I spent the last decade as a rising investment banker in Manhattan.
Essentially, my life revolved around work.
I started my career in finance because it challenged me intellectually and surrounded me with inspiring mentors.
On a basic level, I, like many, just wanted to feel accepted.
He lit up when talking about work, which made my relative apathy that much more apparent.
But eventually, myburnout reached a tipping pointand I knew I needed a big, meaningful change.
How exhausted and unhappy they looked walking into the office each morning.
How much they complained that their higher salaries were still too low.
My performance at work started to slip, and my emotional stress started manifesting physically.
I developedphysical symptoms of burnoutwith digestion issues, the flu, strep throat, and an ear infection.
I officially wanted to quit my job.
Its certainly a privilege to be in a position to quit your joband thats not lost on me.
Thoughtful consideration, extensive planning, and a cushioned savings account are all necessary prerequisites.
Ideally, youre able to replace your current income with a new one in an energizing new role.
If its possible to find work that aligns with our life goals, discovering it is a worthwhile pursuit.
Everything was coming together perfectly, except that I chose a particularly terrible time to travel the world.
I visited all 48 contiguous states and hiked 28 national parks.
Endless hours alone in the car meant time for undistracted introspection.
Here are some epiphanies that came to light:
My road trip was a rather heavy and emotional time.
Has this entrepreneurial venture been a breeze?
After all, launching a company during the pandemic, especially atravelcompany, isnt necessarily the savviest of ideas.
Even so, Ive been able to get the operations up and running during this time.
(Ill be hosting awellness retreat to Costa Ricathis November.)
Knowing this, I have faith that Im following a path that aligns with my core values and desires.
This past year helped me crystallize whats most important to me and my life.
Or maybe it means sometime else entirely.
Then consider the micro and macro changes accessible to you that will help you realize that vision.
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