Posts Tagged ‘meet plan go’

Declare Your Independence
Wednesday, July 4th, 2012

In honor of the 4th of July, we invite you to declare your independence from the cubicle. And we are helping you by bringing Meet, Plan, Go! to a city close to you!

We are coming this October 16th – bringing all of our best advice, how-to’s, resources, and inspiration which will ensure you finally take that career break you’ve been dreaming of. Our veteran career break travel hosts are busy getting the best speakers and travel authorities in their area to provide everything you need to get you out of the cube and on the road.

Just see what some of our attendees from last year had to say:

“Going to the 2011 Meet, Plan, Go! event was more than I expected. To be around so many people who want to travel and to talk to and listen to people who have indeed traveled in bigger ways than I had considered was mind-opening and thrilling.”

“For the person thinking about long-term travel, there is no better event. And the people we met were fantastic.”

“It took a ‘dreaming’ project so many have in the back of their minds, and breaks it down tino pieces to become a ‘going to happen’ project!”

“For anyone who expresses interest in a career break, or long-term travel, this is a’10’, and I might even say it should be required.”

“I was able to network with numerous different people in the travel industry at the Meet, Plan, Go! event, from bloggers, to travelers, to tour guides. It was informative and very inspirational.”

We are happy to say that we have many attendees from last year’s event who are now out on the road experiencing their own career breaks. And we can’t wait to inspire more career break travelers at this year’s event on October 16, 2012!

So where can you attend a Meet, Plan, Go! event this year?

Austin | Boston | Chicago | Minneapolis | New York City | San Diego | San Francisco | Seattle | South Florida | Toronto

How and when can you learn more?

Make sure to sign up for our newsletter to get the first updates on hosts, speakers, webinars, topics and most importantly…tickets!

What do you want to learn? We are laying out the topics now for the event but we’d love to hear from you and what YOU want to hear. Hop on over to our Facebook page and let us know what you want to t to learn most about career breaks so we can include your requests as we plan the agenda. Click on our Notes or simply use this link to enter your ideas.

(Not in a Meet, Plan, Go! location? You can also find expert advice, tips, and resources in our online course & community.)

Photo Friday: OverlandNow
Friday, June 1st, 2012

We had the pleasure of meeting Tad & Gaila from OverlandNow.com at the Overland Expo in Arizona. They are just 5 weeks into their year-long career break, in which they will be riding around North & Central America on their motorcycles.


(video)

They took the time to share with us what motivated them to take this career break and how meeting like-minded individuals at events like Meet, Plan, Go! helped them along the way.

How has Meet, Plan, Go! helped you with your career break plans?

Photo Friday: Taj Mahal
Friday, April 20th, 2012

Career breaker Kailey Lockhart submitted this Photo Friday, taken in front of the Taj Mahal in India. Kailey, who first attended Meet, Plan, Go! in 2010, writes:

I’m in India right now, having a very lovely time. I joined MPG during 2010 and now have been traveling extensively for one and a half years. I have come across some interesting things off the beaten track… Take a look at my blog, or don’t 🙂  www.vegablonding.blogspot.com

Want to see your photo here?

Check out our easy submission policy!

Photo Friday: St. Petersburg, Russia
Friday, March 23rd, 2012

This Photo Friday from St. Petersburg, Russia was submitted by our new Managing Editor, Katie Aune.

Katie attended the inaugural Meet, Plan, Go! event in Chicago in 2010 and then joined Career Break Basic Training to make her career break dreams a reality. In August 2011, she quit her job and departed for a year of traveling and volunteering throughout the former Soviet Union, including five weeks in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The picture above was taken from the tower of the Smolny Cathedral in mid-October – a perfect time to catch the leaves changing colors in St. Petrsburg.

You can follow Katie’s adventures on Katie Going Global.

Interesting in pursuing a career break of your own?

Celebrating Three Years
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Three years ago we started the career break movement. Back then the term career break, needless to say the idea, was not one known by most Americans. If you did a Google search for “career break”, most likely you’d hear about how Beyonce or some other celebrity got their big break. Not quite the definition of the phrase that we behold.

So we thought it would be fun to look back at our Timeline and see where we started and how far we’ve come.

MPG Giving Back
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Our main goal of our recent nationwide event was to offer inspiration and a community for those contemplating and planning a career break. And we couldn’t have delivered on that without our fantastic hosts!

We are proud to also share that several of our hosts have donated proceeds from their ticket sales to some honorable causes.

