About a year ago I was living in Ao Nang and was bored with the rainy season so I decided to head up to Bangkok to have some fun.  While beach life is fantastic, it lacks in certain areas such as: live music, theaters, variety of nightlife, and shopping.  So, when I need a dose of those things, I head out to the cities.  My plan was to go for two weeks, so I stashed my larger bag with a friend locally, packed up a small bag and headed up to BKK.

Somehow two weeks turned into two months!!  I wouldn’t have guessed that I would have stayed there that long, but an opportunity came up that I thought would be fun to pursue.  My friend Craig was the director of Princeton Review and they needed someone to teach a Business English Pre-course to university students.  This would be fantastic!  I signed up, went through the training and started the following week.

Here is the thing about me.  While I run an online business, I really don’t like spending all my time online.  I really enjoy building relationships, teaching others, and meeting the locals.  I have personal-coaching relationships through my Skype calls, but having real live human interaction fulfills a specific need that my business does not.  It’s also nice to have something to do during the day since most of my business is run at night.  It livens things up, gives me an opportunity to learn something new, and keeps my life more active than it normally would be.

After that six-week course ended, I came back down to Ao Nang and thought it would be a good idea to teach here, as well.  I immediately heard of a school that needed an English teacher and went in to interview shortly thereafter.  I taught there a semester, then was asked if I could teach Science (that is what my undergraduate degree is in), and moved over to the private school (EP Program) where all courses are taught in English.

It’s been about a year since my first teaching experience, so I thought it was about time I share some of my experiences with you all.

So, let’s start with the Benefits of Teaching:

First off, even if you are employed as ‘Full Time’, it is Part Time.  At home, teachers that work 7am-3pm teach that entire time, then take their work home with them.  Not so here.  In the high schools, you will teach about 17 – 19 hours a week.  In between lessons, you have time to grade, prepare, go online, read, etc.  While you are meant to stay on campus, some schools are less strict about that rule.  It really depends on where you work.

As a Full Time Employee, you get a one year Work Visa (Read: this might as well be GOLD if you want to live here), and Health Insurance.  Your monthly salary will be roughly 30,000 Baht a month, which includes about 2.5 months of paid holiday time.  Considering you can live BIG here on 20,000—you end up in a good place and able to save and holiday even if you don’t have another side income.

The school will usually take you along on trips and send you to training courses.  On some of these I’ve wanted to pull my hair out because I had no idea what was going on, but looking back, they were great cultural experiences that I wouldn’t have experienced elsewhere.  You get to see and do things that a normal westerner would not ever be invited to.  Cultural Bonus Points.

Generally speaking, the other westerners that choose to live here are cool.  I’ve met really great people where I work and it isn’t the same scene as working at home.  Most people come here to enjoy the lifestyle, so they are game for adventures, travel, and new experiences.

The Other Side of Teaching

So, before you go ‘round with your resume, there are other things that you should know about it, too.  Many of the ‘downsides’ of teaching can be avoided if you first understand culturally where they are coming from.  Because I didn’t know any of these things, I found myself (and still do!!) incredibly confused, irritated, and down right pissed off on many occasions.  Here are some of the things you should know—and try your very, very best to accept and your time will be much easier and enjoyable.

Most of Thailand is Buddhist.  This means, generally, that 1) the future doesn’t really exist, and 2) you only worry about now.

“But,” you might be asking, “how do you plan anything then?”  And my answer would be, “Exactly!!”

Most of Thailand will get bashed for its lack of organization or planning.  As a consultant that focuses on systems and efficiency, this drove me absolutely bonkers (and still does).  At home, you would start the year knowing when your holidays are.  Not so here.  Yes, they will come, and you are likely to be informed maybe a day or two in advance.

“Well, how can I plan anything then!?!”  I hear you asking.  My response (again):  “Exactly!!”

This might cause an overall breakdown in your nervous system.  Especially because they have done a school year before, how could they not know this was coming? The thing I’m realizing is that they don’t even think of it unless it is Now.  So, you kind-of have to live with that if you are going to teach here.

Secondly, Thailand operates in a hierarchical system. Here’s how this works.  By level of respect it goes like this:  The King, Government Officials, Monks, Teachers, White collar workers (office jobs), Blue collar workers (laborers or field workers), Children.  Males are higher than females.  Someone older than you is automatically higher than you.

