Three Years of Uncertainty: Navigating a New Life Without Guarantees
April 30th, 2024 marked three years since I left my full-time job, becoming jobless for the first time since graduation and, in a way, homeless, as we didn’t have a property to call home either.
It was a complete leap into the unknown. For the first time, I had no guaranteed salary at the end of the month, I didn't know where I'd be sleeping the following week, and there were no Monday meetings to attend. Everything was new, especially the realization that I needed to make my own money—an entirely new challenge I knew would take time to overcome.
Despite the uncertainties, I felt positive about this change. It was a decision we had considered deeply and prepared for over a year. We saved money, laid out plans, and started projects hoping to generate some income. We thought we were ready, but life always has its surprises. We faced unexpected expenses that took a $13K chunk out of our travel funds, family emergencies that delayed our plans by months, and the challenge of insufficient income to sustain our travels initially.
It was a rough start, but I was determined to make it work. Before this major life shift, I engaged in a fear-setting exercise inspired by Tim Ferriss. I wrote down my goals, imagined the worst outcomes, and planned ways to mitigate those risks. This helped me see that even the worst-case scenario was manageable and that the real risk was not taking the leap—missing out on potential growth and always wondering "what if?"
This journey taught me the importance of self-belief and following your instincts responsibly, without being reckless.
love that you mentioned the fear setting exercise !! it’s such a good exercise