i'm quitting everything... what would you do?

[Coffeecuppony]

I can't believe i'm saying this. I'm so scared and excited

I'm in my late 20s, live in a large UK city, have run a small business that has afforded me to live but not thrive. I have had the same panics and stresses day in day out for the last few years and something has to change.

My friends make four times my salary in their corporate jobs and dislike their jobs. i just know that life isn't for me. I just need new experiences so I can figure out what excites me.

I am going to quit everything, sell all my stuff, move country, and start a whole new life, and try and become a writer.

I have enough savings budgeted to last two months so wherever I go I will need to find work - preferably doing something fun and different e.g. tourist guide. Hopefully one day I can be a full time writer.

I would love to write business books and also comedy but have a lot to figure out yet.

I need somewhere inexpensive, warm climate, exciting new experience and safe for a lone women.

I currently own and live in a small derelict flat which I need to renovate before I move so I can rent it out and have a little income but at least cover my mortgage. I will spend most of my savings on these renovations.

I have given myself until June next year to move which feels very close but is enough time to plan.

I don't yet have kids but would like to in the future which is a lot easier for moving. I just have no idea how to go about moving and getting work in another country.

I just know I can't live my current life anymore.

What would you do ? Where would you go? Do you know of any opportunities? How do I not become broke? How do I become a writer?

Can't you close down your business in the next few months and start a new life writing in the UK? Renovate your flat too.

You can get a part-time job. You said you weren't getting alot from your business and work 12 hours a day. You might not earn alot working part time but at least you'll have time to write.

That way next June you'll at least have some more experience and maybe a writing portfolio.

Not saying not to go abroad in June. But just saying that you might have more insight when you do decide to go.

What is your business? Where / how have your tried to sell it? I certainly wouldn't be walking away from it without at least attempting to get some money for it.

House sitting while writing a book sounds idyllic. The TEFL idea is excellent!

I think your biggest worry is becoming a landlord, who will manage the property on your absence and how will you pay for repairs and maintenance?

Other than that, if you can make it work, then why the hell not.

You can make a good living in the Gulf, and work/visa for British citizens is a well trodden path. You'd definitely have time to write there!

Your business has made over a million and you have no money? How exactly?

Pay an estate agent or property management company to do it

Get a TEFL certificate. Teach, Have the writing as a sideline.

I'm a writer. Write your first book before you quit, or get another job, then write your first book, then quit.

Bird by bird, by anne Lamott, was a book I was assigned in creative writing class. It may help

All the best

People will always tell you it can’t be done, most people don’t create a life they absolutely love

You don’t have kids so it’s a good time to do this. It also sounds like you already own a property so you have that stability. If you don’t do it now, when will you?

I quit my job to do something like this twice. Both times it was fantastic and I’m so glad I did it. My oldest daughter loves to hear stories of this time of my life and it was empowering for me to take chances and explore.

For me it was 10 years ago now and back then it was hard to get work online. I got a job content writing and I got free accommodation at an activity centre in return for some volunteering a few times a week- this was in Asia. I started to eat into my (very very limited) money, I wouldn’t say savings,
so I got a job out there- a much much better job than I could get here and I could save a lot of money. I went on a lot of adventures and pushed myself a lot. I am an entrepreneur now and I think this period of uncertainty and relying on myself really helped prepare me.

There are a lot of digital nomad communities online, there’s a great group on Facebook that can give you ideas and advice. Lots of people do this all the time, you are probably best asking their opinion.

There will be people saying you need x amount of money and a detailed plan, but in reality if we all waited to have that we wouldn’t do anything. It’s good to know what you’d do if you encountered issues, but it sounds like you have a reasonable plan

good luck and enjoy it !

Oh yes, definitely agree about nanowrimo. There are tips on those message boards as well about getting agents!

Go for it

i got a TEFL course and then taught English as a start (however this was in the 90s and with a European passport, so not that easy for you now I guess)

in my experience the best chance to go abroad is through an employer, probably the sort of employers your friends work for… investment banks send analysts abroad, for example

as a writer I guess you could go and try somewhere on a tourist visa, as you are not officially “working” until you are published and paid. So I’d look into tourist visas, go to, say, Lisbon for 3 months and take it from there.

once you have made some local friends better opportunities may arise

just do it

Oh poppet

@Coffeecuppony

Is your book called, 'Business Secrets of the Pharaohs ?'

I understand, but it doesn't sound as if she has budgeted for this.

Nicely put 😆

OP - do ignore the vast majority of these replies, read and read again the post about proofreading/copywriting, the ones about TEFL and the ones from people who have done what you want to do. Ignore the rest.

