When we started talking about the concept of Meet, Plan, Go! we had no idea how many people would embrace the concept of career break and extended travel. And we have been pleasantly surprised by the response to this night of events with nearly 1,400 people registered and another 700+ on our wait lists! And of course we couldn’t have done it without our stellar team of hosts.

What we love about our hosts is that they all come from different backgrounds and have very different career break experiences to share. Like our Washington DC host, Sonia Zamborsky, said in Letting Go: Making Other Plans: “There is no ‘right’ way to travel, and there is no ‘right’ way to do a career break. All sorts of people are doing it their way, a million different ways.”

And Jeff Jung, our Austin co-host, really encapsulated our diverse experiences in his post ‘The Many Faces of Long-Term and Career Break Travel’. “What I want to convey is that the long-term traveler is not one type of person but a diverse group of people all passionate about the potential that long-term travel has to enrich one’s life in a way that no other activity can.”

He so smartly broke us down as:

• The Enablers: Barbara and Elizabeth Pagano (Atlanta) | Tara Russell (San Francisco)
• The “Back to Work” Breaker: Sonia Zamborsky (Washington DC)
• The 20-Something Breakers: Lillie Marshall (Boston) | Michael Tieso and Teresa Gotay (Philadelphia)
• The Soloists: Janice Waugh (Toronto) | Alisha Robertson (Dallas) | Lisa Lubin (Chicago)
• The Traveling Duos: Betsy & Warren Talbot (Seattle) | Keith & Amy Sutter (Philadelphia)
• The Family Breakers: Marc & Danielle Hoffmeister (Dallas) | Mike & Catrell Cooney (Orlando)
• The Ex-Corporatists: Sherry Ott (New York City) | Jeff Jung (Austin)
• The Multiple Breakers: Kirk Horsted (Minneapolis) | Michaela Potter (New York City)

And if you factor in all of our Panelists and Ambassadors, the experiences multiply tremendously.

If you are unable to make it to a Meet, Plan, Go! event or your city is sold out, you can still follow the conversation on Twitter! For months we have been using the hashtag #MeetPlanGo – but you can follow the specific city of your choice.

FOLLOW THE CONVERSATIONS ON TWITTER

Atlanta #MPGATL | Austin #MPGAUS | Boston #MPGBOS | Chicago #MPGCHI
Dallas #MPGDAL | Minneapolis #MPGMPLS | New York City #MPGNYC
Orlando #MPGORL | Philadelphia #MPGPHI | San Francisco #MPGSF |
Seattle #MPGSEA | Washington DC #MPGDC | Toronto #MPGTO

We will be sure to share photos, videos and stories from across North America in the days and weeks following the event.

And if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for our newsletter and join our Facebook Fan Page to stay up to date on future events and the launch of our Career Break Boot Camp in January 2011!

The digital world is king. Most of our interactions are done digitally now; just think about your average week of texting, social networking, and emailing. Even for people who don’t live online as I do, the digital world has crept into the heart of our days. When was the last time you mailed a letter, or called someone’s land line? Do you even have a land line? We read our news digitally, we date digitally, we even manage to purchase our gas without ever having to see or talk to another person. Physical interaction is old fashioned.

In the world of digital connections sometimes I forget the power of simply being physically present. So when the panel of travel writers and editors sat down in front of the audience and actually started talking I was a bit startled; they were real people talking to me. Their wise voices emoted rise and fall in pitch, and there were pauses for emphasis. I could read their facial expressions and most importantly understand their tone. All little things I have come to take for granted in the flat world of reading text online.

The panel was impressive. Even though I had met some of them before in social settings, it felt different this time. I was here to hear them speak about there craft – in person; I was present.

The expert panel of writers and editors talked about the importance of story telling as opposed to simply describing the situation. They discussed the importance of arc in a story, and writing using all of the senses. As I sat and listened to them it hit me; none of what they were saying was rocket science. In fact – I’m pretty sure that in my digital world of Google searches I could have found these exact pieces of information if I had googled “how to write a good travel story”. But listening to them speak the words and see their expressions and body movement gave it all a different impact.

It inspired me.

I got out my notebook and started to write notes…actual handwritten notes. I really thought about what they were saying and it resonated with me. I believe it resonated with me because I was there physically in person to hear their voices resonate – a complete physical and emotional experience.

This got me thinking about my own blog and writing. After all, I looked around the auditorium and was surrounded by travel bloggers. We push out digital information to our readers who we’ve never met physically. Sure, that’s an effective way to reach people; however, how much more effective would it be to actually be able to speak to my readers. Or more importantly, how much more inspired would they be if they actually met me in person and heard me talk about the benefits of career break and extended travel. Would they be inspired?

