Human Needs - Adventure

Adventure is the need for an adrenaline rush, to have new experiences, to travel, to have BIG experiences, to have drama in their life, to have a sense of anticipation about upcoming events.

Examples of how Adventure manifests for different people:

• Planning new trips (even if they are never taken)
• Re-organizing a department or company
• Starting a new company or division
• Creating new markets, new products or new industries
• Changing partners or spouses
• Changing jobs frequently
• Moving frequently
• Buying a new car every year
• Being an entrepreneur or being self-employed
• Changing work assignments or locations
• Conquering something (climbing the highest mountain, winning the gold medal, setting new records)
• Experimenting with new techniques or materials
• Being first to do something or try something
• Loving the challenge of solving problems
• Racing sports of all types (the thrill of victory!)

Positive aspects : Sense of higher self-confidence, independence, risk-taking, optimism, excitement, enthusiasm for living.

Negative aspects : Reckless regard for life and limb, irresponsibility, cutting themselves off from people (hermit), judgmental of others who are less adventurous, creating crisis or drama inappropriately.

How this need affects the workplace : People with a need for Adventure will be leading the pack to find new things to do, new places to visit, new markets to open, new products to sell, new ways of doing things, new ways of organizing the company.

They make excellent sales people, who love the thrill of making a sale or opening doors to new clients/customers. They could be a customer service representative who gets a thrill every time the phone rings with a new problem, or they could be an entrepreneur who starts companies over and over.

If things get too boring, people with a need for Adventure will find a way to liven them up - either in a positive way by initiating something new or in negative ways by going off on their own, taking great risks or by criticizing others who can't see that the new Adventure is wonderful!

As mentioned in Security, the conflict between people with a need for Adventure and those with a need for Security can create havoc. Some people have both Security and Adventure in their highest three needs; this creates a particularly challenging situation for them as they seem to be opposites. To handle both appropriately, a person might enjoy travel to new places (Adventure) yet will carefully plan out the trip (Security) - satisfying both needs in a positive way for themselves. Or, they might find themselves constantly torn by conflict between the two. If they realize they are responsible for resolving their own needs, the conflict can be managed in a positive way.