My Two years in a caravan
8 modern square meters on wheel, a dream for many people in the world.
At 51, most people double down on stability: bigger house, fancier car, more stuff. Me? I did the opposite. I terminated my apartment lease, sold or donated everything that didn't fit in my Adria Action Sport caravan, and hit the road full-time.
Under 8 square meters. Kitchen, toilet, shower, two beds. Compact luxury – but a radical downsize from my 70m² city apartment. Why? I've never done "normal." Deep down, I'm a nomad. And this wasn't just a midlife crisis – it became my ultimate self-leadership experiment.
The Breaking Point: When "Success" Started Suffocating Me
Picture this: highly profiled CEO role in the Entertainment Industry. Sales Director in Media before that. 10+ years consulting police chiefs, media execs, tech leaders. Track record? Solid. But privately, I felt heavy - not from work, but from life.
My apartment overflowed:
Furniture I never used (that "future guest room" nobody visited).
15 pairs of shoes (when 3 suffice) and wardrobes full with clothes, that would fit better on someone else.
Boxes of sentimental junk from 30+ years.
I thrived professionally leading others to clarity (SLII workshops for 30+ police leaders, sales transformations at AdOn Media). But my own life? Chaos. Decisions paralyzed by options. Mental bandwidth drained by maintenance.
One Tuesday evening, staring at a closet avalanche, it hit me: My stuff owned me more than I owned it. Time for a hard reset.
The Leap: 30 Days to Nomad (The Logistics)
I gave myself 30 days. No half-measures. Here's how it went down:
Week 1-4: Inventory Audit
Cataloged everything. Brutal rule: If it doesn't fit in the caravan OR spark joy + utility, it's gone.
Sold: Sofa, dining table, 80% clothes → 80,000 SEK cash.
Donated: Kitchenware, books, gym gear → local charities loved it.
Kept: Laptop, 3 suits, coffee gear, SLII workbooks, one photo album.
Week 5-8: Caravan Prep
Adria Action Sport, custom with my own tweaks:
Foldable desk for client calls.
Solar panels for off-grid work.
Compact SLII flipchart holder (!).
Test weekends: Stockholm → fjäll, working 4h/day, hiking 6h. Felt... right.
Moving Day: Emotional Rollercoaster
Lease terminated. Keys handed in. Final sweep: empty apartment. Heart raced – freedom or madness? Drove off with 8m² life. First night parked by a lake. Stars above, silence. Slept like a baby.
6+ Months In: The Raw Truth (What Actually Changed)
No Instagram polish here. Real lessons from dirt roads, rain leaks, and client wins.
1. Less Ownership = Sharper Decisions
Early shock: No closet = no choice paralysis. Pick any shirt? Done in 10 seconds.
Leadership parallel: My police clients struggled with situational leadership – too many styles, no clarity. SLII fixed it. Caravan life? My personal SLII: one "style" (minimal), infinite adaptability.
Result: Decisions 3x faster. Client calls crisper. Sales workshop prep: 2h vs 6h.
2. Experiences Beat Stuff (Prioritization Muscle)
Mountain hike > new watch. Forest coffee > apartment balcony. Nomad life forced ruthless prioritization.
Self-leadership lesson: Sales teams I coach drown in shiny objects – 17 tools, scattered focus. "Fewer, better" = pipeline velocity up 25% (AdOn case). My caravan rule: Does it move the needle 90 days out?
3. Sustainability as Side-Effect (Not Virtue Signal)
No eco-warrior preaching. But: 90% less waste, solar-powered, carpool clients. Costs? 40% drop (no rent, minimal utilities).
Leadership parallel: Sigma Tech leaders craved "sustainable growth." We built it: flexible culture, no burnout. Caravan = my 24/7 sustainability lab.
4. Skepticism Reveals the Trap
Reactions split:
"You're living the dream!" (but stay put).
"Irresponsible at 51?" (from 9-5 lifers). Truth: Change terrifies. Easier to admire nomads than become one.
Self-leadership lesson: Team Olivia shifted to sales-driven culture despite resistance. Pioneers win. Comfort zones kill.
5. Nomad = Adaptability Superpower
Client call from Lappland? Done. Workshop in Göteborg? Park overnight, deliver. Hybrid teams eat this up.
Leadership parallel: Police leaders gained "flexibility under pressure." My caravan? Daily pressure testing.How it felt? — truly liberating!
The less I own, the better I feel
I’ve started valuing experiences over possessions
I’m not an eco-warrior, but I’m passionate about sustainability and reuse
I’ve learned to love “fewer, better things”
“Stuff” and “ownership” weigh me down mentally
Deep down, I’m a nomad.
Some people have met my choice with some skepticism, but most say, “I’d love to do that too” — even though they probably never will. Why? Because change is hard, and it’s easier to stay mainstream.
Combined bedroom, living room and kitchen.
Self-Leadership Framework: The Caravan Method (Steal This)
Want my results without selling your sofa? 5-step declutter for leaders:
Audit (48h): List ALL commitments/stuff. Rate 1-10 utility.
Cut 50%: Donate/say no. Feel the lift.
Mobile Test: Work 1 week "nomad" (coffee shops, parks).
Prioritize Ruthlessly: 3 mission-critical goals only.
Iterate Monthly: Keep light, stay sharp.
Police leaders used this for SLII adoption. Sales teams for pipeline focus. You?
Not for Everyone – But Maybe for You
Caravan life isn't rebellion or retirement. It's self-leadership at scale: stripping noise to amplify signal. Leaders I mentor (media execs, tech VPs, sales directors) crave this clarity amid corporate fog.
Your turn: What's your 8m²? The drawer? The committee? The side-hustle draining focus? Start small. Momentum builds.
Ready for a self-leadership audit? Book a 45-min discovery call. From CEO chaos to nomad clarity – let's declutter your path.