AFAR Foundation

Afar Foundation

Greg Sullivan from AFAR and host Sarah Lavender Smith

MPG San Francisco host Sarah Lavender Smith chose to donate the event’s net ticket proceeds totaling $1730 because her venue, the Sports Basement, donated its space to support community nonprofits.

Sarah sought a foundation or cause that would be compatible to MPG’s vision, and to her delight she didn’t have to look far. The San Francisco-based AFAR Foundation seemed like a perfect fit. It’s the philanthropic arm of AFAR Media, whose travel magazine AFAR promotes authentic, transformative travel experiences.

The foundation’s flagship program, “Learning AFAR,” grants international travel scholarships to students who would not otherwise be able to explore the world. Since its inception in September 2009, the AFAR Foundation, with nonprofit partner Global Explorers, has sponsored over 100 underserved students from Oakland and a handful of other cities, along with educators, in traveling to Cambodia, Costa Rica and Peru, where they do volunteer work and learn about the country’s culture and environment. AFAR CEO and co-foundger Greg Sullivan spoke at the SF MPG event and said, “This kind of travel is the best form of education.”

Website: AFAR Foundation
Facebook: AFAR Foundation on Facebook

VISTA Alternative Education Program

Celebrate Joan
Participants in last years event

MPG DC host Sonia Zamborsky donated $500 to become a “silver” sponsor of this year’s Celebrate Joan 5K Run & Fun Walk.

This event is an annual fundraiser for the Joan Zamborsky Memorial Trust Fund, which benefits the VISTA Alternative Education Program of the Allentown School District. It’s an event Sonia and her siblings organize each year to help raise funds for the school where their mom worked as a science teacher. VISTA has used the proceeds to buy science supplies of all types, but Sonia’s favorite is “Borsky!” a horned toad who will probably outlive us all.

They started this event in 2006 after their mother was killed in a car accident. It began with friends and family gathering to celebrate her memory and take a few laps around the park, and has grown into an official timed 5K that brings in runners from all over the East Coast. They encourage kids in strollers and dogs on leashes, to keep it fun and family-friendly. Sonia shares, “My mom was the first one who encouraged me to travel and learn about other cultures, so it seemed appropriate that some of the proceeds from this year’s MPG will go to honor her memory.”

Website: Celebrate Joan
Facebook: Celebrate Joan on Facebook
Other: About the Fund | Event Registration | About VISTA

Books to Bhutan

Books to BhutanMPG Los Angeles hosts, George and Lisa Rajna (the creators of We Said Go Travel), participate in community lives when they travel and support those in need – whether it’s Burmese refugees in Northern Thailand, the Jewish World Watch Solar Oven project to help people acquire the tools they need to improve their lives, or importing purses fabricated from local tapestries made by Kazak women to better provide for their families. The idea of sharing profits from the Meet, Plan, Go! event with others came as a natural continuation of their other works.

Lisa Napoli, who wrote Radio Shangri-La and participated on the Los Angeles panel, has been working to help create a library in Mongar, Bhutan through her project, Books to Bhutan. She says, “Please help us bring the joy of books and reading to these kids, who are so eager to learn.” As teachers and library lovers, the Rajnas know that supporting Lisa’s project with the profits from their event made a perfect match; they’ve sent $300 to help fill the shelves in Mongar with books. If you would like to help add more to the library, please use this link.

Website: Books to Bhutan

American Refugee Committee

MPG Minneapolis host Kirk Horsted donated 20% of event proceeds to American Refugee Committee. ARC works with its partners and constituencies to provide opportunities and expertise to refugees, displaced people and host communities. They help people survive conflict and crisis and rebuild lives of dignity, health, security and self-sufficiency. ARC is committed to the delivery of programs that ensure measurable quality and lasting impact for the people they serve.

Today, ARC works in 7 countries around the world helping victims of war and civil conflict rebuild their lives. ARC programs in Africa and Asia provided health care, clean water, shelter repair, legal aid, trauma counseling, microcredit, community development services, and repatriation assistance to 2.5 million people last year. ARC bases its relationship with uprooted peoples on mutual respect and a compassionate exchange of knowledge and values.

Website: ARC Relief
Facebook: ARC Relief on Facebook

How has travel inspired you to help the organizations you are involved with?