What does this mean for you?  Basically this: (and I just figured this out recently, so God Knows how many people I’ve disrespected—oops!)  If someone asks you to do something, you go and do it Now.  Drop everything, and go do it.  There will be no warning, generally no reason, and no time for you to prepare. But, because it is a respect thing, you have to do it.

(Again, this bent my idea of reality where you question authority, attempt to understand what it is you’re meant to do, and autonomously come up with ways of solving problems … which leads me to another point…)

Most things in Thailand are done as a group, as is decision making. I laughingly call it “The Conference”.  If you want to change your order in a restaurant, there might be A Conference.  If something is going on at school, there will be A Conference.  You, being the westerner, will unlikely be invited to The Conference, but you will just find out the results.  Thais value groups, so most important things are done in groups like living in groups, eating, going to events, holidays, and even going to the bathroom.  You rarely see a Thai person just going off by themselves to do something because they feel like it—which is also why it is shocking to most people that I am here on my own.

Thai teachers will punish the children by hitting them with a stick or cutting their hair publicly.  I don’t like this at all, but thankfully, westerners aren’t allowed to do it.  The parents find this acceptable, even if you don’t.

You will most likely be responsible for creating your own curriculum and teaching the kids how you want.  This can be a really good thing.  Last year, I didn’t have books and I really enjoyed the projects I did with the kids and was amazed with their artistic ability.  This year, I have a book so it is more structured, but the projects and activities are still up to me.  Note:  You will not be praised here for your work.  The idea of positive reinforcement doesn’t exist here so don’t expect it.  Also, you will only hear if you are doing something wrong.  This can feel devastating, and uninspiring, but look to your kids for the rewards.

Generally speaking, you have to pass the kids.  There is no such thing as ‘failing’ in this society (which makes grading seem rather irrelevant, but you have to do that too).  And, if you factor in the conference thing, you will realize that all of the kids work together in groups and don’t want anyone to fall behind.  Needless to say, there is a lot of copying, cheating, and very little original work.  The idea of being an independent worker or thinker really isn’t valued here like it is in the U.S. but, in a way, it seems to be a much friendlier approach to learning and living.  This is rather refreshing coming from the “If you don’t know something, you’re screwed, and you better go and figure it out all by yourself–pronto!!” approach.  The general feel to everything here in Thailand is that you don’t have to worry and if you don’t know how to do something, you will be helped out.  Maybe The Conference isn’t so bad after all?

Keep in Mind the Bigger Reward:  The Children

As you can see, there are many benefits to teaching here.  The biggest reward, by far, are the children.  They are amazing, talented, happy-shining-people that love having you there.  They are well behaved compared to home, and excited to see you and talk to you in English.

Culturally, you are up for a BIG CHALLENGE.  Expect to feel frustrated and confused by the lack of shared information.  Know that the technology will break and not work.  Understand that it is not their way to tell you ‘good job’, but let the kids smiles make up for that!!  You have to keep in mind that just by being there and teaching them, you are potentially tripling their income as an adult. Thai English speakers make FAR MORE MONEY than just Thai speakers.  Given that most of their opportunities will be in tourism, dentistry, law, medicine or other English speaking professions, you are paving their way towards success.

Have any questions about teaching?  Write ‘em below.  I’m happy to answer what I can!!

Red Shirts, Yellow Shirts, the King’s illness, His successors… With all this confusion and censorship, it is hard to get the Real Story and understand WTF is actually happening in Thailand right now.  I’ve done my best to keep up on it all, but THIS VIDEO tells it all.  Take some time to watch the special report that demystifies the political situation in Thailand Right Now…

Foreign Correspondent

(If you are having trouble viewing, go HERE to watch or download)

Questions and Concerns:

With these events happening here, I’m sure many may be scared off to either Travel or Live here.  My personal experience is that areas outside of Bangkok are Not Affected.  While the news reporters have made declarations of Thailand being unsafe, I would not agree.  Where I live, in Krabi, there are no Red Shirts, no demonstrations, and the only thing exploding are occasional fireworks on the beach.  While I find it very encouraging to stay abreast to the information and political climate, I would say that Thailand is currently still a safe place to visit and live.

