Comments on: Trading in Your Backpack for the Briefcase http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/ Travel Advice and Guidance for Taking Cultural Career Breaks Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:10:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Sarah Lavender Smith http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-4513 Sarah Lavender Smith Tue, 22 Feb 2011 01:55:48 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-4513 Thank you for this -- it's so interesting to read other couples' experiences, given that we (and our two school-age kids) traveled RTW for 10 months. My husband left his partnership at a law firm, and six months after our re-entry and much soul searching and planning, he's opening a new firm solo with a different focus than the firm he previous partnered at. He never would have had the courage and vision to change without the experience of long-term travel. The ongoing challenge for us as a family is to maintain and nurture the positive ways that our family dynamics changed from living a stripped-down, nomadic life (chronicled on our blog <a href="http://away-together.com" rel="nofollow">Away Together</a>). My advice: follow Bill's advice in the last point about saving money not just for the trip, but also for re-entry. We had to be very frugal and live off savings and investment income during these past months post-re-entry -- not easy, but do-able. Finally, I'm happy to report that our career break and year of travel gave me the inspiration to start a new site, <a href="http://www.therunnerstrip.com" rel="nofollow">The Runner's Trip: Run Long, Travel Far, Discover More</a>. As they say above, "Go for it!" You'll never regret it. Thank you for this — it’s so interesting to read other couples’ experiences, given that we (and our two school-age kids) traveled RTW for 10 months. My husband left his partnership at a law firm, and six months after our re-entry and much soul searching and planning, he’s opening a new firm solo with a different focus than the firm he previous partnered at. He never would have had the courage and vision to change without the experience of long-term travel. The ongoing challenge for us as a family is to maintain and nurture the positive ways that our family dynamics changed from living a stripped-down, nomadic life (chronicled on our blog Away Together). My advice: follow Bill’s advice in the last point about saving money not just for the trip, but also for re-entry. We had to be very frugal and live off savings and investment income during these past months post-re-entry — not easy, but do-able.
Finally, I’m happy to report that our career break and year of travel gave me the inspiration to start a new site, The Runner’s Trip: Run Long, Travel Far, Discover More.
As they say above, “Go for it!” You’ll never regret it.

]]> By: Cindy Peterson http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1046 Cindy Peterson Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:17:07 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1046 @Jessie - Indeed! In fact, so many people tell us how much courage it takes to quit your job and just travel. In my opinion it takes a lot more courage to go back to corporate America! I love your comment about being cultural marginals - it's really true and that makes it a conscious (not easy) choice to "reintegrate" into the US. I agree with Sherry - great discussion - I'm loving it! @Jessie – Indeed! In fact, so many people tell us how much courage it takes to quit your job and just travel. In my opinion it takes a lot more courage to go back to corporate America! I love your comment about being cultural marginals – it’s really true and that makes it a conscious (not easy) choice to “reintegrate” into the US.

I agree with Sherry – great discussion – I’m loving it!

]]> By: Earth Pilgrim | Lifestyle – May 2010 http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1044 Earth Pilgrim | Lifestyle – May 2010 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:39:51 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1044 [...] Peterson at ‘Briefcase to Backpack‘ has an interesting interview with her husband as goes back into corporate life after [...] [...] Peterson at ‘Briefcase to Backpack‘ has an interesting interview with her husband as goes back into corporate life after [...]

]]> By: jessiev http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1039 jessiev Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:10:30 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1039 what a GREAT article - and you're right, we rarely hear of people re-entering the workforce when they return. the challenge is fitting back in, isn't it? bennett calls us cultural marginals, able to live in several different cultures but belonging to none, bc we are now truly global citizens. what a GREAT article – and you’re right, we rarely hear of people re-entering the workforce when they return. the challenge is fitting back in, isn’t it? bennett calls us cultural marginals, able to live in several different cultures but belonging to none, bc we are now truly global citizens.

]]> By: Sherry Ott http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1038 Sherry Ott Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:42:08 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1038 Great conversation! I'm loving it. I'm one of those who didn't go back to my briefcase upon returning. However I've found a way to keep up my skills but in more of a consulting role that allows me to work from anywhere. Granted - this means that I have given up climbing a corporate ladder and am have made a decision to not be part of a hierarchy. I've learned that I don't need as much as I once thought so giving up the hierarchy means living a different life financially - but the trade-off of more freedom to travel wins out. So - I think you can take multiple career breaks without ruining your career - however you may have to change your career a bit to do that. Freelancing is riskier - but one of the biggest things I learned from my career break is how to take risks and be patient/flexible. I'm putting all of those traits to use now in the 'real world'! Keep the great conversation going and thanks so much for the interview Cindy and Bill! We love your story! Great conversation! I’m loving it. I’m one of those who didn’t go back to my briefcase upon returning. However I’ve found a way to keep up my skills but in more of a consulting role that allows me to work from anywhere. Granted – this means that I have given up climbing a corporate ladder and am have made a decision to not be part of a hierarchy. I’ve learned that I don’t need as much as I once thought so giving up the hierarchy means living a different life financially – but the trade-off of more freedom to travel wins out.