The Importance of Support
Monday, October 24th, 2011

We’ve said again and again how it’s important to have a support system in place when you are planning any type of life-changing event – especially when pursuing your dream of a career break or extended travel. But don’t just take it from us. Here are some others who have been in your shoes.

And here is some feedback from those who recently attended our events around North America.

Going to the 2011 Meet, Plan, Go! event was more than I expected. To be around so many people who want to travel and to talk to and listen to people who have indeed traveled in bigger ways than I had considered was mind-opening and thrilling.
– NYC Attendee
It’s great inspiration for anyone considering either a long-term travel experience, or even just a change in their lives. The “good vibes” throughout the room would give anyone motivation to make a change.
– San Francisco Attendee
So many people could use the inspiration this event offers for taking the travel plunge.
– DC Attendee
It was really uplifting and inspirational to hear about people’s adventures and lives from all different age groups and stages in life.
– Toronto Attendee
It was inspiring and encouraging to hear the stories and meet other people who have a desire for world travel like I do.
– Los Angeles Attendee
For anyone intending to travel, as well as friends/family of those intending to travel, it’s a welcome support community of like-minded individuals. The process is so overwhelming, it’s nice to feel one’s not alone.
– Denver Attendee
It’s so valuable to hear from other people that have gone on these long trips when you’re contemplating going on one yourself. It validates it, and after attending you really feel like you can make the trip a reality sooner than I thought going into it.
– Chicago Attendee
It is great to hear from and talk with diverse group of individuals who have comepleted a career-break trip. In addition it is nice to connect with people in the area who are interested in pursuing the same thing, who have the same questions and concerns.
– Boston Attendee
For those interested in travel and career breaks, I think it is a great place to meet like-minded people, be exposed to resources, and get inspired with ideas!
– Austin Attendee

Scenes from Meet, Plan, Go!
Friday, October 21st, 2011

We’re still buzzing from Tuesday’s night of events and love seeing the photos and stories rolling in. So this Photo Friday we bring to you images from across the country.

Austin Panel

Great discussions in Boston

Chicago Panel

An intimate crowd in Honolulu

A captive crowd in LA

A full house in NYC

Networking in Orlando

Another packed house in Portland

San Francisco Panelists

Watching the opening video in Seattle

Our DC panelists offering up inspiration

Impressions of Meet, Plan, Go!
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

As we are all slowly waking up across the country from an exciting night of Meet, Plan, Go! events, it’s hard to wrap our heads around all that happened. But from tweet impressions alone, it sounds like an inspiring night was had across the board.

In a 24 hours span alone, 695 tweets generated 2,495,023 impressions, reaching an audience of 1,002,226 followers. Wow!

If you couldn’t make an event, or wanted to hear about what happened in other cities (we do!), we thought we’d share some highlights we saw tweeted.

Looking down at the crowd in New York City

@nydarling: At #meetplango #NYC meetup, so excited to be with like minded people!

@BBADWoman: Just got to the #MeetPlanGo event at Recessions! Love the Career Break Travel Checklist! #Mpgdc

@BootsnAll: After many delays, arrived at #meetplango #chicago. So great to see everyone’s nametags w/ the destinations they’re visiting on their trip!

@PopArtichoke: At #meetplango in Chicago.. Love the energy in here and love this checklist! Already chatting w cool ppl. About to begin.. So excited!

@biancacloutier: ‘If there’s one decision you will not regret, it’s taking the first step.’ – Amanda of @lostgirlsworld #meetplango #NYC

@nydarling: @charlesscott says “listen to the voice inside of you” #meetplango #NYC

@pulpologist: #MPGDC You’ll come back from travel more creative & a risk-taker, and this makes you a more appealing employee! #meetplango

@mariesworlds: Yes! I often forget how liberating my trip was. RT @CareerBreakHQs Loved hearing that #meetplango opening video gave @mariesworlds chills

@NeoSoulCEO: Lessons from #MeetPlanGo Toronto: U can finance anything that is important to U. Find a way!

@CareerBreakHQs: Give up one latte a day for a yr. that’s $1446 towards your #careerbreak via @rebootbreak #meetplango

@NeoSoulCEO: Lessons from #MeetPlanGo Toronto: Start small if U have to, but just start! Make a plan for a two week trip!

@mariesworlds: Rainer of @JenssTravel… in a word, awesome. Host of #meetplango #NYC.

@pulpologist: #MPGDC Wing it! Don’t overplan. You’ll never have this much freedom again in your life! #meetplango

@NeoSoulCEO: Lessons from #MeetPlanGo Toronto: A smile is valuable in every country!

