How explorer Riaan Manser has turned his adventures into a way to earn a living

South African adventurer extraordinaire Riaan Manser can count circumnavigating Africa on a bicycle, and paddling around Madagascar among his many exploits.

But how does a person dedicating his life to adventure make money and earn a living?

Bruce Whitfield asks Manser about his 'business model' on The Money Show.

The daredevil has added writing and public speaking to his bow as he achieved his goals of being the first to complete extreme trips.

"I've probably had seven 'mega' adventures, but then as I've been maturing in time and in life the things I'm starting to see the real value in include the success of my writing... how that has worked in the business, as the pillar and also as the income generator."

Riaan Manser, Explorer, author and public speaker

Speaking to many astute business people over the years, Manser's very aware that the most valuable asset we hold is actually time.

"How do I then juggle? It's easy to sit here now 20-odd years later and say 'I knew it all along', but I didn't. I was extremely naive."

Riaan Manser, Explorer, author and public speaker

What worked in Manser's favour is what he says he'd like to consider as an absolute confidence that something was going to work.

'I always wanted to make history', he says.

"I didn't come back from that bicycle trip with R38.47 in my bank account and say, 'Wow, I'm just going to roll in it now', but I had supreme confidence that what I had done was unique."

"I find that is sometimes lacking in people in the business space that I deal with... When I got back from the bicycle trip I was holding thumbs people would see value in it... and then a guy like Jonathan Ball gave me a call directly..."

Riaan Manser, Explorer, author and public speaker

Mentors and eventually businesses that were prepared to partner with him as he proved himself with his exploits, were a boon to Manser.

He also takes his work as a public speaker very seriously, he says.

"What probably was the filler between the bricks to help me build this career was that I made a big effort in becoming a better public speaker. It's a huge industry where events, conferences need to have quality people on stage to bring credence to what they're trying to do."

"I've taken it very seriously, sometimes too seriously, but I do make a very good living from the actual speaking."

Riaan Manser, Explorer, author and public speaker