The bulk of activities and demonstrations are happening in Bangkok, which can be completely avoided, or if you want to avoid Bangkok altogether, you can fly from the airport to any surrounding cities or islands.  Cody from Thrilling Heroics has done a great write up on the current situation, as well as a fantastic new guide for people coming here, Check it out:

27 Tips for First-Time Travelers to Thailand

Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below, I’d be happy to answer any questions I can.

The last time I was in Thailand was just over five years ago, right before the Tsunami hit. While many things have changed and most things look entirely different, there is one thing that has not: the people. The most refreshing thing about Thailand is the beauty of its people. For someone who has never been here, it is difficult to explain, however, I think it can be summed up by its saying “Mai Pen Rai”.

“Mai Pen Rai” is elusive in its meaning and description and can be understood to mean any of the following: it’s OK, it doesn’t matter, no worries, or it is what it is. This gentle acceptance of life that the Thais emit has made for a country that attracts travelers from around the world. Thailand is known as “The Kingdom” and “The Land of Smiles” and the signs of happiness are everywhere here. I had forgotten what it was like to see people so genuinely relaxed and happy. I hear people whistling, singing, and merrily humming to themselves as they go about their day. Having a tonal language, the words are literally sung here, as well. People in Thailand are not just happy individually, they do something that many western cultures have forgotten, they share. Meals are shared, work is done in groups, and there is comradery instead of competition.

When something is out of stock, or has stopped working, it is “finished”. Your hamburger might be as finished as your internet service, and there is no telling when or why. The Thais do not trouble themselves with the explanation or trying to make unknown guesses of remedying the situation into the unknown future. Initially, I was annoyed by this, but then I came to appreciate the brilliance of the statement. When flashed a smile and told, “finished”, I have no unrealistic expectations to put in place. I no longer have to go through the mental crisis of trying to figure something out that I do not have the answers to. I can just accept it and relax.

Relaxation is built into the Thai society. Restaurants and resorts have names like The Easy Room, Come Sea; Let’s Relax, and you will frequently see people sleeping on the job. The streets are dotted with signs for massage and reflexology and posters remind you to “Enjoy Unlimited in Your Life“. Even my phone texts me messages from Mr. Happy and reminds me emphatically when I refill my calling card, “Make sure every day is HAPPY and don’t forget to bring your HAPPINESS with you Everywhere!”

Westerners that have made Thailand their home all have the same story: “I was tired of the grind, and the stress.” After being here for just over two months now, I am finally starting to unwind from all the years of stress. I don’t even think I realized the amount of constant pressure I was holding onto until I got away. I can now see it in my friends. All of my friends and colleagues first response to a ‘How are you’ in an email or IM responded with “BUSY”. I would hear only of how busy they were, or how much work they had to do. And even though I am no longer there, I have still been feeling the pressure of needing to produce at lightning speed. My mind has a running audio loop of “I need to get my website updated; I still haven’t posted that blog; I need to figure out my internet”.

I also want to see the country at lightening speed. My brain has yet to register the fact that I am living here. I still have the mentality of a speed traveler, trying to see the whole country in couple of weeks. Operating on overdrive and having the mentality of constantly trying to produce things runs deep in my psyche. But, really, what good does it do?
After being exposed to the “Mai Pen Rai” society, I have learned that the bulk of these items circling in my head really don’t need to happen right now. It is an unnecessary stress built up from years of trying to “push through life.” I think because many of us don’t enjoy a task, or have so many tasks to do, we believe, “If I could just get this thing done, then I would be able to _____ (insert: relax, enjoy, have the life I’ve always wanted). And just because everyone else around us is playing the same game, we choose to participate. But, the reality is, this is simply a choice.

I’m convinced at this point that the Thai culture was blessed by their “Mai Pen Rai” attitude. They are relaxed enough to take a midday nap. They are smiling when you look at them because they aren’t thinking of the eighty-million other places they ‘need’ to be. They are working together. They are enjoying their days, as well as their moments. The culture, in essence, is present.

So when you find yourself racing around, trying to swim upstream, or generally trying to fight the way of the world, remember the phrase, “Mai Pen Rai”, and just let yourself be “finished’.

As part of the inspiring force to help you ‘take the leap of faith’, we will be conducting mini interviews featuring global entrepreneurs who have become “Business Backpackers”. Because we are all busy travelling, working, and having loads of fun, it is a short list of questions that will hopefully give you a quick glimpse of others “Living the Life”.