This is why I’m so excited to be a part of creating the travel discussion, Meet, Plan, Go! a free event where you can physically meet some of your favorite travel experts and ask them questions in person. I think it’s great that you read Briefcase to Backpack to learn about other inspiring couples and solo travelers benefiting from taking traveling career breaks. But consider how much more inspired you would be if you could actually meet some of them. Would the message seem more powerful, more meaningful, more compelling? I think so.

We are trying to bring you that opportunity when organizing Meet, Plan, Go! We’ve brought together a group of truly inspirational travel writers/bloggers, career breakers, and extended travelers to simply give you time with them. Time with them in person. They will be scattered out among 13 locations in the US and Canada as we try to reach as many of you as we can.

Why are we doing this? Because we want you to see the world. I hope you join us and see our body language, hear our tone, listen to our pitch; and most importantly receive our message in a way that can be much more powerful than bit and bytes.

The message is more powerful in person.

Be present.

Do you receive and process a message differently in person as opposed to writing?  Leave a comment and tell us what you think!

What are the benefits of a travel sabbatical and what types of activities do you recommend to your clients?
I think the greatest benefit of travel sabbaticals can be summed up by one of my favorite quotes from travel writer Pico Iyer: “Travel is like love: It cracks you open, and so pushes you over all the walls and low horizons that habits and defensiveness set up.” When we are home, we can begin to define ourselves by our routines and labels (i.e. our careers, our consumer habits, etc.) For example, I’ve had clients come to me and say “I’m a top-level executive consultant with 15 years delivering Six Sigma expertise to tech firms in Silicon Valley” or “I’m an eco-conscious soy-latte-drinking, Prius-driving reusable-grocery-bag-toting Yoga nut!” All good stuff, to be sure…but not who these people really are at their core.

Travel removes us from our habits and routines and lets us rediscover ourselves anew. It expands our horizons, gives us fresh and new perspectives, strengthens our sense of adventure, pushes us to challenge ourselves and feeds an appreciation of our own courage and abilities. By the time those same clients came home, they were able to say “I am someone who survived and thrived during 15 months of solo travel…who watched the sun rise over Machu Picchu and set over the steppes of Mongolia, who learned new languages and opened up to new cultures…who made life-long friendships out of chance acquaintances, etc.” Those are gifts that come home with you and last a lifetime.

In terms of what activities are best for a sabbatical, that is a very personal decision and depends on the individual client – each person has different needs and wishes for their time off and we do a lot of coaching around what exactly that might look like. Some people need adventure and adrenaline; white water rafting, sky diving and bungee jumping. Other clients want to completely disconnect and relax during their time off; get rid of their Blackberry, sit in a hammock and just read for weeks on end. Some need to reconnect with their passion or their work; to that effect, some of my clients have chosen to volunteer their professional skills during a sabbatical (i.e. teaching English or participating in a medical or dental mission trip.) As a Sabbatical Coach, I feel that determining what you want and need from your trip before looking at where you might travel is the first essential step in making any sabbatical a great success.

“Tara, I just wanted to let you know how impressed I am with your coaching. I can barely believe that I am currently taking a 12 month career break and have just returned from a trip through Cambodia which was the most amazing experience. Before we started coaching together, I had been working flat out for 25 years and figured that I deserved a break – it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I went to Cambodia with the following in mind, ‘Can I learn to judge the quality of my day by how much I have noticed, rather than by how much I have accomplished?’ The work we did around shifting perspectives and setting those types of intentions made a huge difference.” – John K.

What are the benefits of using a career coach when planning/returning from a travel sabbatical?
One of the other great benefits of long-term travel sabbaticals is having time and space to examine who we are and what we truly want out of life. It sounds like a simple concept but in reality, it can be completely revolutionary. My clients begin that process of deep self-reflection and discovery before they even leave for their trip. I can’t tell you how many clients have come to me saying “I’ve never even taken the time to look at what I want or how I feel”. Coaching gives them that time and space as well as a powerful advocate and partner in that process.

When clients work with me, they get:

• Clarity about what they really want and need to get out of their trip
• Concrete goals – a “game plan” of how to go about making that trip of a lifetime into reality
• A passionate advocate who is in their corner at all times, helping them stay accountable to their dream and move forward step by step with planning
• Someone who has “been there, done that” and understands what it takes to realize this type of undertaking (and also the rich rewards of seeing it through!)

