Is it Really Possible to Travel, Have a Successful Career and an Extraordinary Life?
By Elizabeth Kruempelmann
Globe trotters who spend several months up to several years traveling and doing various jobs around the globe gain incredible life experience and a new perspective on what the real world is like. Ironically, when they return home, they feel out of touch with "real world" they left and the job market that awaits them. Many career-less travelers are left wondering if it is really possible to travel, have a successful career and an extraordinary life.
Traveling can change you - or more accurately - inspire you to take a good look at your life and figure out who you really are. The career direction you had before you traveled may or may not still be a motivating path for you, given all you have learned, seen and done abroad. And this is exactly the point where career newbies get tripped up. In answering the big questions of how to move forward with life and career, post seeing-the-world, many people hold on to answers and goals they had before they traveled, for lack of not knowing what else to do. Here are 3 tips for moving forward in a way that honors the "global" you.
Ask Yourself the Right Questions
First, the path to living an extraordinary life lies in asking yourself the right questions and then answering from a place of truth, not fear. The right question is one that speaks to the whole of you and the integrated parts of your life. Instead of asking, "How do I get a job and start a career?", shift to
What are my values and global values that I want to orient my life around?
What kind of person do I want to be in this lifetime?
If I had all the time, money, confidence and opportunities (and whatever else I need), what do I really, really, want to do with my life?
What does a career, success, traveling and living an extraordinary life look like to me?
Invest in Your Life
Secondly, living an extraordinary life means investing in your own personal and professional development. The tendency of late career bloomers is to jump into the job market for fear of losing even more time on the career front. But, does it really help to be going full speed down the wrong road? At some point you are just going to end up back at the start line, having lost even more time.
All extraordinary people invest in themselves. Give yourself the gift of time and space to honestly reflect on your values, passions, priorities and the real life and career you want, incorporating the insights gained from your travels.
Investing 3 months to a year or more on establishing a strong foundation by discovering your life purpose, creating your focus, and getting into action will put you on your unique path. You must give this step your full attention. Invest your time, energy and money into services, classes and products that allow you to learn more about what you are truly interested in, even if you don't yet see career possibilities or a way that it can make you money. Once you connect with what really energizes and motivates you, you will find ways to bring your gift out into the world and make money at it.
At this phase it is so important to let go of those outdated career goals if they no longer accurately capture the real life you want for yourself. Let go of career market myths, limiting beliefs, social pressures and anything else that holds you back from fully discovering your true self and living a life of integrity.
Of course, when you meet resistance (and you will), one of the most important investments you can make at this stage is to work with a life coach. A global life coach can help become aware of your values and life purpose quicker, while working past your barriers and empowering you to move into the life you really want. Remember, you are designing your extraordinary life that you only get to live once, not just finding a way to pay the bills.
Naturally Attract Perfect Opportunities
Thirdly, once you know who you are and what you want, you are ready to weave the threads of your career and life together to custom design your extraordinary existence. You are well-equipped to naturally attract your chosen life and career path simply by being your authentic self.
You are CEO of your life. Believe 100% in your value as a human being and employee.
Let go of the idea that you have to struggle to break into the job market and have a career. Instead, embrace the principle that you naturally attract career opportunities and a life you want by simply being your best and doing what you enjoy in the present moment.
You don't need to "sell" yourself in a job interview. By being fully behind your values and belief in yourself, your potential employer, or your clients if you are self-employed, will be attracted to your confidence. If they are the perfect match for you, they will find value in the parts of yourself that you value the most. Instead of fearing that the time spent traveling will have a negative impact on your career, stand fully behind the value your travel experiences had in shaping your unique global identity. Highlight the skills you developed traveling: resourcefulness, adaptability, a broad perspective, self-awareness, confidence, courage, language and job skills.
Copyright Elizabeth Kruempelmann March 2006
Globe trotters who spend several months up to several years traveling and doing various jobs around the globe gain incredible life experience and a new perspective on what the real world is like. Ironically, when they return home, they feel out of touch with "real world" they left and the job market that awaits them. Many career-less travelers are left wondering if it is really possible to travel, have a successful career and an extraordinary life.
