REMOTE YEAR

  Split, Croatia – my first of 12 international homes over the next year and I feel like I won the lottery! My apartment is right on the beach of the Adriatic Sea. I’m still pinching myself that I get to wake up to these stunning views! And I couldn’t be any closer to our co-working space – it’s on the ground floor of my apartment building. Everywhere I go I’m surrounded by ocean, palm trees and blue sky.   Yes, it’s distracting and I’m not sure how much work I’m really getting done but I’ve decided it’s only week one of 52 weeks and I should really ease into this remote working lifestyle. After all, there’s jet lag to consider, right?   Our group, known as Balboa – named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean from the New World – is made up of 58 people and 12 nationalities. We represent Canada, USA, England, Australia, Hong Kong, India, South Africa and more. There’s an equal split of guys and girls, ranging from 21 to 41 years old. More than half (60%) are employees still working for their employer back home and the rest of us are freelancers or entrepreneurs.   Shifting my mindset from employee to entrepreneur has been the biggest adjustment so far. I’ve spent the pasts 12 years working for one company who told me what hours to work, which projects to lead and who was on my team. Now I wake up and answer only to me! It’s liberating and daunting at the same time. I have so many ideas and so many projects I want to pursue. I have personal and professional goals. Plus I want to explore my new home. It’s hard to focus and not run from one thing to the next.   Overwhelm is a word I’ve heard often this week, either from myself or my fellow remotes. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of somewhere new and want to do everything all at once.   One of the advantages of being one of the more “mature” remotes, is knowing who I am. I know to rest when my body is tired, to eat when I’m hungry, to drink water even when I don’t think I’m thirsty and to be alone when I need to recharge. Yes, I’m here to stretch and grow as a person, which at times will be uncomfortable, but the core of me will not change. I am who I am. And I love who I am!   Although the first few days overwhelmed me, I’ve quickly remembered what I need to start my day – gratitude, meditation, stretching, hot water with lemon and my morning music playlist. If I can start everyday with these things, I’m prepared for the day ahead. I feel grounded and connected.   Week one is wrapping up and I’ve found my way to the grocery store, the mall and paths along the sea. I’ve walked into Old Town, where the local older generation, bundled in winter coats, were shocked at my short sleeves. They smiled and called out to me, pointing at my bare arms. One man shouted “You very satisfying woman!” – I’ll take that to mean he appreciated the fact that I do my own thing. Even though it’s winter, I’m going to wear what I want! I believe it has always been this way for me…I simply do what feels right for me.   In my limited conversations with local Croatians, they’ve proudly told me they have mastered the art of doing nothing. Their lifestyle is very relaxed (lazy is the word they used but I believe it is more laid-back then lazy). Naps are strongly encouraged, something I completely support, and had a long conversation with a local about what makes the perfect nap! (We agreed that two hours is ideal, under the covers, in bed.)   They value personal connections with family and friends and will spend hours over coffee talking. They welcome you into their homes and businesses and make you feel like family. I have felt completely safe to wander, get lost, ask directions, try new foods and practice my very limited Croatian words! Five things I’ve noticed that are the same: Children play with kids they don’t know and make up their own games A smile goes a long way Vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road Chocolate croissants are delicious Being near water (lake, sea or ocean) is calming Five things I’ve noticed that are different: Everyone smokes, everywhere No bath tubs Pedestrians do not have the right of way Hot water is a limited luxury Operating instructions for a washing machine or dishwasher in a foreign language are not intuitive!   Next week I’m planning a few adventures and hoping to get a better sense of daily life in Croatia. Is there anything you’d like to know or any suggestions for me to do? I’d love to hear from you below!    