Our first mini-view comes from Chris Guillebeau, author of the blog ‘The Art of Nonconformity’ and creator of the following products:

• Create Your Own Freedom: Break Out of the 9-5

• Fly More: Spend (Much) Less

• Become Your Own Travel Ninja: Go Anywhere, Anytime

At the time of this posting, Chris has visited 103 of 197 countries. We were lucky enough to meet up with Chris on his way thorough Bangkok. It was a wonderful evening of sharing ideas, thoughts, and inspiration about leading an ‘alternative lifestyle’. I hope you enjoy the questions and comments below and feel free to get in touch with Chris, details below.

How did you know you didn’t fit in to conventional society?

I tried to fit in but never felt comfortable. I always had the feeling that “there must be more out there.” Everyone agrees that life is short, but most people don’t take actions that reflect that belief. I wanted to join the club of people who are not only unsatisfied with the status quo but also brave enough to step out and do something about it.

What do you currently do & please describe a brief roadmap of the haphazard leaps of faith that got you here today…

I am a writer, world traveler, and social entrepreneur. I’m very fortunate that most days of my life, I pretty much do whatever I want. I work hard (30+ hours a week wherever I am) but on projects that matter to me, not things I do for a job. There have been many pitfalls along the way – I have to deal with insecurity and depression from time to time – but I know I’m doing the right thing. I’m glad so many other people are enjoying the journey as well.

Your most life changing travel place & why?

I don’t have just one place, but definitely the four years I spent in West Africa served as the foundation for my worldview.

Encouraging words you would pass on to readers: If you could have had someone there when you took the leap of faith, what would you have needed to hear the most?

Don’t be afraid. You don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to.

Get In Touch With Chris…

chris.guillebeau@gmail.com

http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5

http://www.twitter.com/chrisguillebeau

RSS Feed

Updates by Email

Comments, questions, other questions you would like us to ask? Please leave below…

As I approached the rock that loomed above me I smiled to myself, “It’s good to be back.” Railey Beach is a world class climbing destination in Thailand and can easily be recognized by the immense limestone outcroppings that dot along the coastline in perfect turquoise water. This distant paradise is one of my favorite places in the world and as I gear up with a group of fellow climbers I am thankful to have the opportunity to be here again.

Climbing is a sport that I have been involved with for a long time. I tried climbing for the first time in college and have climbed on and off for the past seven years. One would think that after seven years I would have some sense of mastery with the sport; but instead, I am continually humbled by the fact that anytime I have some sense of confidence in my ability, I am flung to the ground. Climbing kicks my butt. I think it is for this reason that I am strangely compelled to continue on in my journey in attempt to face my fears, learn new skills, and ascend to new heights.

However, this is never my approach. Because I am an overachiever, I struggle with the learning process that is natural and try to skip past all of the essential stages of being a novice. I want to immediately be great at climbing. This is why, in my enthusiasm, I sauntered up to the Ao Nang Climbing company and explained that I wanted to book a trip with them. I was introduced to Gob, who would be the guide, and explained to him that I had been climbing for about seven years and have even taught climbing before. I told him I’m living here because I want to get back into the sport and I haven’t been in quite some time, but maybe after I got back on track I could help them lead other climbers if they needed someone extra.

Out at the rock, I was suited up with shoes, a harness, and tied in easily into the familiar figure eight knot of the rope. Looking up, it was a difficult climb. I was wondering if maybe Gob had overestimated my ability because I would really liked to have started on something a bit simpler. “Belay on, Climbing” we exchanged and up I went. About half way up I realized that this was not the appropriate climb for me to start on. While I have spent some time on real rock, the bulk of my experience has been in climbing gyms. There is quite a big difference between climbing inside where the holds stick out from a flat surface with neatly marked colored tape and outside where the holds could be anywhere, your grip is not guaranteed and you cannot see your feet. I reached for chalk.

