What does it really take to step away from a successful career, take your family, and travel the world, not once but twice?

In this first episode of Make It Count, I sit down with my longtime friend Dominique Di Grande to explore how he created space for what truly matters. We talk about how he convinced his employer, his wife, and his kids to say yes, how he planned a year away from work and school, and what those journeys taught him about balance, purpose, and priorities.

It’s not just about travel. It’s about learning to pause, to reset, and to realize that the “perfect moment” rarely comes, unless you create it.

If you have ever wondered what it might look like to step back, reset, and make time for what matters most, then this episode is for you.

Every show starts with a reason. In this pilot episode, Patrick Slama shares his motivation for creating Make It Count — a podcast about the things we love to do outside of work, and how they shape who we are.

It’s short, simple, and sets the stage for real stories about what makes life count.