Two years ago, I was seated at a GST Registration conference, happily eating my salmon and listening to the sound of breaking waves when a thought hit me. What if I could spend more days here in the idyllic island watching the sunset every evening without losing my job as a tax planner? Realistically speaking, it was impossible at the time being as my job demanded too much of my attention and I was this close to making partner at one of the largest tax firms in Canada. Was I to give all that up just to get a few weeks of sun and tan?
Thinking of Travelling
I let go of that line of thought and focused on the job at hand. It would all go away by the time I got back home. Well, it didn’t and the more I thought about travel, the more I found myself wanting more flexibility and freedom. I went up to my boss and told her I would settle for lots of work for two weeks of the month, then I could take it easy on the next two. She agreed to this but only after reminding me that taking time off would not get me the corner office I so badly coveted. I was ready to make that sacrifice. I have been working while traveling for two years now and this is just a tip of what I have learned while on the road.
You can Work and Travel
It can be done if you manage your time properly. I positioned myself from the beginning of my career as one of the greatest tax planners for the corporate world and now that it paying off. At times, I will set up conference calls with CEOs while in some exotic destination in Thailand and work while surrounded by beauty. Don’t quit your job to travel – make both plans work.
You don’t have to be a Trust Fund Kid to Travel
There is this misconception that you have to be filthy rich to travel the world. I am not financially badly off but even I know not to blow all my money in travel. I perennially stay in AirBnB instead of hotels. While I love fine dining as the next person, I know that street food is the heart and soul of a community and if you want to know a country best, then follow its street food and the markets. I spend a fraction of what I normally would.
Sole Female Travelers are Safe
My female – and male – colleagues ask how I get the guts to travel to foreign countries alone. I never know how to handle this question and so I ask them, “why not?” and laugh off their answers. Fear prevents people from living their best lives and I am not good at being a statistic. So, I travel all by myself and I love the peace of mind that comes with it.
So, if traveling is what you want to do, let nothing hold you back. Enjoy the ride!
