Currently...

Almost everything I do is shaped by a project called Expedition1000, which involves me undertaking 25 separate journeys of 1000 miles or more. Each expedition will use a different form of non-motorised transport and along the way I hope to raise £1million for charity, reach both poles, cross three oceans and do at least one expedition on each continent.

The idea at heart is to give a bit of hope; we can all live life to the full and I strongly believe that travel is the key to developing an awareness and passion for the environments through which we pass.

As a sideline, I've also started a series of 'social exploration' books, the first being "DATE", the perfect story of how not to find a girlfriend (by attempting to date 100 women in 100 days)!

I've got about eight expeditions in the planning stage, which is perfect as I used to finish a journey and float around aimlessly. Now I'm not allowing myself to rest. In between journeys I'll write a book and give some talks to keep bread on the table.

I help manage other adventurers' expeditions and do lots of school visits to encourage kids to raise their aspirations.

At some point the itchy feet will need a scratch so I’ll plan another expedition.

Before I escaped...

I was a graphic designer at a newspaper until early 2005, but working for someone else didn’t suit me at all.

My moment of truth...

I was 19 when I took a gap year in East Africa with an organisation called http://www.aventure.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Africa & Asia Venture. It changed my life; I matured and started to write a journey.

I get bored very easily, but the only constant career I’ve ever aspired to would be travel writing. It’s taken ten years and I wouldn’t yet say I’ve made it, but I’m ever so close.

I was rock bottom. A three year relationship had come to an end, the job sucked, I was 25 and had a choice: start to live a little or carry on working just because of the end of month pay cheque. I chose life! I took up longboarding (long skateboarding) in March 2005 and it transformed the landscape I’d been walking in for seven years.

Everything suddenly seemed different and new, and two weeks later I had quit my job with the plan of skating further than anyone else ever had. Luckily, the crazy plan came off!

Planning for it...

I wanted to make this new venture sustainable, which meant more than just me and a backpack. I set up an initiative called BoardFree and planned two journeys - one from John O’Groats to Lands End and another larger effort across Australia from Perth to Brisbane. I built a website, started to get a little bit of pre-journey attention from the media, selected charities to support and the project started to gain pace.

Within 14 months of stepping onto my first board I’d become the first person to skate the length of Britain, and two months later the energy generated by the project had encouraged seven people (mostly strangers) to pack everything in and come to Australia to help make the project a success.

I’d worked hard and saved for a while, and it’s natural to question your motives when an opportunity comes along that will halt income and eat into the savings. But dreams are too strong to ignore, right? You can’t regret trying to make a dream come true, and if it doesn’t come off quite how you expected then at least you tried, then went back to work.

It’s a learning curve. The main battle isn’t whether you have the money or not, it’s how you’re able to deal with leaving behind security for a short while. I quickly realised that although my first expedition was definitely based on selfish motives, other people could benefit too, and the support team I eventually put together also contributed to the project. It was like a gap-year project with a difference.

The worst and best bits...

Honestly, it felt right from the very start. You have to trust your instinct when you’re exploring new avenues and the one constant has to be belief in what you’re trying to create.

The hardest thing to deal with was people telling me I couldn’t do it – but luckily I had a strong group of family and friends around who supported me to the hilt, despite the frankly bizarre nature of what I was trying to do. I mean, who pushes a skateboard a long way?!

Eventually I made it across Australia but when I look back at the process it doesn’t start in Perth as I skated into the outback; it began in my bed in Swansea when my cat woke me up and I decided that it was ridiculous to be 25 and depressed. Everything that happened from then on gave me a new life; you can’t replace the satisfaction of striving through hurdles and reaching the conclusion you were aiming for.

The best thing? I haven’t needed to go back to a day job. I promised myself I’d make a career out of writing, adventuring, maybe making films, and the dream is coming true.

Best advice...

http://www.ellenmacarthur.com/" rel="nofollow">Ellen MacArthur wrote me a little message and said "Just GO FOR IT." Just GO FOR IT!

It’s so easy to be tied up in our own lives, and there’s plenty in the city to keep us entertained for years.

But if you’re thinking about a big change, believe in yourself and make it happen. In five years time will you look back and regret not giving it a go? If the answer is ‘yes’ then that says it all.

Useful resources and information...

Communication today has transformed what we’re capable of doing, researching, and preparing, and then carrying out a journey is a different beast from the olden days, but embrace it.

Make a website so you can share your journey with others. if you’re breaking out, others will be inspired by you and you’ll give them the courage to do the same, if they want.

Also, read books by others who have done the same.

• Danny Wallace:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0091896746/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i2?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=045TQF9HZRVW11DDMBT8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294" rel="nofollow">Yes Man and http://www.amazon.co.uk/Join-Me-Story-Started-Accident/dp/0091895820/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267982966&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Join Me
• Richard Branson’s autobiography: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Losing-Virginity-Autobiography-Richard-Branson/dp/0753519550/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267949124&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">Losing My Virginity