I’ve been a big fan of The Displaced Nation for quite some time now. How could I not, with a tagline of ‘A Land of Plenty for the Global Voyager,’ promising advice, opinions and yarns? One of my favorite features on the site is the interview series called Random Nomads.
The questions posed aren’t your average ’where have you lived/traveled and how did you like it?’ variety; they’re fresh and interesting, and the answers even more so. Interesting, that is.
At the end, you vote ‘yay or nay’ as to whether the Random Nomad should be admitted to The Displaced Nation.
The latest Random Nomad interviewee is Jeff Jung. What caught my eye about Jeff is not that he’s lived in several countries (he has) or traveled much of the world (he’s done that as well), but what initially caused him to become a global nomad and what he’s done since ‘settling down’ in Colombia.
And believe me, those quotes around ‘settling down’ are well earned, since he makes his living traveling. And encouraging others to travel.
You see, a few years ago Jeff was going along in life, working as a consultant-turned-corporate-marketer, when he realized that he was burning out and needed a break.
Rather than laugh it off, put the idea of hitting the open road out of his mind or relegate it to dream status as many of us do, Jeff actually did it; he stopped work and headed off to Latin America to travel and sharpen his waning Spanish language skills.
One thing led to another, and what was to be a short break became a longer one of serial wandering. What was supposed to be a career break became a career change.
Jeff and his friend Cheryl decided to help encourage others to plan and execute their own travel-focused career breaks by co-founding CareerBreakSecrets.com. The popular website and entertaining blog have even led to a television show, aptly titled the Career Break Secrets Travel Show.
Many career breakers are in their late 20s, 30s and early 40s, fighting burnout as Jeff did or experiencing a midlife crisis-driven reassessment of life career and goals. Some may have been downsized, outsized, rightsized or laid off (all ‘job speak’ for becoming unemployed) in the global recession, or are simply in need of rejuvenation and recharging through extended travel.
But Jeff reports seeing more breakers that are even younger; having finished their education and put in a couple years’ work in the real world, they realize that they aren’t on the right path but are unsure where that path might be. Hence a mind-clearing travel break to determine what’s next.
Similarly, more breakers are in their 50s and up, ready to get off the corporate (or non-corporate) treadmill but not entirely sure what the next phase of life should be. Or they realize that ‘life’s short’ and want to fulfill long-postponed dreams before it’s too late. Or perhaps they just want to chuck it all and enjoy an early, mobile retirement.
What can I say? I’m a sucker for people who dream big and then make it happen.
And as for Jeff’s status regarding Displaced Nation? I voted a resounding ‘yay’.
If you’re interested in Jeff’s presentation ‘Why a Career Break Can Reignite Your Life’, check it out below:
Wow, wow, wow! Thanks, Linda, so much for this shout-out! And I quite agree, especially after having done 40+ Random Nomad interviews, Jeff Jung is one special guy! An inspiration to us all, but especially to those who’ve given years of their lives to jobs of any kind (doesn’t have to be corporate, can also be nonprofit, educational, or government) and know what it’s like to experience burn-out. Since there’s no such thing as a “sabbatical” unless you’re lucky enough to be a tenured academic, you may just have to take the bull by the horns and create one for yourself.
But most of us just dream about that… Jeff is someone who’s actually done it, and supports others to give it a try. A big yay for him, plus I sense, from the menu he offers us in the interview, he likes to enjoy a good meal with friends — which shows he has a soul!
Thank you again for featuring him (and us). xxxooo
My pleasure. I love TDN’s Random Nomad interviews and Jeff’s ‘Because life is out there’ tagline, so it was a no-brainer for me. A very cool life he’s carved out for himself. Thanks
But I forgot to add that this is also a big compliment coming from you — as like Jeff, you’ve been actively promoting the idea of taking a mid-life career break via travel and/or the expat life. I’m of course thinking of your inspiring story in Turning Points (Summertime, 2011).
Thanks
We came to the Netherlands because of a job offer (Husband’s), but we’ve always considered this a joint career break, or perhaps new career phase is more apt in our case. Since we both studied/worked in international affairs and Husband’s an ATCK, moving overseas was always in the cards. He’s definitely enhanced his career and I’ve switched careers, and would both say it’s been worth it.
I am so humbled that you wrote about us and spread the word. Thank you! We’re really working to create a culture change that says that it’s OK to take a break. We’ve seen progress, but there’s still so much more to do. All the best to everyone in Expatland!
You’re very welcome, Jeff. The concept of a ‘gap year’ between high school and university, or university and the working world, or high school and the working world, has been slowly gaining ground. Gone are the days when a person dedicated his/her working life to one employer. Why not take an adulthood sabbatical to refresh and recharge, possibly even change directions? Love your concept, love the execution.
I don’t know this program, but this is very interesting! I will certainly take a look at his website. Having just retired myself, I can look back now and see that many people I know (and indeed myself) would benefit from a “career break.” It could, of course, easily lead to another career!
Thanks Emma. What I like about Jeff’s video is that he sincerely wants people to make conscious decisions to plan and prepare for a career break rather than heading off into the great unknown without a plan or safety net. The latter is great for
somefew, but most of us need a little more structure to our escapes. BTW, it’s never too late to try something new