So – I think you can take multiple career breaks without ruining your career – however you may have to change your career a bit to do that. Freelancing is riskier – but one of the biggest things I learned from my career break is how to take risks and be patient/flexible. I’m putting all of those traits to use now in the ‘real world’!

Keep the great conversation going and thanks so much for the interview Cindy and Bill! We love your story!

]]> By: Alonna http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1037 Alonna Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:48:35 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1037 Great timing on this article, since my husband and I just returned from our career break 3 days ago! In our duo, I'm the one returning to the corporate world... and right now I honestly don't know what to think of it. I'm really happy to be home (we kept our house, so returning to it and all of our belongings was like the biggest Christmas gift-unwrapping ever!), but I'm having a hard time getting in the job-searching mindset. I definitely agree with Cindy & Adam about wanting more career breaks and travel in the future. Once you see how great it is, how can you not want more?! But this brings up a couple interesting questions: how will multiple career breaks fit into a career (ie. after 2 or 3 career breaks, will someone really hire me?)? and how will kids fit into the picture (something we hope for in the future)? For the latter, reading profiles on Briefcase to Backpack of families who travel has been very inspiring, and I hope to follow in their footsteps someday. Great timing on this article, since my husband and I just returned from our career break 3 days ago! In our duo, I’m the one returning to the corporate world… and right now I honestly don’t know what to think of it. I’m really happy to be home (we kept our house, so returning to it and all of our belongings was like the biggest Christmas gift-unwrapping ever!), but I’m having a hard time getting in the job-searching mindset.

I definitely agree with Cindy & Adam about wanting more career breaks and travel in the future. Once you see how great it is, how can you not want more?! But this brings up a couple interesting questions: how will multiple career breaks fit into a career (ie. after 2 or 3 career breaks, will someone really hire me?)? and how will kids fit into the picture (something we hope for in the future)? For the latter, reading profiles on Briefcase to Backpack of families who travel has been very inspiring, and I hope to follow in their footsteps someday.

]]> By: Cindy Peterson http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1033 Cindy Peterson Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:53:48 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1033 @Adam - your story overlays ours almost to a tee. Since we are following such similar paths, I would love to swap some ideas with you on the travel writing front since that's what I'm pursuing as well. Didn't see an email on your blog, but I can be reached at travelquestions@theblondewanderer.com. @Adam – your story overlays ours almost to a tee. Since we are following such similar paths, I would love to swap some ideas with you on the travel writing front since that’s what I’m pursuing as well. Didn’t see an email on your blog, but I can be reached at travelquestions@theblondewanderer.com.

]]> By: Adam http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1031 Adam Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:33:30 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1031 Cindy, you're absolutely right. Taking a week or two here and there until retirement is simply NOT going to work for us. I think we'll lose our minds if that's what we had to do. Keith, that was our initial plan, get it out of our systems before coming home, buying a house, having kids, and doing what "we're supposed to do." But I just don't see that happening anymore. Like Cindy said, we saw 11 different countries and nearly 100 different cities/towns, and our list of places we want to go has gotten so huge it's going to be nearly impossible to go everywhere we truly want. We still haven't figured out how we're going to do it, but travel is our top priority, so we will find a way to make it happen. I'm changing careers and trying to become a travel writer, so that will hopefully help in our quest to travel, but it's also not the most lucrative of careers, and it takes some perseverance to actually make it work. Cindy, you’re absolutely right. Taking a week or two here and there until retirement is simply NOT going to work for us. I think we’ll lose our minds if that’s what we had to do.

Keith, that was our initial plan, get it out of our systems before coming home, buying a house, having kids, and doing what “we’re supposed to do.” But I just don’t see that happening anymore. Like Cindy said, we saw 11 different countries and nearly 100 different cities/towns, and our list of places we want to go has gotten so huge it’s going to be nearly impossible to go everywhere we truly want. We still haven’t figured out how we’re going to do it, but travel is our top priority, so we will find a way to make it happen. I’m changing careers and trying to become a travel writer, so that will hopefully help in our quest to travel, but it’s also not the most lucrative of careers, and it takes some perseverance to actually make it work.

