Do you want to quit your job and move abroad? Makes sense. Countless people out there are telling you to hate your 9-5, to follow your dreams, and to change your life. Although some of them are full of good intentions, most are just after your wallet.

In the last few months, I have attended a few ‘business conferences’ run by self-proclaimed coaches that were effectively broad daylight robbery.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to say that you shouldn’t do all of the above. I just thought it might be worth sharing with you one truth and two lies about what I’ve learnt from trying to do it myself.

A bit about me

Before we start, here is a bit about me… After graduating with a Master’s Degree, I spent seven years working in the corporate world – first as a Risk Manager in the Water and Waste Industry and ultimately as a Business Development Associate Director in the Travel Industry.

Just over a year ago, I quit my high flying job to relocate to Australia with my partner after two years of long distance relationship between London and Shanghai. Once in Melbourne, I decided to pursue my dreams of writing and presenting on the topic of being beyond borders. Since then, I have published a couple of books and launched this blog.

Meanwhile, I have struggled to make a living and faced an embarrassing number of rejections, mishaps and disappointments. After intense considerations, I have now decided that I must tackle the daunting task of looking for a ‘real’ job and park my dreams for a while. Again.

As challenging as it is to share my thoughts on this painful topic with you all, I hope that the one truth and two lies I’ve learnt will be helpful to you somewhere along the way.

It’s not about the money

I genuinely thought money was secondary and that it came naturally when you put passion into doing whatever it is you were doing. Lie.

A year later poorer, I have realised that making sure you are safe, independent and – dare I say – comfortable is important too. As I type these words, I daydream of the moment I will be able to buy something I absolutely do not need again. I long for one of these meaningless impulsive consumerist purchase. Sad? Human? Both, perhaps.

Keep that in mind when preparing to travel for a long period of time or move abroad. Think carefully about how much money you are willing to spend and how long it will last you for.

It’s all about the CV

Having spent 7 years working like a mad woman in the corporate world and building up my resume, I assumed that would open doors for me on the other side of the world. Lie.

Reality has shown me that each job market is unique, that different countries value different profiles, and that being a foreigner doesn’t help much.

I am in the midst of applying for jobs at the moment – SEND HELP! – so I don’t have much wisdom on this topic yet. It’s hard and I’m starting to think that perhaps one of the success factors is to consider doing something other than what we did before… Says the girl sobbing at the idea of being a waitress again. Well, I guess I’m not there yet!

It’s a rollercoaster of a journey

Writing this article today is incredibly hard for me but hopefully, it can come in handy for someone else out there. As we speak, I am torn between feeling like a failure for not having a job and feeling like a failure for not having the energy to keep focusing on my dream and even consider the idea of going back to work.

Crazy? Maybe. Aren’t we all? Point is none of these considerations and choices should equal failure.

I tripped. I fell.
I tried. I learnt.
I hurt. I cried.

And then… I stood up again and gave life another chance. Well, that’s what I’ll be trying to do today, tomorrow and every day after that.

Life is a rollercoaster. Moving abroad and/or starting your own venture might make you feel as though the highs are higher and the lows are lower than ever before. I believe they are. But the good news is – like my dear Lindsay friend reminded me again this morning – the rollercoaster that’s life is in constant movement. Everything is transient. Truth.

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So, if you’re thinking about quitting your job and moving abroad, jump into it with both eyes open. If you’re already abroad and thought ‘me too’ as you read these words, I feel you. Message me and let’s chat!

Bottom line is… There is no ONE way to live life and YOUR life is YOURS and YOURS only so don’t let me or ANYONE else tell you HOW to live it.

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