How do you chase big goals without sacrificing the people who matter most?

In EP68 of the Experience More Podcast, Jake Arvold talks about something he continues to navigate in his own life: balancing ambition, family, work, and the desire to experience more.

Marriage, kids, work, and responsibilities don't have to become reasons you stop chasing the things that matter to you.

Your spouse and your kids aren't the reason you can't pursue your goals. They can become an even bigger reason you do.

In this episode, Jake shares how becoming a husband and father has changed the way he looks at ambition, why he believes in involving your family in the things you love, and why our kids learn far more from watching how we live than simply listening to what we tell them.

If you want your kids to value hard work, let them see you work.

If you want them to value their health, let them see you take care of yours.

If you want them to hunt, fish, explore, build, take risks, and chase meaningful goals someday, let them grow up seeing you do those things.

At the same time, ambition can't become an excuse to neglect the people you're supposedly doing it all for.

The goal isn't perfection.

It's learning how to pursue meaningful goals while remaining present for the people who matter most, and finding ways to bring them along for the journey.

Because ultimately, experiencing more isn't only about what you accomplish.

It's about who you get to experience it with.

🎙️ EP68 —How to Balance Ambition and Family Without Giving Up Your Goals

If this episode resonates with you, share it with another parent, spouse, friend, or ambitious person who needs to hear it.

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Hunting season is here.

For some of you, that means months of preparation are finally coming together. For others, this might be your first season ever stepping into the woods.

Either way, this episode is a reminder to stop putting so much pressure on the outcome and start appreciating the experience.

You might miss.

You might screw up.

You might sit all day and never see an animal.

You might realize you have absolutely no idea what you're doing.

And that's okay. It's okay to suck at something new.

Nobody starts as an expert. You learn by going. You learn by asking questions, making mistakes, paying attention, and putting yourself in situations where you have an opportunity to grow.

Because there are no guarantees in hunting, or in life.

You aren't guaranteed to punch a tag. You aren't guaranteed to see the buck you've been chasing. You aren't guaranteed another season with the same hunting buddies, your dad, your kids, or the people sitting around deer camp.

The only guarantee you can give yourself is whether or not you went.

So go.

Take the trip. Hunt the public ground. Sit in the rain. Bring your kids. Call your dad. Invite the friend who's never hunted before.

And somewhere along the way, stop worrying about what's coming next and appreciate where you are.

Sit quietly in the woods. Close your eyes. Listen.

The wind. The leaves. The birds. The squirrels. The world waking up around you.

Most people will never experience those moments.

This episode is about remembering why we hunt in the first place. It's about embracing the adventure, being willing to learn, appreciating the people beside us, and understanding that someday we'd give almost anything for one more morning in the woods.

Don't wait until it's over to realize how good you had it.

Get outside. Stay curious. Make mistakes. Take someone with you.

And this hunting season, don't just chase the outcome.

Experience more.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and episode overview

02:09 Encouragement for new hunters and outdoor enthusiasts

04:23 Personal stories of hunting success and lessons learned

07:02 Listening to nature and appreciating the present

09:37 The value of going with experienced mentors

11:01 The importance of appreciating the journey and moments

12:24 Passion for hunting and passing on traditions

13:46 The significance of experience over trophies

15:06 Transition to YouTube and community building

16:01 Going beyond the average and hunting where others won't

17:51 The mindset of sending it and learning from failure

18:49 Sharing stories and creating ripple effects

20:15 Upcoming hunts and legacy building

22:21 Mentorship and passing down outdoor traditions

23:44 Building a community and inspiring others

24:59 Family, friends, and traditional deer camp experiences

26:14 Documenting and sharing the outdoor journey

27:32 Encouragement to bring others into hunting

28:50 The power of community and shared experiences

30:11 Closing thoughts and call to action

Confidence isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you earn.

In this week’s episode of the Experience More Podcast, we’re talking about one of the biggest things holding people back from chasing the life they actually want: waiting until they feel confident enough to start.

The truth is, the work comes before the belief—and the belief builds the confidence.

You don’t become confident and then take the risk. You take the risk, do the work, survive the failures, learn from the mistakes, and prove to yourself that you’re capable. That’s where confidence comes from.

In this episode, we dive into getting outside your comfort zone, surrounding yourself with people who challenge you, and learning to take action even when you don’t have everything figured out.

We also talk about the danger of overthinking. Sometimes you can research, plan, prepare, and analyze something for so long that you never actually move.

Eventually, you’ve just gotta send it.

Your first attempt probably won’t be perfect. Your business will evolve. Your fitness will evolve. Your relationships will evolve. Your goals will evolve. Even this podcast will continue to evolve.

But none of that evolution happens if you never start.

So ask yourself:

What have you been waiting to feel confident enough to do?

Make the call. Take the trip. Start the business. Sign up for the event. Walk into the gym. Launch the project. Have the conversation.

Whatever scares the shit out of you might be exactly where you need to go.

Stop waiting for confidence. Take the first swing. Do the work. Build the proof.

Because confidence comes from doing.

If this episode hits home, send it to someone who needs a push to stop waiting and start taking action.

Experience More.