Everywhere I go, I hear the same quiet confession:
“I’m tired of this system. It doesn’t work for me anymore”
+ It comes from entrepreneurs who, despite their success, admit they feel empty inside.
+ From citizens who can no longer afford housing in the places they grew up.
+ From leaders who whisper, behind polished walls, that even when we “win,” something human gets lost on the way.
The cracks in our economy are visible. Growth without balance is no longer sustainable. Profit and status, the markers of “modern” success, ring hollow when daily life feels exhausting and disconnected.
And yet, beyond the cracks, I sense something else: a hunger. People are restless, not just for more money or comfort, but for meaning. For a life that feels aligned with who they are. See my in-depth article: The decline of religion: a new search for meaning
Looking back – and looking forward
Fifty years ago, thousands of young people left Europe behind and followed the Hippie Trail eastward, chasing enlightenment. They were disillusioned by their societies, distrustful of old systems, and hungry for truth. Their journey was outward, across borders and landscapes, searching for something transcendent.
Today, the search is still alive. But it’s no longer about escape.
It’s about alignment.
Not with gurus or distant ideals, but with ourselves, our values, and the way we live each day. Alignment between the inside and the outside. Between what we feel and what we do.
That is the deeper aim of the QOL Tour.
A cycle of life
Awareness is the first step.
Every journey needs a compass. For the QOL Tour, it begins with a simple but radical question:
What comes first – success or happiness?
This question cracks open the illusion that one day, if we just push hard enough, success will bring happiness. Instead, it invites us to notice the gap – between what we have and what we actually long for.
Awareness is about VALUES. It’s remembering what matters most, and using that as our compass. (see this blogpost about Values)
From awareness, the path moves into:
Daily alignment.
And here, the journey is not about grand revolutions or 10-point plans. It is about small, human steps in our daily lives:
- To live good, shaping our homes and communities in ways that feel true.
- To work good, bringing purpose and balance back into how we earn and create.
- To feel good, taking care of our health, energy, and spirit.
- To do good, contributing to something bigger than ourselves.
These four pillars are HABITS of alignment. They are proof that change doesn’t begin in theory — it begins in the everyday choices we make.
And when enough people walk this path, something greater emerges:
A collective shift.
This is where CULTURE changes. Success is no longer measured only by profit or status, but by the quality of life we create and share. It is the beginning of a social economy based on human values.
the role of the QOL Tour
The QOL Tour is my way of bringing this cycle of life into practice.
It’s a living documentary – listening, observing, capturing, and talking with people in different cities.
Not about perfect answers or polished stories, but about showing life as it is: raw, unfiltered, human.
In each city, the Tour doesn’t just collect stories – it leaves something behind:
+ A reflection for citizens: proof that their voices are heard, seen, and part of something bigger.
+ A spark for businesses: the challenge to ask how their work truly contributes to quality of life.
+ Insights for governments: reminders that leadership must start with people, not just numbers.
The Tour is not about escape, but about return. It is about walking the path together, step by step, from awareness to daily alignment, toward collective renewal.
The deeper aim
The original Hippie Trail was a road eastward, chasing enlightenment.
This new Hippie Trail is a road inward – and then outward again.
It is a cycle of awareness, alignment, and collective change.
It is a reminder that success is no longer defined by what we own, but by the quality of life we share.
That is the deeper journey of the QOL Tour.
Not a path to get away from the world, but a path to finally live in it – fully, humanly, and together.
Business Hippie Club 