From Boardroom to Backpack: How Travel Transformed My Career Setback

• When I held a director title with a substantial salary, I felt as if I was at the summit of my profession.
• However, I was abruptly terminated and felt like I had devoted everything to my career.
• While traveling along the West Coast, I realized I desired more liberty in my work life.

In September 2022, I reached the peak of my career achievements. I transitioned from one med-tech firm to another to assume a director position. It was a step closer to my aspiration of eventually becoming a VP.

The remuneration was outstanding. I was earning more than I had ever envisioned, nearly a 35% jump from my former role to director status. Additionally, I was spearheading a varied functional team in a leading market enterprise.

In 2023, I wrapped up a full year with the med-tech organization, earning a six-figure income multiple times over. I was at the zenith of my career and financial aspirations.

Then, in less than two years, everything came tumbling down. On April 1st — April Fools’ Day, no less — I was informed that I would be let go, with my final day being May 31st.

June 1st would mark the first day in my 25-year med-tech career where I would intentionally be unemployed. I was offered 14 weeks of severance compensation that would last until mid-September.

I panicked. I felt frightened. I was adrift. I had sacrificed my freedom, independence, and time to a company and an industry that I believed cherished me just as I had cherished it. I was undergoing an existential dilemma and needed to determine my subsequent moves.

I relocated with my girlfriend, opening a new perspective

At the same time my career faced challenges, my girlfriend was relocating to Arizona for work. She invited me to accompany her as I now had all the time in the world after being let go.

We commenced our adventure on May 26th, departing from Pennsylvania, where I owned my residence. I opted to Airbnb my home to generate additional income while I was out of work and heading west. We timed our arrival perfectly to reach Scottsdale, AZ, by June 1st — my first official day without employment.

Driving across the nation over those four days provided me with a sense of freedom and empowerment that I had never encountered before.

As I navigated the country, I pondered: What might my next career step be? If I could pursue anything, what would that entail? I had more inquiries than solutions.

But there was one certainty. I would never again allow a private employer to control my financial independence.

I resolved to take charge of my career and finances — as well as my time and location. I acknowledged that this would not be an instantaneous success, and I still needed a job to progress towards what I truly desired most.

More travel assisted me in forging a path ahead

We resided at our initial Airbnb in Scottsdale for a month. The view was set against the mountains in the vicinity. Despite the temperature soaring above 100 degrees, I embarked on local hiking excursions each morning.

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The hikes helped me gain clarity on the actions I needed to take to seize control of my future, career, and finances.

The first weekend after my arrival in Scottsdale, my girlfriend and I embarked on a road trip to San Diego, a five-hour drive from Scottsdale. We explored various beaches in the San Diego region, including Coronado Beach. Sitting on the beach and absorbing the view, I realized that this was the control I craved. I wanted to visit places and relish life on my terms.

From that point onward, I invested in career opportunities that took me away from the corporate realm. Instead, I pursued becoming a certified leadership coach.

The cross-country road trip aided me in mental recovery and strategizing my next steps. The daily hikes and excursions to San Diego and various regions of Arizona helped ease the overwhelming thoughts associated with my layoff. It also reshaped my comprehension of resilience, flexibility, the significance of welcoming change, and future life decisions.