Taking a breath, I regained my senses and pressed on. Finally, I reached the top and was on my way back down. I realized my guide kept yelling something at me and from the height and with the impeding language difference, it was difficult to understand. “CLIP the ROPE,” he was yelling. Oh, great, I cannot just drift merrily down the climb, I now have to clip all of the quickdraws that I followed getting up here. These are carabineers that hook into the bolts in the rock and guide the rope as the climber ascends. However, I have never actually had to re-hook myself upon descent and wasn’t sure I was up to the challenge. I was traversing unsteadily sideways reaching out for the carabineer when I lost my footing entirely and went swinging off of the rock. Caught by my belayer and looking down I impatiently yelled down, “I can’t do it!”

Unsatisfied with my response, I received several more calls to “CLIP the ROPE!” After four more attempts, he finally let me descend and I clipped the remaining two on the way down. I untied, shook out my hands and walked off of the rock.
For my second climb, I got on the one they had set up for first time climbers. Gob states, “You not do this one, its too easy for you.” I am not sure he quite understands that I can’t do the next one up and really could use a confidence booster at this point. I smile and say back, “Other one too hard, need to do this one.”

“Ok,” he replies and I tie in. Thank God I could get on and have a successful time of it. I felt a bit ill from the first experience and needed to regain some sense of my ability, and it worked. I was able to get on the harder climb next.
With some struggling and effort I made my way up my third climb. Learning the type of rock and textures is always an interesting part of climbing on different rock. Because you can climb a variety of rock (granite, volcanic, limestone, sandstone) it is important to learn the different features, textures, and footing that is required in each case. The same rock can have a variance and on this climb it went quickly from big pocket holds to sharp cutting pebbly holds. Making it past the crux, or the hardest part, I was able to ascend to the top. I reached and half jumped with the last bit of effort I had to touch the ring at the top and looked down signaling that I wanted to be lowered.

Gob shouts back, “Touch the RING!”

Oh my God, didn’t he see me? “I DID TOUCH THE RING,” I yelled.

It was like something from Lord of the Rings, ‘Touch the Ring’,’ Don’t Touch The Ring’ – but he wasn’t understanding me ad I was getting very tired of hovering in the air uncomfortably dangling from 50 feet up and Froto was nowhere to be seen. Finally, he allowed me to come down and as I’m on the ground untying my rope, I’m catching disapproving looks. I try to state my case. “I touched at the top, did you not see me?”

Unimpressed, and shaking his head no, he answers, “you not beginner, you can touch ring.”

Oh my God. I then go on to try to explain to him that I’ve actually been injured and am coming back from not climbing, and yes, I did touch the ring. I opt to go to another climb and get belayed from someone a little less relentless. As I watch the other climbers go up and down the routes I’m struck by a feeling I’ve had often when I have climbed. I don’t know if it is just the nature of the sport or the people that are attracted to it, but there is always this unnatural urge to push oneself faster and harder than humanly possible. I really have had to work on this nature of the sport because it is so insatiable– just one more hold, one more throw, one more… and then the next thing you know, you have just one more injury. It is really easy to overextend yourself and have pulled tendons, cracked ribs, and broken limbs. I glance over at Gob, and probably picking up on my insecurities, he says, “Sorry, I didn’t see you touch the ring.”

I nod, “Mai pen rai,” it doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. But somehow it does. I go into my next climb a bit thrown and can’t get up an easy crack problem and decide to come down.

Later, in my room, I sat trying to decipher this feeling that I was carrying around. I’ve had it before and thankfully I have the time here in Thailand to look at my feelings and actions. I have a mix of feelings spinning around ranging from the fact that it is hard for me to just be a participant on trips (I used to lead them) and that I didn’t feel acknowledged by my efforts. Everyone else was getting handshakes, high-fives, and approving words after each climb. I felt like I had let someone down. And somehow, that said, I felt like I had let myself down. But there was no reason to feel that way! I had a wonderful day climbing in my favorite place in the whole world, and then, suddenly it struck me.

I had set the whole thing up. I had started with an inflated ability to assume that I would be good at something I had never tried. Yes, I had been climbing, but not in a long time, and not on this particular rock. I assumed the role of trying to be a super-hero rather than a novice or amateur thereby creating unrealistic expectations from my guide, and for myself. Because I wanted to be good at it, I pumped myself up by sharing my enthusiasm (or goals) with others. This backfired and made me feel performance anxiety and left me wondering, “What if I can’t do this?” In my first attempt, I went Too Big and Too Fast, trying to skip steps and force myself to push through a learning curve. Exhausted, I realized on my second climb I needed to wind back because I was overwhelmed. I was left feeling worried and doubtful. Regaining confidence for my third climb, I was able to go Too Big and Too Fast again, having similar results. By the last climb my head was so distraught with emotions and feeling misunderstood and unsupported, I had completely lost all focus and could not even finish an easy climb. Of course, no one wanted to help me because I had come across as someone who already had it worked out, or could handle it. This was the defeat.

