Kenshō hikes

A deep coaching experience on a beautiful trail in the SF Bay Area.

Why the trail

We walk side by side on a Bay Area trail. Nature is a catalyst for this work, a way of tuning in to what's here in this moment.

How it works

  1. 01A call and a few questionsWe hop on a call to clarify your goals and coordinate logistics. Then I'll send a few questions to reflect on before we meet.
  2. 02The hikeThree hours on the trail.
  3. 03Your action planYou walk away with self-generated insight, and I send you a specific action plan after the hike.
  4. 0430 days laterA 1-hour check-in call to build momentum and see what else has opened up for you.
  5. 05After thatSome people get what they need in one hike. Others come back regularly. There's no pressure either way.

What the research says

Walking, and being outside, changes how we think. Here's what the research says.

It boosts creative thinking. Stanford research found that walking, even on a treadmill facing a blank wall, lifts divergent thinking - coming up with lots of fresh ideas and options - by about 60%.

Lowers stress. In a study across 24 forests in Japan, sitting or walking in a forest left cortisol - your body's primary stress hormone - 13-16% lower than the same time in a city (2010 study).

Calms the mind. A single 90-minute walk in nature lowered rumination - the looping, stuck kind of thinking - and quieted the brain area tied to it. The same walk along a busy road did neither.

Improves cognitive performance. Research shows that looking away, instead of at someone's face, helps us remember and work through moderately hard questions (Glenberg et al., 1998). Walking side by side gives us that naturally.

And you get to experience awe. The feeling of standing under something vast, like a ridgeline view or a grove of tall trees, can shrink self-importance and pull you out of your own head, making people more generous and helpful (2015 study of awe).

From the trail

There's something that's lit up, like a circuit when we hike and explore together that I don't have words for, but that somehow makes me feel nourished and more alive.

CEO, HR tech startup

This morning felt like wide open blue sky spacious and endless possibilities… I'm so, so grateful for you and this very expansive part of you that always invites me out to play. My cup and my heart are full.

CHRO, Series D healthtech

Leland, a fellow hiker and Mochi on a grassy hilltop above the bay
Leland, a fellow hiker and Mochi on a hillside of purple lupine

I call it the Leland magical vacuum effect. This morning showed me some places I'm afraid to go, which is a good thing to see, and a sign that I'm playing at my edge. Such an amazing insight!

Managing partner, HR boutique firm

First let me say, THANK YOU! The conversation we had felt one of the most honest moments I've had in a while, you know being an entrepreneur feels like you always have to be 'right' and have your crap together… I felt that I could tell you honestly I did not have my crap together, and you did not judge me, rather helped me empower myself and do what's right. Honestly, thank you.

Founder & CEO, Logistics startup

I don't think I've had anyone interested in me like this. You take connections and see what I don't see. I feel like this is magic!

Co-founder & CTO, Series B startup

Leland, a fellow hiker and Mochi under tall trees in the fog
Leland, two fellow hikers and Mochi on a ridge in golden light

Thanks for being with me in the space of all of it: good, bad, right, wrong, thrilling, terrifying… to deny or compartmentalize any of these would be to deny the movement of life itself.

CEO, Fintech startup

Thank you for being you and also for seeing me. I'm finding that telling the truth is quite liberating. I came away from our hike feeling lighter and more free. The only way things can change is to really, truly feel them instead of stepping over them or trying to package them in a way that makes them more palatable or digestible.

VP Talent

Leland, a fellow hiker and Mochi on a dry-grass ridge under a blue sky
Leland and a fellow hiker on a Marin ridge above the ocean and the headlands

Logistics

WhereTrails in or around San Francisco, the East Bay, North Bay, and South Bay.

PaceIf you can walk, you're good. We set the pace together.

BringLayers, water, and shoes with good grip. Notepad optional.

WeatherIf it rains, we'll reschedule. I'll keep an eye on the forecast and reach out a day or two before if it looks dicey.

Trail companionMochi (our 6yo aussie shepherd & border collie mix) joins, off-leash. You can bring your dog too.

Leland holding Mochi on a dirt fire trail above the city and the Bay

Get in touch

If you'd like to explore working together, send me a message. I'll follow up with availability for a complimentary intro call.

Spots are limited.

All inquiries are confidential. NDAs signed on request.

Prefer email? curious@lelandfranklin.com