  The international side of an airport has always been my favourite – it means you’re going somewhere fun!  Sometimes I stroll through and pretend I’m getting on a big plane for an exotic vacation. The excitement of a new city or country continues to entice me and seems to wipe out my memory of economy travel, but today I had a ticket and I was getting on the plane. I had three flights to reach my final destination of  Split, Croatia – a 40 minute layover in Calgary and 60 minutes in Frankfurt. I knew these were going to be tight connections but felt confident….until my first flight departed 30 minutes late! Yikes – now I only had ten minutes to make my connection! I was anxious but then remembered – I had no where I had to be! I had no responsibilities (no keys, remember?) It made no difference if I caught this flight or the next one, if I arrived today or tomorrow, I was completely in charge of my own schedule! And would you believe there were 20 people on my flight trying to make the same connection?! Seriously, 20 people were traveling from Kelowna through Calgary to Frankfurt! I didn’t know anyone but suddenly felt part of something bigger. We were greeted at the gate and whisked along by a lovely lady (who walked extremely fast!) and delivered to our next gate, where they had held the plane. I snuggled into my window seat and settled in for the nine hour flight. Normally I would pull out a book or start browsing the movie selections but instead I heard myself say “Hi, I’m Michelle – what’s your name?” Turns out, I was sitting beside the two coolest people on the plane! A sweet 20-something girl who had been in Canada as an intern and was now returning home to Frankfurt and a hilarious civil engineer guy from Jordan who was heading to a friend’s wedding. We laughed and joked and shared travel stories – so much more fun than watching a movie! As luck would have it, we were arriving behind schedule and my 60 minute layover quickly dwindled down to 20 minutes. If you’ve ever traveled through Frankfurt, you know 20 minutes won’t get you very far in one of the busiest airports in the world. As I deplaned, the staff told me I could try to make my flight but they had already booked me on the next flight – six hours later. I decided to go for it! I felt like a mouse chasing the cheese through a maze and imagined I appeared as a tiny red dot on someone’s computer, tracking my movements and taking bets if I’d get there. Corner, hallway, down the escalator, corner, hallway, another long corridor, another escalator, around the shops, down another hallway, through a security screening, down another hallway…it never ended! Finally I arrived at Gate B27, five minutes before my flight was scheduled to depart and it was empty. My heart sank. As I got closer, a man appeared and said “ah ha – you must be my Canadian girl!” Yes, I am – they waited for me! Scrambling to find my boarding pass, sweating from the ten mile hike across the airport and seriously sleep deprived after the nine hour flight, he told me to take a minute – everything was just fine. What a wonderful reminder to be present. In the middle of one of the largest airports in the world, while holding a plane for one Canadian girl, we could take a deep breath and wait a minute. As I walked down the ramp to the plane, the flight crew greeted me with a smile and handed me a glass of water. I found my seat and we were off. We landed in Split and and to my wonderful surprise, there was a large group of fellow Remote Year travellers (“remotes” as we now say!) I had found my family. But what I didn’t find was my luggage. Although I made the connection in Frankfurt, my bag had not. Not to worry, they will fly it to Zagreb tonight, down to Split tomorrow and deliver it to my apartment. All part of the adventure, right?!          

  When you first start planning for your big dream, it feels like miles away. You think and you dream and you plan and you organize but nothing truly prepares you for when that day arrives.   November 21 I made the decision to join Remote Year, stepping out of my job for one year and launching my own business while traveling the world. Flying out on March 4 meant I had over three months to pull everything together.   Although I was organized, the last week of February was one of the most overwhelming, chaotic times in my life. I had decided to keep working full time until February 28, thinking this left me three days to finalize things for my trip. However, I forgot that most tenants need to move on the first of the month so that meant I also needed to be out of my home for March 1!   The days flew by and suddenly it was the last day of work – exciting and scary at the same time. It’s comfortable to have routines and know what is expected of you every day. And it’s comfortable to have colleagues who are more than just work mates – they’re friends who care about you. So yes, I had tears in my eyes as I said my goodbyes but my steps became lighter as I walked away.   And then it was time to pack up my home and say goodbye to my morning sunrises, lake views, comfy big bed and quiet space.   Fortunately I found the most amazing tenants and felt comfortable leaving my place fully furnished, simply packing up my personal belongings. I managed that part without tears but still some sadness as I walked away.   (Side note: I thought I lived a minimalist lifestyle but removing my personal belongings made me realize I have a lot more stuff than I thought! I’ll deal with that after my year adventure, as I imagine my perspective about what’s important will change…)   The last big piece of the puzzle was my vehicle, Finn. Finn and I have had some good times and I wanted to make sure he went to a home. I found the perfect spot and said another tearful goodbye.   Suddenly I realized that I didn’t have any keys – not one key. What a crazy feeling! It’s like you don’t belong anywhere. You have nothing tying you down – you could simply float away.   My schedule was jam packed with final meetups – so many dear friends to visit and connect with before taking off. Although I was exhausted, these connections fueled my soul and reminded me how much I’m loved.   My final day was reserved for someone very special – my sister. I knew leaving her for a year would be the hardest part so we needed extra time to soak each other up.   As she drove me to the airport, I started getting nervous. I’m very good at coming up with crazy ideas and grand adventures and when the moment comes to step into it, I wonder what the heck I was thinking!   My bag is checked (underweight, thank you very much), all my “see ya laters” have been said and I’m through security. It’s real. I’ve really left everything behind and am stepping into the unknown. Unknown people… Unknown places… Unknown foods… Unknown income… Unknown everything. All I know is that I have to do this…an unknown force is calling me and I simply must go.