The defeat in the process, or cycle, that I have put myself in has not just happened in climbing. My initial excitement for wanting to become involved and lead, judging myself against super-hero standards, setting unrealistic expectations and subsequently going into periods of fatigue or burnout have all been a part of my overachiever cycle. While my intent is good, the result is that I work twice as hard and feel emotionally spent when I could have saved myself some time and effort.

Saving Yourself From Yourself

While I could have just chalked up this whole experience as something of a fluke, Gob played a perfect role in the perfect lesson I needed to learn. Sometimes we need to recognize our own behaviors so we can get out of our own way. Being a novice, taking things slow, and getting help from others are all very difficult for the single-minded, focused, independent business owners. In my experience (being one, and working with) I have found that most business owners are overachievers. While this drive and super-hero mentality has propelled us into being business owners, we also need to realize when we are setting ourselves up for emotional and productivity roller-coasters.

Here are some tips that I put together after my humbling experience of learning from the rock:

1. Triple the amount of time you think it will take you to do something. This includes learning a new task, a new skill, training someone, implementing a new project, et cetera.
2. Let yourself be a novice. Approach new activities from that angle and allow yourself to be vulnerable and in need of help.
3. Talking yourself into doing something by sharing your goals or knowledge can be interpreted by others that you are the expert. People are less likely to help you if they think you know more about something than them. Instead, allow yourself to experience the learning curve with others.
4. Setting yourself up with unrealistic expectations brings out the judge in others and in yourself. Try setting smaller goals instead and approaching others to help you along the way. Achieving smaller goals will further your success and improve your confidence.
5. Learn that by slowing down, you are actually speeding up your progress. I took the climbs in this order: 2, 1, 4, 3. Had I just gone through 1, 2, 3, 4 I would have finished, felt better, and probably attempted a fifth climb. I also would have had an entirely different experience emotionally which is what is really important in retaining our focus and energy.
6. Know when to follow. Being Gung-Ho is commendable, as is wanting to be a leader. But, the truth is we don’t need to push our way to the front of the pack. By learning to follow, we learn how to lead. Let yourself be last, be a learner, and be slow.
7. Trying to push through life simply doesn’t feel very good. It is like driving as fast as you can to hurry up and get home to relax. By the time you get home, you are a stress case and you feel awful- it simply doesn’t work. When you find yourself trying too hard, or fighting the forces of nature (or gravity) remember one thing: it’s ok to let go and come down. You’ve already touched the ring.

It is said in Thailand that “Climbing gives you Power” my hope is that this article will have the same affect on you.

“I see a common gene among immigrants and entrepreneurs who strike out from the pack to pursue their dreams. I admire people who are willing to bet everything on a belief. Some of these risk takers, whether immigrants or entrepreneurs, have a profound impact on what happens in the world. They place bets on the future, often against fantastic odds. I see heroism in that.”

-Randy Komisar, The Monk and the Riddle

There comes a time in everyone’s life that one begins to contemplate, “Is this working for me?” When you realize that the answer is consistently ‘No,’ you have a choice to make. You can continue to live the same life knowing that what you are doing is no longer satisfying your needs, or you can evolve. Change is the only constant, and having lived a life of rapid and constant change, it is the only place I bet my chips.

This past year has been one of serious contemplation and new revelations. I had many personal changes in my life that forced me to consider what I was doing, and more importantly, for whom. When it came down to it, I realized that the position where I was in my life made complete sense as a lineal point on a graph. X happened which led to Y and so on, leaving me at the end of a successive group of points. What I struggled with, however, was were the points plotted in the direction toward where I really want to be in my LIFE and was I really content with my current reality?

There is a theory that I learned in my business studies called “ground zero analysis” and it goes something like this: if you were to know everything you know now and wipe everything clean—what would you do? What would you keep doing, what would you scrap, and what’s next? This is the place I found myself in my personal life, as well as my business life—and it was time to look at reevaluating what I wanted and how to best move forward.