@biancacloutier: “I don’t have to tell you – when you come back, everyone will think you’re awesome!” #meetplango #NYC

@BootsnAll: Oh look, it’s @katieaune joining from Russia! #meetplango #chicago She was @ mpg last yr + now on her trip!

@pulpologist: #MPGDC Traveling with kids… First: what have I done? Then: realizing your kids are up for ANYTHING! #meetplango

@BootsnAll: Wow, question of “how many ppl like their job?” asked and very few ppl raised their hands. #meetplango #chicago Let’s change that!

@pulpologist: #MPGDC You will have naysayers. (They’re jealous!) Ignore some, let others know how important this is to you. #meetplango

@nydarling: @charlesscott figured it out after giving notice “Cobble together this unconventional life” #meetplango #NYC

@NeoSoulCEO: Lessons From #MeetPlanGo Toronto: Career breaks are not available to just the eclectic few. U can do it to. Start planning.

@BootsnAll: Before your trip, act like you are moving: cancel bills/pay online, sell stuff, hire mover+storage, use local address #meetplango #chicago

@CareerBreakHQs: Give up one latte a day for a yr. that’s $1446 towards your #careerbreak via @rebootbreak #meetplango

@HINewYork: “I think the escalators at Bloomingdales are dangerous. If a revolution is going to happen, it’s going to happen there.” #meetplango!

@LowImpactBetty: Just discovered #meetplango, I think I’ve found my new home…in a matter of speaking

@CareerBrkSecret: You need at least a month to take the time to focus on yourself. #MPGAUS #meetplango #austin

@sharontb: “Getting away with your passport to refine or define your life” – jane, #meetplango #denver

@katieaune: A friend of a friend I met 2 yrs ago just msg’ed me on FB that she’s at #meetplango #Chicago watching me on skype! Cool!!

@Active_Explorer: A room full of people realizing that long term travel is a practical dream. #meetplango #orl #travel

@BootsnAll: Most of the travelers on the #meetplango #chicago panel spent $2000 a month on the road. That’s less that I spend per month at home.

@ZoeMerkle: Waiting for #meetplango #PDX to start. So exciting to be in a room full of people making the same plans I am!

@joanna_haugen: A few last minute people trickling in for #MeetPlanGo but we’re getting started building career break dreams!

@AllieMarieBee: #meetplango is an awesome way to connect w/ like-minded people + plan an amazing travel experience! So inspired! @CareerBreakHQs @hiusaggc

@enthusiasticrun: I’m buying a one way ticket before anyone can talk me out of it. #freakingout #meetplango

@BootsnAll: Sean Keener at the #pdx #meetplango: “I never met a traveler who said they shouldn’t have gone on that trip…”

@expeditiontrips: “We want to see #careerbreak on everyone’s resume.” – @ottsworld on #MeetPlanGo’s goal.

@PocketExplorer: Listening to talks of career breaks and stories of long term travel really makes me miss living out of a 35l backpack. #MeetPlanGo #RTW

@AirTreks: “We were spending less money on average while we were traveling than we did living in the Bay Area” @cogentlegal #meetplango #SF

@alexisgrant: #MPGDC was SO much fun tonight! Great to meet some new friends #meetplango #travel

@BootsnAll: “The idea of traveling alone as a woman is scarier than actually doing it.” Olivia @whygo at #meetplango #pdx

@AirTreks: “Travel made me more adaptable. Gave me a more positive outlook on the world. Which is extremely important” @spencerspellman #meetplango #SF

@AirTreks: “The biggest motivator for taking our big trip was not going, but thinking about our life if we didn’t go.” @sararunning #meetplango #SF

@joanna_haugen: Life coach @judyirving says more ppl have heart attacks on Mondays and are 10% happier on Fridays. #meetplango

@andrewghayes: Talking about peer pressures of long term travel, Ryan and Jen say that “nobody else has to be ok with it, just you” #MeetPlanGo

@AirTreks: “I don’t look at other countries as ‘those people’. We’re all the same. That’s what travel has taught me.” @takeyourbigtrip #meetplango #SF

@SharingTravel: Travel safety tips from @caroundtheworld: pack light, know what’s important, & in dire events, “buy your way out” #MeetPlanGo

@RobinBotto: Had such a fastastic time at the #Boston #MeetPlanGo event tonight. Met some amazing people, and @WorldLillie was an amazing host.

