Meet Nathaniel Allenby

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nathaniel Allenby. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nathaniel below.

Nathaniel, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.

My generosity comes from my lifelong commitment to living a life of service and giving more value than I ask for in return. This foundation was built during my 11 years in the Cub and Boy Scouts, culminating in earning the rank of Eagle Scout at 18. Scouting taught me that leadership is not about titles or authority but about serving others, leading by example, and uplifting those around me. My Eagle project alone organized over 1,000 hours of volunteer time and collected more than 10,000 pounds of food for the homeless, an early and powerful lesson in the ripple effect of kindness.

That spirit of generosity deepened during my six-year, 28,000-mile bicycle journey through 10 countries and 30 U.S. states. I traveled with almost no money, relying on the kindness of strangers for food, shelter, and connection. The people I met along the way who welcomed me into their homes, shared meals, and offered encouragement reshaped my understanding of humanity. Their acts of generosity not only kept me going physically but inspired me to pay it forward, influencing my art, my performances, and my entire approach to life.

Those experiences became the foundation for my book, The Cycle of Kindness (www.thecycleofkindness.com
), where I share the stories and lessons I learned on the road, showing how kindness can ripple outward to transform lives. This vision is leading toward founding a Cycle of Kindness nonprofit and developing an app that encourages random acts of kindness worldwide, incentivizing generosity and spreading positivity across communities. My goal is to help others experience what I did: that small acts of care can change a person’s trajectory and make the world a better place.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a professional circus entertainer, visual artist, and entrepreneur, running two companies: Cirque Quirk and Allenby Art. Cirque Quirk is a talent agency and production company that brings world-class circus entertainment to events of all sizes. We have a roster of hundreds of highly skilled performers and currently offer 30 different stage productions. I have performed at SeaWorld, Disneyland, and the Playboy Mansion, as well as at schools, libraries, conventions, and private events. I have been fortunate enough to perform in 5 continents in 15 countries. Allenby Art showcases my photography and paintings, inspired by the natural world, encouraging others to see its beauty and protect it. You can see my work at: https://allenbyart.myshopify.com/

What excites me most is seeing children light up with joy when they watch our shows and then hearing them say they want to join the circus one day. I also love teaching kids circus skills through after-school programs and private lessons. Watching them gain confidence, discover a new passion, and feel empowered is incredibly rewarding.

Right now, I am developing what I consider my magnum opus, the most inspiring and dynamic stage show I have ever created. I am also growing Cirque Quirk with a new management team that is helping expand our reach and bring our performances to even more communities. In addition, I am writing my book, The Cycle of Kindness, and building a nonprofit and mobile app designed to incentivize generosity and spread kindness worldwide. Everything I do is driven by a desire to uplift people, inspire them to believe in themselves, and remind them that life can be full of wonder.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that had the most impact on my journey were perseverance, adaptability, and service-oriented leadership.

Perseverance was key when building my businesses from the ground up, having no formal training or business acumen. When I first started Cirque Quirk, I had to learn everything from writing contracts to marketing and client management through self-education and trial and error. For anyone starting out, I recommend setting SMART goals, breaking them down into manageable steps, and staying committed even when the path gets hard. Progress often takes longer than expected, but persistence compounds into success over time.

Adaptability allowed me to turn challenges into opportunities. Traveling over 28,000 miles by bicycle across 10 countries and 30 states taught me to navigate uncertainty, stay resourceful, and keep moving forward despite setbacks. In business, adaptability has helped me respond to competition, market shifts, and even global challenges like the pandemic. I encourage newcomers to embrace change rather than resist it. Learn from every experience, even the tough ones, and stay flexible enough to pivot when necessary.

Finally, service-oriented leadership has guided everything I do. My years in the Scouts and earning the rank of Eagle taught me that leadership means serving others first. Whether it is mentoring performers, teaching kids circus skills, or inspiring audiences through my shows and art, I focus on giving more value than I ask for in return. For those just starting their journey, practice generosity early on. Look for ways to help your peers, share your knowledge, and contribute to your community. The relationships you build through service will become the foundation of your success.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes! I am absolutely looking for collaborators who share a passion for spreading kindness and creating positive change in the world. I am currently seeking an experienced app developer to help build and scale the mobile platform for The Cycle of Kindness, a nonprofit initiative and social movement I am founding. The goal is to create an app that incentivizes generosity and inspires people to perform random acts of kindness, track their impact, and see how far their good deeds ripple out into the world.

I am also looking for people who are passionate about philanthropy, community building, and social innovation. Whether you are experienced in nonprofit management, fundraising, grant writing, marketing, or event production, there is room to collaborate and co-create. My vision is to build a team of like-minded individuals who believe in uplifting humanity, elevating generosity, and making kindness a cornerstone of culture.

If you are reading this and feel called to join forces, I would love to connect. You can reach out through my website www.thecycleofkindness.com or through www.cirquequirk.com. Together, we can amplify kindness, create meaningful opportunities for service, and make a lasting positive impact on the planet.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Marina Masterpiece
Alexandra Allenby
Alyssa Rose
Halli Winstead
Brandon Ross

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