]]> By: Cindy Peterson http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1029 Cindy Peterson Wed, 02 Jun 2010 01:47:26 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1029 Thanks everyone for the great comments! @Sam - Good question. We do know some people that decided on doing some long term traveling after they were let go during the downturn but that wasn't the case for us. We wanted to not leave our companies in a lurch (or burn bridges) so we gave a full two months notice to both our companies in September of 2008. It was only a couple of months later that the economy started going downhill - Bill's boss even came to him at that point and told him he would give him three months off and his job back - a good offer at the time. It took a lot of courage to stick to our guns and go ahead with the our original plans (which we had been planning for 6 months and saving for a lot longer than that - Like Michaela and Adam said, the timing was coincidental). @Adam - very interesting that you and your wife's story mimics ours. As it sounds like you guys are finding out too, there are certainly big challenges coming back to the real world - especially the US vacation schedule. I honestly don't think anyone who has the passion (and it does take passion, as you know) to take a long career break will ever stop yearning to travel more and again, to see more of the world. I don't know about you guys, but our travel wish list is longer now than before our career break! We struggle with this part of the US mentality around vacations, but are definitely in "recovery" mode from our trip so it will be a while before our next one. @Keith - For people passionate about travel and experiencing other cultures, a one-time trip would never be enough. It think it's the reason so many long-term travelers figure out a way to stay out on the road longer (teaching ESL, figuring out how do do their job while traveling, starting another career that is conducive to continued travel). We would love to have another career break at some point - it is a great way to gain perspective on the world of work and get the creative juices flowing too. Once a traveler, always a traveler. And in the meantime, it's a matter of getting in as many trips as can fit into a US vacation schedule. Thanks everyone for the great comments!
@Sam – Good question. We do know some people that decided on doing some long term traveling after they were let go during the downturn but that wasn’t the case for us. We wanted to not leave our companies in a lurch (or burn bridges) so we gave a full two months notice to both our companies in September of 2008. It was only a couple of months later that the economy started going downhill – Bill’s boss even came to him at that point and told him he would give him three months off and his job back – a good offer at the time. It took a lot of courage to stick to our guns and go ahead with the our original plans (which we had been planning for 6 months and saving for a lot longer than that – Like Michaela and Adam said, the timing was coincidental).

@Adam – very interesting that you and your wife’s story mimics ours. As it sounds like you guys are finding out too, there are certainly big challenges coming back to the real world – especially the US vacation schedule. I honestly don’t think anyone who has the passion (and it does take passion, as you know) to take a long career break will ever stop yearning to travel more and again, to see more of the world. I don’t know about you guys, but our travel wish list is longer now than before our career break! We struggle with this part of the US mentality around vacations, but are definitely in “recovery” mode from our trip so it will be a while before our next one.

@Keith – For people passionate about travel and experiencing other cultures, a one-time trip would never be enough. It think it’s the reason so many long-term travelers figure out a way to stay out on the road longer (teaching ESL, figuring out how do do their job while traveling, starting another career that is conducive to continued travel). We would love to have another career break at some point – it is a great way to gain perspective on the world of work and get the creative juices flowing too. Once a traveler, always a traveler. And in the meantime, it’s a matter of getting in as many trips as can fit into a US vacation schedule.

]]> By: Keith http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1028 Keith Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:01:08 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1028 I really enjoyed this interview - I don't often see mention of round-the-world travelers return to the business world. My question is do you think another career break will be in your future? That you'll need to return to the road for an extended period of time? Or was this that one-time trip you simply needed to take? Thanks, Keith I really enjoyed this interview – I don’t often see mention of round-the-world travelers return to the business world. My question is do you think another career break will be in your future? That you’ll need to return to the road for an extended period of time? Or was this that one-time trip you simply needed to take?