@AirTreks: You can really feel the travel enthusiasm here. Great vibe tonight at #meetplango #SF!

@2Travelaholics: Many thanks to @pulpologist for setting up #MPGDC So glad I didn’t see any of my coworkers there #meetplango #rtwsoon

@erica3harding: @WorldLillie thankyou so much for tonight, #meetplango was so inspirational, so many great travel tips from wonderful ppl @CareerBreakSite

@ItsMissJourney: SO inspired by @CareerBreakHQs #meetplango event tonight. It’s great to be in the room with those who think like me. AND planned a trip!

@smk: #meetplango @SportsBasement was incredible. So jazzed for long term travel plans. Great speakers/travelers. Wish I could’ve stayed longer!

@KirstenAlana: Curious and kind people in #NOLA and a thought-provoking night discussing travel at #meetplango. Sad I already have to leave tomorrow.

@brianepeters: #MeetPlanGo Boston was fantastic tonight. Great energy and amazing crowd looking information and inspiration. I hope we provided it.

@angelwings1723: Had a great time! RT @CareerBrkSecret Thanks to everyone for coming out. Such a great turn out! #MPGAUS #meetplango #austin

@ALittleAdrift: A huge thanks to @CareerBreakHQs for the national #MeetPlanGo events tonight — inspired by everyone’s unique reasons for traveling

@OffMyBackpack: #MeetPlanGO was pretty cool tonight here in STL. Awesome and inspiring job by @Aseper … I want to be him when I grow up!

@Anvltrip: Great time at #Seattle #MeetPlanGo meetup. Met fantastic people, learned tons, and am excited to make this trip happen! thx @CareerBreakHQs

@AmberRoseTV: Great event here in #Chicago tonight. @llworldtour and the rest of the #MeetPlanGO community… I feel right at home.

@GQtrippin: Thank you @CareerBreakHQs for #MeetPlanGo and providing support & encouragement making us more confident in our RTW decision. #RTWsoon

@Edger: Great night at #meetplango #pdx! Bonus…best way to buy stuff after a career break? Stalk those in the selling stuff phase of theirs!

@OffMyBackpack: As cool as it was to be on the STL #meetplango panel, really looking forward to being the guy “skyping in” next year.

@Alexandraeh: If I didn’t have the travel bug before, I have it something fierce now. #Meetplango tonight was great!!

@AbbyTegnelia: Drifting off to sleep so inspired by #meetplango. Thank you so, so much, @joanna_haugen for inviting me!

@Spencerspellman: What. A. Night. Packed house for #MeetPlanGo. Such an eager group of travelers, with great convo continuing afterward for pizza/drinks.

@TheBigBreak: Head is spinning. Must. Go. To. Sleep. #MeetPlanGo #Portland

@CAroundTheWorld: @ottsworld lady, you and Michaela should be proud of what you’ve done. Kudos for another great #meetplango around North America!

One More Sleep ‘Til Meet, Plan, Go
Monday, October 17th, 2011

Today I can’t help but sing the lyrics to one of my favorite holiday songs – “One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas” from a Muppet Christmas Carol.

There’s magic in the air this evening
Magic in the air
The world is at her best, you know
When people love and care
The promise of excitement is one the night will keep
After all, there’s only one more sleep til Christmas

The world has got a smile today
The world has got a glow
There’s no such thing as strangers when
A stranger says hello
And everyone is family, we’re having so much fun
After all, there’s only one more sleep til Christmas

I’m not wishing the holiday season upon us too quickly, but the fact that it is the night before our annual Meet, Plan, Go! event has me very excited. It’s almost like it was the eve before a birthday, major holiday, or life-changing event. And in a way, it is.

I remember waking up the day after last years event in NYC, and knowing that we were doing it a second night here, thinking “yes – we get to do it again.” It’s because there definitely was magic in the air that night and the energy of everyone in attendance was glowing. And even though most people were strangers walking in – they certainly weren’t walking out.

If you are attending tomorrow night in one of our 17 cities, know that you will be walking away with something that you can’t explain or put into words. It’s just a feeling that will energize you.

You still have a chance to register!

Austin | Boston | Chicago | Denver | Honolulu | Las Vegas | Los Angeles
Minneapolis | New Orleans | New York City | Orlando | Portland | San Francisco
Seattle | St. Louis | Toronto | Washington DC

Career Break Guide Table of Contents

Meet Plan Go