Intrigued by the idea of Breaking Away? Looking for ideas, insight, or inspiration? Peruse these short (and not-so-short) articles–penned by Kirk–if you dare.
No guarantees, but they may help you get out of your head—and into making headway.
…This L. A. Times article is a must-read for anyone who:
Author Judith Freeman nails it with this thoughtful missive…
It’s time to pull back. The beast of burden simply can’t carry any more. Few Americans have much in the way of savings. Many of us have lived beyond our means. The typical American carries credit card debt of more than $8,000, and credit is tightening. The party is over, and for many Americans it wasn’t even that much fun.
Yep, it’s time to pull back. And yet, many Goodwills and stuff donation ce…
Have a game plan. For any game worth playing. This “Shifting Careers” column offers a spot-on Sabbatical story well worth studying.
Barbara Raab brings a perspective that this Breakaway boy may lack: What it’s like to tell The Boss (and your workplace team) you want time off and make sure their needs are met—all without getting canned or kicked in the can. Ms. Raab has it “easy” in a way we self-employeds envy, though: She’ll return to a job and benefits.
That sounds pretty good about now. Last time 2 Heads shut shop to run away, we left when business was booming (the dot-com melt-up). But we came back to see billings cut in half for two years (the dot-com blow-up). If that happens again, Boy Genius here may lose money AND faith.
Let’s have a make-believe, virtual conversation with Ms. Raab…
…“A short walk that nonetheless feels far away.
Well, here we go again.
The stock market, and by that I mean virtually ALL stock markets, have headed south with a vengeance and violence I’ve not seen in my 24 years of holding stocks. .
Does it make a guy rethink flying away and spending buckets of moolah to shirk duties? YES. And how. And yet, if the trip cost $55 and that was all I had left after this stock crash, would I choose to spend $50 of those last dollars on this trip? Damn right!
After all, long-term go-getters expect troubles, and yet stick with their plans (like the 11 Commandments of Fiscal Fitness), even when the world doesn’t cooperate.
So before we get all depressed (like our economy) or fall to the floor (like the stock indices) or cry in our beer (like brokers), I’ll take a few minutes and point out…
While beer-storming (that’s beer-sipping + brainstorming) over the holidays with dear friend and Meet, Plan, Go! rock star Sherry Ott, we discussed the Wall Street Journal’s recent article on Baby Boomers and career breaks—and what a potential movement (literally) may happen if, indeed, Boomers begin breaking.
From that chat was borne my 2014 mission. For the next year, every month, I will write a column about Baby Boomers for the briefcase-to-backpack site.
They’ve kindly published it already, but these days, who doesn’t believe in multi-purposing? So let’s get off our Boomer big butts and get this show on the road!
We Boomers are a mystifying bunch. I say “We” because I was born in 1960—toward the end of the Baby Boom (1946 – 1964) and have loved riding the surge that followed. We sprang to life du…
Kirk Horsted is a part-time hedonist who believes that anyone who is able should Retire Now & Then, rather than wait until the end of life—even if you have to work a few more years before mastering shuffleboard. Offshoots of that passion include simply prioritizing free time, unplugging, photography, a devotion getting outside and, of course, long-term faraway travel.
Since 1990, Kirk has taken four “BreakAways” and traveled routinely, researched and written about the topic, and offered advice, speeches, and workshops that have moved others to chase their own dreams.
When not pursuing those priorities, Kirk spends real time in the real world as a Marketing Consultant and Wily Wordsmith (and—best of all—a dad). He has been a freelancer for…ever?, and before that worked in agencies, magazines, and public ra…
1 kid, 5 islands, 69 days
Here's my son’s blog from an '08/09 BreakAway in the Caribbean.
1 planet, countless cultures, 120 days
In 00/01, when the internet was a pup, I went RTW and posted these words and pics en route.
