It makes me smile every time I read a story about someone who takes a chance and does something crazy with their lives. Make no mistake, as a personal finance blogger I think quitting your job to travel the world without several years worth of savings is kind of crazy, but I love it all the same! Your untemplate actions shows the rest of us that we don’t need that much to survive, especially those of us living in America. We’re spoiled by excess.
You are the lucky ones because you aren’t encumbered with baggage. If you lose everything, you might have a moment of pity, but you never had much to lose in the first place. For the rest of us, we’re tied down. Many of us have mortgages to pay and mouths to feed. How do we leave a job that doesn’t inspire, but pays us just enough to show up? We’ve got spreadsheets and calculators where we pro-formalize our lives. If we work this long, and save this much every year, then we’ll get to be free and travel the world! But in the mean time, we have to patiently wait.
Do you remember freshman year in college? I don’t know about you, but I felt like it was one big orgy. Everything was new, and we all had a sense of wonder, wanting to meet and do everybody! We were all accepting, because we had to be. There weren’t any cliques formed yet, because we hadn’t developed our good or bad perceptions. That’s the way it should be, but we just can’t help settling into a mold, doing what society tells us to do.
TWO CHOICES, NEITHER BAD
When I graduated college, I had two job offers and a half dozen rejections. One was to go on an adventure and work in a foreign country. The company literally made widgets, and I was asked to manage the factory and develop a marketing plan for international expansion. The second offer was the dream corporate job where business majors and Ivy league grads cream their pants for. Seriously, every single stiff in a suit you see walking around campus holding a leather binder would have gone streaking just to land this job.
Of course I went with option #2 because I rationed that there must be a reason why so many folks study all day and join every little resume-building club for this job. True to form, the job was a ball buster, everyday for two years until I escaped to San Francisco. Now, I can still work all day, but at least the air is fresh and the tennis courts are plentiful and free.
At least once a month, I think about how my life would be different if I went with job offer #1. I wonder about the different people I would have met and how my professional lives would compare. Maybe I’d be a tri-lingual mega-millionaire by now, or maybe I’d be light years behind where I currently am since the factory may have shut down. Who knows for sure, but I can’t help thinking about how things might have been. It’s not an agonizing thought mind you. It’s just a fun thought to have.
There are seldom really bad choices in life, only sub-optimal or different choices. If we’re realistic enough, we can see the good and bad in everything we do. The idea is to make the best choice possible, and minimize the potential annoyance of not taking the other one!
YOU ARE THE LUCKY ONES
People don’t untemplate their lives when they are happy. People untemplate their lives because something is bothering them sufficiently enough to change. You’ve been bullied so many times by your boss, that you quit. The work you’re doing is so soul-less that you switch fields. You realize your life is half over and you don’t want to die before seeing the pyramids so you take a sabbatical. Whatever the case may be, I’m happy for them all because of the stories they allow you to tell.
It’s unfortunate we can’t live parallel lives, or be in two places at once. Just that one choice will alter your life forever, so choose carefully, and have no regrets! Thanks again for writing all your inspiring stories. Don’t let anybody keep you down because they’re just jealous you’re doing what they’ve always wanted to do but don’t have the guts. Perhaps I can join you in 10 years, when my career is over. In the meantime, thank you for letting me live vicariously through you!
Regards,
Sam @ Financial Samurai– “Slicing Through Money’s Mysteries”
Follow on Twitter @FinancialSamura
I try not plan anything for say further than 3 or 4 days in advance, that way im never disapointed if it doeasnt go to plan but on the other hand my missus plans everything military style and diaryses everything and gets so stressed if it doeant go to plan.
The main reason I’m choosing to Untemplate my life and lead a more minimalist life overall is because I see it not only as the most fulfilling life, but maybe as the most secure life.
Life is all about choices. Every choice has a consequence. Once you decide what you really want out of life, the choices become clearer.
I think we run into problems when we start trying to be too safe or ask too many “what if” questions. You can always find reasons not to pursue a particular path. But if you are clear about what you really want out of life, it’s much easier to avoid/ignore the risks and to move in the direction you desire.
I agree. Too much second guessing is unhealthy, although really thinking things over before making a big decision is.
