Today we’d like to introduce you to PJ Relkin.
Hi PJ, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have always loved the outdoors. I grew up riding horses and in high school started to gallop horses at Del Mar Racetrack in the mornings. From then on, I knew that I needed a career outdoors! While I pursued a career in horse racing for 5-6 years, God had other plans, and life began to carve its own path for me through starting a family and finally completing college with a little one by my side.
I was blessed with the opportunity to study entrepreneurship at CU Boulder, which inspired me to collaborate with my mom on a project she had been thinking about for a while. Truly, my mom is the visionary and creative, so with the operations and management skills I developed we make a really great team! Through concept ideation, market interviews, and networking, we have slowly but surely seen our outdoor venture, Nature’s Playbook, come to life.
Growing up in Carlsbad, we never had lack of outdoor recreation! However, with life changes and visiting new places, there is always the question of what to do and where to go to have the best outdoor experiences. There are so many factors that make finding outdoor activities challenging, including not knowing the area, being new to an activity, not having anyone to go with, and not even knowing where to look for answers. That’s why we created Nature’s Playbook – a platform for exploring any activity in nature and finding community to connect with the outdoors. We encourage preservation principles and aim to give back to nature more than we take, and we intend to break down some of the barriers that come with getting outside often!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Over the growth of our venture, I have learned to enter the sixth dimension and fortify my mind to take care of two little boys, two dogs, and work full time to nurture Nature’s Playbook to be successful.
Just kidding, my husband told me to say that. It is really hard to balance being a good mom and wife while building a company. The biggest struggles I have faced are finding dedicated time for work and also giving the best of my time to my beautiful littles.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Nature’s Playbook?
Nature’s Playbook is a free outdoor video app designed to share and explore ways to connect with nature. We make finding experiences easy with a simple search by activity and location. Every post helps to pay forward an experience with others by including things like a helpful description, level of difficulty, Eco-friendly Tips, Insider Tips, Gear/Guide Recommendations, and more. Another epic feature is the Video Atlas – which is a virtual chart of activities across a map. It is a fun way to browse experiences near you, and it’s also a great feature for charting your personal adventures! By sharing posts of your outdoor experiences, you can keep track of all the fun you’ve had and see how many places you have been to. Others get to bucket those adventures or mark that they’ve visited by clicking on the footprints by a post.
This platform is really awesome for local businesses to take advantage of, too! Who would know more about fun experiences in an area than a local store? They not only get to share the fun with potential customers, but they can link their business for ease of the viewer. Guides and gear shops can recommend certain products for an outdoor activity, and even local restaurants can share some fun in nature near them and add an Insider Tip link to snag a coffee or bite to eat for rounding out a spectacular day.
Our main goal is creating a community for anyone to connect with nature while nurturing a culture that gives back to our planet so we can pass it on to future generations to enjoy as well.
Early on we were inspired by the Native American Proverb that states, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” We all benefit from spending time outside. In fact, it is an essential part of life. We believe that while we spread the love of nature, it is our responsibility to be good stewards in any way we can. Encouraging each other to take care of trails, beaches, and local communities can foster a wonderful camaraderie between nature seekers.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think risk-taking is an important part of life and personal development. I have taken a risk in starting my own business rather than taking a higher-paid job. My husband and I decided to buy a used van and rebuild it for a year of travel (2 kids, 2 dogs, my husband and I taking on van life). We rented our house, and he left his well-paid position without having a fully built-out van, but all in good faith that we could make it work while moving toward better opportunities for all of us.
We are probably crazy, but if all else fails at least each of us are building character. While taking risks certainly comes with some sacrifice and is not a clear path, it’s usually worth it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Contact Info:
- Website: naturesplaybook.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natures_playbook/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naturesplaybookapp
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/97189742
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU6YVAaHq8SqzBTh631VRNA
- Other: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/natures-playbook/id1635332417
