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We’re supposed to know what we want to do with the rest of our lives when we’re 18. Does this even make sense? I went through the motions, finished college, and found myself with a comfortable job, yet something still didn’t seem right. I was stuck working a 9 to 5 I didn’t enjoy staring into a template future I was not sure was right for me. Your first thoughts when you read this might be, “So what?” “Work isn’t supposed to be enjoyable. It’s work. That’s life. Deal with it.” That’s also how I used to think at the time. I thought I needed to grind out, get serious, climb the corporate ladder, and settle down. It did not even occur to me that there was another way.
Brandon James and I embarked on a journey of exploration and absorption of new ways of thinking. This was sparked after reading Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do, or where this type of thinking was going to lead me, but it ended up changing my life forever. I started saving my ass off in anticipation of one day leaving Corporate America. All around me, there was uncertainty, as the financial crisis caused unending layoffs, decimated retirement accounts, and smashed countless hopes and dreams. All these people got burned even though they had worked hard, planned, and “did everything right.” I was scared with the idea of wasting the most productive and healthy years of my life in a cubicle staring at a computer screen preparing for an uncertain retirement I might not even make it to. I wanted to take a different life path though I wasn’t sure exactly which, when or how. However, the savings I was accumulating took away the stress and immediacy of having to stay in my current position or settle on finding something “just to pay the bills”. I started consuming as much information as possible. I went to a Gary Vaynerchuk event when he came to Chicago. The “Stop doing shit you hate and crush it!”, message resonated nicely.
I was introduced to a Lifestyle Design community of epic proportions. This community was made up of people who wanted to break free from the template lifestyle and live life on their own terms. They didn’t buy into the deferred life plan and wanted to live life to the fullest, and do it now. They are entrepreneurs, nomads, freelancers, vagabonds, and travelers from all over the world each at their own stage and in their personal journey. I started reading The Art of Non-Conformity, Thrilling Heroics, Wandering Earl, Brooke vs. the World, The Blog of Tim Ferriss , Nomadic Matt, Location 180, Wage Slave Rebel, C’est Christine, Free Pursuits , Ridiculously Extraordinary, and countless others! These were real people, with real stories, breaking out of the template lifestyle in their own way! Things started becoming a little more clear. The possibilities became endless and my excitement began to grow. The opportunities seemed limitless as I contemplated teaching English in Japan, Joining the Peace Corps, Learning French in France, starting my own business, and taking a solo bike trip across Africa.
I have decided on taking the bike trip across Africa. Before my jaunt to the African continent I would like to spend some time vagabonding through Europe meeting old friends, making new ones, and getting in some bike experience here and there. While enjoying the summer months in Chicago with friends and family, I will be preparing for my upcoming journey. Thank you for those that come along for the ride.
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That is so freaking awesome!! I’m so excited for you and can’t wait to see what you experience. I know that there has to be an element of nervousness to this but I want to encourage you to push forward and do what you are thinking about.
I cannot wait to see what you encounter on your adventure. It’s going to be amazing, dude!
I can hardly contain the excitement!!! There is definitely an element of nervousness, but the doubt is nothing compared to the feeling of hope and excitement for what lies ahead. I can’t wait to see where the journey will take me. The excitement of the unknown is spectacular! Thanks for the encouragement man!
Good luck. Don’t sell your gold or palladium.
Congrats Mark! You’ve made a decision that you won’t ever regret and as soon as the journey begins, that nervousness will vanish. I’ll look forward to keeping up with your adventures!
Thanks Earl! I can hardly contain my excitement. I definitely won’t regret this decision! Maybe we’ll meet up on the road. Let the adventure continue!
First off man, the journey hasn’t even begun yet but it has felt like quite the ride. It’s refreshing to look back at the existential dilemma we confronted head on as to whether the stable, expected life was something that we need to continue spending 80% of our time chasing. Luckily for us, we made the decision to see what else we could be doing with that time and look what it’s done for us, both in actuality and just esteem-wise.
I can’t even compare the person I am to a couple years ago, I’m loads happier, a lot more confident about the future, get painfully excited several times a day, and I took the most unstable route you can. So man, just know that Pandoras Box is open and whatever ends up happening in the end doesn’t matter, because right now what lies ahead is limitless possibilities. And we’re cultivating lives that are going to continue to allow us to jump on those opportunities to constantly change and grow, something that as we know is very tough to do as a paper pushing analyst. Seriously man, the best part about being out there is just knowing that everything there for you to take, whatever you can dream. I had this thought about 10 minutes ago walking along the bay of Istanbul after coming across the most illuminated boat in the harbor that was named “The Dreamer”. So keep dreaming big man, and know that there’s nothing holding you back but yourself, which a pretty good feeling.
Looking back at when we had to make those decisions seems so long ago. It’s been an incredible ride since, and I can’t even imagine how great it’s going to get from here. There are limitless possibilities. Brandon, it’s awesome how much happier and confident you are with life. Talking with you now, you are bursting at the seems with excitement for life! Keep living the dream.
I found your blog after seeing your SpotHero website. You are very inspiring!
I have been thinking/feeling the same frustration you said you experienced after college. I just graduated last year and a year into this and I’m just finding myself very dissatisfied. I thought that continually applying for other jobs would be my answer and that has been exhausting my time & efforts. (everytime I switch to a new job I find the grass is not greener)
I am ready to save what money I am making- and I actually have an idea for a business I would like to get started. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hey Anne! If you’ve got an idea that pumps you up that you get excited about, go for it! A lot of times we can test out business ideas with much much less resources that we initially thought. Just has to be done in a different way than originally planned.
There’s can be frustration when work isn’t interesting, but life doesn’t totally have to revolve around work. Very possible to do things you love to fill the gap while plans formulate. Rock out and good luck!