Stories Behind the Faces at Highland:  Ben Wicks on Finding Adventures Big and Small 

Highland is built on a philosophy of helping our clients and community to live fully. That means helping them align their time, financial resources, and energy with what they are most passionate about in life. In this new series, team members, starting with Principal and VP of Growth Ben Wicks, delve into what living fully means to them. Ben shares how adventure is central to living fully for him and his family and offers inspiration for your next adventure. 

One of my greatest adventures was in 2006 when I took a six-month sabbatical and traveled to the foothills of Fiji with my wife, Angie, and our young children to work with a nonprofit organization caring for single moms and their kids. Angie and I had come to a point where we were ready to escape the day-to-day and do something big, something that aligned with our values of living a life of meaning and purpose, deepened our connections as a family, and benefited the greater good in some way. 

Picking up our young family and leaving everything we had ever known was scary. One of the things that I learned and have tried to instill in my children is that courage is not about the absence of fear, but instead moving forward in the face of fear. We did not let fear paralyze us. Instead, we confronted fear, set out into the unknown and have never regretted it.

Through our Fiji adventure we created a family philosophy for making decisions. We have three rules:

• Don’t make decisions out of fear

• Don’t be afraid to make the wrong decision

• Don’t die wondering

While an incredible experience, Fiji tested our limits as we struggled with the challenge of ensuring the safety and comfort of young kids in a completely unfamiliar and uncertain environment (there was a military coup brewing during our time there). It also brought strain and stress to our relationship as Angie and I navigated parenting, marriage and pursuit of our goals in Fiji. There were several nights where Angie and I felt close to pulling the plug and coming home. I’m so glad we stuck it out. As with many hard tasks, it is proving to yourself that you can get through hard things that brings confidence to do the next hard thing. We came home feeling stronger and with the idea that if we can make it through those months as a family, we can surely get through whatever else life brings us.

We settled back into our lives, and the craziness of raising three children, but the desire to incorporate adventure and meaning into my life in order to live fully was still there. As a hobby, I took up mountain climbing, and in 2008, I co-founded a grassroots nonprofit called Climb for Captives to raise funds and bring awareness around human trafficking. Climb for Captives is a way for me to do what I love to fight what I hate. It is also an incredible opportunity to build community through adventure or a great cause.

Turning 50 earlier this year has got me thinking about the next decade as its own adventure. I am particularly intrigued with “maximizing” everything I have been investing in my career, family, and community over the past 20+ years. I’m focused on how to make the most of this chapter and maintain the willingness to take risks in a season where many people tend to back off risk and settle into safety. I want to continue to stretch myself and think big about my life, business, and community. 

To me, living fully means pursuing a life of adventure, being a faithful, steady presence in my community, and helping others overcome their fears to take on that next adventure and to do what makes them feel the most alive. I encourage you to look for adventure in all that you do, in both big and small ways. 

• What does adventure mean for you?

• When was your last adventure (big or small)? How did that align with your values, and how did you grow from the experience?

• Is there something you have been wanting to do, but have been afraid to take the leap?

• Remember, fear can often point to a meaningful experience.

• How can you incorporate a mindset of adventure into your daily life?

If you take the time to look for it, I think you will find that adventure is yours for the taking.