So, I’m reading the book, “The Alchemist” which tells the tale of a shepherd boy who dreams of travel. Despite multiple opportunities to settle down with a good job, money, a girl, he continues his Personal Legend to travel to the great Pyramids of Egypt. And upon purchasing the book, I sat down at the Sculpture garden on the mall amongst the throngs of tourists descending upon DC over Memorial Day weekend. I read the book surrounded by individuals from all over the
I don’t necessary believe that traveling the world would be a life altering experience. I don’t think it would change who I am or who I become. Bottom-line is that I am going to a successful business executive. I’ll have a great family, work hard, and end up as another boring mindless individual in the upper middle class doing pretty much the same thing as the people around me. But before I get there, I need to travel and explore. I’m seeking the experience and thrill of discovering the unknown, with absolutely no pressures of my world at home or those who know me.. Where I can be free to do as I want and go where I want when I want. I can stay at any destination for as short or as long as I want and move on to the next destination. That type of freedom excites me more than anything…
At this point, I have made up my mind that I am going to travel. So, it brings up the question of how and when I get away. As much as I desire to escape mundane office life and the world of auditing, I can’t just get up and leave. I can’t just quit my job and go off traveling with no job or school or path waiting for me upon my return. As much as I desire to travel and explore, it has to be well-planned and consider the implications of the real-world. I have too much loyalty to my career and my future than to just give a big FU to my boss and worry about a new job when I return.
Here are my options:
OPTION #1:
Use vacation time and/or unpaid leave from my job. IE – Return to the same job and same cube once I return from adventure.
PROS
-Minimum “interruption” in career
-Continue to get paid while traveling by using “Paid Time Off”
-Return to work with hopefully more motivation than I currently have
CONS
-Short time limit – Couldn’t travel for longer than a month
-Have to return to the same boring job
-Unsure if only a month away would really be long enough – Even a month is more like an extended vacation than the real travel journey that I seek
-Won’t be able to really go and do anything I want since I am limited by having to return in a month – Could probably only visit one or two countries in a single part of the world
Of course, taking a month off and traveling is certainly better than nothing, and it can almost act as a test run. While continuing to get paid while traveling and having my same job waiting for me, I can discover and experiment what traveling is really like and help me prepare for a real journey without time limits later down the line.
OPTION #2
Take time between my current job and either a new job or a return to school to travel for several months. IE – quit my job but already have a plan for what I am going to do upon my return from travels
PROS
-Be able to travel for a longer period of time (3 to 6 months)
-Not interrupt my life dramatically as I would be all set up to return to a new job or opportunity
-Be able to see an entire continent (ie do South American or
CONS
-Still have a set time I need to return to my life
-I couldn’t travel the entire globe – 3 to 6 months still isn’t enough time for a trip around the entire globe
This is probably my best option. It gives me enough time to travel to really see what is out there, without really feeling like a tourist or vacationer. Plus, I have something at home waiting for me.
Quit my job without any plans to return or no job or school or opportunity upon my return
PROS
-Unlimited time. Absolutely nothing at home that forces me to return when I am not ready
-Would truly be the experience that I am seeking – can go everywhere and anywhere
-Could get a ticket around the world
CONS
-Sense of anxiety exists since I truly have no set path at home. Maybe I would not feel as free to stay as long as I want because I know I have to return and figure out exactly what I am going to do when I return.
-No source of income. Need a lot more savings and money could run out.
As enticing as this option seems, it’s the least practical. I need the security of having something at home so I can easily get back on my highway when I return. The last thing I want is to travel only to return and have all the entrance ramps blocked.
-Schedule off for the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2007
-Plan a month long adventure in a single country for this time period (which has already been chosen and to be revealed in my next post)
-Between now and my November/December adventure, take the GMAT, and apply for MBA programs which would begin in September 2008.
-Return from my one month adventurer and complete busy season (February through April) at my current job. Go out on a good note after completing another busy season.
-Decide on an MBA program and accept an offer to begin in September 2008.
-Quit my job and take off between May and August of 2008 to travel.
-Return to begin my MBA program and have successfully explored and adventured.
Obviously this plan allows for plenty of time for adventure but also allows me to not venture too far away from my path. Plus, I return to school and not the world of accounting, which makes me happier.
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