  The countdown is on to begin my Remote Year adventure – spending one month in 12 cities around the world.   How do you get ready to travel for a year (start a big project, pursue a dream, change directions)? It feels overwhelming at the beginning, standing here and looking at the finish line so far away.   In fact, if you stand still for too long, the overwhelming feeling turns into fear and soon you’re frozen, unable to make any decisions.   You start to doubt if you have what it takes.   You look around and see other people who are more successful, more confident, more (fill in the blank) – and your doubt grows.   We forget that everyone was a beginner at one point. The successful, confident, (fill in the blank) people didn’t wake up where they are today – they started at the beginning, they failed and started over, they tried, they practiced, they surrounded themselves with people who had done what they wanted to do, and they didn’t give up.   The key is simply to begin.   The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. – Lao Tzu   And so, I sat down and made one big “to do” list – everything I thought I needed to do in the next 90 days before my departure. (It was a BIG list!)   Then I took that list and broke it down into 30 day chunks – what had to happen in December, and then January and finally February.   I’ll admit it was still a daunting list so I took even smaller steps. Each morning before I headed to work, I looked at my “to do” list for the month and chose one thing.   I told myself: “You don’t have to complete the whole list today, all you need to do is one thing!”   Whew, what a relief – I could do this!   I let go of the pressure to “get it done”, took a deep breath and relaxed. Suddenly it didn’t feel so overwhelming and my confidence grew as I completed one task per day.   And when people ask about my research for a city I’m visiting 10 months from now, I smile and say “I have no idea!”   I’m focusing on what I need to do today, one baby step at a time.   If I look too far into the future, I get overwhelmed again. I don’t need to know about currency in Serbia, or transit options in Portugal, or safety concerns in Colombia. I’ll figure that out when I need to know.   Today, all I need to know is how am I going to pack everything I need for a year in one suitcase?!   Here’s my itinerary: March – Split, Croatia April – Prague, Czech Republic May – Lisbon, Portugal   June – Sofia, Bulgaria July – Belgrade, Serbia August – Valencia, Spain   September – Buenos Aires, Argentina October – Córdoba, Argentina November – Lima, Peru   December – Medellin, Colombia Jan 2018 – Bogotá, Colombia Feb 2018 – Mexico City, Mexico   Have you spent time in these cities? I’d love to hear your tips and suggestions – and will file them away to review when I’m closer to arriving in that city! 🙂

I did it – over 25,000 applications for 75 spots with Remote Year and I was successful!   Now I had to write a brilliant business case to present to my employer and show them how I could continue to do my job remotely from around the world. Business today is done over the Internet and by phone so how hard could it be?   I wrote a thorough case that covered every concern I could think of – time zones, safety, privacy, technology, insurance, then clearly outlined the benefits to my employer and for my personal development.   My manager was quickly on-board and we began the approval process. (happy dance!)   Over the next 30 days we had conversations with Human Resources, Corporate Law, Health and Wellness, Information Technology and Security, and we met with managers, senior managers and directors.   Everyone thought it was a unique idea and they didn’t have any initial concerns. Yahoo!   When the deadline came to pay the non-refundable deposit, my employer decided they needed more time to consider.   I held back the tears, as I thought for sure I had a “yes”. But I was determined to stay strong – at least it wasn’t a “no”, right?   I got an extension on the deadline (thank you!) and over the coming months we continued to have conversations with various staff at Remote Year, with more managers and directors at my company, and things went around and around. Every day getting closer and closer to my scheduled departure.   I didn’t know what to do – did I act in faith and believe I was going? (aka – sell my car, rent out my condo, pay the deposit) Or did I wait until I had an answer?   