When returning from a sabbatical, working with a coach can be a huge advantage, easing what can often be a jarring transition period during repatriation. People are often shocked to find that the most challenging leg of their journey can actually be coming home. Repatriation can be exhilarating and overwhelming at times; disappointing and even depressing at others. People returning from a long stint traveling or living abroad sometimes feel that nobody can relate to what they have been through. Re-entry Coaching helps my clients get the same clarity, concrete goals and advocacy that pre-travel coaching gives them but in the case of repatriation, we are working towards helping them settle back into their life at home.

“With 2 top business degrees and a successful 7 year career in Brand Management, I took a year off to live in Spain. Everyone thought I was crazy to leave a great career (even for just a year), but I knew it was right. Coaching with you helped me put aside other people’s opinions in order to do what was right for me and kept me on track during the long, often overwhelming preparation process leading up to my sabbatical.

Over the course of my year off I learned Spanish, traveled around Spain, Europe and Morocco and met my husband. We moved back to the states together and I came back energized, in love, bilingual, and with many more career options (more because I had shifted my perspective, not for any particular skills that I acquired). I’ve transitioned to flexible freelance work, I’m working on getting certified as a Coach, and I’ve also gotten certified as an ESL teacher. This past summer, my husband and I took time off, which included teaching ESL in Poland. Another amazing experience! I couldn’t have done it without you.” – Kelly A.

Have you ever used a career coach or thought about using one? Tell us your thoughts!

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1. What are some benefits of taking a break before changing jobs?
Ovid wrote, “A field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.” Often, people who are burned out at work simply need to step away to see the bigger picture.

They usually return from a career break with renewed energy and creativity, new perspectives on life and work, and clearer priorities. Your career break can not only help you restore balance, but can also provide needed inspiration for success in the next phase of your career — a “bountiful crop” of ideas and achievements.

2. What are some of the benefits of pursuing something you always dreamed of, like traveling, during the break?
If you’ve always fantasized about traveling the world or learning to paint or writing a novel, a career break can give you the opportunity to live your dream. So many of us talk about how we’re going to pursue our true calling “someday.” But that “someday” may never come if you don’t plan for it. Do you really want to look back on your life with regret? You don’t have to wait for your golden years to take a break and pursue your passion.

3. Any tips on how people can use this time and experience to reflect on what it is they want to do next?
A career break — whether it was chosen or forced upon you — represents a great opportunity to take a step back and plan for the future. You can use the time to explore new directions and develop new skills. Work with a career coach to set new goals, take classes, volunteer for a meaningful pro bono project, or devote some time to a long-neglected passion.

4. Can you offer an example of someone you know who took a successful break before pursuing another job?
I know many smart people who have enjoyed career breaks and used them to transition into new vocations. One current client took six months off to travel the world after getting downsized from her financial services job. Her travels through Europe eventually inspired her to attend cooking school and pursue a new career as a pastry chef.

One of the corporate escape artists highlighted in my book took a year off to windsurf in Hawaii before deciding to go back to school and become a first-grade teacher. Another career changer from the book, award-winning musician Laura Cantrell, used a career break as a way to “try on” her dream career as a professional singer. She took time off from her job at an investment bank to go on tour as an opening act for Elvis Costello. She returned to her job after the tour, but soon left to pursue her music career full-time.

For more information on Pamela Skillings, visit her website Escape from Corporate America, where you can also read about Sherry Ott’s “Daring Tales of Corporate Escape”.

And read what Pamela has to say about Circumstances: Recognizing the Signs You Need a Career Change.

yourSABBATICAL is a firm that partners with businesses to deploy programs that attract, retain and accelerate top talent through the use of highly planned and structured leaves of absences. Having worked with many Fortune 500 companies and their employees, they are experts in the area of creating sabbatical programs with defined goals and measurable results. Here they discuss the benefits to both you and your employer.

It used to be that sabbaticals, which began in academia in 1880, were a way for educational institutions to compete with the private sector for talent. Contemporary research shows that sabbaticals rejuvenate human capital, enhance morale, accelerate career development, and increase the productivity and profitability of the organizations that offer them. When it comes to sabbaticals, it may be time for corporate America to go back to school.

Sabbatical by Definition

A “sabbatical” is a planned, strategic job pause – paid or unpaid – whereby an individual takes time to disconnect from what is “usual” for at least four weeks, to travel, do research, volunteer, learn a new skill, or fulfill a lifelong dream before returning to regular work.

“A sabbatical is an opportunity to dust off and consolidate the boxes labeled ‘life’ and ‘work’,” said Elizabeth Pagano, co-founder of yourSABBATICAL. “Sabbaticals contribute to the betterment of the whole person, enabling people to contribute and thrive in more significant ways, both professionally and personally.”

