Dan Blackledge's Linkedin Analytics

So, At age 20 I became a night-club promoter. No, my parents were not happy about it. At 28 I launched a festival in Croatia called Hideout. And sold that festival brand to Global Media five years later. Around the same time, me and some partners took over a 56-hectare island in Croatia and turned it into a new kind of wellness resort. This is where I experienced extreme learning for the first time. Like when Morpheus taught Neo kung fu in The Matrix. All the obvious stuff. And, although it wasn’t on the agenda, I learned a bit about rats, sea urchins and how poisonous caterpillars can take out 50 contractors in one fell swoop. I also learned how to put out fires. Yes, real ones. And metaphorical ones. I lost (almost) everything. Money and mind. Picked up the pieces and set about creating something new. Became a father (extreme learning round two). Beat Hotel, Resurface, JONA, and two young boys have kept me busy these past few years. My belief is that learning from mistakes makes you smarter. Knowledge comes from experience layered over time. And, we can find meaning in life by participating in something bigger than ourselves. My idea of success: Freedom – not needing to worry about money and having autonomy over my time. Family Happiness – bringing balance to the chaos and bliss. To Matter - contributing to something I want to exist even when I don’t. Some good bits: - Central (First club night). No gear, no idea. Made it work. Never looked back. - Wax:On (Second club night). 11th November 2004, Jacques Lu Cont & Mylo. Queue round the corner. - Hideout Festival. Has seen over 100k attendees since inception. - Acquiring and developing a whole island. Like a Bond Villain. Got in Harper's Bazaar top 150 hotels in the world (little did they know). - Becoming a dad. Nothing like it. Altered reality. Has eventually led to generational thinking (feels awesome). - JONA. A new hotel brand based on a passion for adventure. It’s what lights me up these days. For the last six years, I’ve developed a passion for self-development. It’s become a core value and something I’ve invested in significantly. Now, I run a portfolio of experience businesses. I also help other experience creators build successful brands, and find balance along the way. Whether you’re refining your business strategy or seeking personal alignment, I’ll help you cut through the noise and create lasting impact. Check out my website to see how I can help, and take The Experience Creator Test. Nice one for making it to the bottom 👊🏼