I tried to stay positive but honestly, there were moments when I simply freaked out. That’s when I leaned on others and borrowed their belief in me.   My final, final, last-call extension arrived, I needed an answer.   And I got it…   The answer was…   “No”.   This time I couldn’t hold back the tears and I quickly hung up the phone with my manager. My hopes were crushed.   How could I be given this amazing opportunity and then say “no”?   It was the end of my big dream, or so it felt.   I allowed myself to be sad for a few days, then slowly dusted myself off. Again, I felt that longing in my heart – I couldn’t give up and walk away from this dream.   Was there any possible way I could make this happen without my employer?   The more I thought about it, the more excited I got.   My new mantra became: I’m smart enough, I’m strong enough, and everything is “figure-out-able”. (-Marie Forleo)   And so I took that (really scary!) step off the cliff, a leap of faith, blindly believing that everything works out when you’re on the right path, when you’re doing what you’re meant to do.   I asked for a year leave of absence and made a commitment to follow my entrepreneurial dreams.   And I took comfort in the words of Erin Hanson: “There is freedom waiting for you on the breezes of the sky, and you ask ‘What if I fall?’ Oh but my darling, what if you fly?”     Over to you – when have you taken a leap of faith? Share your comments below – I’d love to hear your story!

I’m sure it’s happened to you, too. You start reading one article, then click on a link, read another story and before you know it, you’ve landed on a website and have no idea how you got there! That’s how I stumbled across Remote Year and the seed was planted. I devoured this website and read how professionals like me were living and working in cities around the world – they weren’t confined to an office or a 9-to-5 schedule. They had found a way to combine a love for travel while still growing their careers or businesses. It sounded like a dream – a dream I longed to be part of. I closed the website, thinking, “Wouldn’t that be nice! I’d like to do that but how? My boss would never let me…” all the things that are likely running through your mind right now. I thought that was the end of it but my subconscious wouldn’t let go. My dreams were full of images of me traveling the world, setting up my laptop in cozy coffee shops or on the beach or looking out at stunning views. My heart ached for this adventure, so two months later I called Remote Year. And I started with my best excuse – “I’d love to do this but I don’t think my employer will go for it…” Now I’m sure they’ve heard it all before but the admissions advisor kindly encouraged me to apply, advising they receive over 25,000 applications for 75 spots so simply apply and deal with your employer if you get accepted.   Life lesson #1 – Worrying about something that might never happen is a waste of energy!   I applied that day. After a few weeks, I was invited to the second phase of the application process – my heart started beating a bit faster. A short time later, I was invited to the third and final phase. I could hardly sleep. I was in the shower by 4am and getting ready for my big online interview. We chatted for 45 minutes and he said they were reviewing all applicants and would be making decisions in the next few weeks. He’d let me know either way. I tried to carry on with normal life, going to work, getting groceries, seeing friends but inside my heart was racing – was my life about to radically change? I felt different and wondered if people could see a change in me. Only a handful of friends knew I had applied – I was afraid to tell too many people in case I wasn’t successful.   Life lesson #2 – Surround yourself with people who believe in you, lift you up and cheer you on.   The sun rises early in the Okanagan during the summer and I found myself wide awake at 4:30am so I checked my email… And there it was… An email telling me they were pleased to invite me to join Remote Year in 2017!!! I screamed, I cried, I jumped up and down, my body shook with excitement, tears of joy ran down my face and I kept whispering “thank you thank you thank you”. It was one of those life-defining moments – a moment you know changes you, a moment you will look back on again and again and say, “that was when it all began”. And so on March 1, 2017 my journey with Remote Year begins. I’d love to hear from you: What have you stumbled across that you couldn’t stop thinking about?