About
Hi, I'm Florian
Born and raised in Germany. End of 2015 I quit my "old" life in the corporate world, a well-paid job, a nice home and all the amenities of what we generally call a good and fulfilled life, to explore what else was out there.
What started as a year-long break became a journey with an open end and an open destination. This blog is where I share it.
The journey
From the office to the trail and back
- 2015
Leaving the corporate world
After a trainee programme, a business degree and a classic career in an international corporation, I quit my job, declined a sabbatical and packed a backpack.
- 2015/16
Te Araroa, New Zealand
3,008 km on foot from Bluff to Cape Reinga. What started as an outdoor challenge became a life-changing experience.
- 2016/17
Canada, South America, Antarctica
The art of brewing coffee, time up in the air in British Columbia, then south through the Americas down to the islands of infinite ice.
- 2017
Pacific Crest Trail, USA
From Mexico all the way to Canada: five months on one of the great long-distance trails.
- Back home
campo and Studio Feuerwerk
Back in Germany I founded campo-golf.de with a guy I had met in a hostel in Colombia, and started speaking on stage.
- 2018/19
Tour du Mont Blanc and Pyrenean Haute Route
Fast and light in the Alps, then 23 days coast to coast through the Pyrenees.
- 2020
My first book
Do What Make Good – Der Anfang von 8500 km Glück.
- 2021–23
Haute Route, Dolomites, Zugspitze
Shorter trips in the Alps, and back to New Zealand to see old friends.
My story
Why I left
Why? I can't really tell you exactly why. First it was mainly just about taking a break and enjoying life for a while before starting a new job. Since I wanted to be free to really enjoy, emerge and be open for whatever would happen along the way, I cut all the safety ropes, quit my job, declined the offer of a sabbatical, got rid of (almost) all my stuff, packed a backpack and left home to explore what else was out there.
The journey began in New Zealand. I hiked the 3,008 km long Te Araroa Trail, the Long Pathway, from the southern to the northernmost point of the country. What started out as a physical and outdoor challenge quickly developed into a life-changing experience which disrupted my life more than I would have ever expected. Next to an amazing hike it also started a strong process of self-reflection and inspiration. It led me to a state of mind which I had never experienced before: true happiness and inner peace with myself.
But when I arrived at Cape Reinga I also had the feeling that I was not done yet. So I continued, only led by impulses and curiosity instead of plans. I explored the art of brewing coffee, went up high into the air, lost myself in the spiritual world, went far south to islands of infinite ice and did a lot more walking. I continued hiking for 1.5 more years through Canada, South America down to Antarctica and back from Mexico all the way to Canada on the famous Pacific Crest Trail.
But also after I had returned to Germany to do some "grown-up things" the journey just continued. One night in a hostel in Colombia I had met a guy who told me about a business idea. Call it coincidence or call it fate: he happened to live just across the street from where I stayed after my return. It did not take long and we started our first company together: campo-golf.de. Soon we started Studio Feuerwerk to share our experience with others, and I took my first steps on stage as a keynote speaker. And after two years of long nights and a lot of help my first book arrived: Do What Make Good – Der Anfang von 8500 km Glück.
I am very excited about what the future will bring. But one thing is sure: it will be a constant change and full of surprises…
The name
Why "Do What Make Good"?
"You got to do what you think is best for you!"
On Aconcagua I shared my tent with Matt for almost three weeks. Whenever I asked him for advice, like which hat to wear, he only replied: "You know what, you got to do what is best for you!" What started out as a running joke became a life motto, and even made it into my boss's farewell note when I left my old life.
"Do What Make Good!"
In one of the many huts in New Zealand the discussion circled around life and the choices we make. A Korean hiker with a limited English vocabulary wanted to say that he felt exactly the same, and in his words: "Do What Make Good!" Not grammatically perfect, but it came from deep insight and just nailed it.
The logo
The logo reduces "Do What Make Good" to the D and G. Inside both letters is a Koru, the unfurling fern. In Maori culture it stands for new life, growth, change and strength, a perfect symbol for what the trail and New Zealand have done for me. The Koru also accompanies me for the rest of my life as a reminder (my Koru).
