Introducing: Shoestring Soul Searching

Hey, it’s Bryan. Depending on who you are, you may have heard from me last week or last decade. Let me catch everyone up by briefly encapsulating the last few years:

• I have been based in NYC since 2019

• I worked four years in CPG and the last two at a climate tech startup

• I met a terrific human named Tiffany, who became my girlfriend

• I like pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain

Why are you hearing from me?

We’ve both decided to quit our jobs. What’s next? We don’t know, but we’re going abroad to live on a budget while we figure that out. And I’ll be documenting everything via this newsletter.

Like many of us, I haven’t felt fulfilled in my career. Maybe you can relate. The dread that sets in when the sun goes down on a Sunday. The dissonance of working yourself ragged on something you’re not invested in. I took a look at the path ahead and realized this is how it’ll be for the next 30 years unless I make a change.

I’ve also not given myself a genuine break. Since undergrad, there’s always been a next thing lined up. School followed by a job. Job followed by another job. Some things only come to you in the stillness, and that’s why this break will be total. Maybe I don’t look at my resume for the first few months. Maybe I spend a week walking through the wilderness or sprawled out in the sun like a cat.

Where do I want this to lead? At this point, I don’t know. But if some unusual doors open, I’m not opposed to them. I’m lucky to be able to take risks (and lucky to have an SO who’s on board), but that won’t always be the case. Let me explore the full world of what’s out there while I can.

Is this nerve-wracking? Not yet, although ask me again once my savings start getting depleted. Whatever fears come up though, they won’t eclipse my fear of being a 65-year old man, on the other end of my career, wishing I had tried more things. The universe doesn’t give you a redo.

Why might you be interested?

I’ve gotten a variety of responses to this plan. For each person who says total career fulfillment is unrealistic, there’s another person telling me to reach for the moon. In the end, there’s no substitute for lived experience, and there’s no one-size-fits-all for how to do this. I’m out to answer this question for myself, and hopefully provide you with a helpful perspective, one more data point as you navigate your own decisions.

Except I won’t be telling you this story at a dinner party next year with a narrative in hand about how everything worked out. I’ll be living it and reporting back in real time, very uncertain about the outcome, and very exposed to the different paths this journey might take. With each next step, you’ll be finding out along with Tiff and me.

Maybe none of this applies to you. You have a job you love and stability you value. Well, then two things: 1) have that stable couch of yours ready, I may need to crash and 2) stay for the travel memes. It’s mostly going to be travel memes.

What’s next

Our first location will be the highlands of Vietnam, cool breezes and banh mis await!

In the meantime, we spent a few days having a little break in Taiwan. This is my second time visiting and I’m a big fan. What more needs to be said about Taiwan other than they have their shit figured out so well, they sell tea from the future?

By the way, if you have thoughts on anything I’ve written you can message me simply by replying to this email. Would love to hear from ya.

Abrazos,

Bryan