We all have our own path in life and this is the story about MY path from Corporate America to traveling and fulfilling life dreams. I hope you enjoy following my journey, and it inspires you to reach for your dreams:
My story begins in 2019 while I was still working in the corporate world.
I was sitting in a women’s leadership meeting in an executive conference room full of working moms. The topic of discussion was the challenges working mothers face trying to balance motherhood and careers. As one of two non-moms in the room, the discussion brought some feelings of sadness to the surface for me because I didn’t have children like nearly all my peers.
I love kids but having children of my own just didn’t happen for me like I thought it would. I wondered if I had missed my opportunity for a fulfilling life because I didn’t have any children of my own.
Previously when my friends complained about their kids, I teasingly would say: “at least you won’t die sad and alone like me.”
However, after this day, that didn’t feel much like a joke anymore.
Flipping the Script
After my pity party, I decided I needed to change the lens through which I viewed my life. Instead of feeling sorry for myself because I didn’t have children, I needed to focus on the wonderful things I can do with my life BECAUSE I didn’t have children. I could still have a fulfilling life too even if I didn’t have children of my own, right?
As my parents often told me growing up: “you have to play the hand you’re dealt.” This was my hand in life and I needed to play it to the best of my ability.
When I started focusing my thoughts on the fulfilling things I could and wanted to do, traveling immediately came to mind. Without kids, a pet, or even a plant, I was perfectly positioned for any number of travel experiences – whenever and wherever.
I wasn’t exactly sure what that looked like until…
Speaking My Truth
At the next women’s leadership meeting, the topic of discussion turned to identifying your goals and dreams and taking action to achieve them. It was during this meeting and, without even thinking, I blurted out that my major life goal was to live outside the US for an extended period of time that was “longer than a vacation so at least one month.”
I couldn’t believe I said that out loud in front of my coworkers. Was that my genuine truth that just fell out of my mouth? Was saying that during a work meeting a ‘career-limiting move’ and, if it was, did I care since I was being true to myself?
The result of all these authentic thoughts and feelings was the conclusion that I had been heading in the wrong direction and needed to re-think where I wanted my life to go. I needed to create a new direction and a new path for my life that included international living.
Pivot!
My first step in making my international living a reality was to review my finances. I immediately started trimming my monthly expenses, changing my shopping habits, selling most of my material possessions, and putting as much money as I could into my savings account. I called this a ‘lifestyle change with a side of minimalism.’ 😊
My second step was much more difficult. I had to figure out how to support my travel and living expenses abroad and I wasn’t sure how much money I would need.
From my perspective, I basically had three options: 1) keep my current job but transition it to a work-from-anywhere position, 2) look for a new, work-from-anywhere job at a different company, or 3) quit work and travel without a job, essentially living off savings.
Paralysis By Analysis
I got stuck in an infinite loop trying to figure out which of the three options was my best move. I found it difficult to reconcile and align logic with emotions. For each of the scenarios, there were so many questions, pros, cons, and situational dependencies. I spent a year or so swirling in my mind on best way to handle my career and finance my international living.
COVID-19: Enter Stage Left
In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and forced everyone at our company to work remotely. After a few months of remote working, it was clear myself and all my colleagues were able to seamlessly transition to full remote work.
I realized I could leverage this situation to progress towards my dreams of living abroad. All I had to do was ask my employer to make my position permanently remote. To me, this was a no-brainer since we were all already successfully working remotely. I didn’t think it should matter where I was working as long as I was keeping East coast working hours and getting all my work done.
Since we just spent the past few months proving we could all be effective working remotely AND there were no plans in the foreseeable future for us going back to work out of the corporate office, I decided to start the conversation with my employer on making my position 100% remote on a permanent basis from anywhere within the US.
I instantly received approval and support from my immediate leadership but needed final approval from executive leadership.
The Offer
A few weeks later on a Thursday afternoon, I received an invite from our COO for a one-on-one meeting with him for the following day – Friday at 4:30 pm.
I immediately thought of the movie Office Space: “We find it’s always better to fire people on a Friday.”
Oh boy.
Incidentally, I met a couple friends for happy hour later that evening. I told them about my meeting with the COO the next day and we joked that I was getting fired. While I couldn’t imagine getting let go, I felt something big was going to happen. I had an uneasy feeling but was reminded that getting fired was the worst thing that could happen.
Not the end of the world, right?
When the fateful afternoon arrived, the COO started our conference call by asking me to take a couple deep breaths because this conversation wasn’t going to be easy…
Oh boy.
He went on to say, in light of the pandemic’s impact on the company’s economic outlook, they decided to eliminate my position and I had two choices: 1) accept a very similar job that was 100% remote but with a significant pay decrease or 2) separate and accept a severance package.
While the joking from the previous night kinda prepared me, it was still quite a shock!
Is That Your Final Answer?
I spent the rest of the night thinking about my options.
Of course I also spent some time crunching the numbers to evaluate my financial situation. I was relieved that I could travel and live abroad without the stress of finding a job – at least for a while.
I knew deep down in my heart that this is what I REALLY wanted to do…
Therefore, I decided to follow God’s lead and head down a new path that included living abroad: a career sabbatical, mini-retirement, or whatever you want to call it! Lets do this!!!
Making It Happen
As soon as my job wound down and some borders re-opened to US residents, Bill and I hopped on the first flight we could to Serbia which, at the time, was one of the few places in the world accepting US residents.
We flew to Serbia on August 15, 2020 which marked the start of a new chapter in my life. Perhaps I should call it a new book! Either way, here’s to exciting new adventures and living a fulfilled life!!
Happy and safe travels everyone,
Kristie
This picture is from our 1st toast to our new adventure! It was a barrel-stained rakija from the Bohemian neighborhood of Skadarlija in Belgrade on our first night in Serbia.