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Whether it’s a big trip or a new business idea, it can be difficult to take the decision to make a big life change. The potential reaction from family and friends and uncertainty in what lies ahead can give us a lot to think about, and our fears can often keep us from taking the leap. We experienced these feelings when making the decision to quit our jobs and take a long term trip through South America in 2013. We were afraid of what a gap in our resume might mean for our careers when we returned and whether we were making the right decision. Looking back at the opportunities the trip provided and where we are today as a result, we are so happy we made the decision to go!
On this episode we talk about how people can often feel as though they need a perfect plan in place before making a big life change, travel related or otherwise, but how this isn’t necessarily required. We also talk about pursuing what you want to do as opposed to what others say you “should” be doing, and the importance of realizing that you can always change your mind if you realize that what you decided to pursue isn’t for you, but that the important thing is knowing you tried. Our advice: just go for it!
Enjoy!
What we talk about:
- Our story and feelings of uncertainty around taking a long term trip through South America in 2013
- Our fears about what a long term trip would mean for our careers, and the concerns expressed by family members
- Our feeling at the time that we needed our lives and plan to be perfect before we left, and how, looking back, this may have led us to delay taking our trip more than we needed to
- Similar success stories we’ve heard from other podcast guests where they didn’t feel completely prepared or have the “perfect” plan in place before taking their big life leap, and the incredible payoff they realized by making the change
- How it’s normal to question taking the leap and the importance of trusting that you’ll be able to figure it out along the way
- Some of the fears and objections we grappled with before we left, including leaving the stability of a 9 to 5 job, the potential downside of having a gap on our resume when we returned, and missing family and friends
- Our feeling of being trapped between two life philosophies as we were planning our trip: survival and stability versus personal fulfillment
- The fulfillment and happiness that comes from pursuing a lifestyle that you want, as opposed to one you “should”
- How you can spin a “gap” on your resume to your benefit with a potential employer
- How your mindset and commitment level can either work in your favour or act as a hindrance when considering travel budgets and fears
- How people can be afraid to make a big change (travel related or otherwise) when they have to do it alone, but that this fear shouldn’t stop you from taking the leap
- How you shouldn’t let the fear of potentially being viewed as a failure if you decide you don’t like the route you decide to pursue stop you from trying it out in the first place!
- The value of figuring out if the life and things you think you want are actually the things you want
- The importance of realizing that the idealized life of relaxation and “doing nothing” can get boring, that the true goal is to be doing something you enjoy and want to work at, and how travel can help you realize both of those things and focus in on what it is you want to be doing
- How if you are considering a big trip or life change, our advice is to just take the leap! You’ll find more often than not it will work out, and if you don’t like it you can always change your mind but at least you have the experience – Say yes until you’ve found your no!
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Music Credits:
www.bensound.com
