What Most People Say But Won’t Do: Quitting Your Job To Travel The World

It was a feeling of complete certainty and uncertainty at the same time. Oddly enough it felt like what I was about to do, no matter how nervous and scared I was, I needed to do it.

I loved the people I worked with but waking up every morning to sit at the same desk and listen to the same Monday morning meeting was an absolute drag.

I wasn’t myself.

It was one of the toughest decisions of my life

Coming to terms with the fact that I wanted to do something different was hard.

I was pretty content but felt like I needed to do something bigger.

I had to quickly learn to accept the fact that society was going to look at me funny. My family was going to wonder what was running through my head.

And of course, I had to face the fact I wouldn’t have a steady paycheck.

It makes me smile when I tell someone how I quit my job to travel the world

And I get a few of the same responses:

“Wow! That’s nuts! You’re living the dream.”

“One day I will do that.”

“I am not happy with my job either, but I am scared. I need my paychecks and the stability.”

My response is always the same…

“If you want it bad enough, you’ll make it happen.”

I am a firm believer that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough.

We only step out of our comfort zones and change our lives when we truly believe we’d be happier doing something other than what we are currently doing. It’s a feeling from within in.

It isn’t a thought that lingers in your mind for a few days but a thought that is constantly there.

When you wake up, when you’re going to work, when you’re eating, and even when you’re sleeping. The thought is always there.

It’s almost like being in love.

In love with an idea. A change. In love with your life.

I am not saying that quitting a steady paycheck is easy or smart.

I am also not saying people should just randomly walk out on their job. I set up a plan. I designed an exit strategy.

I wrote down a list of goals and gave myself deadlines and I stuck to it. Yes, I wrote stuff down, like on pen and paper. Crossed ideas and deadlines off my to-do list or goals list (as I like to call them).

Oh! Most importantly

I never let anyone else’s thoughts steer me away from what I knew I wanted.

I knew I wanted to quit my job and travel the world. I had no idea how I would do it, but I knew I wanted to do it! Regardless of what family and friends thought about it, I was set in stone and what I wanted and I was going to get it.

It took me six months to quit my job

And even the day I did resign I returned home from work that night and cried for about 20 minutes because I couldn’t decide if I was happy or scared shitless.

I told myself one thing:  I would be fine.

I’ve been working since I was 15 years old. I had two degrees and I would never go hungry or never allow myself to fail. I would MAKE it happen. 

12 months later

I did. 

I’ve been to 33 countries (10 since I left) and I haven’t looked back since I quit my job. I’ve been through ups and downs, but there isn’t a thing I would change.

If this article ‘touched home’, then think about it.

Write it down.

More than anything be true to yourself. It may not be to travel the world, but you’re just not happy with your life. Where you live, your  job, your friends, a relationship you’re in, or just not happy in general.

Fix it. It’s your life.

Remember

If you want it bad enough, make it happen!