In short, I recently was in a long-term relationship, owned a home, and had a ten-year plan in my head my business, Growing Places Consulting. After my relationship ended, I moved into a temporary rental situation with two wonderful friends in Lincoln, California. I immediately regained my sense of self by doing what I love best: travel. But every time I came back, the looming question was there on the landing strip: Why do I live in Lincoln, California? My work is focused on helping others design the lifestyle of their dreams and ultimately live and work on their own terms anywhere in the world—was I doing this for myself?

On Halloween, I found myself in one of my favorite coffee shops in the Mission district of San Francisco, Ralphz Coffee. I was waiting for my friends to get into town to coordinate the evening of dressing up and going to parties. To kill the time, I was finishing the book Eat, Pray, Love for the second time. If you haven’t read it, you should, but it explains the true life tale of Elizabeth Gilbert and her journey around the world to self discovery. I turned past the epilogue to a blank page at the end of the book and wrote at the top: ‘What if I just left in December?‘ The question half shocked me but I proceeded to make a short list of items that would need to be taken care of if I were to head out on a journey of my own. Surprisingly, the list was not that long at all. I called a friend to proclaim that it was finally time for me to get the Fuck Out Of Dodge.

Historically, I have never fit into society’s mold—or working the typical 9-to-5. Starting a business was more of a means of survival than anything else and I was realizing that I had followed my plan and worked it enough to take my own advice and start living my ideal lifestyle. If I had the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, why on God’s earth would I choose a small retirement community tucked in the suburbs of Sacramento? I knew it in my heart that it was time to break free of the pack and live the life I’d always imagined.

I instantly experienced the duality of bliss and terror. I knew if I were to pull it off that I was going to need to dramatically change my lifestyle. I was going to need to do my “ground zero analysis” and only keep what was working—and look at putting a plan in place for the rest. Breaking out of the pack comes with a laundry list of conflicting emotions and I was repeatedly forced to ask myself a myriad of questions related to my own sanity. Namely, when everyone else is playing the game and doing just fine, why can’t I just fit in and do the same?

“I didn’t seem to fit anybody’s profile. It was troublesome to me that I couldn’t find a match; I had expected to settle into a career like everyone else.”

-Randy Komisar, The Monk and the Riddle

So why couldn’t I just fit in and settle like everyone else? When it comes down to it the truth is: I’m not like everyone else. I am a rule breaker and a system buster. I assimilate mass amounts of information only to find the most direct route and get back to living. I based my business on this model of passive income and lifestyle exit strategy and now I was at the point of facing my own circumstance and making a radical decision.

At the same time, an idea had been brewing in my head. I was starting to attract more appropriate clients in my business. I was identifying common threads and toying with this idea of a niche market: business owners that love adventure and travel. These people are already motivated to make change, take risks, and bust their butts for freedom’s sake. I had pitched a couple of questions to people I know that meet the profile and the market for BusinessBackpacker.com was beginning to take shape. I am a huge advocate for people following their personal dream and funding start-ups or branches of their original business that are more reflective of who they are and taking those ideas to a global market. The more I talked about the idea, the more it seemed to become a reality.

Then came the stark realization that if I wasn’t living the lifestyle of a vagabond entrepreneur, who would listen to me? I needed to come up with two things: the technology to make it all happen from abroad, and a destination. Looking back just a few weeks ago—I didn’t have any of these answers. But everything instantly materialized and the right people came into my life at the right time. One such person I met at a blog party—Cody McKibben. After discussing a bunch of similarities in our approach and audience, we decided to team up and bring the world BusinessBackpacker.com. He specializes in the technology needed to ‘go global’ and I brought the business consulting side to the table…and so the joint venture adventure began.

One short month after asking myself ‘What if I just left in December?’ I’m sitting here in a studio apartment in Bangkok, Thailand, writing this. I left the States on December 30th and arrived just in time to celebrate the New Year with a BANG! The purpose of writing this post is to inspire you to go for your goals—no matter how outrageous they seem—and to trust your gut. The right people, resources, and finances will figure themselves out if you just take the first steps. It takes courage to break out of the pack and downsize your life to a backpack. But it all comes down to one simple question: How far are you willing to go to get your life back??