What a Sabbatical is NOT

yourSABBATICAL aims to make very clear what sabbaticals are not:

• Sabbaticals are not an extended vacation
• Sabbaticals are not career suicide
• Sabbaticals are not a “perk”
• Sabbaticals are not reserved solely for large companies
• Sabbaticals are not only applicable in a thriving economy

Sabbaticals Benefit Companies and Employees

Smart companies are leveraging sabbatical programs in many ways, including tying sabbaticals in with leadership and development initiatives, creating informal training opportunities and talent exchanges through the work coverage process, as well as connecting sabbatical programs with the company’s mission and values (i.e. making it a volunteer program, a research program or an “innovation” program).

“Sabbaticals lift people above the fray and frazzle of day-to-day life,” says Barbara Pagano, also a founding partner of yourSABBATICAL. “Necessary components of any career strategy, sabbaticals offer an opportunity for intentional reflection, personal reinvigoration and growth, transformative insights, and renewed passion – all having powerful implications in life and at work.”

Benefits of Sabbaticals

For Employers

• Talent retention
• Talent recruitment
• Retained wisdom
• Increased productivity, loyalty and commitment
• Revitalized workforce
• Cross-training and proving grounds
• Bottom line boosting alternative to layoffs
• Winning reputation
• PR opportunities

For Employees

• Self-awareness
• Replenished energy
• Renewed commitment
• Surge of creativity
• Enhanced ability to inspire others
• Increased confidence

To see if your company offers a sabbatical program, visit Workplaces for Sabbaticals at yourSABBATICAL.

There are numerous benefits of taking a career break – most of which can only be measured by you. Whether you are looking for an opportunity to reexamine your life goals or time for self-discovery and inner growth, cultural career breaks give you the chance to get out of your element, which greatly helps in the process. By visiting other cultures and opening yourself to new experiences, you can learn so much about yourself – thus giving you insight you might not have gained from remaining at home.

When Sherry Ott grew tired of her corporate life, she decided to pack her bags and hit the road for 16 months. At the end of that journey, she learned new things about herself, which helped her in developing new life goals – which included saying goodbye to corporate life as she knew it. Among her goals listed were taking ESL classes and staying in the US no more than 6 months out of the year. And within months of her return, she was on her way to Vietnam to live and teach English.

When Michael Bontempi hit an impasse in his job, he finally caved into my pleas to travel before moving on to another job. Unlike Sherry, upon our return he was excited to pursue another corporate job. However, the break and travel experience had made him more energized than ever to finally pursue his career goal of growing into a COO role. Without the break, he would still be at his old company in the same role.

But perhaps one of the biggest benefits of taking a career break is the chance to move a part of your retirement up in time. The definition of retirement as we knew it is gone. There is no longer security in Social Security, pension plans, or 401Ks. And more and more adults are having to work longer than they had ever anticipated. As stated in an article from Msnbc: “In 1985, some 15 percent of men and fewer than 8 percent of women remained in the workforce after age 65, according to a paper by Georgetown University demographics professor Murray Gendell. By last year (2007), 34 percent of men and 26 percent of women had a job or were looking for work. The same pattern holds for workers 70 and older.”

Michael had managed to put aside any fears of our break by rationalizing it as a mini-retirement. “This is the first time I am traveling for an extended period with only a personal agenda. Some will see this as the act of a burned out employee. I see this trip as a chance to experience a portion of my retirement 25 years earlier in my life.”

And even if you did “successfully” retire when you were 65, you may not be able to take advantage of opportunities you could have when you were younger. Perhaps the best statement I heard regarding this was from renowned travel writer, Rolf Potts. At a book reading he was asked why he started traveling. He stated “because retirement doesn’t always reward you with time to travel.” This was in reference to his grandmother, who had waited for retirement to travel but was struck with an illness and unable to do so. This ignited a fire in Rolf to travel while he could. And he’s become quite the expert on long-term travel. In fact, his book “Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel ” is a great resource for anyone starting out on a new adventure.

Career breaks, also known as gap years, are very common in other countries, but Americans think of it as a concept out of reach. It’s easy to be afraid by the thought of a career break. But a career break is just that – a break. It’s not an end – in fact it’s just the beginning of a new era in your life.And why wait until later in life to “enjoy” it?

And now is a great time to think about taking one, according to an article in the NY Times. “A report on adult gap years released in July 2008 by Mintel International, a market research company, described the potential American market for gap years as a ‘sleeping giant.’ And now, with job cuts on the rise, the newly unemployed may find the timing for a gap year to be ideal.” (Click here for the full article)

So why don’t you discover on your own the benefits of a cultural career break?

We’d love to hear from you:

Have you already taken a cultural career break? Please share with us what you learned and gained from the experience. Share here.