Before he became a household name as a global adventurer, TV host, motivational speaker and best-selling author, Leon Logothetis was living a seemingly charmed life as a broker in the bustling financial hub of London. On the surface, his life appeared enviable, but beneath the veneer of success, he battled chronic depression. “I didn’t feel connected,” he says.
At 27, Logothetis saw the movie The Motorcycle Diaries and decided to quit his job, travel around the world and rely on kindness. “The first thing I did was hitchhike to Costa Rica relying on $5 a day. From there, I went from Times Square to the Hollywood sign. And then I went from Paris to Moscow – the Eiffel Tower to Red Square, and hitchhiked from London to Scotland and back.”
Logothetis ended up moving to Los Angeles and opening a television production company. One day, he was walking down Hollywood Boulevard when he saw a man experiencing homelessness holding a sign that read: Kindness is the best medicine. Something about that moment made him have an epiphany. “I quit my job again, bought a vintage yellow motorcycle that I named Kindness One and circumnavigated the world relying on kindness.”
As the host of the popular Netflix show, The Kindness Diaries, which now airs on Discovery +, Logothetis traveled to more than 100 countries with no money—relying only on the kindness of strangers along the way. The plot twist was that unsuspecting good Samaritans would receive a life changing gift.
On one occasion, he met an unhoused man who offered to put him up for the night. The next morning Logothetis organized an apartment for the man and helped him go back to school.
In the next season, he went from Alaska to Argentina using a 50-year-old yellow beetle he named Kindness Two traveling from Alaska to Argentina trusting again in the kindness of strangers from a Canadian bushman coming to his rescue to a street musician who opened their homes and most importantly hearts to giving kindness.
Putting Pen to Paper
In his new book Go Be Brave (BenBella April 2023), he shares 24 (and ¾) new adventures for a fearless, wiser and truly magnificent life. “I believe that bravery is a choice—the choice to reconnect to our humanity—and it’s one we can make every single day.” He says this book is a simple concept and journal that will strengthen your being-human muscle, remind you how brave you truly are and inspire people to go out and live their best life.
Through his adventures, Logothetis has become a beacon of hope and a living testament to the profound impact of choosing a path driven by kindness and empathy. He has dedicated his life to inspiring others to embrace the art of giving and receiving, emphasizing that human connection transcends cultural, geographic and socioeconomic boundaries. Here are a few of his favorite tips to live a life with more bravery:
1. Embrace Uncertainty. One of the most crucial aspects of success as an entrepreneur is the ability to navigate through uncertain times. Bravery and courage allow entrepreneurs to face the unknown and take the chances and opportunities which they need to grow. It’s the ones who are afraid that sink. By embracing uncertainty, you can identify new opportunities, create innovative solutions and stay the course.
2. Challenge the Narrative. Entrepreneurs must continually adapt to stay relevant. The next big company could be doing what you’re doing but 1% different! Bravery and courage gives us the strength to challenge the norms, question convention and seek out new ideas. This not only helps entrepreneurs maintain an edge but allows them to adopt the mindset of trying new ideas without fear of failure. When I wanted to make a tv show (with zero experience!), I didn’t listen to the peanut gallery, I challenged that narrative and with courage and A LOT of failure, got to make a hit Netflix tv show!
3. Pursue Bold Goals. Have you heard of a moon shot? They say if you aim for the moon with your goals and fall short, you’ll still land among the stars. To achieve extraordinary goals, you have to set big bold goals that will require boldness and bravery. How many times have you heard stories of people saying something was impossible to do it only months later and change the world forever? This reminds me of Roger Bannister who broke the first ever 4 minute mile. Now that time is beaten all the time! Crazy what happens when we shatter our comfort zones and bravely move forward.
As he looks to what’s next, he has one piece of advice for today’s entrepreneurs and leaders. “Never give up. If you have an idea, however much someone tells you it’s not a good one, go for it. People told me kindness doesn’t sell. Well, I went for it. And here we are!”
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