I am a laboratory automation expert, specializing in the marketing and selling of DNA-sequencing products. I enjoy my job, and I’m good at it. And yet, today I resigned; to travel and start something new.
I can’t blame anyone for thinking the decision to walk away from a stable, full-time, salaried job sounds like a bad idea. However, the decision came after years of deliberation, and careful planning and preparation. After attaining the comforts that come with a reliable paycheck and routine work, I quickly realized I was missing something- something more challenging, meaningful, and purposeful.
You’re probably thinking, “He’s such a typical millennial,” or, “I think I’ve seen this blog before.” And honestly, yes, in some ways I am your stereotypical starry-eyed millennial, determined to live my “purpose.” I have been passionate about finding and living my purpose for years, spending endless hours searching for mine and helping others pursue their own. In fact the Latin root of “passion” means, “to suffer.” Have you ever felt suffering? Have you desired something so badly you feel pain? If so, perhaps you can understand why, upon discovering my purpose, I’m compelled to take action.
My resignation today marks the start of a new adventure. My wife, Valerie, and I will spend the coming months traveling Southern Asia, and starting my own business. We’ll provide regular updates on this blog showing you what we’re doing, who we’re meeting, and what we’re learning.
Purpose
Valerie and I have a shared vision: to achieve financial independence through serving others, and to live in accordance with our values and passions.
Over the last few years, I’ve helped various friends and acquaintances clarify and achieve goals in life and business. These discussions have been some of my most fulfilling. Seeing others succeed with skills, information, or inspiration I’ve helped them acquire has made me happier. My purpose is to help others identify goals, create a plan for achievement, and execute the plan successfully. And it is this purpose that provides the foundation for my first business venture.
The Challenge
How did I get to a point where I felt comfortable quitting my job, travelling, and starting a business? In short- saving money, investing in education, and seeking guidance from successful people.
The obstacles I faced in coming to this conclusion were as much psychological as they were financial. It took about two years of focused effort to muster the courage, and the bankroll, to leave my comfort zone. First, Valerie and I clarified on our vision and wrote down our goals. In addition, we maintained strict budgets and reviewed our expenses together on a monthly basis to ensure we met our savings goals. We both pursued job opportunities that gave us the skills and experience we needed to be more entrepreneurial. We also read a lot of books, and pursued relationships with people who had a similar visions but were closer to reaching their goals than we were. In other words, we started living purposefully.
The Blog
We want to share experiences, reflections, and people that inspire us, and that will inspire you, too. We want you to get more from this than wanderlust. We want you to be here with us. We hope you’ll join us in Asia and beyond, as we build the life we envision.
TL;DR
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