Polar Ben and His History-Making Expeditions

Ben Saunders has a high tolerance for cold weather. After all, he’s spent more than two decades leading polar expeditions, exploring the North Pole and South Pole with fellow adventurers and, at times, completely alone. Plus, he’s skied more than 3,700 miles across both poles collectively.

A professional polar explorer, Saunders is one of three people in history to ski solo to both poles.

On this week’s episode of the Start With a Win podcast, Saunders joins RE/MAX CEO Adam Contos to share anecdotes from his wild adventures and explain the benefits of getting outside of one’s comfort zone.

Originally from England, Saunders knew early on that classroom learning was stifling for an adventurer like himself. He found himself learning best from experience, rather than being instructed.

Curiosity – and a passion for trying new things – led him to a career path of being a professional adventurer, driven by the desire to inspire others.

“The [biggest] lesson for me has been the importance of continually acting without confidence [and] certainty,” says Saunders. “A lot of people make the mistake of thinking, ‘Well, I’m not going to start [something new] until I’m confident’ – but confidence only ever follows courage. You can’t learn to swim by reading a book about swimming. At some point, you have to try it.”

“The same holds true for almost any worthwhile endeavor in life,” he adds.

Saunders is a proponent of taking calculated risks, explaining that groundwork and preparation are essential to making dreams a reality while still being safe.

Tune in to this week’s podcast episode to hear Saunders’ detailed adventures, as well as how he went from being an amateur to a pro at taking risks.

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