I know—snore city. But here’s the twist: That "boring" job gave me two things I didn’t expect:

1. The money to take my sister to Disneyland (yes, big-brother brownie points galore—hold the applause).

2. A skill that would shape my entire life.

The grocery store served a community that was 90% Spanish-speaking. I was taking Spanish 3 in school and auditing Spanish 2 (don’t ask why), so I decided to put my knowledge to work. Every shift, I practiced Spanish. I helped people find their groceries faster, and I made them feel seen.

That’s when a dream sparked: What if I lived somewhere where Spanish wasn’t just spoken—but lived and breathed?

The Dream

Years later, I got an email about a 10-day trip to Ecuador. My dream! Except… I had $693 to my name. The cost? $3,962.

Big oof.

I promised myself that next time, I’d be ready.

Fast forward to 2019, another email lands in my inbox. Same trip. Same cost.

My emergency fund stared me down like, "Oh no, you don’t." My palms sweat. My finger hovered over the Buy Now button. And then—CLICK.

Was it a smart decision? Debatable. But it was the right one.

The Plot Twist

I poured everything into preparing for the trip: Spanish 4 classes, conversational practice, podcasts, Disney+ in Spanish (yes, even "Frozen" hits different in Español).

And then… COVID.

Trip? Cancelled. Money? Refunded.

Dream? Dashed.

But here’s the thing about dreams: If they’re big enough, they won’t let you go.

Testing the Waters

In December 2020, I decided to take a leap of faith and book a trip to Ecuador for three weeks. No guarantees, no backup plan, just a prayer and a plane ticket.

The response I got when I asked for time off from work shocked me: total support. My managers were hyped. My coworkers cheered me on.

The Trip

Living in Ecuador, surrounded by Spanish 24/7 for three weeks, changed me. My language skills skyrocketed. I made incredible friends, ate countless meals with locals, and learned that sharing food is sharing life.

But I also faced something unexpected: the challenge of doing nothing.

For the first time since I was 16, I wasn’t working. No job. No hustle. Just… time. It forced me to confront who I was without the grind.

The Fallout

When I returned home, I knew the scouting mission was over—it was time for the real dream: living in Ecuador for 2-3 months.

This required big moves. Quitting both my jobs. Taking a leap into the unknown.

Some people thought I was crazy. Others cheered me on. One mentor gave me the best advice:

So I did it.

What I Learned

1. Dreams demand sacrifice. I left behind good things for a question mark.

2. The journey doesn’t end with the dream. Achieving a goal isn’t the finish line—it’s a launchpad.

3. Sharing stories matters. The meals, the moments, the connections—they're what make life worth living.

Your Turn

Here’s what I want you to do:

1. Practice a story. Pick one thing that matters to you and share it. (Yes, it’ll feel lame at first. Do it anyway.)

2. Write like you talk. Record a voice memo of yourself telling the story, then transcribe it.

3. Focus on the hard parts. People root for you because of the struggle.

Every story needs:

• An intention: What do you want?

• An obstacle: What’s in the way?

And remember: Pixar’s rule is gospel—if it’s too easy, nobody cares.

That’s it, Andre. Write your story. Share your struggle. People will root for you. I know I will.

Love you, dude.

– Daniel

P.S. If you want to see my journey in real-time, here’s the playlist I made during my trip: Watch here.

Start now. You never know where your story might take you