Traveling can change you - or more accurately - inspire you to take a good look at your life and figure out who you really are. The career direction you had before you traveled may or may not still be a motivating path for you, given all you have learned, seen and done abroad. And this is exactly the point where career newbies get tripped up. In answering the big questions of how to move forward with life and career, post seeing-the-world, many people hold on to answers and goals they had before they traveled, for lack of not knowing what else to do. Here are 3 tips for moving forward in a way that honors the "global" you.
Ask Yourself the Right Questions
First, the path to living an extraordinary life lies in asking yourself the right questions and then answering from a place of truth, not fear. The right question is one that speaks to the whole of you and the integrated parts of your life. Instead of asking, "How do I get a job and start a career?", shift to
What are my values and global values that I want to orient my life around?
What kind of person do I want to be in this lifetime?
If I had all the time, money, confidence and opportunities (and whatever else I need), what do I really, really, want to do with my life?
What does a career, success, traveling and living an extraordinary life look like to me?
Invest in Your Life
Secondly, living an extraordinary life means investing in your own personal and professional development. The tendency of late career bloomers is to jump into the job market for fear of losing even more time on the career front. But, does it really help to be going full speed down the wrong road? At some point you are just going to end up back at the start line, having lost even more time.
All extraordinary people invest in themselves. Give yourself the gift of time and space to honestly reflect on your values, passions, priorities and the real life and career you want, incorporating the insights gained from your travels.
Investing 3 months to a year or more on establishing a strong foundation by discovering your life purpose, creating your focus, and getting into action will put you on your unique path. You must give this step your full attention. Invest your time, energy and money into services, classes and products that allow you to learn more about what you are truly interested in, even if you don't yet see career possibilities or a way that it can make you money. Once you connect with what really energizes and motivates you, you will find ways to bring your gift out into the world and make money at it.
At this phase it is so important to let go of those outdated career goals if they no longer accurately capture the real life you want for yourself. Let go of career market myths, limiting beliefs, social pressures and anything else that holds you back from fully discovering your true self and living a life of integrity.
Of course, when you meet resistance (and you will), one of the most important investments you can make at this stage is to work with a life coach. A global life coach can help become aware of your values and life purpose quicker, while working past your barriers and empowering you to move into the life you really want. Remember, you are designing your extraordinary life that you only get to live once, not just finding a way to pay the bills.
Naturally Attract Perfect Opportunities
Thirdly, once you know who you are and what you want, you are ready to weave the threads of your career and life together to custom design your extraordinary existence. You are well-equipped to naturally attract your chosen life and career path simply by being your authentic self.
You are CEO of your life. Believe 100% in your value as a human being and employee. Let go of the idea that you have to struggle to break into the job market and have a career. Instead, embrace the principle that you naturally attract career opportunities and a life you want by simply being your best and doing what you enjoy in the present moment.
You don't need to "sell" yourself in a job interview. By being fully behind your values and belief in yourself, your potential employer, or your clients if you are self-employed, will be attracted to your confidence. If they are the perfect match for you, they will find value in the parts of yourself that you value the most. Instead of fearing that the time spent traveling will have a negative impact on your career, stand fully behind the value your travel experiences had in shaping your unique global identity. Highlight the skills you developed traveling: resourcefulness, adaptability, a broad perspective, self-awareness, confidence, courage, language and job skills.
Copyright Elizabeth Kruempelmann March 2006
About the Author
Elizabeth Kruempelmann is the founder of Global Citizen Coaching and the author of "The Global Citizen: A Guide to Creating an International Life and Career". She works with global citizens who are discovering their true paths. To sign up for a FREE workbook, 100+ Questions to Create Meaning and Fulfillment in Your Life, visit www.globalcitizencoaching.com.
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First Published: Jul 23, 2006