Thanks,
Keith

]]> By: Adam http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1027 Adam Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:38:29 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1027 Cool interview. I'm in the same position as you Cindy, and my wife is in the same position as your husband. She went back to her previous career as an attorney when we returned from our year long RTW, and I am trying to switch careers and make it as a travel writer. It's been interesting to see her assimilate back into her old work life. She's practicing a different kind of law and litigating now (something she SWORE she would never do, and she probably wouldn't have had we never taken the trip), and I enjoy seeing her take on things since we have changed so much since our experience. I know one thing though; after just two and a half months of work, she is ready to start making plans for our next extended adventure. How are you two feeling about that? Do you see yourselves taking another long trip at some point in the future? Are you going to be satisfied with a week or two a year (obviously I don't know your vacation situation, but if it's anything like most Americans...) As far as the comment about so many trips being taken that coincided with the recession, we had been planning our trip since March 2007, long before anything happened. Now it did make it easier for us when the economy turned south, and my wife asked for a leave of absence from her job (she was granted it, but then didn't get it back when we returned because the economy hadn't recovered enough yet). While some may gave taken a trip because they'd been laid off, most have to plan something like this for years, and it was just a coincidence. Cool interview. I’m in the same position as you Cindy, and my wife is in the same position as your husband. She went back to her previous career as an attorney when we returned from our year long RTW, and I am trying to switch careers and make it as a travel writer. It’s been interesting to see her assimilate back into her old work life. She’s practicing a different kind of law and litigating now (something she SWORE she would never do, and she probably wouldn’t have had we never taken the trip), and I enjoy seeing her take on things since we have changed so much since our experience. I know one thing though; after just two and a half months of work, she is ready to start making plans for our next extended adventure. How are you two feeling about that? Do you see yourselves taking another long trip at some point in the future? Are you going to be satisfied with a week or two a year (obviously I don’t know your vacation situation, but if it’s anything like most Americans…)

As far as the comment about so many trips being taken that coincided with the recession, we had been planning our trip since March 2007, long before anything happened. Now it did make it easier for us when the economy turned south, and my wife asked for a leave of absence from her job (she was granted it, but then didn’t get it back when we returned because the economy hadn’t recovered enough yet). While some may gave taken a trip because they’d been laid off, most have to plan something like this for years, and it was just a coincidence.

]]> By: Michaela Potter http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1026 Michaela Potter Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:01:44 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1026 Hi Sam! You would think that the downturn in the economy would have inspired people to travel, but most of the people that we have profiled actually spent years planning their career break. The timing is very coincidental. I don't think people jump into a career break or sabbatical mindset so easily, so even though it may be cheaper to travel rather than sustaining a lifestyle without a job, many don't understand that. But we are trying to educate Americans about this. We hope that you will join us in creating a career break movement! Hi Sam! You would think that the downturn in the economy would have inspired people to travel, but most of the people that we have profiled actually spent years planning their career break. The timing is very coincidental. I don’t think people jump into a career break or sabbatical mindset so easily, so even though it may be cheaper to travel rather than sustaining a lifestyle without a job, many don’t understand that. But we are trying to educate Americans about this. We hope that you will join us in creating a career break movement!

]]> By: Financial Samurai http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1024 Financial Samurai Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:06:14 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1024 Hi Folks! May I ask an honest question? I've noticed that many people took a career break in the 2nd half of 2008, which so happens to coincide with the biggest economic downturn (Dow 6,000, Lehman bankrupt, etc) in our lifetimes. Do you think most people were actually fired or pushed out of their jobs, and are just proclaiming to have quit their jobs to pursue their dreams? Love to hear your thoughts! Best, Sam Hi Folks!

May I ask an honest question? I’ve noticed that many people took a career break in the 2nd half of 2008, which so happens to coincide with the biggest economic downturn (Dow 6,000, Lehman bankrupt, etc) in our lifetimes.

Do you think most people were actually fired or pushed out of their jobs, and are just proclaiming to have quit their jobs to pursue their dreams?

Love to hear your thoughts!

Best,

Sam

]]> By: Tweets that mention Trading in Your Backpack for the Briefcase | Briefcase to Backpack - Travel Advice for Career Breaks or Sabbaticals -- Topsy.com http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/05/trading-in-your-backpack-for-the-briefcase/comment-page-1/#comment-1023 Tweets that mention Trading in Your Backpack for the Briefcase | Briefcase to Backpack - Travel Advice for Career Breaks or Sabbaticals -- Topsy.com Mon, 31 May 2010 16:05:11 +0000 http://briefcasetobackpack.com/?p=4416#comment-1023 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by BriefcasetoBackpack, Stella. Stella said: RT @CareerBreakHQs What happens after a #careerbreak and you trade your backpack in for the briefcase again http://su.pr/2j6apR [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by BriefcasetoBackpack, Stella. Stella said: RT @CareerBreakHQs What happens after a #careerbreak and you trade your backpack in for the briefcase again http://su.pr/2j6apR [...]

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