I try not to worry myself with “what if” moments. Sometimes it’s nice to think on it, but it’s not something that should be dwelled upon… You can’t drive forward very well when you’re staring in the rear-view mirror. 🙂
My untemplating urge comes more out of necessity than anything else, sometimes. My husband is in the military, and I can expect to be moved around every few years… Kinda hard to have a “traditional” “climb the ladder” type job when that’s true. If I go into business for myself, I should be able to create a better position with income that doesn’t depend on the city we happen to be living in at any given time.
Hmmm, it definitely is tough if you have to move around all the time and follow one spouse. The online business model is perfect for you. Believe it or not, a lot of bloggers make over $1000/month. It’s fun money that keeps us busy. You’d be perfect in pursuing this untemplate lifestyle!
Like almost everything in life, it’s about taking risks. As a financial planner you are not accustomed to big, uncalculated risks. People who untemplate their life usually take a leap of faith, and guess what, it usually turns out just fine!
So I don’t think you need to have several years of savings tucked away to be able to take this leap. Although it would be wise to have a simple backup plan to easy your mind a bit.
I think you’re right in that most people turn out “fine”, but what is “fine” exactly? Is fine just being a live and surviving? Is fine making just $2,000 a month doing something location independent in Thailand? I think each person has different expectations of what fine is.
Three years of living expenses saved is a good amount. One year is doable, but not recommended, b/c you may travel for 6 months and take another 6 months or longer to find a job.
enjoyed reading your perspective from the other side of the grass. 🙂
Thanks for reading! I think I’m on the normal side of the grass, but I do love reading all your stories about taking risks and doing whatever it is you want!
I have to admit, I’m more conservative. I’m working full-time, and have a side business I work on at nights. Love to hear your story.
Life can come about full circle sometimes, so you never know if you might end up with another chance to go overseas. I bet even Bill Gates has plenty of “what would have happened if….” moments.
like you, i graduated with a choice – although i took the exciting job in a different city for substantially less money. as it turned out, this choice was the sub-optimal one, the job wasn’t what i expected. You might have hated the foreign job, you never know how things turn out. That’s why i believe it is a matter of mindset – you decide the kind of life you live. After realising the job wasn’t as great as i thought it would be i threw myself into other activities, and through these i met an amazing young lady and we’ve been together for 13 months now.
In situations like this, apply the sunk costs approach – your past decisions do not matter, what does is what you are doing now!
Yeah, we never know how things turn out. We should make a decision and stick with it until it gives us nothing left.
Not bad you found yourself a lady though. If you didn’t go this route, you never would have met her! There are always good things that come out of everything. We just need to focus on the good things.
Hi Sam,
Nice article!
I doesn’t matter which path you choose, but it’s important to put careful consider your options, the road your heading and also to reflect on your past choices.
Don’t let yourself be restricted and thinks outside of the box. That’s why it is so inspiring and liberating to read the story of those who broke free. Even if such a life isn’t made for you, go figure out want you want. And not all changes have to be drastic; define your, long-term, goal and see which quick wins you can achieve to build momentum.
When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice. ~William James
Good luck! Simon
Hi Simon – Thanks for your thoughts. i wonder though, what is the definition of breaking free, as it makes it sound like people like me with a regular job are in jail.
We’ve got vacation time too, which makes it sweater when we are working. I left work at 3pm today to go play golf. It ain’t all bad!
Cheers, Sam
This post sums up my views fairly well. While I UnTemplated my life by returning to college 7 years after graduation, I’m still stuck in a basic template for the moment. Frustrated by my job (even after a recent change to a better one), I’m working on redesigning my life. The inspiration I see from others helps keep me motivated, and to see what the possibilities are.
Exactly… love to see what others are doing, so we can see what’s possible. Just keep on working on your side business and give it some time to breath. You’ll do alright!
Enjoyed your article. The week of my graduation I decided I really didn’t want to pursue a life in medicine and so I packed up my bags and family and we moved to another state… without a job… without a plan. Three months later I found a great job that I’m currently working as I build up my own business on the side. It’s been an interesting experience.
Thanks Chris. Good luck with your new gig and building up your side gig at the same time! I’m doing the same thing, and I really really enjoy it.