It is ENTIRELY possible to move to foreign countries to work, live and have adventures. Take heed of what the writers are saying...that's not the easiest or quickest or likeliest of options for earning money. But, a 4 week TEFL course will set you up nicely. A proofreading course would be an added string to your bow. I did both in my 20s, and spent the best part of 20 years working overseas, in 8 different countries. I'm now back in the UK with DC, building an online business that will hopefully allow me to travel overseas with DC in the future.

There are plenty of options out there for people like you with an adventurous spirit. You must have transferable skills from your business? So even if your current business can't be run remotely/online, I imagine you've developed a good entrepreneurial mindset to be able to build another business that you can run from a laptop and travel the world with.

Countries in South-east Asia have a lower cost of living than Europe. And are warm! If you get a TEFL cert. you could have a job lined up before going. You do not need to be able to speak the local language in order to teach English, so don't ler lack of languages put you off taking the first steps. You can learn the local language once you're in a place, and that will open up more doors for you.

Think about the working visa schemes for Australia and NZ which are easy to get if you're under 30. Also things like Au Pair work if you have an childcare skills. Travel company rep, rather than tour guide, might be an option. Cruise ships? For the travel and experiences...all kinds of jobs available on ships...croupier, catering, kids clubs, etc. etc. etc.

So, so many opportunities out there for those brave enough to just do it.

Practical steps:
Research, research, research - keep an open mind and google the hell out of the internet to find a way to live the life you want to live.
Join forums of like-minded people who share ideas of what to do and where to go and how to go about it.
Save, save, save to get as much of a cushion behind you as you can.

Don't let the naysayers put you off. Wouldn't do for us all to be the same, would it? Be the one to strive for a life less ordinary.

Good plan.
Ive lived in 3 countries outside the UK, keeping your property rented out so you stay on the housing ladder is crucial. You won’t always be young. Make sure the letting agent you use is first class, check them online then check them again. If the rent is a day late get onto them, do not let it slip.
Remember Brexit and the 90 days rule. The paperwork to get residency can be complicated ( had several friends had to do this in past year or so)
Look at Northern Cyprus for somewhere outside EU atm.
And go with an open mind and have a bloody brilliant time. I’m so glad I did it while I was able to experience different ways of life. I’m too old and decrepit now! Good Luck.

Business books and comedy? Sounds like a great combination…….

otoh bars and restaurants in Europe are crying out for staff?

You have been self employed before so you will know being a writer isn’t going to be plain sailing.

My understanding is that a lot of writers start with writing as a side hustle so I would be planning for you to work (whatever job it is) whilst you do the writing. At the start at least.
Moving to a cheap country means whatever savings you have left (and possibly money from the flat) will stretch further. It also means that any job you will find there won’t go very far at all.

I fully agree that there are opportunities there.
i also agree that you need to do A LOT of research both around the countries you might want to go to and about the jobs you could do (teaching English being the obvious one).

Id also ask you to think carefully about what you want to get out if the experience. You are mentioning finding what makes to tick. Will moving abroad be the best way to do that? Or are you looking forward to the experience itself?
in my experience, when moving abroad, knowing why and what you are expecting form the move is essential to make it a success. If you go with the hope the move itself will solve your problems and make life exciting for you, it’s more likely to fail.

I’m going to park this here in case it helps re seasonal work abroad. I would definitely be on here if I were footloose and fancy free

www.cooljobs.com/

Great site if you want to work in the US... but you would need a visa for that, and looking at the kind of jobs posted, it doesn't look like they'd be sponsoring it.

Ok, but seriously now, you cannot claim to know all about SEO, then in the next breath say you don’t read blogs and don’t plan to have one.

Unless you’re practicing the comedy writing at this point?

Which would make total sense actually. Is that what this is?

A business with over a million in revenue that struggles to pay 5 people and leaves the owner with under ¼ of a corporate salary, and makes you unhappy and you don’t like running, and is unsellable (not surprisingly with such a poor financial position).

And you think you have an angle to write not just one, but books plural on entrepreneurship?

But you don’t want to write a blog…

You’re having a laugh, right?

If you’re not intentionally taking the piss here, then please, from a wise old bugger, step away from the business book notion. Not going to happen. Full stop.

@Coffeecuppony

Yes, this does need some explaining.

What were your margins? Or did you make a loss and intend to walk away from your creditors? Is that why you are going overseas?

I am sceptical you have the story the write about entrepreneurialism. Non-fiction may not be your strong point.

Have you even pitched to an agent/publisher? Non-fiction books usually sell based on pitch and outline. Then you can see if it will actual sell.

I’m a writer. Sadly, although I write fiction and have an agent and am published, my main income still comes from copywriting, which has been built up by reputation and contacts and a 20 year marketing background.

Publishing is tough for most people, and even more so since the pandemic.