Yessss and funnily enough, I had a conversation with brave expat about exactly this the other day. Using up savings to move, learning a language and trying to get a job instead of living the comfortable life “back home” is like a bootstrapped startup (with the founder having left the safe corporate income). Neither is for everyone, but it’s so rewarding and f*ing hard and lonely the first few years
I was reflecting on people who move without knowing the language and I can't help but finding them so brave!! Especially when they are determined to fit in (rather than depend on others in a small separate community)
Yes, for sure! I've moved countries twice, coasts once, and left corporate life to start several businesses. There are a few characteristics that you didn't mention, but I'm pretty sure you and other expats and entrepreneurs have. One is a tolerance for our own company. We need a love of solitude, because so much of the work must happen alone. Another is an instinct for self preservation. I wouldn't quite call it fear, more an awareness of what can go wrong and a preparedness to handle it.
I know many people who have started businesses and failed. Immigrants start more businesses and are less likely to fail. They also commit less crime and are less likely to use benefits. All contrary to certain narratives!
John, thanks for adding to the list of qualities. Tolerance for our own company... that is a fantastic way of looking at what's needed when we're out of our comfort zone!
I LOVED this! Great reflection piece. I've been told by some that my brave decision inspired them, when all I wanted was to run away as far as possible from the mountains. It's true that you need those 5 qualities and some, but after all, it's all about taking one step after the other.
Thanks, Barbs! I was also called brave many many times, and I always found it surprising. We don't see ourselves as brave, we just take the steps to walk on the path of life we choose, right?
Monica, this is an interesting correlation, one I probably would not have made on my own. I have traveled the world but have never picked up my life and moved to a new country. My wife is an immigrant however and I can see how these five qualities have played a role in her life. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thanks, Matthew. It's interesting to hear you would not have made this correlation, because once I see things certain way, I imagine they are obvious for most people (impostor syndrome, anyone?!). It took me a while to publish this one, because I kept thinking what I wrote was so plain and obvious...
Thank you for this. I feel a bit better about my life choices and all the places I have ended up living. I do think I have all these skills but I don’t see myself as entrepreneurial around money. Its an interesting angle on the skills we learn from moving to other places.
I think being entrepreneurial or not around money is a social construct, it's about how we are taught to view and behave around money. The good news is, if we realize we do have entrepreneurial skills (for migrating, for life), we probably could use them for money as well. ;-)
Loved reading this! I miss my old wandering days so much but I'm very grateful for everything they've taught me, especially when it comes to navigating the solopreneur journey and staying the course. Even just down to the awareness to know there is another way, and the strength to take the first step and ride the highs and the lows and trust it will all work out.
Sometimes I worry that it will all fall apart, but then I remember that it's in the falling apart that all the other best things in my life have come to be, too. Gotta roll with the waves sometimes, not always try and fight them. Thanks for sharing! 💜
I love that these travels teach us stuff about ourselves. They teach us we can be a solopreneur, we can be stronger than we thought we were, we can trust and jump. Enjoy the ride! 💜
💯 agree with you. It takes a lot of energy to have all these threads open: paperwork in progress, new mannerisms and norms to understand, language to learn. You start to develop resilience, but it is still a big exertion. This was a great reminder to remain curious and push my comfort zone a bit more...being open to new things.
Thanks, Van! I like how you put it, all these migrant-life tasks we have are like open threads which we need to take care of simultaneously, above and beyond what the locals do.
Oh wow what a surprise, Nolan! Thanks a lot for your words. It's funny, I struggled to publish this one because I thought it's SO obvious what I'm saying to the point of being uninteresting... Perception is everything! :)
Once I read it, it was obvious. But those are usually the best ideas. The ones that make you go “Of course! How did I not see it like that before?” Like the best plot points in stories are “the inevitable but unexpected.”
That's an interesting point, Pranath, one could inspire the other. I did emigrate first, 3 times actually, and then I tried out entrepreneuring. I'm much better at changing countries than at building a business though. 😄
Being an expat and starting over is interesting. You get to experience new cultures and see the world. It helps you grow as a person and become more flexible. It takes courage, but you learn so much about yourself. You meet new people and see life in a whole new way. It is an adventure, I like how you contrast it to entrepreneurship. I enjoyed this.
Yessss and funnily enough, I had a conversation with brave expat about exactly this the other day. Using up savings to move, learning a language and trying to get a job instead of living the comfortable life “back home” is like a bootstrapped startup (with the founder having left the safe corporate income). Neither is for everyone, but it’s so rewarding and f*ing hard and lonely the first few years
I was reflecting on people who move without knowing the language and I can't help but finding them so brave!! Especially when they are determined to fit in (rather than depend on others in a small separate community)
Yesss, you got it Carmen! Well, you have also lived it, in a form or another, right?
