When You Know It’s Time To Work Abroad

Working abroad is probably one of the best things I have done for my career.  It made me part of a larger cause bigger than my own – bigger than my commute, my boss, my project, my desk.

The thought to work in another country is multifaceted.  It grows. It hides.  It leaps, until you cant stop thinking about it. It either happens (your boss sends you) or you make it happen after going through some stuff.

What stuff?

Feeling stuck at work.  Stifled. Or even feeling like you have mastered everything – and feel exhausted.  You feel like you’re just getting a check at this point. You are also scared that you may get let go because you’re really expensive with all your fancy skills, and you want to be proactive.

The idea of leaving family, friends, or even bringing your family with you can be daunting. The stakes are high.  And if you mess up, you have yourself and your big ideas to blame. You need energy to do this. You need energy to get on the plane. You need energy for the social skills to actually meet people and take care of yourself in a new environment.

What’s this energy?

Mental energy. It will inform your physical energy.

When I worked abroad, I got to experience new classes, new books, new outlook.  The physical energy came.  I had amazing weekends, and worked my butt off 5 days a week.  I don’t even think I have the energy now to have the kind of weekends I had abroad.

So why didn’t I stay?

Because I didn’t want to hide.  There’s one thing where you go someplace and stay there because you cant deal at home, and there’s the other thing where you go someplace and come back to enhance your home – wherever it is.  You’ve got to know the difference.

You can get a job abroad through an agency, or an employer for the fastest results.

Almost any major company has at least one international office.   Most major finance and advertising companies do.  Research to see what your company offers, you may be surprised.

Out of everything I learned working abroad, what I appreciated most was receiving and allowing.  I met so many new people, and new experiences. It was so easy to say yes, to life.

Originally posted 2020-11-30 09:00:54.