Yes I have. Multiple times. With language barriers. 😬
Permission granted to call yourself a life entrepreneur 😁
Yes, for sure! I've moved countries twice, coasts once, and left corporate life to start several businesses. There are a few characteristics that you didn't mention, but I'm pretty sure you and other expats and entrepreneurs have. One is a tolerance for our own company. We need a love of solitude, because so much of the work must happen alone. Another is an instinct for self preservation. I wouldn't quite call it fear, more an awareness of what can go wrong and a preparedness to handle it.
self-preservation instinct! Yes that's a good one! I wonder if there's any cautionary tale you could share about that haha
I know many people who have started businesses and failed. Immigrants start more businesses and are less likely to fail. They also commit less crime and are less likely to use benefits. All contrary to certain narratives!
How interesting! Didn't know those types of stats.
John, thanks for adding to the list of qualities. Tolerance for our own company... that is a fantastic way of looking at what's needed when we're out of our comfort zone!
I agree with this message.
I had one goal. Marry an American. Start a life in the promised land.
This is a form of entrepreneurship.
Just like marrying into a business or into money.
Survival is the goal.
Now Im here, married 22 years and smashing it.
It took me a year of saving to get out of New Zealand, then 3 to get out of Australia...
all baby steps on my road to having a nice house and fridge full of food!
Totally right, marriage is a form of entrepreneurship, or historically a sort of a business deal. Baby steps make the road!
I LOVED this! Great reflection piece. I've been told by some that my brave decision inspired them, when all I wanted was to run away as far as possible from the mountains. It's true that you need those 5 qualities and some, but after all, it's all about taking one step after the other.
Thanks, Barbs! I was also called brave many many times, and I always found it surprising. We don't see ourselves as brave, we just take the steps to walk on the path of life we choose, right?
Great article Monica – bootstrapping your own life is a brilliant analogy!
Thanks, Edward!
Monica, this is an interesting correlation, one I probably would not have made on my own. I have traveled the world but have never picked up my life and moved to a new country. My wife is an immigrant however and I can see how these five qualities have played a role in her life. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thanks, Matthew. It's interesting to hear you would not have made this correlation, because once I see things certain way, I imagine they are obvious for most people (impostor syndrome, anyone?!). It took me a while to publish this one, because I kept thinking what I wrote was so plain and obvious...
Completely agree! 💚
Thank you for this. I feel a bit better about my life choices and all the places I have ended up living. I do think I have all these skills but I don’t see myself as entrepreneurial around money. Its an interesting angle on the skills we learn from moving to other places.
I think being entrepreneurial or not around money is a social construct, it's about how we are taught to view and behave around money. The good news is, if we realize we do have entrepreneurial skills (for migrating, for life), we probably could use them for money as well. ;-)
Loved reading this! I miss my old wandering days so much but I'm very grateful for everything they've taught me, especially when it comes to navigating the solopreneur journey and staying the course. Even just down to the awareness to know there is another way, and the strength to take the first step and ride the highs and the lows and trust it will all work out.
Sometimes I worry that it will all fall apart, but then I remember that it's in the falling apart that all the other best things in my life have come to be, too. Gotta roll with the waves sometimes, not always try and fight them. Thanks for sharing! 💜
I love that these travels teach us stuff about ourselves. They teach us we can be a solopreneur, we can be stronger than we thought we were, we can trust and jump. Enjoy the ride! 💜
💯 agree with you. It takes a lot of energy to have all these threads open: paperwork in progress, new mannerisms and norms to understand, language to learn. You start to develop resilience, but it is still a big exertion. This was a great reminder to remain curious and push my comfort zone a bit more...being open to new things.
Thanks, Van! I like how you put it, all these migrant-life tasks we have are like open threads which we need to take care of simultaneously, above and beyond what the locals do.
Monica, this is hands down one of your favourite articles. I'm so grateful whenever someone changes how I perceive or understand something. Thank you!
Oh wow what a surprise, Nolan! Thanks a lot for your words. It's funny, I struggled to publish this one because I thought it's SO obvious what I'm saying to the point of being uninteresting... Perception is everything! :)
Once I read it, it was obvious. But those are usually the best ideas. The ones that make you go “Of course! How did I not see it like that before?” Like the best plot points in stories are “the inevitable but unexpected.”
Very good point. I love those types of plot points you mention!
Love this! I do feel like I’m an entrepreneur in my life 🥰
Love to hear it, Brenna!
This makes a lot of sense!
I wonder if one could be a route to the other? I'm curious which did you try first? did you move countries first or start a business first?
That's an interesting point, Pranath, one could inspire the other. I did emigrate first, 3 times actually, and then I tried out entrepreneuring. I'm much better at changing countries than at building a business though. 😄
Being an expat and starting over is interesting. You get to experience new cultures and see the world. It helps you grow as a person and become more flexible. It takes courage, but you learn so much about yourself. You meet new people and see life in a whole new way. It is an adventure, I like how you contrast it to entrepreneurship. I enjoyed this.
Thank you! I like how you see migration as an adventure and a chance at better self discovery.
I never thought of that. It is a really nice and even touching comparison 😊
Thanks, glad to hear it resonated with you! You can start your own business now. 😊
I thought I was already doing that by immigrating?😉
Hahah touché!